May 12, 2011
City works deal with former Onyx club By CHRIS BOURNEA ThisWeek Community Newspapers Upper Arlington City Council members decided to move forward Monday night with an ordinance allowing alcohol to be served at the Amelita Mirolo Barn in Sunny 95 Park, a traffic study of the Lane Avenue corridor and an agreement with the owner of the former Onyx nightclub designed to crack down on criminal activity. The city attorney’s office began negotiating with Onyx’s owner, Shahriar Kazemi, following a Nov. 14 shooting in which two men were wounded. The negotia-
tions entailed efforts to increase safety at the nightclub in exchange for the city withdrawing its objection for renewal of the liquor license. Late last year, Kazemi rejected a tentative agreement with the city that included changing the nightclub’s music format from “gangsta rap” to mainstream hip-hop and top 40 and a requirement that the business pay a $25,000 fine if it violated any aspect of the agreement. The new agreement approved by council includes the music format change and a counter-proposal that Kazemi’s attorney submitted lowering the fines to $10,000 for a first offense, $15,000 for
a second offense and $25,000 for a third offense if the club violates the agreement. The agreement also enables the city to fine the nightclub, which has been renamed Posh, if police charge anyone with 20 misdemeanors, two or more felonies or the discharge of a firearm in the vicinity of the club within a 12-month period. Nugent Drive resident Jennifer Belemu told council that even though the club changed its name, she still has to call the police every week because the music is too loud. “The ‘top 40’is the same music he was playing before. It’s hardcore rap. My windows shake,” Belemu said. “It’s not just
the music. It’s the loud crowd, it’s the fighting in the parking lot. I have children. Every single resident has children. It’s not an appropriate place for a bar.” Upper Arlington Police Chief Brian Quinn said police have not received many complaints or noticed problems at the nightclub in recent months. He added that officers have measured the decibel level outside the club and will do so again to make sure it does not exceed the limit allowed by city code. Council voted 6-1 to approve the agreement with Kazemi, with Mary Ann Krauss casting the dissenting vote. Council also voted 6-1 to enter into an
agreement with Los Angeles-based consulting firm AECOM to conduct the Lane Avenue corridor transportation study. After the city attorney negotiated the contract, the cost was lowered to $59,500 from a previous proposed fee of $65,450 and no longer includes a 10 percent contingency fee to cover travel expenses for AECOM consultants. AECOM representative Pete Seckler, an Upper Arlington native, said he and other members of his firm conducted the London Drive traffic study two years ago in Upper Arlington. He said the Lane AvSee CLUB, page A3
Ohio energy manufacturing hub kicked off at TechColumbus
ALL STARS
By ANDREW MILLER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
Upper Arlington High School All Stars (from left) are Alex Verlage, Kyle Hatton, Michael Johanni, prinicpal Kip Greenhill, Drew Sylvester and Ava Cramp. For more on the All Star Salute, see page A2.
‘Conversation’ focused on present, future senior needs By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Residents and city staff members commented on what they like about Upper Arlington and what services they’ll need as seniors in the next 10 years at a public participation meeting May 5 in the Municipal Services Center. “There are so many good things,” “It feels like home” and “It’s the most inviting and livable community in central Ohio” were among the comments that
summed up what the people said of their city. Other good things the listed about UA were the responsive city services, excellent schools, senior services, the library, shopping, people, the Lifelong Learning program, emergency services, parks and recreation, mental health services and the beauty salon. Just over a dozen people participated in what was called a “Community Conversation” of the Master Plan Community Facilities & Services Ad Hoc Com-
mittee. Assistant city manager Joe Valentino said 30 or more people have attended past sessions, and attributed the lower turnout to people mowing their lawns on a sunny day. “Instead of us telling you what we think, we want to put you to work,” Valentino told those attending. For about two hours, they did, breaking off in small groups amid the “Mothers Artists at Work” exhibit in the Concourse Gallery. At the start of the session, the attendees said they thought they’d
require an improved senior center facility, more focus on healthcare, alternative housing solutions, adapting homes to their needs, recreation, transportation and socialization. Per Valentino’s instructions, they discussed several topics of interest to residents 55 or older by reviewing the relevance of existing community facilities and services. They talked about new goals to incorporate into the next Master Plan, by reviewing needs, See SENIORS, page A3
TechColumbus community sponsors joined with advanced energy industry leaders last week at the kickoff of the new Central Ohio Energy Manufacturing Solutions Hub. The hub, which is designed to reduce operational costs for advanced energy manufacturing companies, is intended to increase the success rate of energy start-ups and encourage energy manufacturing companies to locate in central Ohio. It is a partnership of TechColumbus, Columbus2020, Edison Welding Institute (EWI), Battelle, the Ohio State University Institute for Energy and the Environment and Center for Automotive Research (CAR). A $250,000 grant was awarded to TechColumbus in 2010 by the State of Ohio to develop an advanced energy industry in central Ohio. According to EWI Energy Center director Kim Gibson, the new hub is one of several around the state with a similar mission. Franklin County, Columbus, Dublin, Gahanna, New Albany, Upper Arlington and Westerville all provide investment funds and other resources to TechColumbus. TechColumbus uses these resources to attract larger investments. The kick-off took place at TechColumbus last Thursday, May 5, with 130 people attending.
