Downtown Columbus is the central business district of Columbus, Ohio. Downtown is centered on the intersection of Broad and High Streets, and encompasses all of the area inside the Inner Belt. Downtown is home to most of the tallest buildings in Columbus.
The state capitol, the Ohio Statehouse, is located in the center of downtown on Capitol Square. Downtown is also home to Columbus State Community College, Franklin University, Columbus College of Art and Design, Grant Medical Center, Capital University Law School, as well as the Main Library of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, the pioneering Main Street Bridge, and many parks.
Downtown has many neighborhoods or districts, but it can be separated into three main areas: the Discovery District, the High Street Corridor, and the Riverfront. Downtown also includes the Arena District, Capitol Square, and the Columbus Civic Center. The Short North, Italian Village, and Victorian Village are directly north of downtown. The Warehouse District, Olde Towne East and King-Lincoln Bronzeville are directly east, while the Brewery District and German Village are directly south of Downtown. Franklinton is to the west of downtown.
More than 92,000 people are employed downtown, and nearly 43,000 students attend school at one of the many institutions of higher education located there. As of 2024, Downtown is home to about 12,500 residents.
History The city of Columbus began development in 1812Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan, Downtown Columbus, Inc., p. 15 with the purpose of being the state's new capital. Originally laid out by Lucas Sullivant as the town of Franklinton, the original settlement lay west of the Scioto River. However, Sullivant laid out plans to expand east of the river for what is now downtown Columbus.History of Columbus . Touring Ohio. Retrieved May 25, 2015. Development began quickly and by 1814 significant buildings included a penitentiary, the first school, the statehouse, the first newspaper, and the first church. By 1816, Columbus was incorporated as an official town, and in 1824 Columbus became the official seat of the county and elected its first mayor, John Brooks, in 1834 after being elevated to "city" status.Columbus, Ohio. Ohio History Central. Retrieved May 25, 2015. The city of Columbus has spread out and around from the original plot surrounding the Statehouse, making downtown the literal center of the city. Another pivotal element of downtown Columbus is the Scioto River, which snakes directly through downtown. The downtown of Columbus has changed roles since its founding, going from a government center, to an industrial and commercial center, to what it currently is as the major commercial hub of central Ohio.Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan, Downtown Columbus, Inc., p. 17 The first modern skyscraper to adorn downtown Columbus' skyline is LeVeque Tower, built in 1927. Many other high rises and skyscrapers have been added since the LeVeque Tower, fitting a variety of uses from commercial to residential.
Urban renewal In the early 1950s, major cities began revitalization projects of slums and blighted areas in their communities. Assisted by federal and state funding, these were intended to clear major slums in an effort to revitalize that area for the overall welfare of the city. In January 1952, the Department of Development for the city of Columbus began commissioning task forces in an effort for urban renewal in the blighted areas. The efforts of these task forces are evident in numerous older communities and districts, including Market Mohawk and German Village.
Geography
Columbus' location was chosen based on its central location within the state of Ohio along with the confluence of the Scioto River and Olentangy River being right next to it. Originally, part of the area that is now Columbus was to be allotted to those displaced from Nova Scotia during the American Revolution, and the original settlement lay about a mile west of the Scioto River and the current downtown area. The center of downtown Columbus is focused on the intersection of Broad Street and High Street. The City of Columbus includes an area of around 225 square miles, but downtown is generally referred to as the area within the Scioto River, Interstate 70, Interstate 71, and Interstate 670."Columbus: Geography and Climate". Columbus: Geography and Climate. Advameg, Inc., 2009. Web. 2 December 2014. The last of these major highways, I-670, was completed in 2003."Interstate 70." AAroads Interstate Guide. Retrieved May 25, 2015 Downtown Columbus is bordered to the north by The Short North, to the northwest by Grandview Heights, to the southwest by Franklinton, to the south by German Village, and to the east by King-Lincoln Bronzeville. Downtown Columbus has several districts that make up its diverse area.
Arena District
The Arena District sits on the northwest side of downtown Columbus, with its borders roughly being Nationwide Arena to the north, Front Street to the east, Spring Street to the south, and the Olentangy River to the west. The district is home to a few defining buildings, including Nationwide Arena, Huntington Park, and the LC Pavilion. Nationwide Arena is the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, as well as a venue for a variety of other sporting and special events. Occasionally, the Ohio State University men's and women's basketball teams will also use the facility to host special games. Nationwide first began hosting concerts and hockey games in early 2000. Huntington Park is the home of the Columbus Clippers, which is a minor league affiliate team of the Cleveland Guardians. Huntington Park was opened for games in spring 2009, making its debut in the Arena District.Huntington Park . Downtown Columbus. Retrieved May 26, 2015. Huntington Park sits directly west of Nationwide Arena. The LC Pavilion (formerly the Promowest Pavilion) is the first dual indoor and outdoor concert venue in the country.Lifestyle Communities Pavilion. Promowest. Retrieved May 26, 2015. The LC hosts mainly musical acts, averaging just about 110 shows each year. The district also plays host to a variety of bars, restaurants, and cafes in the area. The district originally contained old industrial buildings, but began redevelopment in 1996 under then City Councilman Michael B. Coleman.
