Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a Grant Agreement, in an amount up to $20,000.00 with The Ohio Historical Society, Inc., doing business as Ohio History Connection, a non-profit corporation, to cover the cost of architectural services with Moody Nolan to complete construction on exterior and interior preservation and renovation, as well as site work and landscaping for Poindexter Village.
In 1940 the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) developed 426 dwelling units in 33 buildings to provide affordable housing for primarily African American residents of the East side of Columbus. The development was named after pastor and activist Reverend James A. Poindexter. Many national and local individuals, including Aminah Robinson, Nancy Wilson and Jimmy Rogers, were residents of Poindexter Village.
In 2008, CMHA initiated the process to redevelop the Poindexter Village site. Although the majority of the original buildings were demolished, CMHA preserved two of the original buildings. In December 2016, CMHA approved the sale of the buildings to the Ohio History Connection for long term preservation. The Ohio History Connection collaborated with the James Preston Poindexter Foundation to create exhibits and programming at the site that promotes the history and story of the residents.
Columbus City Council, per ordinance number 2761-2017, authorized the Director of the Department of Development to enter an agreement with a capital grant of $1,100,000.00 to support Phase 1 of the Poindexter Village project.
In further support of Phase 2 of the project, Columbus City Council, per ordinance number 2612-2022, on October 10, 2022, authorized the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Grant Agreement, in an amount up to $1,400,000.00 with Ohio History Connection to complete Phase 2.
The City of Columbus is committed to continue support of the Phase 2 of the Poindexter ...
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