the urban news for the week ending Sunday, August 3, 2008
 
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 Arts & Culture
Musicians of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra conducted by Junichi Hirokami, along with special guest artists The Ohio State University Marching Band directed by Dr. Jon Woods will perform at Veterans Memorial Saturday, August 2 at 7:30pm.
Brewery District
Shadowbox Cabaret is moving back to downtown Columbus. The sketch comedy-music-theater troupe announced last week that, following 10 years at Easton Town Center, it will move to a new, larger location in the Brewery District, with a scheduled opening next summer.
As Shadowbox: the sketch comedy and rock 'n' roll club continues to expand, the need for outside counsel has grown. Therefore, Shadowbox's Board of Trustees has appointed a ten member Advisory Board.
Brewery District, Downtown, Franklinton, German Village
Members of a group opposed to the construction of a racetrack at Cooper Stadium were expected to meet with the project's developer Thursday.
City Scene
Uncertainty about the financial stability of bond insurer Assured Guaranty Ltd. may force the Louisville Arena Authority Inc. to abandon its plans to sell $360 million in construction bonds to finance the city's downtown arena.
Councilmembers to take part in National Night Out Event: On Tuesday, August 5, members of The Columbus City Council will stand with the community against crime as they join them in celebrating the 25th annual National Night Out event. National...
Downtown
One year after moving to take control of the Columbus City Center, the city of Columbus has not yet come up with a plan for its future.
German Village
It's been 20 years since the city and area residents helped draft a plan that turned Schiller Park from a neglected swath of public space to today's lush community focal point.
The German Village Society is putting the finishing touches on a search committee that is being formed to find a new executive director.
Go Green
Central Ohio government officials want to turn one company's trash into another firm's treasure, and they're seeking $80,000 in grants to help do it.
Grandview Heights
A consultant hired by the city to conduct a study of the Grandview Yard area found it meets the definition of a blighted area.
Real Estate Affairs
"It doesn't have to be perfect, just swept up, trash removed and counters swept off," Wilkins said. "After they have done all of that, they should video tape. This is important. If they don't get their security deposit back, they have evidence."
Almost 38,000 Ohioans joined the growing list of those facing foreclosure and the loss of their homes during the three-month period that ended June 30.
Ohio had 37,689 homes enter a state of foreclosure during the quarter, one for every 134 households.
More than 800,000 vacant homes for sale stand between the housing recession and the bottom. That glut is driving down home prices, slowing sales and turning consumer psychology against the market.
RiverSouth
Nonunion contractors say projects cost more because commissioners' policies have pushed them out of competition for the jobs
Riverfront
Boating in the vicinity of the Town Street Bridge will be prohibited, beginning today, under the second phase of a safety plan instituted Tuesday by Public Service Director Mark Kelsey.
Short North
Beechwood-based Hyde Park Restaurant Systems Inc. plans to open Eleven, a 2,800-square-foot restaurant and bar, at 591 N. High St. on Aug. 7.
Saturday, August 16, the Short North Arts District will launch Art al Fresco presented by The Wood Companies. The daylong event will celebrate Columbus' artistic spirit. "We've invited visual and performing artists from all across the city to share their talents," explains John Angelo, Executive Director of the Short North Business Association.
South Side
South Side neighborhood leaders finally are ready to join the city's area-commission system, with two groups that would represent more than 56,000 people living between Downtown and the Pickaway County line.
Transportation & Roadways
It would cost $9.4 billion a year for 20 years to eliminate all bridge deficiencies in the USA, according to the latest estimate, made in 2005, by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Peters said that in the first four months of this year, Americans traveled 40.5 billion miles less compared with the same period in 2007. She said the decline in usage means less tax revenue for highway system.
Americans are not driving as much because of higher gas prices. A drop in gas consumption is hurting gas tax revenues, which pay for roads, bridges and mass transit projects.
Columbus is taking the next step towards trying to figure out if streetcars will be a part of the city's future.
Transportation & Roadways, Transportation & Roadways
Columbus will continue to study streetcars, but consultants also will begin examining how the 2.8-mile line envisioned by Mayor Michael B. Coleman could become part of a regional rail system.
Urbanism
Sick of filling up the tank for 60 bucks? Considering a place closer to your downtown job? Prepare to pay higher rents as more like-minded apartment dwellers flock to urban digs.
What does your commute look like?
"We are humbled by the support we've received from communities around the U.S., including Newark, regarding the closure of our stores," it said.
Officials plan a major makeover featuring condos, shops and college satellite campuses to keep pace with Parkway Centre, a retail explosion on Stringtown Road and Buckeye Parkway near I-71
Soaring energy costs and the foreclosure epidemic have jolted many Americans into realizing that their lifestyles are at risk.
Weinland Park
City Council is expected to give $75,000 to Weinland Park for crime fighting efforts. The money will come from the Public Safety Initiative Program and it will go towards organizing four different programs.
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