Josh Richardson | Daily Times
This house is one of several along Gallia Street and Scioto Trail in Portsmouth that will be renovated or razed to help improve the “gateways” into the city.
FRANK LEWIS
PDT Staff Writer
The Scioto County Health Coalition is coordinating the community and economic development of the “gateway” into Portsmouth, which is Scioto Trail and U.S. 52. The goal of the Coalition is to improve Scioto County’s health rankings, which includes economic factors.
In 2012, Scioto County had an unemployment rate of 12.8 percent, compared to a state rate of 10.1 percent. Rates of children in poverty are at 32 percent, compared to a state average of 23 percent. The short-term strategic goal of the “Gateway Project” is to revitalize the main routes through Portsmouth, to improve the perception of the city to encourage outside investment in Scioto County.
According to the Coalition, people traveling through Portsmouth see dilapidated houses, vacant homes boarded up, overgrown vacant lots, empty businesses and blight. The Coalition is bringing together citizens, government, volunteer organizations and businesses to address this targeted area and provide hope for future projects.
Portsmouth Health Commissioner Chris Smith said the “gateway” area consists of Scioto Trail from the Portsmouth City limits to U.S. 52 East. The area also consists of U.S. 52 both East and West, from the Portsmouth City limits near OSCO to the New Boston Village limits. The area is defined as all city parcels adjacent to the stated streets.
The Coalition describes the area as presently mixed commercial/residential with poor residential housing stock. The project is being implemented with a goal of rezoning the entire area as commercial but with the consideration of apartments over businesses, as opposed to encouraging new residential properties.
“Both streets are the most heavily trafficked within the city and will never be ideal for a residential community,” Smith said. “The Walnut Street area and Scioto Trail are more heavily residential, and all efforts will be made to improve the neighborhoods for the present residents and preserve neighborhoods that are still intact. This is still in the planning stage, the Portsmouth City Planning Committee will be the group that decides the best long-term use of the area, to promote business but also provide adequate housing, and protect our current housing stock.”
The Coalition said a specific timeline is not being created, as they will be moving as quickly as possible, within financial and personnel constraints. However, the funding will need to be expended by Dec. 31 so that will be their absolute deadline. As the project progresses, monthly deadlines will be assigned as needed.
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232 or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.
1, This is wrong in so many ways but that's all they got in this bug infested, bottom of the barrel sick town with no leadership with any sophistication.
2. They want to put Lipstick on this Pig called Portsmouth, Ohio. So many more, a myriad, of appropriate examples.
3. This improving the "gateways" has yet to be seen to see if the finished product will be "world class?" Do they think they are in St. Louis?
4. Will this be like their Clean Sweep campaign in '07 that was conjured up to defeat a candidate for Council in Ward 4, and then when they accomplished that, "Clean Sweep" went away, just a CORRUPT PR campaign.
5. The Health Coalition can't even put together a list of some 200 parcels to "tear-down" otherwise known in the world outside of Scioto County as "demolition."
6. Now they just want to dress up the entrances. If they have any success at all, like actually EXECUTING it, CALLED FOLLOW THROUGH AND COMPLETION, ACHIEVEMENT, that will so contrast the entrances with the inner "inert's," property, housing stock, and leadership conditions.
7. The nice gateways if they ever get there, will contrast with the inner cancerous conditions and circumstances. The closest this gets it that they are trying to Mask the cancers with the Gateways, like Operator Duncan does his masking of the odors of his WWTP's, etc.
8. The Chemo for this cancer is called Economic Growth and Development and things like up-to-date maintained and paved streets which are first thing that dresses up a municipality.
9. What has the city done with it's MFT, Motor Fuel Taxes they get from the State of Ohio annually? NADA, ZILCH..........
10. Their band aiding and rubber bands will not do anything but get them a story in the PDT's which is not a high bar for decades. Another program of hype and glory.......where and when will we get the results.
If I remember correctly all the homes from the old general hospital up the trail were very clean and kept nice.
Now when I return home to visit it's not anything close to how family's kept there lawn and homes repaired. It looks like NO ONE cares!I suppose they don't but why? I hope when I return home next time I'll see some change for the sake of what a beautiful town it could be again.