'A historic pocket' | The Columbus Dispatch

I grew up as a child on Oakwood Ave just north of what once was Oakwood Avenue Methodist Church. Haven't travelled those streets in over 40yrs but can remember many of the neighbors and some nice homes. It would be nice to revive the area but with a low owner-occupant rate I don't see it happening. Once the slumlords take control they drain the last bit of equity from a structure and leave nothing but what will become a future vacant lot.

the grafitti in the area says things like "kill whitey"....not very welcoming. If there was a way to drive there without going thru the roughest parts of columbus it would be ok!

I've been in the area for almost five years, and, sure, it's rough in spots, but I've never seen graffiti that says "Kill Whitey," (I'm a white male, for the record) and I've certainly never felt that sentiment from any of my neighbors. What I have seen, first hand, is an area that's improved every year because of a diverse community that's committed to revitalizing the neighborhood. Homeownership seems to be on the rise, and those who do buy have been consistently focused on restoration. Crime, vacancy, and a shortage of viable local businesses continue to be a problem, no doubt, but progress has been undeniable. I can't help but wonder what this area would be like if a tiny percentage of the $$ spent on Easton, or Polaris, or even the Short North in the last few years, had been instead spent on promoting small businesses, increasing police patrols, etc, in this part of town.

If you look at the picture in the paper, the worker "working" looks like he's texting on his cell phone. Obviously not a poised picture.