Landbank Vacant Lots Restoration Pilot Program

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City of Columbus Vacant Lots Restoration Pilot Program

nDcEDITION I DRAFTEDITION II DRAFT

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SCOPE OF PROJECT-PAGE 2-

CURRENT CONDITIONS

TEMPLATES-PAGE 3-

GENERIC AND CUSTOM TEMPLATES

SPECIFICATIONS -PAGES 4-18-

WILDFLOWER AND MOWED BORDER

SHORT GRASS AND MOWED BORDER

BASIC TREE PLANTING

SCREEN PLANTING

FENCING

ORCHARD

NEIGHBORHOOD NURSERY

FOOD TRUCK

COMMUNITY PARK

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

EXAMPLES-PAGES 19-21-

GENERIC TEMPLATE RENDERINGS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-PAGE 22-

TABLE OF CONTENTS SCOPE OF PROJECTTo create a series of templates for the City of Columbus, aimed at

reducing costs and maintenance on vacant lots while providing aesthe cs

and ac ve spaces for neighborhood residents to use. What follows are

proposals for both generic and custom templates.

Generic templates are able to be situated on any vacant proper es

without extensive speci c site adapta on. Seven generic schemes are

proposed, each addressing condi ons iden ed by neighborhood stake-

holders. Some generic templates may be combined based on par cular

lot condi ons.

Custom templates, because of size or prominence, are to be designed

and tailored to selected proper es deemed to carry a higher value for

the neighborhood. Such lots will be custom designed as programmed by

the Land Redevelopment O ce.

A successful blending of these templates across all vacant lots creates

a complete neighborhood plan un l such me that those lots are

redeveloped. Plant material recommenda ons and installa on advice

have been collected from the City of Columbus Recrea on and Parks

Department and the Franklin County Soil and Water Conserva on District.

current conditions

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Common exis ng condi ons currently found on a majority of sites.

Note: Lot dimensions approximately 30 x 130 on average.

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generic templates

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custom templates

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Generic templates able to be placed on any lot without extensive site modi ca on.

Custom templates designed to the speci c context of one site in a neighborhood.

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TEMPLATES

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SPECIFICATIONS

1. Plan ngs:

Wild ower species:

- Rudbeckia hirta

- Echinacea purpurea

- Monarda stulosa

- Coreopsis lanceolata

- Liatris pychnostachya

- Aster novae-angliae

- Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

- Chamaecrista fasciculata

- Tradescan a ohioensis

- Penstemon digitalis

- Tridens avus

- Festuca ovina

- Schizachryrium scoparium

*Limit mature plant height to 12

2: Prepara on:

- Remove debris and rocks from area

- Strip wild ower area of all exis ng growth

- Till the soil 12 deep and rake the top of the area at

- Depending on exis ng soil condi ons other matrials my be

required to aerate clay soil

3. Execu on:

- Spring (a# er last hard frost), summer, and fall are all wild ower

plan ng mes

- Plant 1 gallon or larger size plants in groupings for fuller

appearance

- Seed in grass, and rake gently into soil

- Lightly compress the seeds into the soil, making sure

not to bury them.

- Plant a few mature plants at rst plan ng to ll in area

while seed grow in

4. Maintenance:

-Water weekly, so that the soil is moist, not soaking wet, un l

the seedlings are about 4-6 tall. A# er that, the seedlings should

survive on natural rains.

- Regular mowing of lawn perimeter, to maintain 3 foot wide

ower bed

- Once yearly, in spring mow whole area of wild owers

with a weed trimmer, or mower on the highest se$ ng

-When second spring arrive, look for empty areas, and spot clear

and replant per instruc ons above.

WILDFLOWERSThe Wild ower template features a dense plan ng

arrangement of wild owers with a mowed edge around the

owers. The object of this scheme is to cover a majority of the

vacant lot with maintenance-free grasses and wild owers.

The aesthe c provided by the wild owers enriches the

neighborhood, and is easily turned under once the property is

ready for redevelopment. Maintenance on the lawn perimeter

will keep the wild owers framed only in the center square.

