Part of the "SOUTH COLUMBUS SOUL" initiative
House of Soul is a multifaceted neighborhood rejuvenation initiative designed to reduce blight, improve curb appeal, support existing residents, and demonstrate care and pride in South Columbus. The initiative includes creating a clearer property maintenance and code enforcement guide, increasing awareness and use of 311, expanding homeowner education, developing a Neighborhood Planning Unit, coordinating neighborhood clean-up services, creating a Blight Removal Task Force, building a low-interest revolving loan program for rehabilitation, expanding Inspections and Code Enforcement staff, exploring a blight tax strategy, and supporting a Homeless Navigation Center.
Tracks creation or use of ordinances and legal strategies such as blight tax tools, community redevelopment tax incentives, and revised property maintenance approaches.
Tracks creation of a Neighborhood Planning Unit made up of volunteers who provide feedback on necessary services and community needs.
Tracks homeowner education materials and quarterly seminars that help residents understand maintenance, upkeep, budgeting, basic repairs, and code responsibilities.
Tracks support for homeownership and rehabilitation access for existing South Columbus residents through revolving loan support and repair assistance.
Tracks Blight Task Force consulting and implementation costs.
Tracks total project cost for the House of Soul initiative.
Tracks residents’ perceived safety and sense of pride in the community after beautification and blight reduction efforts.
Tracks increased building permit applications as redevelopment, rehabilitation, and property updates move forward.
Tracks improved economic mobility for South Columbus residents through property maintenance, homeownership support, reinvestment, and reduced neighborhood disinvestment.
Tracks neighborhood beautification, safer conditions, better public spaces, and resident pride created through the House of Soul approach.
Tracks new full-time Inspections and Code staff positions needed to expand code enforcement and homeowner education capacity.
Tracks revolving loan fund start-up support administered through NeighborWorks for home rehabilitation.
Tracks neighborhood clean-up days hosted quarterly or bi-annually at no cost to citizens.
Tracks development of a Columbus Blight Removal Task Force with city-wide blight reduction goals and an implementation plan.
Tracks Homeless Navigation Center capital costs associated with buildout.
Tracks the reduction of blighted properties through clean-up, code enforcement, blight task force work, property maintenance, and redevelopment activity.
Tracks homeowner education marketing campaign to distribute maintenance and upkeep information through direct mail, social media, billboards, radio, and related channels.
Tracks increased neighborhood property values resulting from reduced blight, beautification, rehabilitation, and reinvestment.
Tracks possible funding source categories identified for House of Soul.
Tracks creation of digital/public tools including website resources, code guides, 311 education, and databases for vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties.
Tracks annual operating cost for keeping the Homeless Navigation Center running.
Tracks reduction in code violation citations as residents receive clearer guidance, education, and access to compliance resources.
Tracks potential partner organizations and entities listed for implementation, funding, media, technical support, and neighborhood work.
Total project cost shown is $6,838,000. Budget items include Neighborhood Clean-Up Services at $2,500 quarterly, 3 new full-time Inspections & Code staff positions at $214,500 annually, Revolving Loan Fund start-up costs at NeighborWorks at $20,000 one-time, Homeowner Education Marketing Campaign at $50,000 one-time, Homeowner Education Materials at $1,000 quarterly, Blight Task Force consulting at $500,000 one-time and implementation at $2,000,000 ongoing, Homeless Navigation Center capital costs at $3,000,000 one-time and operating costs at $1,000,000 annually, and Blight Tax Legal Consulting Fees at $50,000 one-time.