Surfing the web, I found an old article relevant to the 270.
In 1988, the New York Times had an article titled IN THE NATION: Columbus, Ohio; Froth for a Reviving Downtown: Rentals and Condos in Breweries. The article describes the efforts of J. Edwards Company of Columbus, Webb Companies of Lexington, KY, SeaGate Community Development of Toledo and Grange Mutual Casualty Company of Columbus in developing the Brewery District.
Some quotes:
”Up until now there’s been no place to move to, or for that matter, no reason to live downtown,” said Jeffrey Edwards, vice president for development at Multicon. ”Downtown Columbus is dead after 5.”
Downtown is a little more hopping after 5. But it could be better. For the most part, the hopping is for restaurant and bars. But there’s no hopping for retail.
”We’re starting to emerge with a little more cosmopolitan flair,” said G. Raymond Lorello, the city’s development director. ”People who move to Columbus from New York or Chicago are looking for a different type of life style than is offered in the typical suburbs.”
And in the 10 plus years since this article, Columbus has taken on that cosmopolitan flair. Bit by bit, we’re starting to shed that cowtown image.
CITY officials also welcome the Brewery District development as a spur to long-term plans for the redevelopment of High Street, the city’s major north-south artery, which connects German Village on the south to the campus of Ohio State University on the north.
I think, with the development of all the downtown condos, the Arena District, the Short North, etc., Columbus’ hopes are panning out.
Bravo to all those pioneers mentioned in the article, and to all those people that worked behind the scene. I’m glad they had the foresight to make downtown Columbus a better place to be. Obviously there’s much work to be done. But the progress is encouraging.
Our first stop will definitely be The Condominiums at North Bank Park. I watched this building grow up from a hole in the ground. It’s a fantastic looking building and is located in the Arena District.
