I personally don't think changing the city's name is necessary.  After all, that Portland Shangri-la shares its name with another somewhat large Portland in Maine.

Is changing the name of the city an option that at least deserves some discussion?

 

 

Here is a list of cities that have changed their names over the course of history.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_name_changes

 

 

I think it comes down to playing on what Columbus has as assets.  They are getting recognition for a lot of green development, developing a real quality entertainment district, revitalizing and connecting Short North to OSU and downtown, OSU, the Brewery District etc.  When you are trying to brand or market your city, you have to focus on the core because that's what people are going to identify with as Columbus.  It's not practical to use a picture of Easton and say, "Oh this is Columbus" and as much of a success as Easton or Polaris are they can be found elsewhere in America.  So Columbus has to be marketed as a place as much as a slogan and I think focusing on the core helps identify what that brand is.

Is changing the name of the city an option that at least deserves some discussion? 

 

 

Here is a list of cities that have changed their names over the course of history.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_name_changes

 

 

 

 

Interesting that two Ohio cities, Cincinnati and Dublin were on the list.

I should visit Aquinnah, Mass

^Cleveland too, just taking out the "a" ;)

Two of the three news opens from Cols in the 1970s identified themselves as broadcasting from "columbus, ohio". Strange that even the local news would say that.

 

Heres a way of using a bit of branding jujistu on the abbreviation.

 

"Columbus, Oh!",  "Columbus, the city that puts the Oh! in Ohio", " Be Suprised.  Columbus. Oh!"

 

....trying to pun on that Oh abbreviation and riffing on how folks might be suprised by how neat Cols is.  "Oh!  I had no idea they had this!"

 

 

 

 

when i started at Ohio State the slogan was "Columbus:more than you have dreamed"

 

Which for most Americans is factually accurate.

That is not a slam on Columbus, when was the last time you dreamed about Dallas?

I think it comes down to playing on what Columbus has as assets.  They are getting recognition for a lot of green development, developing a real quality entertainment district, revitalizing and connecting Short North to OSU and downtown, OSU, the Brewery District etc.  When you are trying to brand or market your city, you have to focus on the core because that's what people are going to identify with as Columbus.  It's not practical to use a picture of Easton and say, "Oh this is Columbus" and as much of a success as Easton or Polaris are they can be found elsewhere in America.  So Columbus has to be marketed as a place as much as a slogan and I think focusing on the core helps identify what that brand is.

 

Agreed that our urban core best defines what is Columbus, but I am at odds with a slogan approach. The other issue is one I've raised before, which is that urban pioneers here have been too myopic in just letting the Short North serve as "mission accomplished" for urban revitalization and have been reluctant in pushing outside of those boundaries. The inner city should by all means be further along considering that there are other commercial streets aren't as bad as the Short North back in the day, but the good news is that we're starting to see tangible changes. We need to be able to include Parsons and W Broad, among others in the list of great urban destinations. Our current list, while solid, falls short in the number of urban amenities that cities like Portland offer. Multiplying that number = positive national and international recognition.

 

Speaking of Portland, businesses have turned NE Alberta St from one of the worst streets in the city known for the highest number of drive by shootings, to a street lined with cafes, restaurants, bars, retail, a community cycling center, etc, without a streetcar on this street and it was not unusual to see police cars going to the area with flashing lights and sirens on up until the mid 90s. Over here, similarly large areas with high rates of violent crime like Linden and the Near South are immediately written off, while Portland entrepreneurs went in and turned their version into a highly desirable place today. It's only a two-lane street with on-street parking, but guess what? There are plentiful curb bumpouts to prioritize pedestrians even though it's already a narrow street and there are long distances between traffic signals for crossing (contract that to dense urban business districts on W Broad that have six lanes to cross and zilch bump outs). It also has a lower speed limit, 30 MPH (same as the Short North), than the ubiquitous 35 MPH on many local urban business districts.

