Century-old Columbus plan still relevant today

Ideas from 1908 resonate as bikeways, public art, riverbank are discussed

Wednesday,  August 13, 2008 3:10 AM

By Mark Ferenchik

 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

It's a guide to improving Columbus' economy and creating a dynamic and inspirational urban heart.

 

It calls for more parks for children and parkways to link neighborhoods, as well as more public art and an effort to beautify the Scioto River's banks.

 

It's a comprehensive plan to rebuild the central city.

 

 

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/08/13/copy/CITYBEAUTIFUL.ART_ART_08-13-08_B1_CPB0S3A.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

 

I have a copy of the 1908 Plan.

 

It's amusing to find that the big traffic problem of the day was the need to grade separate "steam railroads" from "electric railroads" (streetcars/interurbans).

 

The report also called for "a fine terminal building" for interurban trolleys. "The time has passed when the public street or any convenient store or doorway can be properly utilized."[/i]

 

If streetcars and interuban cars are to remain operating in the street, "there must be broad and properly built streets for it."   Imagine that...transit-oriented streets!

 

"In the suburbs its way can be made beauitiful in separate tree-lined avenues, where only gleaming rails show above the turf.and its lines must be so planned as to do the least possible injury to the beautiful natural scenery."

 

The report also acknowledges that Columbus has a big advantage as a railroad center.  In fact, the report says Columbus was served by 18 different railroad lines in 1908.

I, too, have a copy of the 1908 plan. I wrote an article about it for the Dispatch six years ago:

 

CITY PLAN'S BACKERS HOPE IT OUTSHINES LEGACY OF PAST ONES

Author:    Brian Williams

 

Dispatch Staff Reporter

Publish Date: March 19, 2002

Paper: Columbus Dispatch, The (OH)

Page: 04B

Word Count: 894

Document ID: 10DC84A8C0658060

 

Civic leaders wanted to make sure Columbus and its Downtown grew vibrant in the new century, so they brought in consultants from New York to draw up a plan.

 

The experts suggested capitalizing on government offices as a foundation for Downtown commercial growth, establishing parks along the city's rivers and creeks, and burying unsightly utility lines. That was 1908.

 

Perhaps the plan was so prescient that it remains relevant today.

 

Perhaps it's unfulfilled

If only that had been built...