ck

Not sure how we could get away with deporting criminals to another country, assuming without their permission, and I can't imagine why they would agree to it. Incidentally, in regards to prisons, I just read an article not long ago about how Ohio's prison population has declined in recent years. Just label repeat violent offenders terrorists. Then get them out of here. There is laws on the books that you can do that to terrorists. Citizens or not. Just stop dude - it's not funny, practical, reasonable, moral, et al... just stop

I'm surprised at the people who think it doesn't fit or don't get why it's so literal etc... That's the attitude that keeps the city from actually implementing all the projects throughout the years. Why does it need to be interactive or awe inspiring or whatever? Why can't it just be a piece of art in an area that probably won't get anything else put in?? What's with the nitpicking? It's not supposed to appeal to everyone and nobody has the notion that it's a game changer... It's just one more thing to add a little something downtown... I suppose we'll need a 2/3 vote to get anything done. What else is going to go there? Why wouldn't you want something else there??

Columbus needs things to differentiate itself from the rest of the `midwest.` In the past it has let large public art concepts pass by because of worries about how the art fits in with downtown et al... I think that's a mistake. The only way columbus differentiates is by stuff like this. There are no mountains, great rivers, interesting geography, beaches, good weather or much of anything that really draws people in. To pass on anything that helps make the city more interesting, to me, is a mistake if Columbus wants to continue to draw people.

Thanks guys - wish I could have spent some more time around town -I was in go go go mode and had other places to get to. Can't wait to see some more columbus threads...

Spent a few hours in Columbus today - Not a tour and no real theme... Anyone know where this was taken?? Hint - North side

http://mediagallery.usatoday.com/America's-best-neighborhoods/G2800,A10334 10 Best Neighborhoods in America. German Village is slide 13 of 13.

yeah without the buildings it appears we razed the block and filled it in with grass!! everyone knows greenspace cures everything </sarcasm> (sorry, but looking at that picture above depresses me)

Such an attitude for someone with one post who seems to have vested interests at play... Granted not giving change is typical for buses, however many cities are adopting cards that you put money on and can swipe at the bus... much easier that way. Also, having police escort someone off a bus for not paying 50 cents is kinda ridiculous and indefensible. If the bus isn't full, then every cent helps. The bus is going to drive regardless of the number of people on it, so why not take the money and keep going? You don't advertise that you do that, but you just do it... It's what quite a few large bus systems do, because it makes sense and really a transportation system should be about getting people where they need to go. And a public transportation system needs to run 24/7 - no discussion, it needs to. GPS would be nice. Waiting for buses is about the most unproductive thing in the world. People would ride more if riding didn't mean such a loss of productivity. You gave a strange response. I wonder why you would represent yourself as someone affiliated with COTA (indirectly it seems you are) and respond the way you did?

Umm sorry if this is off topic but you linked to an op-ed by a conservative who wrote "Why the Left Hates America: Exposing the Lies That Have Obscured Our Nation's Greatness"... Not a very good source there. Basically the article you linked to tried to paint Zinn as a communist. Oh my! There is little doubt Columbus committed genocide and seemingly thought it was the right thing to do. If you'd like to celebrate that, that's your prerogative I suppose.. If you want to ignore that, whatever... Ignorance is certainly bliss, but it's still ignorant.

I think it's uncommon for Columbus to have 80 something... last year was pretty low in comparison to most years. From what I remember, Columbus typically has 100 or more a year. This year is on about the same pace as normal... Edit: I just looked and I guess Columbus varies from 75-120 from year to year. So not too uncommon

I've recently been reading The People's History of the United States 1492-Present by Howard Zinn and even though I knew the original Columbus (of the Christopher variety) was not a good guy, I never knew actually how horrible he was... Certainly not worthy of naming a city after - In that regard, I would be all for changing the name of the city and not embracing the namesake of the city. Not to mention how much attention would be generated by renaming the city... People would instantly know the city and you would never need to say Ohio after it again (unless it was renamed something already in use haha)

what difference does it make? are you serious? the type of sport and/or the league playing there makes a world of difference... and no a minor league team at cooper stadium isn't something that will help the area too much, so stop with the high and mighty attitude. Columbus has had so many minor league teams that nobody would care when they came or left... imo

Impressed - Very nice shots

Is that all inclusive? In seattle there are 2-3 malls downtown and they all seem to be working quite well. Is it possibly that downtown malls to draw people downtown don't work? Maybe if you already have people coming downtown, a mall is a nice compliment... but if nobody wants to go downtown, the mall isn't going to bring them alone?

