Category Archives: Columbus-Westside-Hilltop-Ohio

Will the West Side Ever Cash in on the Casino?

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There is no doubt that the Hollywood Casino has been an improvement to the Westside-Hilltop community. The Casino has many times given money to community causes. Of course the amount is impacted by how much business the casino itself brings in. I have seen many improvements on W. Broad St – of course west of Wilson Rd but nonetheless, improvements. Our problem is (On the Hilltop) and will continue to be a problem because of housing overstock, housing decay, slumlord investors praying and renting to less fortunate populations. This will continue to be unless communities/associations/leaders start working together to force the city to put tough ordinances in place to require that properties be maintained to a standard (and enforced) and to strongly regulate investors renting properties. There needs to be high standard requirements when an investor, especially absentee comes in and starts renting properties that wouldn’t be fit to live in for most of us, but rather geared to a desperate population willing to pay for inefficient housing because they may not qualify elsewhere. We as community citizens need to stop being complacent and stop allowing the trash dumping, drug houses, prostitution, and especially crime to person and property to move in to our streets and communities. We need to start working together with one voice in bringing suggestions, solutions to the city for implementation. If current commissions or associations are not stepping up to this task then we need to have them disbanded and form new ones. In short we can’t be blaming the Hollywood Casino because first they are not in our community they are in Franklin Township who benefits from a percentage of their income taxes. The Casino generously donates money to community causes for the Hilltop, however they are not responsible for the issues facing us. We are. Get out and contribute. Amazingly enough, it starts by just taking care of your own property, picking up the trash on your own street, observing what goes on around you and document it, report it and to FOLLOW-UP. In today’s world nothing is ever resolved by addressing it one time, it is a continual process. It is demanding, draining, and can be time-consuming but if you want a better community you have no choice but to contribute and not be complacent to what is going on around you. Let’s all start today by going out and daily picking up the trash in front of your house, yard and back ways. You will be amazed what you will see in one month of doing this.

Big Boxes next to trash receptacles

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Just a friendly reminder that those big boxes or packages should not just be left sitting beside the alley 300 gallon trash receptacles or left sitting next to your 75 gallon individual family receptacles, please break them down appropriately and if possible place inside the trash receptacle. Additionally they are not to be used as additional trash holdings next to the receptacles.

Ideally since these boxes are cardboard, why not break them down and include them in your bi-weekly recyclables.

Finally leaving these big boxes or packages that identify expensive items received or given for Christmas, makes our community homes a potential target for burglary regardless if the item was from your home or not. Please be responsible.

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Puppy – 145 N Chase Ave, Columbus, OH 43204 – Left out in the cold at night 16 F – 01/09/15/1:36 AM

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01/09/14/1:36 AM/The ignorance of some people leaving their poor puppy outside in this cold weather. Hence the purpose of a recent post. Animal Control and police called. Thanks neighbors for calling as well. Every dog deserves a good home, unfortunately this poor puppy shouldn’t be with these people.

01/09/14/Update/Neighbor did get ahold of a member in the household, teenager answered the phone and said she would bring the puppy in. Things quiet but unfortunately, late morning, puppy was found in the alley outside the property fence line. Blatantly, the owner just dumped the puppy. Sad but ok, a home has since been found for this adorable puppy. Puppy was starved for food and ate five bowls of food. Puppy is afraid to go outside in fear of being left out again. Potty training will be a bit of a problem during this cold weather. Glad this puppy about 3 months old will be going to a loving home.wpid-img_5818-2015-01-9-20-57.jpgwpid-img_5819-2015-01-9-20-57.jpg

Columbus 311 call ignored

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Always, always document your calls to Columbus 311. It is sad that this had to go to the media but Columbus 311 as our public servants has to be held accountable. If the Columbus City department needs more personnel then please Mayor Coleman get off your butt and hire more code officers! I’ve offered myself to take on the role with this department.
Now next, what about more police officers for the Hilltop?

