Episode Details

In another year of covering our city-these were our most read articles of 2024

Number 10

In our first entry we took a detailed look at the City Council during their annual work retreat and got a better sense of the city’s online infrastructure.

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/hilliard-city-council-advance-and

Number 9

Hilliard Council showed international interest by working with local residents to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the early stages of ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine.

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/a-call-for-peace-develops-locally

Number 8

In related events City Council President Vermillion chose to resign her post but remain a member after backlash to the ceasefire resolution drew in local Jewish groups’ opposition and complaints about religious sensitivity.

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/vermillion-resigns-council-presidency

Number 7

Noor Cultural Islamic Center acquired the former BMW Financial building with plans to develop it alongside their other Dublin and New Albany facilities to serve their growing community. We found out from representative Fadi Suleiman and Attorney and former Council President Nathan Painter…it hasn’t been exactly “smooth sailing”

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/beacon-audio-companion-89-with-fadi

Number 6

Featured in a number of pieces this year, Lifewise Academy made a big purchase of the former Aquatic Adventures for 2.6 million with plans to make it their new headquarters and training center- attempting to grow the controversial concept of “release time for religious instruction” during the school day.

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/lifewise-academy-grows-influence

Number 5

Kevin gave us a great look at the high-stakes involved when Hilliard Schools came back to the ballot with new funding requests for physical facilities upgrades and ongoing operating costs

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/whats-at-stake-for-hilliard-schools

Number 4

It’s easy to get carried away thinking about 165 empty acres in the middle of your city. We did and you all enjoyed it quite a bit! The retired rail corridor (which bisects a large portion of our city) is at the center of Community Plan infill potential and a critical part of the developing trails network. We hope the process features innovation as well as public centered thinking when the time comes to grow here.

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/one-hundred-sixty-acres-of-sunshine

Number 3

Highlighting an early clash (with coverage extending back to 2023) between residents and developers under the new Community Plan guidelines for development Rock Run LLC ran headlong into the Scioto Property Owners Collective. Plans have been revised and construction has begun on the site but this instance makes clear the need for more resident involvement and dialog in the months and years leading up to these announcements- not after.

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/dublin-road-development-at-decision

Number 2

The era defini