East Franklinton has a proud, pioneer tradition that began with the first settlers of Columbus and continues today with the many dedicated community leaders who call Franklinton home. For decades, the neighborhood was in decay with high crime rates and disinvestment. In the spring of 2011, at his State of the City address, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced a new initiative, the Creative Community District Plan, to attract the creative class to the East Franklinton neighborhood as a means of revitalizing this area near downtown. The planning NEXT team was hired by Goody Clancy as a part of a multi-disciplinary consulting team to lead the public involvement aspect of the planning process.