Meet Your Capital Crossroads SID Staff
Lisa Defendiefer, Deputy Director of Operations and Advocacy, has worked with Capital Crossroads and Discovery SIDs for 13 years. She oversees clean and safe operations of both SIDs, collaborating with a variety of entities to ensure the downtown community offers a clean, safe and welcoming environment for all. She partners with downtown private security managers, the Division of Police, the City Attorney's Office, social service organizations, Code Enforcement, the Division of Fire and Franklin County Office of Homeland Security.
Individuals and businesses in both SIDs should contact her if they need help handling criminal activity, safety tips, training needs, crime statistics, quality-of-life issues, and if they would like a presentation outlining SID services. Lisa can be reached by phone at 614.645.5064 or via email at lldefendiefer@sidservices.com.
If you need immediate help to address criminal activity or suspicious behavior, please contact the SID's Customer Service Hotline at 614.228.5718.
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Growing Green
This spring, the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department will plant 90 new trees along the streets in the core area of downtown, including North and South High Streets, South Third Street, East Town Street and East Rich Street. The trees, with a relatively large 2.5 inch diameter, will be planted in late March.
Because a large number of trees had been infected with the emerald ash borer, dead and dying trees had to be removed. Now that those trees have been removed, the stumps must be ground. This noisy process will be completed at night to avoid traffic.
In order to help the new trees survive, Capital Crossroads SID will commit staff time to waterand fertilize the newly planted trees. Because of limited staffing, the SID will also reach out to property owners adjacent to new trees to request help with watering.
The result of these efforts will be a greener, more beautiful downtown.
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Not On His Watch: CCSID Safety Ambassador Helps Apprehend Purse Snatcher
The Capital Crossroads SID Safety Ambassadors are always ready to lend a hand. Though that help often takes the form of providing safety escorts or supporting the security efforts in buildings throughout the SID, one day this winter, Ambassador Team Leader Josh Horn took things a step further.
A woman walking downtown was the victim of a purse snatching. Though such instances are pretty rare downtown, often the chances of finding the lost property and apprehending the criminal are slim, but not on Josh's watch.
Click here to read the full story. Spoiler alert: the good guys come out on top.
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Bike Racks Available for Installation
The City of Columbus continues its efforts to support bike riding in Downtown Columbus. It is clear that more employees, residents and visitors would choose biking if amenities supporting biking are made more widely available.
To that end, businesses and property owners who would like to request a bike rack be installed in the right-of-way can contact the City of Columbus at 614.645.3111 or submit a request at here ADD LINK.
Help get downtown rolling!.
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Dear Capital Crossroads SID Member: 
With temperatures still hovering below normal, it's hard to believe that spring is here. Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District will be busy during the warmer months keeping downtown spiffy, though our cold weather efforts are no less important. Our Ambassadors hit the streets on snowy and icy days, keeping the crosswalks clear. At special events such as The Arnold Fitness Festival and other conventions, the Ambassadors roll out the welcome mat to visitors, offering information, directions, restaurant recommendations and more. Often, they go above and beyond to help fellow citizens, as you will read in our story about Ambassador Josh Horn.
In this edition of Downtown Matters, we are excited to introduce you to Yavonne and Wade Sarber, who have opened no fewer than three new businesses downtown in the last 18 months. Their commitment to Downtown Columbus is fantastic, and we're sure you'll be interested in learning why they find downtown the place to set up shop.
When the warm weather finally arrives, everyone will be looking for a spot of shade, so you can read about plans to plant more trees in our city core. While selling single-serving alcoholic beverages can be a touchy subject, I will share my thoughts about why downtown businesses should avoid the practice.
I am extraordinarily proud of our staff at Capital Crossroads SID. We will introduce you to staff members in each edition of Downtown Matters, so you can better understand who is working to make downtown great, the role they play and how they can be of service to you.
Thank you again for your support of Capital Crossroads SID and for Downtown Columbus.
Warmest Regards,
Cleve Ricksecker, Executive Director
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Hard Working Couple Can't Get Enough of Downtown
There are lots of hardworking folks in Downtown Columbus. But Yavonne and Wade Sarber are definitely in the running for "Hardest Working, Downtown Category." In less than a year and a half, the couple has opened three new businesses downtown, with another on the way.
De Novo Bistro & Bar opened in November 2011, offering delicious dining in an upscale, gorgeous setting. About a year later, the couple launched Manifesto Tuscan Grato & Scotch Bar, another eatery with great food, a focus on Scotch, and unique and beautiful décor. Then in February of this year, Capital Fitness, a 24-hour fitness facility opened (maybe to help you burn off the calories from the delicious food and drink at their other two locations).
Why downtown?
Yavonne Sarber explained, "My husband and I love the opportunity downtown presents. It is a canvas being painted beautifully. This is the time to open businesses, before everyone else figures it out."
Click here to learn more about their ever-expanding plans.
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"Bad" Alcohol Must Be Banished from Downtown
The relationship between disorder and crime is an obvious one, and downtown it manifests itself most apparently with public consumption of alcohol.
Public intoxication leads to panhandling, public urination, assaults, menacing behavior and other problems. It also results in disorder that invites other criminal behavior, especially if the initial disorder escapes notice by the authorities. By tolerating what might be considered nuisance issues, the stage is set for escalating criminal behavior.
The book, Fixing Broken Windows, documents the relationship between disorder and serious crime. Where cities and transit authorities take a "zero tolerance" approach to disorder, crime plummets. In New Your City, felonies declined by 75 percent in the subway system within four years of beginning a such an approach.
Click here to learn what downtown businesses can do to minimize disorder escalating to crime.
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Public Art Brightens Infrastructure Project
As the downtown renaissance continues, we have seen an increased focus on public art opportunities. Public art projects nourish our city, fostering creativity, expressing our values and simply making us happy. The Finding Time Public Art series of 2012 helped us celebrate our bicentennial and in 2013, the Long Street Cultural Wall will add art and beauty to an important infrastructure project.
Learn more about the plans for the Long Street Cultural Wall.
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New Downtown Business Open Offering Outstanding Retail Options
There have been many exciting new retail offerings downtown. One long-awaited spot opened in mid-March. Hills Market Downtown has already proved a huge hit.
The Hills Market Downtown celebrated its official grand opening on March 19. We were nibbling around with other foodies during the soft opening and wanted to share some photos and tips on what to expect (ahem, great deals).
And who would think office supplies could inspire spectacular? But it's happening at Robert Mason on Gay Street. This shop is small, just a little over 200-square feet, but it's mighty, and there's much more in store for this pop-up shop right inside of Sugardaddy's. We took a few photos, and want to give you some info on what to expect if you haven't stopped by yet.
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SID Services Making a Difference
We always appreciate it when someone recognizes the hard work of SID staff. A recent visitor to downtown for the Central Eastern Nurseryman Trade Show sent us a letter commending Ambassador William Taylor.
"I am Bill Udell from Total Lawn Care Inc. I was at the Central Eastern Nurseryman Trade Show and had the pleasure of meeting William Taylor. I can see why Columbus is so clean! Please know that I met William two times during my four-day stay and both times he was busy maintaining the sidewalks and street sides. He is very personable and made me feel welcome in your city. I want to thank you and William for making my trip extra enjoyable. I appreciate your hard work!"
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