This is a low-cost e ec ve method that absorbs a majority of

the lot with an array of wild owers. This is a generic template

able to be used on any lot.

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BASIC GRASSESThe Basic Grasses scheme features a dense plan ng

arrangement of low- or no-mow grasses with a mowed border.

The object of this scheme is to cover a majority of the vacant

lot with maintenance-free grasses. The grasses create a basic

ground cover with simple aesthe cs, and is easily turned under

once the property is ready for redevelopment. Maintenance

on the lawn perimeter will keep the taller grasses framed only

in the center square. This is a low-cost e ec ve method that

absorbs a majority of the lot with an array of grass type plants.

This is a generic template able to be used on any lot.

SPECIFICATIONS

1. Plan ngs:

- Prairie Nurserys No mow Grass Mix

2: Prepara on:


- Strip grass area of all exis ng growth

- Till the soil 12 deep and rake the top of the area at

- Eradicate turf with Glyphosate herbicide

3. Execu on:

- September evenings are the best plan ng mes

- Seed in grass, and rake gently into soil

- Lightly compress the seeds into the soil, making sure not to

bury them.

4. Maintenance:

- Water weekly, so that the soil is moist, not soaking wet, un l

the seedlings are about 4-6 tall. A" er that, the seedlings

should survive on natural rains.

- Regular mowing of exis ng 60 lawn perimeter

- Mow high 6-8, 6-8 mes during the rst year,

- A" er the rst year mow only 2-4 mes or as needed for

weed control.

-When second spring arrive, look for empty areas, and spot

clear and reseed per instruc ons above.

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SPECIFICATIONS

1. Plan ngs:

- Acer rubrum - Crataegus phaenopyrum

- Cornus orida var. rubra - Cercis canadensis

- Acer saccharum - Hydrangea quercifolia

- Ilex glabra - Rhododendron catawbiense

2: Prepara on:


- Soil tes ng done in the fall before plan ng to determine

remedia on needed to support trees

- Subsoiling if needed before plan ng trees

3. Execu on:

- Trees and shrubs should be planted in the fall a er they have

become dormant (about early November) or in the spring

before new growth appears (around late March)

- Plant as close as 15-20 apart

- Dig the hole a li le deeper than the root is tall and make it

wide enough to accommodate the longest roots without

bending.

- Loosen the sides of the hole.

- Back ll with na ve or slightly amended soil un l the bo om

of the hole is at the right plan ng depth for the tree. The root

are should be 1-2 above the ground.

- Prune o any broken, ro ed or twisted roots, making a clean

cut.

- Posi on the tree, spread the roots and re ll the hole, tamping

the soil around the roots as you go.

- Water thoroughly with 10 to 20 gallons of water to the root

ball and surrounding soil, in order to nish se ling the soil

around the roots. Usually, no further water is necessary un l

there is new growth of several inches.

- Add 6-8 mulch cover a er plan ng trees. If mulch is piled

against the stems or tree trunks, pull it back several inches so

that the base of the trunk and the root crown are exposed.

4. Maintenance:

- Prune out any dead or diseased branches,and branches

that cross and rub against one another. Prune most summer-

owering shrubs in late fall, winter, or early spring.

- Water weekly with an inch or so of water a week the rst

year or two to help them become established, a er that

water weekly in mes of drought

BASIC TREE

PLANTINGS

A cost e ec ve method for improving a lot, the Basic Plan ng

is meant to cover a lot with a few selected plan ngs that

beau fy the lot with minimal invasion. The plan ngs are to

be short-term, fast growing species that are easily removed

when future development starts. The exibility of this op on

is the feature, with a few plan ngs capable of being arranged

in a variety of layouts, or accen ng features that make each

lot unique. The increased area used by these plan ngs will

cut down on maintenance me and costs. Minimal costs and

variety of arrangement are what make the Basic Plan ng

Scheme so e ec ve for low targeted lots. This is a generic

template able to be used on any lot. Lots that will ul mately

recieve houses and/or garages may have trees planted in front

of residen al setbacks or beside an cipated garages o alleys.