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/09/08/311-calls-ignored.html

Area around Columbus casino shows signs of revival

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Area around Columbus casino shows signs of revival
Signs of revival adding up around casino on West Side; businesses open or renovate, and infrastructure improves
By Steve Wartenberg
The Columbus Dispatch  •  Sunday August 31, 2014 11:23 AM

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/08/31/area-around-columbus-casino-shows-signs-of-revival.html

There have been tremendous changes around the Hollywood Casino. I give much credit to Chris Haydocy for taking a strong initiative and leadership to make this a better corridor. But are we just seeing cosmetic changes? Are we going to see a return of the big anchor stores that moved away several years ago to Grove City or Hilliard?

In order to bring in the young professionals are we going to see the same attractions that Clintonville and the Short North have to offer? How about upscale grocery stores that sell fresh items instead of the frozen “FAMILY SIZE” aisles that we are so accustomed to seeing here? How about fresh restaurants with outside seating instead of the re-evolving new building fast food mecca that is re-appearing on the corridor?

How about the housing stock just east of this corridor that is still suffering from absentee LLC’s and landlords buying up houses left and right for “investment” purposes just to sit and further decay between struggling owner occupied property owners?

Although I am happy with the cosmetic changes that are occurring, I struggle with the mention of the far Westsiders looking up to Clintonville and the Short North for comparison of attractions. Until we get some of the many and vast attractions that these two mentioned communities have not to mention the many businesses that have left the Westside to move to Grove City and Hilliard, I will continue to drive down the nicely remodeled tree lined corridor to the 270 interchange to get me to the communities that support my shopping needs currently not existent here on the Westside-Hilltop.

Property Value 09/08/14

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Of my recent Franklin County tentative property value received in the mail yesterday, 08/09/14:

Yep, my house might as well be listed for sale with Big Lots or the Dollar Stores, as no prime Realtor will take it including the Reality company that sold me the house to begin complete with the promise of an up and coming neighborhood, best I’m getting is the ass of the City of Columbus.

It appears that we are now the Hilltop for a reason, in clearing up the other areas of the City we have become the dumping ground for every undesirable element of the City. We are piled so high here with City sh*t dumping that we are on the verge of moving beyond the Hilltop and becoming a Mountain.

Might as well file a petition and get it down to less than half the property value that I paid for this house back in 2005.

Anyone want to buy a lovely house with beautiful views of urban decay?

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False Alarm at what cost?

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False Alarm at what cost?

We do our best to fight crime, to burglar proof our homes by replacing old doors and window entries, by installing alarm systems hoping to protect our homes only to get a slap in the face by our City of Columbus Administration.

I was called this morning to check on an alarm setoff at a friend’s house. I met the police officer there who confirmed that there was no entry to the house and that all was secure [good news]. The Officer was outstanding in service, friendly and even though this wasn’t his precinct was very concerned and helpful regarding our neighborhood. He shared that the city is now making it expensive for when a police officer has to come out to your home because of an alarm signal set off [bad news].

He advised that you will continue to get two free runs per year, but after that you will have to pay the alarm call which breaks down as follows:
200 1st call (free per year)
400 2nd call (free per year)
800 3rd call – YOU PAY
1,600 4th call YOU PAY
and so forth.

He said that the Heroin epidemic in our neighborhood is fueling this. He said the addicts are breaking in during the day, especially garages.

They are bold and could care less to cause 100’s of dollars to your property just to get a 20 dollar item. And we are to be empathetic to these burglars and not take our gun and shoot them between their eyes or shoot off their manhood just because they have an addiction problem?

I’m telling you, we need to band together to protect our properties. What more can we do to protect our home and property and stay in our neighborhoods safely?

Frustrated about the Westside-Hilltop.

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EUREKA MARKET, 192 S. Eureka Ave., 1st Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43204

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EUREKA MARKET, 192 S. Eureka Ave., 1st Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43204
Columbus City Council – Liquor Violations Westside-Hilltop – December 16, 2013

Eureka Market! If you are going to operate this way then we do not welcome your business on the Westside-Hilltop

Resolution: 0277X-2013

Permit Number: 0090549
Permit Owner: AL WEHDAT LLC
DBA: EUREKA MARKET
Address: 192 S. Eureka Ave., 1st Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43204

Objection requested by:
 Vice Section
 City Attorney’s office

Basis for Objection:
 15 stolen property and EBT fraud cases
o 6 cases involving cigarettes
o 5 cases of accepting EBT benefits for alcohol
 Criminal Records of Associated Individuals
o Including: felony engaging in corrupt activity, drug paraphernalia and
liquor prohibitions

