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MidTown in Motion
June, 2011
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The View from the Director's Window
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My view this month extends beyond the quiet Wynnton playground to 13th Street, where I learned on April 28 that MidTown knows how to Mingle! MidTowners and friends gathered at the Village on 13th for our first-ever MidTown Mingle.
The sky was clear, the air was cool (honest to goodness, and not that long ago), the music all Bizness, the Village brightly festive, and the food essential MidTown. We hoped for 400 patrons, and 620 people came to eat, drink, mingle and dance, all the while helping support the ongoing revitalization efforts of MidTown, Inc. The Mingle raised $35,350! Attendance exceeded our target goal by 50%, the dining reservations were full, and the raffle baskets and ticket sales were terrific. Tremendous volunteer leadership, generous community sponsors and contributors, and our many guests and patrons made this first-time event a success.
Many people have asked if we could Mingle every month. We had originally conceived this is an every-other-year event, but with constant encouragement from people who attended, AND from people who missed this year's event, we are now planning to Mingle again in 2012! And we hope you will be there to Mingle with us.
Best,
Anne King
Executive Director
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MidTown Minglers
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And finally, seekers discovered the Holy Grail
at the MidTown Mingle! After a long quest, they not only discovered the Grail, but were rewarded with tickets to the RiverCenter performance of Monty Python's Spamalot.
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Once again, we thank our Mingle Sponsors and Volunteers!
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Post-Mingle joy and smiles! Mingle co-chairs Muffy Schladensky and Kara Layfield join MidTown's special events committee chair Virginia Peebles after months of effort--shared with scores of volunteers--resulted in a lively, fun for all, community-building, fund-raising MidTown success. To see a complete list of all of our creative and dedicated Mingle volunteers, click HERE.
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Explore MidTown
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If you missed it in the Ledger-Enquirer's Spring, 2011 Explore supplement, take a look at MidTown's newest Live It! ad, designed by our good friend Cam Addison.
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GDOT awards second $1 million grant for Wynnton Streetscape
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On May 26, MidTown, Inc. received notification of a second grant award from the Georgia Department of Transportation through the Transportation Enhancement program. This award in the amount of $1,000,000 will be matched by $240,000 from MidTown, Inc. and will expand the scope of the 2008, $800,000 grant award for the same project, that extends along Wynnton Road between Cedar and Hilton Avenues. Both grant awards were championed by GDOT District 3 Board member--and MidTown resident--Sam Wellborn.
MidTown, Inc. is partnering with the City of Columbus and working with representatives from the design firm of TY Lin, local utility providers and members of the MidTown Projects committee, as together we work toward the the revitalization and enhancement of this central MidTown corridor. With successful and timely fundraising efforts, we look forward to groundbreaking on this significant project sometime in 2012.
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Re-name MidTown's e-newsletter
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Since 2006, MidTown, Inc.'s e-newsletter has been published under the name MidTown in Motion. MidTown is home to thousands of creative residents and playful wordsmiths. Jump in and help us come up with a fresh name that reflects our ongoing revitalization efforts! The winner will receive our grateful appreciation, the joy of seeing their title in our masthead, and a selection of MidTown goodies!
Please submit your title ideas by clicking HERE. And, fyi, the title The MidTowner is already used by the MidTown Business Association and MidTown retailers and restaurants for their bi-weekly newsletter!
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Fifteenth Annual Arts in the Park
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Congratulations to our friends in the Weracoba-St. Elmo Historic District for hosting their 15th Annual Arts in the Park celebration. Over the years the event has grown from a neighborhood gathering, to an eagerly anticipated, community-wide springtime celebration. We enjoyed visiting with old friends and getting to know MidTown newcomers at our shaded table in the heart of the afternoon's festivities.
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Why We Live in MidTown
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When we asked why people lived in MidTown, we were rewarded with your responses in numbers and variety. We will publish a few in each newsletter. If you would like to tell your MidTown story, simply click here and email us.
I have lived in Columbus my entire life. Over the years I have loved the architecture of MidTown homes...Not only did I find my dream home--a wonderful stone and brick 1923 masterpiece, but I have made a group of friends that I wouldn't trade for any zip code...MidTown is a friendly, supportive community. That's why we'll stay. Houses come and go, but a great community is hard to find.
J. Rusty Scoven, Dimon Circle
We choose to live in MidTown because there is nothing like being able to walk to Lakebottom Park for our daughters' t-ball games, or hearing the Columbus High School band practicing from our front porch...The sense of community and pride in Midtown is wonderful. We feel connected to our neighbors and our neighborhood.
Shana D. Young, Weracoba-St. Elmo
My parents moved to MidTown in 1926 and I have never had any reason to move away. [Hilton Heights] was perfect for my husband, five children and me. the children walked or road bikes to Clubview, Richards and Hardaway. I lived close to the old A&P at Cross Country and am now looking forward to the new Publix. We have been patrons of Deorio's since it opened and, yes, my local children and grandchildren all live in MidTown.
