0217_TW_Worthington by The Columbus Dispatch/Dispatch Magazines

February 17, 2011

HER plans move to downtown site By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers HER Realtors plans to move into one of Worthington’s most historic downtown buildings. The company has been located at 6902 N. High St. for many years. It has received city approval to occupy the northern two-thirds of the former Curio Cabinet space at 681 High St. The space has been vacant for several

years. It is located in the Kilbourne commercial building, which is believed to be the oldest commercial building in Ohio in continuous commercial use. Currently zoned for downtown commercial use, it has served a wide variety of uses since Worthington founder James Kilbourne built it in 1808 as his home and offices for his survey business. It has also been the offices of the Western Intelligencer, the area’s first newspa-

per; a funeral home; the Worthington Hotel; and many shops. Unlike other downtown shops, the building does not have large storefront windows, making it a hard sell for most retailers. The city would not like to see the original double-hung windows changed, said city development coordinator Lynda Bitar. Such changes are not planned by HER. With that in mind, and because HER will probably bring much-needed foot

traffic downtown, the Municipal Planning Commission approved a conditional-use permit on Feb. 10. Initially 20 people – three employees and 17 agents – will work out of the office. An additional 10 agents are expected to be added during the next two years, according to a letter to the city from Ron Hildebrand of Real Living HER. On average, there will be eight to 12 people present at any time, he said. Client and walk-in traffic will vary, but likely

will average 10 people per day, he said. Private parking is available behind the building and overflow parking is located immediately to the west in the public lot. Retail space of 1,300 square feet will remain on the south side of the building. The old HER building, which is located directly behind the PNC Bank at 6900 N. High St., will be razed and a new Primrose School built on the site. cbrooks@thisweeknews.com www.ThisWeekNews.com

A number of private school students may miss the bus

A TASTE OF SCANDINAVIA

By CANDY BROOKS

By Chris Parker/ThisWeek

Dancers perform Scandinavian dances during the annual Worthington International Friendship Association dinner at the Worthington Presbyterian Church on Feb. 11. In addition to the costumed Scandinavian dancers, the celebration featured Scandinavian dishes.

City to fix leaking windows at entrance to community center By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers

The city will spend more than $400,000 to fix the leaking, peeling, crumbling entry pavilion at the Worthington Community Center. Though the community center addition is only eight years old, the unsightly problem became visible several years ago. Worthington City Council hired an architectural firm to study the problem and recommend and design a solution. On Monday night, council voted to move ahead with bidding on the contract to do the actual work. DLZ of Worthington has designed what it believes will be a solution to the problems, which also extend to the windows of the

A rendering of the new entrance to the Worthington Community Center.

game room and large exercise DLZ estimates the work will the problem, council has also room at the center, as well as the cost $370,000. DLZ is being paid struggled with questions of why main problem in the two-story, $54,500 for its work. See CENTER, page A2 glass entryway. Besides seeking a solution to

ThisWeek Community Newspapers

A closer look

The Worthington Schools will attempt to save $214,000 a year by no longer busing 43 students to ten private schools. The Worthington Board of Education on Monday heartily endorsed a recommendation from administrator George Joseph and transportation director George Sontag. Several board members called the recommendation a “no-brainer.” The actual recommendation is to no longer provide transportation to private and charter school for fewer than ten students. Currently, the district pays $221,674 annually to bus such students. In one case, one student is bused to one school at a cost of $10,918 a year. The district also buses two students each to two schools, and four to seven students to seven schools. The state reimburses the district with $7,654 a year, total. The problem is, the district is not sure the state will buy the district’s argument that it is impractical to bus those students. Once the parents of these students are notified of the district’s plans, they can choose to accept an annual payment of $178 a year to provide their own transportation, or they may appeal the decision to the Ohio Department of Education. If an appeal is made, the district must continue to bus the children until a decision is made. And no one is sure what the state may decide. “This is a very, very unchartered area, we don’t know where it will lead,” Sontag said.

Currently, the district pays $221,674 annually to bus such students. In one case, one student is bused to one school at a cost of $10,918 a year.

Board president Marc Schare asked why the limit was ten, suggesting the district might want to look at stopping the costly busing of even more private and charter school students. “It is irresponsible to not go forward,” he said. The district is studying ways to save money as recommended in the state audit that was done last year. Besides cutting back on private school busing, Joseph and Sontag are exploring the idea of adjusting the starting times of two elementary schools, which could save as much as $100,000 a year. Also being explored is changing bus routes to all schools. Board policy requires the transportation of all elementary and middle school students who live more than 1.5 miles from school. But 473 elementary and middle school students who live within that limit are bused to school. At the high school level, 159 students are bused who live within the district limit of two miles. No changes will be made until conditions are investigated in each case, Joseph said. Board member Julie Keegan complimented the work of Joseph and Sontag. “You’ve done a great job using the information to help the district make changes,” she said.

Couple charged in theft of copper downspouts By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers A couple has been arrested in connection with the theft of copper downspouts from a Worthington church and a nearby home. Richard Jesse James, 29, and Jeannette Brooke Phillips, 23, were each

charged with one count of receiving stolen property, a level five felony. Police have no current addresses for either of the suspects, who they say are boyfriend and girlfriend. James’ charge is connected to the theft on Feb. 4 from St. Michael Church, 5750 N. High St. Phillips is charged with the theft of

downspout on the same date or the next day from a house in the 100 block of West Southington Avenue, about three blocks from the church. More charges may be pending, since police in Worthington as well as Columbus, Upper Arlington and Bexley are investigating similar thefts. The most recent downspout theft

occurred overnight on Feb. 7 from an insurance company at 5760 N. High St. Two sets of footprints were found in the snow where $600 worth of copper downspout had been stolen. “We have three cases we’re looking at,” said Worthington detective Mark Marshall. “Are they the suspects in all three? Probably.”