 

I disagree that "the city", in general, gets it. Involved urban residents and business owners? Yes. Local government leadership? No. Columbus city council recently approved an unnecessary highway project that is going to take a toll on the progress made in a couple of up-and-coming neighborhoods and widen the gash of the highway by doubling it, even after local business owners have spoken against it. The city wants to maintain the high vacancy rate of downtown streets such as Long and also leave other retail-lined one-ways like E Main as is, because they prefer to cater to rush-hour traffic rather than cater to local businesses needed for a vibrant downtown. They wanted to take away on-street parking all along the 2nd densest urban business district in the city simply because it's not the Short North and went with just removing one side after enough opposition was raised. The city only converted downtown streets to two-way after developers stipulated that as a necessity if they were to build their large-scale residential developments there. New downtown businesses have been delayed for months as a result of annual changes in building codes and the new Sugardaddy's dessert shop is one example that was losing out on business because the building was up to code for 2009, but not 2010. They were supposed to open in February, but had to remain closed until May. Think about what that says to other prospective businesses who see that and would rather not have deal with such hassles. Urban business districts aside from High St are all car-oriented with higher speeds and significantly inferior conditions for pedestrians such as making peds walk a 1/3 mile or more to the next traffic signal to cross the street and there no curb bumpouts. It's already hard enough to get good entrepreneurs to open a business on these streets without adding poor conditions for pedestrians as a disincentive.

 

I was just up in Windsor where their version of High St downtown, Ouellette, is thriving with on-street parking and numerous curb bumpouts. Much of High St Downtown has no on-street parking at all and little accommodations for encouraging alternatives such as abundant bike racks and scooter/motorcycle parking at each intersection. There are no curb bumpouts to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians either and it's no surprise that there's little going on there. Our city government largely continues to act as an obstacle, not an asset, in urban revitalization.

 

Downtown visitors aside from those at the convention center, such as hotel guests, need to pointed in the direction of what we do have in the meantime. Right now, there is only one wayfinding sign pointing visitors at Nationwide and High to the Short North. What about German Village, Old North Columbus, etc? Nada.

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)

Zinn is entirely unreliable as a historian.

Zinn is entirely unreliable as a historian.

+1

From City Journal yesterday: "An FBI History of Howard Zinn" http://www.city-journal.org/2010/eon0819df.html

 

-back on topic-

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.

This thread is about Columbus, OH's image, not Columbus, Christopher's image.  Please keep it on topic.  Apologizing for being off topic, or posting "now back on topic" at the end of a post doesn't make it on topic.

When Columbus does get national exposure in publications such as the NY Times it's more often than not the Short North, German Village, and/or the Arena District. Old North Columbus and Clintonville are left out, since the local neighborhood associations aren't publicizing them. I don't think each neighborhood should have to do all of the legwork to let people know that they're there. After all, isn't Experience Columbus supposed to be marketing the city? They treat those hoods as though they were Linden and Driving Park with the way they're much ignored.

 

Do other cities have a variety of great neighborhoods? Sure, but I think that lots more publicity of other hoods that are also ready for prime time would contribute to much better images of Columbus, which helps shape a positive, multi-faceted identity.

 

I've also regularly raised the issue of making Columbus visitor-friendly several times on CU with plenty of wayfinding signs for visitors. The city has apparently responded with downtown kiosks and the Short North followed suit. The drawback is that other great neighborhoods are ignored. Even German Village gets slighted by only having a few basic signs aimed at drivers Downtown with nothing pointing visitors around the convention center towards that area. The city is doing a better, but still overall poor job at installing the infrastructure needed to show off what our city has to offer visitors. Hotel guests at the Holiday Inn on E Town does not have a downtown kiosk out front like others, so unless visitors did their research they're not going to know that German Village is a short walk south or that there's a nice little strip of Parsons just a handful of blocks east.

There's an "Old North Columbus"?  Like "Old North Dayton"?

 

As for German Village its not really a tourist spot as the retail/dining/drinking is scattered about (like that German Restuarant hidden back in the neighborhood, or the corner store places).  Short North works as you can walk up and down High Street.  In German Village these places tend to individual destinations.