Discovery District
The Discovery District is the eastern district of downtown Columbus. Interstate 670 borders it to the North while Interstate 71, Fulton Street, and Fifth Street borders it to the East, South, and West, respectively. Within the Discovery District are buildings of culture, art, design, and education. The Columbus Metropolitan Library's Main Library and the Columbus Museum of Art are both located within the district. Also, there are numerous educational options within this district. Columbus State Community College is a two-year associates-degree institution located in the Discovery District with an enrollment of just under 25,000 students."Fast Facts". Columbus State Community College. CSCC, n.d. Retrieved May 26, 2015. Also located in the district are the Columbus College of Art and Design, which was founded in 1879 as the Columbus Art School and enrolls roughly 1,300 students,Accreditation & Affiliation. CCAD. n.d. Retrieved May 26, 2015.Columbus College of Art & Design. Ohio History Central. Retrieved May 26, 2015. and the Capital University Law School. The ABA-accredited law school is a branch of Capital University in Bexley, Ohio."Our History". Capital University Law School. n.d. Retrieved May 26, 2015. Within the Discovery District is The Discovery Special Improvement District. The goal of this private-sector corporation, that encompasses a 37 square block area, is to improve the safety and image for the Discovery District neighborhood."Discovery District." :: Discovery Special Improvement District. Discovery District Development Corp., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
River South District The River South District is the southwest area of downtown Columbus along the Scioto River that is surrounded by Town Street to the North, Mound Street to the South, The Scioto River to the West, and Wall Street to the East. One of the main attractions of the River South District is a green space called Columbus Commons. Columbus Commons was built over the former site of City Center Mall in 2010 and includes within it the outdoor venue Bicentennial Pavilion."History". Columbus Commons. n.d. Retrieved May 26, 2015. Another area of interest is the Scioto Mile which is a network of parks and trails that follow the riverfront of the Scioto River. Attractions along the Scioto Mile include Bicentennial Park and the River South Art Walk."The Scioto Mile" . Scioto Mile River Front Park – Downtown Columbus Events and Activities. N.p., n.d. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
Uptown District The Uptown District, also known as the High Street Corridor, runs along High Street from Town Street in the south to the Greater Columbus Convention Center in the North. The Ohio Statehouse resides in the Uptown District, as well as a series of bars and restaurants to the north along Park Street. The Uptown District is also home to the Ohio Theatre, the Palace Theatre, and the Trinity Episcopal Church. LeVeque Tower, Columbus' first skyscraper, also resides in the Uptown District, west of the Ohio Statehouse and on the banks of the Scioto River.
Miranova Place District
Miranova Place is located within the southwestern corner of downtown. It is bordered by the Scioto River to the north and west, Interstate 70 to the south, and South Civic Center Drive to the east. Within it lies two major features, the Miranova Condominiums and the Miranova Corporate Tower. The condominiums are a 26-floor residential unit, finished in 2000. The Miranova Corporate Tower is a 12-floor corporate office space that was finished in 2001. The buildings designs reflect a modern architecture meant to serve as a bookend for downtown before it reached the Scioto River and I-70. The buildings are owned by developer Ron Pizutti, and serve currently as his headquarters.
Market-Mohawk District
The Market-Mohawk District is located in the southeastern section of downtown and is bordered to the north irregularly by Chapel, Town, and Main Streets, Livingston Avenue to the South, South Parsons Avenue to the East, and to the west South Third Street. The Market-Mohawk District was originally a residential area of single family homes that became a mixed-land-use area as the city grew. With the unprecedented growth, Market-Mohawk became overpopulated and grew into what city officials considered a slum. In the 1950s and 1960s the area was part of the $43 million Market Mohawk Urban Renewal Project. The redevelopment brought facilities for Greyhound Lines, Franklin University, and several apartment complexes.Plan for Downtown Columbus, City of Columbus Department of Development, June 1978 These new buildings were placed far from the street to reduce foot traffic and were designed in Modernist or New Formalist styles, with two-dimensional facades, blank masonry facades, poured concrete decorative elements, and with none of the prior structures' architecture taken into account.
Today the district is still home to Franklin University and the Market-Mohawk apartment building, the Ohio Democratic Party Building, the Ohio Republican Party Building, and Columbus Downtown High School. There is an intact block of buildings built in the 1960s, though other buildings built nearby at that time have since been replaced. The building and district are named for the Central Market and Mohawk Public School, both of which have since been demolished.