City of Columbus

UIRF

UIRF is a central city capital improvement program. It was established in 1992 in recognition of the need for a specific capital improvement fund for Columbus’ older neighborhoods. The Planning Division is currently focusing on completing existing planned UIRF projects before initiating planning for the next round of UIRF funding. We are not accepting project ideas from the community at this time. The Planning Division will notify area commissions when planning for the next round of UIRF funding is set to begin. Please contact Alex Sauersmith with any additional questions you may have: [email protected]    

•  About
  • UIRF is a unique program within the city
  • Capital improvement projects funded with UIRF dollars are identified as a partnership between the city and communities within the UIRF area
    
    
  • Working in partnership with three other city departments, UIRF is able to provide improvements to roadways, parks and street lighting
  • Since its inception, over 445 projects have been funded
  • 434 projects have completed construction
  • Over $60 million has been provided for the rebuilding of Columbus' older neighborhoods
    
    
  • An updated UIRF program was implemented in 2014 to identify projects for 2015-2019
  • The updated program creates efficiencies and ensures that all UIRF areas receive a funding allocation
  • This resulted in approximately 175 new projects to be constructed through 2019
  • The city will invest $30-35 million in these projects
  • UIRF funding is reserved for the UIRF area in recognition of the particular needs of Columbus’ central city
  • Neighborhoods not in the UIRF area should contact the appropriate department with capital improvement requests via 311
• Endorsed Plans and Projects

  The UIRF community development reports were updated in July 2021. Click the links below to access the specific community report. Note - the estimated NTP (notice to proceed) date is the estimated date that construction will start. This date may change and substantial construction may not begin until weeks after the estimated NTP date and the completion of construction could take a year or more. Please contact Alex Sauersmith with any questions: [email protected]. Planned projects can also be viewed via  interactive map. 

  1.     Brewery District	8.     Hilltop	15.   North Central
  2.     Clintonville	9.     Harrison West	16.   North Linden
  3.     East Columbus	10.   Italian Village	17.   Northeast
  4.     Far South	11.   LAVA-C	18.   South Linden
  5.     Fifth by Northwest	12.   MACC	19.   South Side
  6.     Franklinton	13.   Milo Grogan	20.   University District
  7.     German Village	14.   Near East	21.   Victorian Village

   

  UIRF Plan status reports are updated twice a year, at the end of June and the end of December. 

  

• Contacts

  For questions regarding the UIRF Program, please contact Alex Sauersmith.

   

• Eligible Project Types

  The following types of projects are potentially eligible for UIRF funding. This list is subject to change. As indicated in the Community Process section, project proposals are not currently being accepted.

  Project Type		General Description
  Bike facility		Bike lanes, bike sharrows, or shared use paths.
  New sidewalks		New sidewalks where there are not currently sidewalks. Repair and replacement of existing sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner and cannot be funded by UIRF.
  Park improvements		Funding for the improvement of parks. Examples include playground equipment, walking paths, other. City owned land near waterways may also be eligible for canoe/kayak launch areas, signage, etc. Details of specific projects are planned with Recreation and Parks staff.
  Planted median		Medians are a raised area located in the middle of roads that separate traffic traveling in opposite directions. The primary purpose of a median is to increase safety by managing the access of vehicles to adjacent properties and separating vehicular traffic. If trees or shrubs are added, medians improve the aesthetics of an area.
  Street lighting		Standard street lighting for areas that are not currently lit to city standards.
  Street trees		New trees planted along the street in the city right-of-way.
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  Important notes on project eligibility:

  • Projects should not have been identified for funding through other city programs or capital initiatives. The UIRF program is not intended to replace other funding. 
  • Projects which leverage other sources of funds are prioritized. 
  • Projects should support community reinvestment. 
  • Projects should build on other public or private investments.
  • Projects that maximize the visual impact and enhancement of neighborhoods are prioritized.
  • Projects should be consistent with adopted city plans and other initiatives. 
  • Projects must be consistent with the implementing department’s policies (UIRF does not set policy, it only funds projects).
  • The funding of studies only occurs when funding is potentially available to implement the study, or at least a portion of it.
  • Some project types, including planted medians and bike lanes, require study or analysis prior to implementation. Funds are allocated for study, and provided the feasibility of the project, construction. Important factors in such studies include confirmation of project need, access management and parking impacts, other. Planted medians require the establishment of a maintenance agreement with community for any landscaping, and an insurance policy to limit the city’s liability as it relates to landscaping maintenance.
• Community Process

  The planning process for the 2015-2019 UIRF funding period included community engagement via community meetings, the project website, and other means. It resulted in over 1,500 project suggestions from residents, community groups, business owners and other neighborhood stakeholders. These suggestions formed the basis for what has become community endorsed UIRF Plans.
  
  The UIRF Program is not currently accepting project requests so that UIRF staff can focus on the implementation of the endorsed plans. Staff will reach out to community leadership when new UIRF project proposals are being accepted. New proposals are anticipated to be accepted when at least one-half of the projects from the given community’s endorsed UIRF Plan have been implemented.
  
  In the meantime, community members and leadership should maintain lists of potential project ideas that may be UIRF eligible (see Eligible Project Types) and be prepared to share with UIRF staff when new projects ideas are being received.
• Budget Allocation

  The total expected amount of UIRF funding per year is $6.9 million (dependent on bond sales over the referenced time period). In order to implement a five year UIRF plan, UIRF staff developed a projected five year budget allocation for each UIRF area based on the following:

  1. A standard base allocation
  2. Total population by area
  3. Low-income population by area
     
     Funding allocations are dependent on the availability of the expected bond funding, and are subject to change at any time.   
     Project timelines for specific projects are subject to change if funding allocations change.  “Endorsed Plan Cost Estimates” provided on the UIRF Endorsed Plans are developed to determine if a given project can be constructed with the given area’s UIRF allocation.  Adjustments in an Endorsed UIRF Plan may be necessary to account for actual construction costs that differ from the Endorsed Plan Cost Estimate.  In the case that a project is constructed for less than the Endorsed Plan Cost Estimate, the remaining funds are maintained as part of that community’s UIRF allocation.  That being said, the funding allocation is made to build the endorsed project and does not represent a funding entitlement for that community.