 

In Louisville the tourist people push really three areas...Frankfort Avenue,  Bardstown Road, and now NuLu (which is sort of new) and also Old Louisville a bit.  German Village is more lke Old Louisville as the destinations (aside from looking at old houses) are scattered in the neighborhood as individual spots, not part of a district or strip.

 

 

Yup, but I think the similarity ends at the name (came across a youtube video narrative of

).  Old North Columbus is the official name of the area centered on N High just north of OSU and south of Clintonville, but many refer to it as "North Campus".  It's packed with bars, restaurants, and has the highest concentration of live music venues in the city.

 

I totally disagree that German Village isn't great for tourists. Part of the charm is wandering around the streets only to stumble into a little shop or cafe or restaurant. I do think more GV kiosks, like the nice one in front of Max & Erma's on 3rd, would make it more accessible. Right now that's the only one I know of.

 

The German Village Society has thankfully pursued a gateway plan including a GV arch along the entrance of its main stretch with the densest commercial presence: S 3rd St. This will be plenty visible from several blocks north since 3rd Downtown is a wide five lane street.

 

I'd like to also see Brewery District arches welcoming people on S High next door. Heck, why not do so for more neighborhoods and reclaim the nickname we once had: Arch City. Not only would it serve to give each area a much better sense of place, but also educates locals on where the neighborhoods are and makes it much easier for visitors to get around and know where they are.

^

I think this was the area I explored in this post,  and was curious about, given the age of some of the buildings on High Street.

 

Old North Columbus really is old.  At least the plat is.  It might even predate OSU, as it shows up on old county atlases from the 1870s or so.  The place was next to a factory of some sort (pipe factory?) and was connnected to Columbus proper by either a steam dummy or horse car, which ran north to "North Columbus" (but not on High Street!) 

 

@@@

 

I totally disagree that German Village isn't great for tourists. Part of the charm is wandering around the streets only to stumble into a little shop or cafe or restaurant.

 

The Short North is more efficient for a certain kind of "lifestyle consumption" tourism since its a strip of retail/food/drink that you can quickly explore.  German Village is more a "heritage tourism" type of destination as one would be exploring this old neighborhood and the consumption opportunities are more incidental.

 

There are places akin to German Village elsewhere, at various scales.  Old Louisville is one. Tremont and Lockerbie Square are others. 

 

But the Short North is somewhat unique in Ohio given the density and length of of the strip and the way it's anchored by the Arena District/North Market at one end...and...perhaps in the future...by OSU's campus strip at the other.  It's more akin to Bardstown Road in Louisville (closest regional comparison).

 

I'm not sure how this works into a branding theme, though.  Columbus isn't really a tourist destination, though it could be a convention one (partly by virtue of being the capital, centrally located in Ohio) for state-level conventions of various sorts.

 

 

 

 

^it may not be a tourist destination like NYC or Disney world, but it is a viable weekend get away for a huge chunk of the population of the country.  I forget the numbers, but doesn't something like 40% of the country live within 300 miles of Columubs?

The steam dummy... that might be the special rail system in the area that I know I learned about when I was a kid, but later forgot about. I vaguely recall learning about a very old "short, single-line subway" in Old North Columbus/Clintonville, but it could have been a steam dummy. It's been at least 20 years since I heard about it.

it may not be a tourist destination like NYC or Disney world, but it is a viable weekend get away for a huge chunk of the population of the country.

 

Hmmm...urban vacations?  Not sure about that.  Sure, us urban geeks like "getting away from it all"...to another city!  But I always thought this meant to a rural or natural setting like a state resort park,  for most of the population. 

 

Even so what would make Columbus a weekend destination spot?  And is this the purpose of urban branding?  To market a place for leisure travel?

 

The steam dummy... that might be the special rail system in the area that I know I learned about when I was a kid, but later forgot about.

 

I don't know if it was.  I am guessing.  Since the distance looks fairly long for a horse car (but maybe not?).

