The University District is an inner-city commercial and residential area of 2.5 square miles or 1,500 acres. It is located approximately 2 miles directly north of Columbus' downtown. Although the University District remains a vital center of activity for Columbus, it is experiencing significant development pressures and the University neighborhoods are experiencing trends of disinvestment, declining homeownership, and loss of security. Change must occur to ensure the health and economic stability of the area.
There are approximately 10,000 buildings within the University neighborhoods to the north, south, and east of Ohio State University. Approximately 80 percent of the building stock is original, and is 40 years old or older. This extensive building stock is being negatively affected by insensitive rehabilitation and neglect.
Identification and evaluation of existing historic resources within the University District is incomplete. To date, only 10 percent of the buildings in the area have been surveyed for the Ohio Historic Inventory, and those have been documented at varying degrees of thoroughness. Areas which have been surveyed include the High Street Commercial District from 5th Avenue (the University's southern boundary) to Arcadia (the University's northern boundary), which includes the North Columbus Commercial District.
The need and recommendation for preservation planning has been addressed in the Columbus Comprehensive Plan (1993), under "Neighborhood Preservation Policies," where two of many strategies for historic resources include (1) "identifying and preserving existing environmental character and distinguishing features of all neighborhoods" and (2) "seeking to regain a sense of historic identity and continuity in all areas that lack a sense of place." (p. 96) Likewise, the Campus Partners University Neighborhoods Revitalization Plan - Concept Document (1996) also underscores the value of existing University neighborhood housing stock specifically stating, "historic and contributing residential structures provide a valuable resource for creating unique and positive identity in the University District's neighborhoods." (p. 6-4)
The next critical step toward preservation in the University neighborhoods is to get a better understanding of the resources and their relationship to one another. That's what Taking Stock is all about.
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