I like uninspired sometimes. I don't like 1 or 2 story uninspired, but I like large boxy buildings - more of an old time feel to them. I don't care that it's not glitzy and/or styling - I find it appealing in the sense of being urban. I wish we had more big brick boxes around town.

looks good - adds some more height to the area

This has been posted on the site before, but this seemed like a good thread to put these on too... East Main Street Camera project... there are questions of civil liberties et al, but they've put up some striking footage and previously had it tied into some great music - but I think the original music was removed due to copyrights... here's a couple

All I know is that the name, `Hollywood Casino`, is so awesome it's sure to attract people. I mean they must have done study after study to come up with the best possible name ever. I bet the name alone attracts people from all over lowly ohio who want to get a taste of the `Hollywood` atmosphere we all hear so much about! Personally I can't wait!! I'm expecting to see at least a couple `stars` there every time I go... God I love that name!!!

Unless things have changed since I was there (probably have a bit) great bus service is the last thing Columbus has. I believe it was ranked the worst out of 30 major cities in the U.S. I remember having to walk home from downtown on Sundays because the buses stopped running at 7pm!!! Great bus service is not something someone who rides the bus often (at least used to) would say about COTA. So many memories of waiting an hour for a bus or more and then the bus only going kind of where you're going... good luck trying to get out to the suburbs at any time other than the morning or evening commute etc... Columbus public transportation = horrible. At least that's what it was like in 2003... maybe it's changed - EDIT: It just occurred to me you were talking about OSU <-> Downtown on high street... Yeah, it's better service - about typical of any normal route in most other cities, but it still stopped running on Sunday nights and I still remember it being absolutely crammed most of the time.

Agree with `x`. Does this look like the type of development that would encourage pedestrians? I'm sure some people will walk around that live there, but since they catered so much to cars, we're just continuing to feed into the `drive everywhere` mentality in ohio. It's not urban. Urban is walking downstairs to shops underneath your apartment and hopping on a bus, walking, or taking a train to get to where you need to go. This is not that. More people is good, but it could be so much better and it seems we're locking ourselves into this for a long time because I doubt they will be willing to tear it down after building it (anytime soon at least). And yes, walker, you're right... a grade of 92-100 = A, and 91-0 = F. Whether or not you like that, this is supposed to be the premiere neighborhood/district in Ohio, and you're cool just settling for some crappy 3 story, car centric, set aside apartments. They look more like what you would find up neil avenue behind the old Big Bear (you know those horrible apartments I'm talking about) than the brand new, super dense, pedestrian friendly arena district.

resturants and bars right up next to a park? I didn't see the plans for restaurants and bars, but maybe they're there; however, the plans looked more like a corporate park than a Spanish plaza, to me. Referencing european cities seems to be an analogy that doesn't fit. European cities you're referencing would have large amounts of tourists, be located within a dense residential and commerical environment, and usually be centered around buildings that people come to see, not buildings that people merely go to work in. I agree it's a missed opportunity. You're taking the very center of downtown and turning it into largely greenspace? I was under the impression we were trying to become a more dense city. Maybe we thought the park a couple blocks away on the riverfront wasn't enough or the park by the arena. Ever see a ton of people at those? Not really, unless there's an event going on. Granted this one would have more people just because it's enclosed by some populated buildings, but I doubt it would be a draw on any consistent basis. It doesn't look unique at all. It looks like some grass in the middle of some buildings. We had a chance to use a lot of space downtown to build something that would draw people downtown.. instead we thought some grass and trees would be the answer. I think maybe they hope someday downtown will just be one big park. Seems to be the answer every time we want to `revitalize` an area... Just build another park!

My problem with green space is that it seems Columbus thinks that's the answer to its attractiveness issue, when it clearly is not. Sure, a park is nicer to look at than a parking lot, but green space doesn't add value to an area unless the area already has some value there. If you build a park where a lot of people live, it's a good idea. If you build a park where nobody goes anyway, then you have a park with nobody in it... basically adding no value. I would think people who want open space everywhere would rather live in a rural area. My thoughts are that within the city of columbus, we need to get as dense as possible. Sure, put a nice park in the middle of a few high rise apartment buildings, I'm all for that. But we need those apartment buildings. It's a city after all, and people won't voluntarily come to a city if it's just one big suburb (they would just go to the suburbs).

No strip malls obviously, but more greenspace is not needed there. Columbus' south west side is pretty pathetic, and that wouldn't help. You're right that it isn't much of a location, but that's because nobody has done anything with it. If someone does something, who knows, maybe it can become attractive. As it is now, why would anyone ever go there besides to see a dead person?

No more green space there please. Look at that picture above, it's so empty. Even the houses to the north of the highway have backyards. I think an area that close to downtown needs to be more dense. So much unused and ugly space on the south west side of the city

Besides it sounding like a bad thing, there's really no downside to having a parking garage next door. It won't be any more noisy than the street, most garages close before you go to sleep, you have parking right next door!, and thiefs will bypass your condo for the much easier cars next door! I think it's a win win -