^Right. I'm just trying to piece together info about this obscure bit of Columbus rail history. Whatever it was, I know it only ran for a few years. There's very little info out there.

Not to raise anyone's ire, but here is a humorous slant on Top 25 college football.  But it does relate, at least humorously, to Columbus's identity.

 

Full list (it is a funny read):  http://deadspin.com/5620076/the-2010-haters-guide-to-the-top-25

 

2. Ohio State: Oh, sweet fucking Jesus, you people again? Haven't you people pissed away enough titles? Shouldn't you be banished to NAIA so that we don't have to see you lose the national title by 47 points to an SEC team? It's because of YOU that people from the South are actually starting to feel good about themselves again. That is crap.

 

I've been to Columbus. It's the kind of place no one would ever live voluntarily. You either live there because you can't afford to live anywhere else, or because the judge put a travel restriction on your DUI probation. Tear the roof off a fucking Houlihan's, expand the size of it to 50 square miles, and that's Columbus. Just one big generic pile of shit. They should have just named it "City."

 

I love Drew Magary's work.  He's the best part of Deadspin and KissingSuzyKolber.net.

I've moved discussion of concert venues to here: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,24335.0.html

You can tell a lot about a city by the way it describes itself.  Interesting here how even on an OSU website it describes the city as Columbus, Ohio.

 

I'm going to quote a couple paragraphs from OSU's Psychology Ph.D. program website:

 

The University and the Community

The University is part of a major metropolitan area, surrounded on all sides by the city and suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. The state capital and largest city, Columbus is home to more than one million people.

 

The quality of life is very good, with moderate cost of living, a variety of distinctive neighborhoods, an active arts community, as well as university and professional sports. As a midsize city, Columbus provides the civilized amenities of urban life without the hassles of a megalopolis.

 

The University is located near a thriving downtown center, complete with excellent restaurants, a symphony, a ballet company, theatres, museums, and art galleries. There are many fine public and private schools. Several other colleges and universities are located in and near Columbus. Together, these features make Columbus an attractive place to work, get an education, and raise a family.

 

more: http://www.psy.ohio-state.edu/graduate/

They might be afraid that people would think Ohio State is in another state. There's an Indiana University in Pennsylvania, right?

i don't understand all this re-branding / identity issues in Columbus.

 

Columbus = Capitol of Ohio

 

Done.

 

Columbus is everything a capitol city should be - a mixture of the state's best. 

Columbus is everything a capitol city should be - a mixture of the state's best. 

 

That is the best tag line I have heard

A mixture of Ohio's best!

"Columbus is home to more than one million people...  As a midsize city..."  These statements seem contradictory to me.  Perhaps this is part of the image problem.  On one hand people in Columbus talk about how large the population is, which puts the city in comparison to other very large cities.  Then the discussion changes into "midsize" cities and one is left wondering what is Columbus?  :?

Three good TEDxColumbus videos worth watching... each touches upon branding just a bit while talking about the future. Good food for thought:

 

 

 

All Ohio cities seem to really have an inferiority complex. Of course, the dimensions are different for each.

 

Cleveland's is kind of new, as it tries to find itself in a post-industrial era.

 

Columbus is trying to figure itself out, too, but more as a rising star.

 

Cincinnati, well...Cincinnati is the Eeyore of cities. Tons of potential, but too afraid to make a go at it. "It'll never work; I'm just Cincinnati!"

 

I kind of lean toward the idea that Columbus should change its name. Not only would it instantly shed its "Columbusohio" baggage, but it would be a good publicity stunt. Being a state capital, the change would even impact school curricula nationwide. If the change coincided with a viral marketing campaign announcing the change and showing the city as a young, vibrant, progressive rising star, it could change residents' and outsiders' perception of the city. Just don't make a name that sucks.

 

Edit: I'd bet it would increase the city's appearances in crossword puzzles by over 9000 percent.

This is a long video, but great watch/listen from The Urbanophile, Aaron Renn.

