Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to transfer maintenance responsibilities and ownership of 1334 East Livingston Avenue to the Land Redevelopment Division of the Department of Development. This ordinance will also authorize the Department of Development to enter into a lease agreement with the Rickenbacker Woods Technology Museum and Historic Park. This would allow for the already established and supported partnership to continue with Rickenbacker Woods Technology Museum and Historic Park, a non-profit entity originally created in 2003 to manage the museum.
By Ordinance 1277-1998, Columbus City Council authorized the purchase of 1334 East Livingston Avenue by the City Attorney on the behalf of the Department of Recreation and Parks. The house at this location is the boyhood home of Eddie Rickenbacker and is a National Landmark. Ordinance 1038-2001 authorized the Department of Development to accept an Ohio Department of Administrative Services grant to acquire property next to the house, restore the Rickenbacker home, and create a museum. Starting in 2004, exterior renovations were started and managed by the Department of Development. In 2015, as authorized by Ordinance 1767-2015, the Department of Development transferred parcels surrounding the house to the Rickenbacker Woods Technology Museum and Historic Park (Rickenbacker Woods Museum), a non-profit entity, originally created in 2003, to manage the museum. Rickenbacker Woods Museum renovated buildings that were a part of the transfer into an office and a community center. The organization currently operates various programs, including a successful youth afterschool program, out of the community center. Repairs were also performed to the Rickenbacker house but the house interior remained untouched. This Ordinance will transfer maintenance responsibilities and control of 1334 East Livingston Avenue to the Land Redevelopment Division of the D...
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