Project Summary
The Weinland Park Collaborative was a unique coalition of 21 public, private and philanthropic organizations that has invested more than $50 million in the revitalization of Weinland Park, an urban neighborhood of about 4,800 residents that's adjacent to The Ohio State University campus and about one mile north of downtown Columbus. The Collaborative’s goal was to improve the quality of life in Weinland Park, making it an inviting and safe community where people of diverse backgrounds choose to live and build their lives.
The Collaborative lead a people- and place-based approach to urban neighborhood revitalization. Working closely with neighborhood residents and the Weinland Park Civic Association, the collaborative supported initiatives in housing, education, employment, health, youth development, public safety and resident engagement.
As one of the six original funders, Campus Partners helped initiate many of the transformative projects in the neighborhood:
Acquisition of two brownfield sites totaling 21 acres for remediation into market rate and affordable housing options
Assistance in acquiring 300-units of a poorly managed subsidized housing portfolio for renovation and transition to a non-profit manager with robust wrap-around resident services
Funding of an exterior home repair program for existing residents
Acquisition of two neighborhood carry-outs that were significant sources of persistent crime
Preservation of the New Indianola Historic District - a rare example of a streetcar suburb from the early 20th century
Acquisition and renovation of 25 vacant and foreclosed properties
The Collaborative focused on other community development initiatives emphasizing safety, public health, and household stability. During the ten years that the Collaborative was active Weinland Park had an 80% reduction in crime and increased resident perceptions of safety. Infant mortality rates rates decreased with programs such as Moms2B offered by OSU’s Wexner Medical Center. Between 2012-2019, the Annie E. Casey Foundation engaged community partners to implement a two-generation approach for improving educational outcomes for children by addressing the economic self-sufficiency of the parents.
Investment Snapshot