 

The Harrison Smith Award with speaker Aaron Renn The Urbanophile 120110 | CMC TV

 

The Harrison Smith Award with speaker Aaron Renn The Urbanophile 120110 | CMC TV

 

Quite a bit of it touches upon branding.

 

Edit: Plus, I'm in the loading image for the video! Ha! Along with Jeff Edwards, Developer of Neighborhood Launch, and Keith Myers, Principle at MSI Design. ;)

A recruitment video for The Ohio State University was recently posted at Columbus Underground.  It's obviously focused on Ohio State and its national and international reach.  But it also does a good job of placing the university within the context of the city. 

 

Plus, it looks damn good.  So here it is.

 

What large cities have actually changed thei name recently? I think it would be great if Columbus changed its name. I just don`t see the city taking that initiative even though I believe the majority of citizens would be all for it.

What large cities have actually changed thei name recently? I think it would be great if Columbus changed its name. I just don`t see the city taking that initiative even though I believe the majority of citizens would be all for it.

 

Would never work.  The cost alone with changing the name would be astronomical.  Every resident and business would need to pay for that.

 

A wind fall for printers and print/graffic manufacturers.

What large cities have actually changed thei name recently? I think it would be great if Columbus changed its name. I just don`t see the city taking that initiative even though I believe the majority of citizens would be all for it.

 

???

My "pie-in-the-sky-never-gonna-happen" dream is for Columbus, Ohio to be known as The Columbus. 

 

Kind of like Ohio State University is known as The Ohio State University.  Only it makes more sense with the Columbus name.  After all, there's only one Ohio State University.  But there are other Columbuses.

The legal process probably wouldn`t cost much at all. I dont knoq about corporations but it costs an individual a grand total of 150 bucks to change their legal name. New signage and stationary would be miniscule.

The legal process probably wouldn`t cost much at all. I dont knoq about corporations but it costs an individual a grand total of 150 bucks to change their legal name. New signage and stationary would be miniscule.

 

Have you really thought about this?  Seriously.  Every address would need to change since the city name has changed.  Every street sign with "columbus" would need to be changed to the name of the new city.  The manufacturing, shipping, installation of each of those signs costs.

 

Every city owned vehicle would need to be rebranded.  Every business with a piece of stationary, logo, incignia, etc. would need to be change.  All that costs.

 

I haven't even mentioned the man power alone to change all that.

 

What resident wants to pay for that?

I wouldn't mind paying taxes to rename the city. Its for our own good. Ill put it this way: Cincinnati is one of the best and unique city names out there. Before it was Cincinnati, it was Losantiville. Whick would you prefer? One sounds like a world class city and the other sounds like a podunk rusty canal town.

Change the name, already.

I wouldn't mind paying taxes to rename the city. Its for our own good. Ill put it this way: Cincinnati is one of the best and unique city names out there. Before it was Cincinnati, it was Losantiville. Whick would you prefer? One sounds like a world class city and the other sounds like a podunk rusty canal town.

 

When did the city change it's name and what was the cost?  Now translate that into 2011 $$$$

^ Losantiville became Cincinnati two years after settlement. I don't think there was any cost involved.

^ Losantiville became Cincinnati two years after settlement. I don't think there was any cost involved.

 

There you have it.

$0 in 1790 dollars is also $0 in 2011 dollars, to answer your original question.

$0 in 1790 dollars is also $0 in 2011 dollars, to answer your original question.

 

No Boo, you have to forecast in today's dollars what a change like that would be.

 

Here is an example.  Do you know what it cost for SOHIO to change it name to BP America?  or Time Warner to AOL Time Warner then back to Time Warner (with a new logo)?

 

 

My "pie-in-the-sky-never-gonna-happen" dream is for Columbus, Ohio to be known as The Columbus.

 

Kind of like Ohio State University is known as The Ohio State University. Only it makes more sense with the Columbus name. After all, there's only one Ohio State University. But there are other Columbuses.

 

No. there is only one Columbus.