Bringing the streetcars back to Merion Village.

When the Columbus streetcar system is expanded south into Merion Village (of course it will) two possible routes exist to bring the line into the Village.

High Street is an obvious choice, since the street is wide enough to accommodate the system. If higher density housing is permitted along High Street through Merion Village, then we’d likely see an investment in upgrades and new builds, as property values always rise with immediate proximity (and within a few blocks ) of a fixed route transit line.

The other route would be down High Street then turning into the Village on Hanford, then turning south onto 4th Street. This route, while only a couple blocks off of High Street, could offer greater opportunities for redevelopment inside the Village. Fourth Street definitely needs an infrastructure boost, and this might be exactly what’s needed.

The challenge with the 4th Street line, however, is street width as well as where the line might exit the Village to the south. Woodrow is a logical choice, but turns from Hanford to 4th and 4th to Woodrow might not accommodate the width needed for the turns.

Ideally, the southern line should extend to Great Southern. In doing so, both German Village and Merion Village residents would have transit access to the shopping there, as well as quick access into downtown. While COTA route 16 takes residents to these destinations already, it would make sense to eliminate route 16 altogether with the addition of streetcars.

Which ever route is agreed upon, it’s important for Merion Village to get on board with the streetcar system so it will benefit the neighbors as well as economic development in the area.

Is the future bright enough?

Great place to live. Affordable. Accessible. Good neighbors. All the things you’d want to hear about any neighborhood, and precisely the things one often hears about Merion Village. Many of the folks in Merion Village are life-long residents, and in some cases, generations have lived within blocks of one another. Additionally, new families are moving in.

Not long ago, in an attempt to keep Merion Village’s streets in tact, the neighborhood requested, and won approval from the city, to limit future construction to two [living] units per lot. Essentially, Merion Village was rezoned.

That’s a relatively nice thought considering the way things are now. And it makes sense that the “streetcar suburb” feel of the neighborhood be kept as is. Tonight, however, while attending Kyle Ezell’s presentation on the new University District, I realized that Merion Village may be in for some unexpected surprises as the neighborhood evolves.

As one of his presenters stated, land-mass is a constant value. We are not growing more land. Housing values rise, property taxes rise, and as Columbus becomes more dense, we’ll see the surrounding neighborhood values rise, as well. Of course, that’s what everyone living in Merion Village would like…or so it might seem. Increased property values, and therefore increased sale prices.

Look forward, however, 10 to 20 years, as prices soar and long time residents die off. When the single family home becomes outside the reach of entry level buyers, Merion Village will not have the proper housing stock to attract new residents, and could potentially fall into another period of decline. If they can’t afford it, they won’t move in.
In such a case, the neighborhood will become stagnant and dull.

Keeping a neighborhoods population vibrant requires affordable housing options. Without options beyond a duplex or “double”, Merion Village’s rezoning is, essentially, a bottle neck to its future by disallowing new housing models and methods. Any renovation, any new construction is now limited. Essentially, only what is can be reproduced.

The former RaceQuip building at 4th and Moler was a great opportunity to see something new emerge in Merion Village, but unfortunately, the developer has pulled the plug on that project. All of 4th Street could have been rezoned to accommodate high-density, low rise housing.

There’s always a desire to keep in place what currently is. The challenge, however, is that neighborhoods, like people and personalities, are always changing. Limiting what can be simply creates stagnation and a lifeless soul.