Anti-Panhandling
We know you care—we all do. Sometimes you might want to give spare change to a panhandler. But what if you’re just feeding an addiction? Instead, give kindness by donating to an organization that truly helps the homeless.
It’s important to help those in need, which is why the Capital Crossroads and Discovery SIDs take a proactive approach to addressing the issue of panhandling through education, outreach and enforcement. In addition to working with the Columbus Police Department, they help connect people who are genuinely in need to appropriate and helpful resources and services. If you want to help, please consider supporting outreach organizations rather than individual panhandlers. To request assistance for an individual, please contact the hotline at (614) 228-5718. Learn more>>
Homeless Outreach
No pretending. Homelessness is a problem all over, and we’re trying to make a difference. Two, full-time specialists make it their business to connect people in need with services. It’s like giving a hand up instead of a hand out.
Although helping the homeless can be difficult and involve such hurdles as criminal background issues, mental health concerns and physical disabilities, we’re making progress. In just the last few years, Capital Crossroads and Discovery SIDs have helped more than 200 men and women get off the street and find permanent housing. Their holistic approach to outreach includes embracing the homeless into our community and helping them understand that they are not unwanted or nameless. In conjunction with their outreach partner, Maryhaven, full-time specialists work within the social service community to advocate for the homeless and help transition those in need to long-term housing. If you see someone who may need help, please call the hotline number at (614) 228-5718.
Umbrella Service
Umbrella-carrying ambassadors are just a phone call away if you need rain cover while in the Capital Crossroads SID.
Umbrellas. Literally. CCSID ambassadors will rescue you from the rain when you’re in the district. Call the hotline at (614) 228-5718
Graffiti Removal
Power-washing ambassadors are at the ready to clean up unsightly and unfortunate street-level building tags, if necessary.
Nobody likes graffiti—but it happens, even though Downtown Columbus is one of the safest and cleanest areas of the city. Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts are happy to clean up first-floor graffiti quickly, discreetly and at no cost to you. If you see graffiti or tagging in progress, please notify the Columbus Police Department or one of the CCSID or DSID safety ambassadors. For clean-up assistance after the fact, please call the hotline at (614) 228-5718. They’ll dispatch a cleaning ambassador as soon as possible.
Collaboration
To get stuff done, work together, right? Behind the scenes, the SID connects security managers and the police in real-time radio communication.
When minutes matter, this collaboration helps protect our Downtown community. The SIDs also organize special trainings for all our security partners to prepare for worse-case scenarios. In fact, the partnership works so well, the National Homeland Security Association tipped their hat to us with a national award in 2014.
Marketing Program
Marketing a new-to-Downtown small business is easier, thanks to complimentary, short-term consulting and strategic planning from CCSID.
There’s so much to do when starting or moving your small business Downtown—and promoting your business is just one of them. But with your move Downtown, time and budget can be notoriously tight. CCSID is happy to help small business owners (especially those who don’t have the resources to hire a public relations or communications firm on their own) develop a marketing launch plan, including social media strategies, contests, newsletter blurbs and more. Better yet? This service is absolutely free to CCSID commercial property owners and entrepreneurs. Call our hotline at (614) 228-5718 to make an appointment.
Research & Data
When you need facts and figures about Downtown Columbus, including number of workers, residents, housing construction and investments, this is where to start.
Whether you’re making a decision to bring your business Downtown, need a statistic on the Downtown housing market, want to know more about Downtown demographics or some other facts-and-figures-type info, there’s a good chance we can help. We also track a variety of other data points, including economic development, education, transportation and land use. For more information, please contact our Deputy Director of Research, Planning and Facilities at (614) 591-4507.
State of Downtown
Take a look at the growth and vitality within our central business district.
As an association of more than 500 commercial and residential property owners in nearly 40 square blocks of Downtown Columbus, our primary goal is to help make Downtown Columbus a clean, safe and vibrant place. As part of our work, we compile a comprehensive report on economic development and investment in Downtown Columbus, as well as share some of the stories of Downtown’s newest property owners and investors. Download the current report here or contact Capital Crossroads SID for a print version.
Office & Retail Space
Small businesses need all the help they can get, so CCSID helps connect entrepreneurs to available space—with square footage sized just right for them.
CCSID makes finding the ideal Downtown workspace for a new startup, small business or growing solo practice a little bit easier. While we’re not real estate brokers, you can search for a sample selection of available small- to mid-size office, retail and special use space right here. Need more information but not sure who to contact? As a courtesy, we’re always happy to help connect small business owners to office and retail space resources and information at the City of Columbus. Just ask.
Safety Patrols
Pedaling from the Topiary Park to Roosevelt Coffee to Franklin University and everywhere in between, our safety ambassadors rack up the miles as they bike through the Discovery District. They’re not hard to miss in red and black uniforms. Oh, and they’ll be the ones smiling and waving as they ride by.
Ambassador Chaperone
The weatherman promised sunny skies, but looking out your office window tells a different story. Give us a call at (614) 228-5718. An ambassador will come to the rescue—umbrella in hand. Or, if you get stuck in the office late after a client meeting, Downtown Ambassadors will walk you to your car or bus line.
Special Duty
Downtown is safe, and we plan on keeping it that way. To stay ahead of the game, the SID hires special-duty police officers to work with our Downtown Ambassadors.
Special-duty officers patrol within the SID boundaries and team up with the ambassadors to keep an eye on things to help Downtown remain one of the safest areas of the city. Remember, if you have an emergency, call 911, but if you have a question or see something a little off, you can call our customer hotline at (614) 228-5718.
That's A Beauty
Have you noticed all the hanging baskets along High Street from Fulton Avenue to Nationwide Boulevard, or the planters all around Capitol Square? Capital Crossroads takes the lead on beautification projects all over Downtown. If it’s blooming (and in the public right of way), we’re probably keeping it pretty.
Four-Season Shine
Our Clean Team—sporting yellow and black uniforms—keep Downtown spiffy all year long picking up trash (and even some unmentionables). You might also see them power washing sidewalks or newspaper racks. As temps turn cool, they suck up the falling leaves, too—last year they bagged more than 5 tons of leaves. And when the snow hits the ground, our Clean Team morphs to Winter Warriors—keeping the crosswalks and street drains free of snow.