The planning done for High Street has been the framework for a number of initiatives which have improved the economic vitality of High Street and attracted the investment of more than $50 million in private funds along High Street and in the adjacent neighborhood.

Columbus City Council in 2001 adopted an urban commercial zoning overlay for High Street in the University District. City Council in May 2002 adopted A Plan for High Street: Creating a 21st Century Main Street and its companion volume University/High Street Development & Design Guidelines. The High Street plan provided the critical planning foundation for the development and design guidelines. Council also expanded the authority of the existing University Area Review Board to oversee implementation of the guidelines.

The Columbus Department of Development also implemented a storefront façade improvement program for High Street in the University District similar to existing programs in the city’s Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization districts. The program provided grants and low interest loans as incentives for façade improvements.

The City of Columbus and The Ohio State University jointly funded preparation of a plan in 2004 and 2005 to guide future streetscape improvements for both sides of High Street from Chittenden Avenue north to Lane Avenue.

Among the projects which represent major new investment on High Street are:

-- South Campus Gateway, a major mixed-use redevelopment project on High Street which opened in 2005 and which represents a total investment of more than $154 million.

-- Buckeye Real Estate in 2003 renovated the vacant apartment building on the northeast corner of High Street and East 12th Avenue, creating a retail space on the first floor (now occupied by Bank One). The apartments were reduced from 16 to nine units in a high-quality renovation. The success of this building led the company to renovate an apartment building around the corner on East 12th Avenue, again adding retail to the first floor and renovating the three floors of apartments above.

-- The owners of the Newport Music Hall, the country’s oldest continuously operating live rock music venue, in 2004 renovated the building, including the front façade, and adding a restaurant and night club to the first and second floors.

-- Nebraska Books renovated and added an addition to a nearly vacant building to place College Town bookstore on High Street.

-- Urban Outfitters extensively renovated a two-story commercial building and opened the first Urban Outfitters store in Ohio. The property owner subsequently built an addition to the building that now houses a Starbucks coffeehouse.

-- Buffalo Wild Wings in 2007 opened BW3, a bar and eatery in a new two-story, 8,000-square-foot building on the northwest corner of Lane Avenue and High Street.

-- A new retail development on High Street just south of Lane Avenue opened in late 2007 with two restaurants, clothing store and an electronics store.

-- Panda Express opened in 2008 in a new building on High Street at East Woodruff Avenue.

-- Ohio State is building a new Ohio Union, which will open on High Street in 2010.

-- Kroger has committed to rebuilding and enlarging its store on High Street at East Seventh Avenue.