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SCREEN TREE

PLANTINGS

The Plan ng Screen Scheme is similar to the Basic Plan ng

Scheme, but with a more speci c purpose: to improve the

vista onto neighboring lots. Some neighboring buildings or

proper es have fallen into disrepair, and the Plan ng Screen

Scheme is successful at hiding the blemishes and beau fying

the vacant lot. This purpose also requires speci c types of

plan ngs that cover a wider area and wall o any undesirable

features o the lot. Once again, these are short-term plan ngs

that will grow quickly and be removed upon development. This

is a generic template able to be used on any lot.

SPECIFICATIONS

1. Plan ngs:

- Viburnum dentatum - Cornus baleyii

- Viburnum lentago - Thuja occidentalis

- Cornus serecia - Juniperus virginiana

- Euonymous atropurpurea

2: Prepara on:





3. Execu on:

- Plan ngs only cover unsightly objects.

- Plant minimum 10 away from buildings, sidewalks, and

driveways to ensure not to damage any structure or encroach

on neighboring proper es with plan ngs

- Plant as close as 10 apart

- Dig the hole a li! le deeper than the root is tall and make it

wide enough to accommodate the long roots without bending.


- Back ll with na ve or slightly amended soil un l the bo! om of

the hole is at the right plan ng depth for the tree. The

root are should be 1-2 above the ground.

- Prune o any broken, ro! ed or twisted roots, making a clean

cut.



- Water thoroughly with 10 to 20 gallons of water to the root ball

and surrounding soil, in order to nish se! ling the soil around

the roots. Usually, no further water is necessary un l there is

new growth of several inches.

- Add 6-8 mulch cover a# er plan ng trees. If mulch is piled



4. Maintenance:

- Prune any wayward stems that block pathways, driveways, or

grow into the side of a house or other structures

- Prune out any dead or diseased branches and branches that

cross and rub against one another. Prune most summer


- Water weekly with an inch or so of water a

week the rst year or two to help them

become established, a# er that water weekly

in mes of drought

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GROUND LEVEL

6X6 TREATED

WOODEN POSTS

REFELCTOR TO BE PLACED ON ALL

STREET/ALLEY FACING SIDES

OF EVERY POST

CLIENT OPTION FOR

ADDITIONAL CABLES

LOOP CABLES THROUGH A

PRE-DRILLED 1 HOLE

THROUGH GROUND POSTS

AND FENCE POSTS

CONTINUE FENCING FOR

SPECIFIED LENGTH

ON SITE PLANS

2- 6 BELOW GROUND TYP.

3- 6 ABOVE GROUND TYP.

2- 6 BELOW GROUND TYP.

3- 6 ABOVE GROUND TYP.

1 ABOVE GROUND TYP.

2 BELOW GROUND TYP.

4 o.c. typ. 4 o.c. typ.

FENCING

The Fencing Scheme is a concept for a branding of Columbus

vacant lots, with focus on cost e ec ve materials that hold a

climbing plant. The fencing acts as both a visual and physical

barrier to encourage non-use of the lots, and comes in both

short and tall varia ons for taste. The simple wood and steel

cable materials are durable and sturdy enough to last un l

they are removed. The more lots containing this scheme, the

stronger the brand becomes for beau ed vacant lots. This is a

generic template able to be used on any lot.

SPECIFICATIONS

1. Plan ngs:

- Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Lonicera dioica - Campis radicans

- Aristolochia durior - Clema s virginiana - Rosa carolina

2: Prepara on:


- Need 6 x 6 x 12 wooden posts for tall fencing posts

- Need 6 x 6 x 8 wooden posts for short fencing posts

- Need 3/8 galvanized steel cable for fencing rails

- Required length will vary based on lot width

3. Execu on:

-Fencing-

- Set end posts located at one end of the lot and the other, 6

away from the opposite end of the lot.

