About

Project Introduction

Sustainable Whitehall is the product of a semester-long effort by graduate students in the Master of City and Regional Planning program at The Ohio State University. Instructor Chad Gibson has the following to say regarding the project:

In late 2017, with the backing of Mayor Kim Maggard and Economic Development Specialist Joe Ryan, The Ohio State University’s City and Regional Planning Department was engaged to advance sustainability efforts in the City of Whitehall, Ohio. The timing of this effort correlated directly with Whitehall’s recent membership in MORPC’s Sustainable2050 program, which supports sustainability efforts in Central Ohio communities.

With less than 15 weeks to work, these four capable graduate students completed key research and identified successful case studies in peer communities that provided a baseline of knowledge. They vetted practical processes and programs that when implemented, will have positive impacts on Whitehall’s residents as well as the environment. Expert guest speakers in various areas of sustainability were brought in as advisors for the students. Presentations to Whitehall City Council in March and April helped to expand awareness and build excitement.

Early in the process, the decision was made to format the project’s content within an original website created by the students which will ultimately be linked to the City’s web page and managed by the City indefinitely. This web site includes writings, exhibits, case studies and recommendations along with links to critical resources and reference information.

Having grown up very near Whitehall’s corporate boundary on Columbus’ East Side, this project was especially personal. It is my sincere hope that real, sustainable practices get implemented as a result of this work, benefitting residents and businesses of Whitehall for generations to come.

Best Regards,

Chad D. Gibson, AICP

Associated Faculty, The Ohio State University Knowlton School of Architecture

Team Commentary

During the kickoff meeting, Whitehall Economic Development Specialist Joe Ryan asked the team to identify a broad set of sustainability recommendations tailored to the circumstances and needs of the Whitehall community. With this in mind, the team identified best practices from sustainability leaders around the country and carefully selected those that we believe will most improve the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the city and its people. Instead of a report, the team chose to present our ideas in the form of a website to leverage the linking and multimedia capabilities of the web and give users a rich, customizable experience. The website is simple to update, allowing city staff to add more content and further tailor existing content as they see fit. In anticipation of this, the team developed a Sustainable Whitehall User Manual that documents technical and content management requirements for the website.

As of Spring 2018, Whitehall is in the initial stages of development of a comprehensive plan. A key element of any planning process is the participation of those who will be affected by the plan. The Sustainable Whitehall website is intended to be a platform that city staff can use to engage residents and other stakeholders and learn how they would like to pursue sustainability in their community. It is our hope that the initial ideas provided by the team will be refined through community participation and eventually incorporated into the comprehensive plan. Additionally, we hope that the city will leverage these ideas to advance its status in the MORPC’s Sustainable2050 program, which promotes regional sustainability goals in Central Ohio communities. In support of this, the team has linked each idea provided to the regional sustainability goals that it will help achieve.