“I am excited about the opportunities and concepts this hub project provides our community,” said Dana Matt McDaniel, Shad Dublin’s director of economic development. “Central Ohio has a long history of manufacturing, especially automotive, and we’ve got CAR doing great things here. This project will focus those talents in our region and people will migrate to it.” Matt Shad, Upper Arlington’s economic development director, shared McDaniel’s excitement. “We’re committed to this cause,” Shad said. “Having the nucleus of this hub project right on Upper Arlington’s border means access to the businesses and their workforce, which is great for our community. I expect that this hub will enhance what is already a potential industry of strength in [central Ohio].” According to Shad, between 2008 and 2010, Upper Arlington invested $150,000 in TechColumbus. From that, TechColumbus reinvested $1.5 million of its combined resources in Upper Arlington businesses. That investment was then leveraged by the businesses to result in outside investments totaling $4.3 million. See TECH, page A2
Amelita Mirolo Barn open for annual ‘Spring Fling’ By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers The Upper Arlington Parks and Recreation Department’s annual “Spring Fling,” slated from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 21 in Sunny 95 Park, will feature the opening of a new venue, as well as some favorite past activities. “Spring Fling started as a variety of smaller events and we combined them,” said program assistant Cheryl Hyatt. “This is the fifth year for
Spring Fling as a combined event.” One of those events is the Touch-A-Truck, which showcases various city service and safety vehicles for kids to climb in and honk the horn. “The whole event started as a way for people to get to know the people behind the trucks,” said cultural arts manager Lynette Santoro-Au. “ Also appearing are the Columbus Bomb Squad’s bomb retrieval robot and heavy rescue unit, as well as the WBNS-TV helicopter, Hyatt said. “Nothing is as show-stopping as when the hel-
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icopter comes and lands in the park,” Hyatt said. “Everybody just stops dead in their tracks.” Other family-friendly activities include arts and crafts projects, the Turtle Lady, food vendors, inflatable games, balloon sculpting and the annual fishing derby, with prizes going to the biggest catch in different age groups. In addition, the department will showcase its summer camp programs for those thinking about an activity for their children in the summer months. But this year the biggest event in the 14.7-acre
See FLING, page A6
UA Farmers Market opens next week The Upper Arlington farmers market is off to an early start at a new location for 2011. Beginning May 18, the market will be held Wednesdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the UA Senior Center, 1945 Ridgeview Road. The Farmers Market offers a variety of delicious produce, sold directly from local farmers. In 2011, patrons can expect to enjoy their choice of in-season fruits, vegetables and flow-
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park on May 21 will be the grand opening of the new Amelita Mirolo Barn, featuring a performance by Columbus bluegrass band Grassahol. “The funds were raised completely by donation and that was a project that was taken on by the Upper Arlington Community Foundation,” Hyatt said. “The foundation will be giving the keys to the barn to city officials in a ceremony right at noon.”
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ers, baked goods, herbs, artisan jewelry, eggs, poultry, jams, honey and more. Sponsored by the Upper Arlington Parks & Recreation Department, the Upper Arlington Farmers Market is held rain or shine. Additional event details can be found at www.uaoh.net, including a summary of the types of produce expected to be available throughout the season. Those with questions may call 583-5300.
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