- Dig your post holes deep enough to support the fence

structure 30 inches is a median depth for the post holes.

- Tall Fencing should be 8 from ground to top of post

- Short Fencing should be 3 from ground to top of post

- Place the end posts in the holes, and ll in around the posts

with dirt or gravel, packing it as you do.

- Check the post for plumb before they are completely

lled and packed, and adjust as needed.

- Lay out the post holes between the end posts as per spec

diagrams (le! )

- Set the remaining posts and plumb them as you go.

- Pack the back ll around all of the posts rmly.

- Use Helix Ground Screw Anchors to a" ach steel cable to ground

- 3-6 o.c. for both schemes

- Do not place ground screw where fence

posts are already present

-Plan ng-

- Dig out a plan ng hole about twice the size of the root ball and

half as deep, located where steel cable is a" ached to the

ground

- Plant far enough from fence, to ensure the climber gets plenty

of moisture, and deep enough so the top of the root ball is at

the same level as the top of the soil

- Fill around the roots with soil and rm with your foot.

- Water well and mulch

- Spread out stems and e to the steel cable with garden twine.

4. Maintenance:

- Plants must be trained to each steel cable

- Plants must be pruned according to fence shape

- Water well for the rst few months a! er plan ng and ensure it

doesnt dry out in sunny weather.

1

1

B GROUND POST DETAIL

LOOP CABLES THROUGH A

PRE-DRILLED 1 HOLE

1

1

PRE-DRILLED 1 HOLE

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SPECIFICATIONS

1. Plan ngs:

- Apple (Malus) Varie es

- Fruit Trees (Blackberry, Elderberry, Serviceberry)

- Nut Trees (Walnut, Hickory, American hazelnut, or Beech)

- Asimina triloba - Prunus virginiana Canada Red Select

2: Prepara on:



3. Execu on:

- Trees are to be planted in rows 10 apart on center

- In each row trees should be spaced 10-12 apart on center

- Dig a hole deeper than the root is tall and make it wide enough

to accommodate the roots without bending.


- Back ll with soil un l the bo om of the hole is at the right

plan ng depth for the tree. Root are should be 1-2 above

ground level.

- Prune o broken, ro ed or twisted roots, with a clean cut.




and surrounding soil, in order to nish se ling the soil around

the roots. Usually, no further water is necessary un l there is

new growth of several inches.

- Add 6-8 mulch cover a er plan ng trees. If mulch is piled


that the base of the trunk and the root crown

are exposed.

4. Maintenance:

- Chemical and hand weeding

- Educa on and training programs for maintenance techniques

- Fruit trees may be cut back at plan ng me to a height as low

as 15-20 inches. Any remaining side limbs should be cut back

to one or two buds. Larger trees may be cut above exis ng

well-placed low limbs, or may be cut back low to force new,

lower limbs.

- Pruning and plan ng should occur in the winter, mulching set-

up in early spring, fruit thinning in the mid-spring,

harves ng in the summer.

- Water weekly with an inch or so of water a

week for the rst year or two to help become

established, a er that water weekly in mes

of drought

ORCHARD

The Orchard Scheme is similar to the Neighborhood Nursery,

however these trees bear fruit. The Orchard is a bosque of

trees that provide food for the neighborhood. These trees

remain on the lot, and are removed upon development. The

fruit is free to gather by the community, however will also

increase maintenance. These trees will provide both aesthe c

and func on. This is a generic template able to be used on any

lot.

