Oberlin Needs Higher Density

To the Editors:

First Avenues is a Worthington, Ohio based company specializing in downtown revitalization. In 1998, we were hired by the city of Oberlin to develop a comprehensive plan for the revitalization of Oberlin’s downtown. Among the recommendations we made at that time were the creation of an organization and hiring of a staff to overssee the revitalization effort. Main Street Oberlin was established as a result and recently contracted with us to conduct additional consumer research and assist in implementing some of the recommendations from our original plan.
Based upon our observations and market research, we concluded that Oberlin may be one of the best kept secrets in Ohio. With over 600 musical performances a year, an incredible art museum, outstanding and historic architecture, a beautiful public square, and many more attractions, it has the potential to draw significantly more visitors from the region than it does currently. Marketing plans are being developed to take advantage of this opportunity.
The downtown is attractive and has a number of unique and interesting shops that visitors could frequent. There is also a sufficient population in close proximity to support more convenience and shopping retail than exists currently. In fact, more retail is needed to create sufficient critical mass for downtown to become a shopping destination.
One of the most important recommendations we have made is to bring higher density, market rate housing into downtown on the upper floors of existing buildings and select infill sites. Not only is there a need and opportunity for more market rate rental housing in the community, but placing it in downtown will help make downtown more of a 24 hour environment and strengthen existing retail. What is needed now is a mix-use project of sufficient scale to demonstrate the opportunity and encourage additional similar development in the downtown.
The project proposed for East College Street is just such a development. It has the potential to be the catalyst that spurs a comprehensive redevelopment in downtown. It will also serve to anchor the east end of the shopping district and encourage more pedestrian traffic in that portion of the downtown retail district. We strongly support the strategic aims of this project and encourage you to support it as well. Please feel free to call or email me if you wish to discuss our observations and recommendations in more detail. Thank you for your consideration.

–Hal Miksch
President
First Avenues