Permit Violations:

Case #15: 09/10/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY
2. IMPROPER CONDUCT THEFT BY DECEPTION
3. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL USE OF EBT
4. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN EBT
5. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF EBT

Case #14: 09/09/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY

Case #13: 08/30/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL USE OF EBT
2. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN EBT
3. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF EBT

Case #12: 08/22/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY

Case #11: 08/21/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERT
2. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL USE OF EBT
3. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN EBT
4. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF EBT

Case #10: 08/07/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY
2. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL USE OF EBT
3. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN EBT
4. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF EBT

Case #09: 08/07/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY
2. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL USE OF EBT
3. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN EBT
4. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF EBT

Case #08: 07/25/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY
2. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL USE OF EBT

Case #07: 07/24/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY
2. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL USE OF EBT
3. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN EBT
4. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF EBT

Case #06: 07/24/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY

Case #05: 07/23/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY
2. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL USE OF EBT
3. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN EBT
4. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF EBT

Case #04: 06/19/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY
2. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN EBT

Case #03: 06/11/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY
2. IMPROPER CONDUCT – ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN EBT

Case #02: 06/08/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY

Case #01: 05/29/2013
1. IMPROPER CONDUCT RECEIVING AND/OR CONCEALING STOLEN
PROPERTY

0 police reports
4 calls for service

BEES FOOD MART, 2516 W. Broad St., 1st Floor Only, Columbus, Ohio 43204

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BEES FOOD MART, 2516 W. Broad St., 1st Floor Only, Columbus, Ohio 43204
Columbus City Council – Liquor Violations Westside-Hilltop – December 16, 2013

Bees Food Market! If you are going to operate this way then we do not welcome your business on the Westside-Hilltop

Resolution: 0272X-2013

Permit Number: 6292073
Permit Owner: NAHEEL INC
DBA: BEES FOOD MART
Address: 2516 W. Broad St., 1st Floor Only, Columbus, Ohio 43204

Objection requested by:
 Vice Section
 City Attorney’s office

Basis for Objection
 Underage sales
 Sunday sale of alcohol
 Narcotics complaint to Division of Police
 Ohio Dept. of Public Safety investigation
o 7 cases Receiving Stolen Property (4 including cigarettes)
o 3 cases cigarette sales (single cigarette sales and sale to minor)
 Criminal Records of Associated Individuals
o Including: liquor prohibitions, underage sales of alcohol, illegal
distribution of or permitting children to use cigarettes or tobacco
products, assault, soliciting, drug paraphernalia, public indecency,
aggravated menacing, burglary and unlawful sexual conduct

Permit Violations:

Case #1: 01/08/2013
1. SALE AND/OR FURNISHING TO A PERSON UNDER 21

Case #2: 03/22/2013
1. SALE AND/OR FURNISHING TO A PERSON UNDER 21

Case #3: 11/24/2013
1. SUNDAY SALES

3 police reports (including illegal dist. of tobacco and underage sale of alcohol)
4 calls for service

140-146 N ROYS AV – Alley Illegal Dumping

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12/17/13/8:15 PM/Caught a pickup truck dumping boxes into the 300 gallon receptacle behind the row housing, 140-146 N ROYS AV – Alley. I sternly asked what he was doing and he said throwing stuff away. I asked if he lived around here and he pointed “over there” but didn’t give an address. I asked then why is he using this particular trash receptacle. I opened the trash receptacle lid and saw he was dumping construction waste – boxes of heavy tile. I told him that he could not do that and needed to schedule bulk pickup to the property needing the disposal for these construction items. (I already knew that construction debris would not be scheduled but just needed the guy to understand that he can’t be dumping his construction debris in these trash receptacles.) I told him that dumping these heavy items will result in these trash receptacles not being emptied and then I would have to call about them. He seemed shocked that I approached him and eagerly agreed and took the boxed items back out and put them in his pickup truck and took off. Clearly he was a dumper. Situation resolved but clearly we need to relook at having these 300 gallon receptacles in our communities.