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SPECIFICATIONS1. Plan ngs:

- Gleditsia triacanthos

- Gymnocladus diecious

- Tilia americana

- Acer freemanii

- Liriodendron tulipifera

- Cercis canadensis

- Crab Apple cul vars

2: Prepara on:


- Soil tes ng to determine remedia on needed to support trees

- Subsoiling before plan ng trees

- Create a 6-12 high raised plan ng area mound or berm at least

2 feet in diameter, a 10 to 12-inch mound or berm should be

at least 3-4 feet wide. (Mounds should have as gentle a slope

as possible to minimize erosion)

3. Execu on:

- Rows should be spaced 10 feet apart on center

- Trees should be spaced 4 apart on center

- Saplings planted at 45 degree rows

- 6-8 mulch cover a er plan ng trees. If mulch is piled



4. Maintenance:

- Rows need to be root pruned every fall, 1/4 if the roots to be

cut

- Water weekly

- Chemical and hand weeding

- Till rows and remove clods by hand

- Mow between rows

NEIGHBORHOOD

NURSERY

The Neighborhood Nursery Scheme is the rst ac ve scheme

for use. The concept behind the Neighborhood Nursery is to

provide the neighborhood it is situated in with trees given

out at speci c mes. Here saplings are grown for a few years

un l transplan ng them is possible, then a structured event

invites the neighborhood to come acquire a tree for their own

private property. The trees are planted in rows, which will be

maintained along with the rest of the lot in its usual fashion.

The Neighborhood Nursery is easily disbanded when the site

gets developed, those trees are given away and simply not

replaced. This is a generic template able to be used on any lot.

CUSTOM TEMPLATES

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FOOD TRUCK

The Food Truck Scheme is a concept to a ract people onto the site as a place for lunch. A food

truck can be parked in a situated gravel area on the site with space for people to gather and eat

provided elsewhere. This scheme provides both ac ve and passive engagement, allowing for a

nice park space when food trucks are not being used. The maintenance is reduced by plan ngs

and truck space, and use is discon nued when the lot is developed. This is a custom template,

meant for appropriate use wherever deemed appropriate.

2

0

20

Concrete Pad

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SPECIFICATIONS

1. Plan ngs:





2: Prepara on:

-Tree Plan ng-





-Groundcover-

- Remove any useful sod for use elsewhere

- Dig up or kill any exis ng vegeta on, especially weeds, using a

herbicide or by covering the area with a heavy black plas c for

at least two months.

-Paving-

-Level and contour the en re work area

-Tamp the contoured dirt base

-Pour on your aggregate (gravel) a few inches at a me, tamp,

and repeat un l you have a completed pad that is 8-10 inches

thick and contoured properly for drainage.

3. Execu on:

-Tree Plan ng-

- Plant trees as close as 15-20 apart

- Dig a hole a li" le deeper than the root is tall and make it wide

enough to accommodate the longest roots without bending.


- Back ll with na ve or slightly amended soil un l the bo" om of

the hole is at the right plan ng depth for the tree(The root are

should be 1-2 above the ground.)

- Prune o any broken or twisted roots, making a clean cut.




and surrounding soil in order to nish se" ling the soil around the

roots. Usually, no further water is necessary un l there is new

growth of several inches.

- Add 6-8 mulch cover a% er plan ng tree. If mulch is piled

against the stems or tree trunks, pull it back several inches so that

the base of the trunk and the root crown are exposed.

-Paving-

- Apply between 4 and 6 inches of hot-mix paving on the soil to

designate where the taco truck will be located

-Groundcover-

- Apply 4 inches of mulch to remaining groundcover

4. Maintenance:

-Trees-

- Prune out any dead or diseased branches,and branches that

cross and rub against one another. Prune most summer- owering

shrubs in late fall, winter, or early spring.

-Water weekly with an inch or so of water a week the rst year or

two to help establish them, a% er that water weekly only in mes

of drought.

-Groundcover-

- Each season rake the mulch bed and check the depth. Top dress

if needed, do not add mulch if there is a su cient layer in place.

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COMMUNITY PARK

The Community Arts Scheme is a space for people to gather in. Here is provided an area for the

neighborhood to showcase its talent and artwork for others, with sculptures or outdoor galleries.

The lot will be ed with other aesthe cs as well so as to remain an a rac on when there is

no artwork or has been dormant for some me. This scheme will require minimal maintenance

and is more appropriate as a long term community lot since people engage on this site. Use is

discon nued when development occurs. This is a custom template, meant for appropriate use

wherever deemed appropriate.