Jean Kent, Hilton Heights
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MBA and MidTown, Inc. sponsor a Cross Country Conversation
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On Thursday, June 23, the MBA hosted a membership meeting at 5:15, followed by a public Cross Country Conversation at 6:30 at the Columbus Public Library. Some 60 residents, neighbors, business owners and developers attended the program. Cross Country is both a regional shopping center sited at MidTown's I-185 gateway, and a center surrounded by neighborhhoods that grew up at about the same time as the original shopping center. Leo Wiener, partner with Glenwood Development Company, the owners of Cross Country Plaza, showed images of the center through stages in its history, and discussed their renovation plans and construction in progress. It was an opportunity for Glenwood to "re-engage the community," and for neighbors to hear details of Glenwood's long-term vision for the center. Wiener observed that he hoped Glenwood's redevelopment of Cross Country would "be an impetus for continued redevelopment along Wynnton-Macon Road." He also noted that "Publix's newest prototype store and long-term lease put their seal of approval on the area," and announced the signing of the center's newest tenant, At&T. Wiener reiterated that the key to retail success in the area is for locals to shop local! MidTown board member and Executive in Residence at CSU's Turner College of Business, Jack Goldfrank, moderated lively conversation that ranged from issues of walkability and bikability to traffic patterns, plantings and the selection of new tenants.
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Friends of Weracoba, Friends of MidTown
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In the late 1980s, a group of neighbors joined together with a plan to support improvements in Lakebottom/Weracoba Park. The plan was diverted as the group grew, engaged hundreds of supporters spanning several generations, and spent three years in the early '90s opposing the planned widening of 13th Street. Friends of Weracoba was led by a Board of Directors that included Nancy Flournoy, Anne King, Margaret Gosden, Thornton Jordan, Linda Hyles, Tracy Spencer and Jack Passailaigue, Jr. Over twenty years ago, the Friends of Weracoba made a case for smart growth, for neighborhood planning, for the preservation and enhancement of our core communities, and in the process brought positive attention to the area that we now so readily identify as MidTown. In March, 2011, Friends of Weracoba closed their account and donated almost $900.00 to MidTown, Inc. Thank you Friends for your efforts and your gift that allows us to continue to sustain and enhance the neighborhoods and businesses withing MidTown Columbus.
We appreciate the generous support and contributions of ALL of our MidTown friends. Please click HERE for a list of 2011 contributors through June 15.
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Live It! Shop It! Love It! FUND IT!
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Live it. Shop it. Come home to MidTown. These catchy phrases and the lively music that accompanies them have become familiar reminders of MidTown's places, faces and attributes that make us Love it! Now we ask you to help FUND IT!
MidTown, Inc. has no dues-paying membership. Rather we exist to support all who live in, work in, invest in and connect with MidTown. We rely entirely upon your donations-along with special grants, gifts and pledges-to further our mission.
- Advocate $10,000 and up
- Builder $5000 - 10,000
- Educator $2500 - 5000
- Entrepreneur $1000-2500
- Planner $500 - 1000
- Sustainer $250 - 500
- Friend $100 - 250
- Other
It only takes a click for you to support MidTown, Inc. Simply review the suggested giving levels and click HERE to make your gift online with any major credit card.
Or click HERE to print a form and return it to us in the mail.
We are grateful for your support of our MidTown mission to sustain and enhance the neighborhoods and businesses within MidTown Columbus.
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| MidTown Kudos and Thanks |
MidTown Kudos to...
Graduates from our MidTown high schools--Carver, Columbus and Hardaway. Congratulations to all, and our best wishes on your journey forward.
MidTown board members Virginia Peebles, recipient of the 2011 Edna Kendrick Award, and Will Burgin, recipient of the Iron Eyes Cody Award; and friend of MidTown and director of Trees Columbus, Dorothy McDaniel, recognized as Outstanding Community Leader at the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission's 2011 Awards Luncheon.
MidTown's Betty Roberts who was recognized at the Historic Columbus Foundation's Heritage Ball as the 2011 Honored Lady.
The MCSD 2011 Teacher of the Year, Columbus High's Paul Hampton.
Page One Award Winners from Columbus High--5 winners and 5 runners-up--and Hardaway High--1 winner and 2 runners-up!
The 2011 Columbus High School baseball team for winning their eleventh State Championship title. What fun it was to have the State Baseball Championship series played right here in the heart of MidTown. Congratulations, too, to CHS State championship golf team!
Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce Small Business Week Award winners Goodwill Industries, recipient of the 2010 Visionary Award; and Country's Barbecue, 2010 Small Business Giant of the Year.
MidTown Executive Director Anne King who was honored by Columbus State University as their first School of Arts and Letters Alumni of the Year in the Social Sciences.
MidTown Thanks to...
Officer Deborah Whitley, with the Columbus Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit, for being a good friend to MidTown in working closely with us and for championing neighborhood unity and the organization of neighborhood watch programs.
MBA coordinator Bitsy Dedwylder whose event and site photography adds so much to our MidTown newsletter and our programs.
The Muscogee County School District for including MidTown's Executive Director as a participant in their annual Principals' Academy.
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| MidTown, Inc. July Office Hours |
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From July 5-15, MidTown, Inc. will have limited office hours. We will be responding to e-mails regularly, but please call first if you plan to stop by the office. We wish you a safe and happy July 4 holiday!
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