Downtown open container law headed to Columbus Council after slight change

A proposed ordinance that would expand the open-container law for visitors in downtown Columbus has reduced the area where alcoholic drinks will be allowed, an Uptown Columbus Inc. and police officials said Tuesday during a meeting at The Loft.

The change was suggested by Columbus Police Department to control areas where people are walking around with open containers of alcoholic beverages in the entertainment district. The boundary is limited to Broadway from 10th Street to 14th Street and Front Avenue bounded between 12th Street, Bay Avenue and 10th Street.

Ross Horner, president of Uptown Columbus, the non-profit downtown redevelopment organization recommending the proposal, hopes the ordinance will get on the March 27 Columbus Council agenda or the next available meeting in April.

“We will wait and see,” he said after the 6:30 p.m. meeting downtown. “If not next Tuesday, we will get it hopefully in front of council at the next one.”

Horner was pleased to see that most of about 50 business owners, downtown residents and employees supported the proposed ordinance while a few voiced concerns about intoxicated people wandering into businesses.

Police Maj. J.D. Hawk said the change in the boundary for open containers is an area that can be controlled by police. “We are not going to make everybody happy in the first place,” he said.

Downtown includes Council District 7 represented by Evelyn “Mimi” Woodson who urged those gathered to try the proposal. “I really thing we are going in the right direction,” said Woodson, who saw many changes during her travels in the military. “It is true. Young people are coming back. When they go off, they see something different. What we are doing is the same as the military does.”

Although the current proposal is limited in space, the councilor said the ordinance can be changed later. “I know now it’s limited, but let’s try it,” she said. “If it works and it grows and brings in more money, the city can move slower and move a couple blocks.”

Paul Pierce, the artistic director at the Springer Opera House, said the theater has been serving Columbus for 147 years and paying taxes. He said the theater’s audience has gotten bigger and younger. “We just finished last year as the most prosperous year ever,” he said. “That is because Uptown Columbus has become a regional destination. A lot of people show up down here don’t even know whey they are coming. They just know I can go to downtown Columbus I can have a good time.”

Under the ordinance, downtown bars and restaurants with an on-premise alcohol license would be allowed to let customers take an unfinished drink out of the business. Open containers are now only allowed during special events such as festivals that apply for permits.

If approved by the 10-member council, open containers would be allowed everyday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. A person could leave a restaurant with an alcoholic beverage or even a sweet tea, Horner said.

This story was originally published March 20, 2018 at 9:56 PM with the headline "Downtown open container law headed to Columbus Council after slight change."