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SPECIFICATIONS

1. Plan ngs:





- Gleditsia triacanthos (for shade plan ngs)

2: Prepara on:





-Groundcover-

- Remove any useful sod for use elsewhere

- Dig up or kill any exis ng vegeta on, especially weeds, using a

herbicide or by covering the area with a heavy black plas c for

at least two months.

3. Execu on:

-Tree Plan! ng-

- Plant trees as close as 15-20 apart

- Dig a hole a li" le deeper than the root is tall and make it wide

enough to accommodate the longest roots without bending.


- Back ll with na ve or slightly amended soil un l the bo" om

of the hole is at the right plan ng depth for the tree(The root

are should be 1-2 above the ground.)

- Prune o any broken or twisted roots, making a clean cut.




ball and surrounding soil in order to nish se" ling the soil



- Add 6-8 mulch cover a% er plan ng trees. If mulch is piled



-Groundcover-

- Apply 4 inches of mulch to remaining groundcover

4. Maintenance:

-Trees-

- Prune out any dead or diseased branches,and branches that

cross and rub against one another. Prune most summer- owering

shrubs in late fall, winter, or early spring.

- Water weekly with an inch or so of water a week the rst year or

two to help them become established, a% er that water weekly

only in mes of drought.

-Groundcover-

- Each season rake the mulch bed and check the depth. Top dress

if needed, do not add mulch if there is a su cient layer in place.

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FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

The Future Development template is a vacant lot design that allows for future development

to take place on the property without removing the vacant lot programming. By plan ng the

template into what will become the front yard of any future development, the need for removal

is no longer necessary once the lot is developed again. Construc on access o of the back alley is

allowed for, with no vacant lot restora on permi ed inside the future construc on zones. Front

accsess o of the main road is also considered, so that once a building is placed on the property

access to the front door is s ll possible. This is a custom template, meant for appropriate use

wherever deemed appropriate.

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SPECIFICATIONS

1. Plan ngs:





- Fruit Trees (Pawpaw, Blackberry, Elderberry, Serviceberry)

- Nut Trees (Walnut, Hickory, American hazelnut, or Beech)

2: Prepara on:

- Ensure plan ng area is dedicated to front yard only





3. Execu on:

- Trees and shrubs should be planted in the fall a" er they have

become dormant (about early November) or in the spring

before new growth appears (around late March)

- Plant as close as 15-20 apart

- Dig the hole a li# le deeper than the root is tall and make it

wide enough to accommodate the longest roots without

bending.


- Back ll with na ve or slightly amended soil un l the bo# om

of the hole is at the right plan ng depth for the tree. The root

are should be 1-2 above the ground.

- Prune o any broken, ro# ed or twisted roots, making a clean

cut.




ball and surrounding soil, in order to nish se# ling the soil



- Add 6-8 mulch cover a" er plan ng trees. If mulch is piled



4. Maintenance:

- Prune out any dead or diseased branches,and branches

that cross and rub against one another. Prune most summer-


- Water weekly with an inch or so of water a week the rst

year or two to help them become established, a" er that

water weekly in mes of drought

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EXAMPLES

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&-!* )'),&'! ) (%)*),

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The City of Columbus Landbank Redevelopment O ce

The City of Columbus Department of Forestry

Franklin Soil and Water Conserva on District

Linden Neighborhood Leader

Franklinton Development Corpora on

Central Community House (Main Street)

Church for All People (Parsons Avenue)

John Turner

Reza Reyazi

Joseph Sulak

Chad Ho

David Reu er

donna Hicho

Je rey Mohrman

Eric Skidmore

Courtney Rowland

Margaret Madison

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Book Created by Nathaniel Carvin with Jordan Ne -Estle

Landbank Vacant Lots Restoration Pilot Program

Documents

Transcript of Landbank Vacant Lots Restoration Pilot Program