Hi, I'm not exactly new here but it's been so long since I've posted here that I forgot my old user name and password. Anyway, I was checking out some really cool photos in the Columbus Dispatch and I thought I'd share them with everyone here and some of these photos are the first time I've ever seen them or even knew they existed so enjoy.

 

The Columbus that could have been

Over the years, several plans have been proposed that never made it off the drawing board. Some of these plans would have greatly transformed the Columbus skyline and the city we know today. Here is a look back at what could have been.

 

A plan for development of Columbus' downtown and riverfront, proposed in 1908 by city leaders and designers including architect Frank Packard, called for a complex of Greco-Roman style buildings, complimented by public walkways and green space, that stretched from the banks of the Scioto River east to about S. 4th Street.

 

Design for the Ohio State Capitol showing changes proposed by Isaiah Rogers, August 24, 1858.

 

In 1993, plans were underway to erect a colossal statue of Christopher Columbus by the Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli. The Whittier Street peninsula, south of Downtown on the east bank of the Scioto River, was the first choice for the location of this statue.

 

Edit to add, as I remember it, even though the statue was a gift, the statue was so ugly and unimpressive that the city refused to build the damn thing and it became the logo for the other paper.

 

An artist rendering of a proposed plan for Franklinton from the 60s.

 

In 1997, voters rejected a tax issue that would fund a hockey arena and a soccer stadium at the site of the old Ohio Penitentiary.

 

Architect's drawing of Trinity Church at the corner of Broad and Third Streets, with horse-drawn buggies outside, depicting the steeple that was never completed, circa 1865.

 

A proposed buidling from the 60s at the site of One Columbus.

 

This is the one that really blew me away. This would have beeen the tallest building in Columbus if it was ever built but in my opinion it would have looked out of place. Anyway, this picture threw me for a loop.

 

Imagine looking down toward the Broad Street bridge from your Downtown high-rise office and seeing a giant, serpentine canopy of cobalt blue glass pieces in the shape of Adams County's Serpent Mound. The serpent-canopy stretches the length of the bridge, mouth open to swallow a giant egg at the bridge's eastern end. In 1995, Todd Slaughter, a Columbus artist and associate professor of architecture at Ohio State University, proposed the sculpture to the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

 

I never did understand what the hell they were thinking with this one.

 

A variation of the Columbus Center at 100 E. Broad St. in downtown Columbus.

 

In 2006, proposals were being considered that would involve expanding the Hyatt Regency Hotel adjoining the convention center.

 

I know we've all seen this one before but this is the biggest rendering of this building I've ever seen.

 

An artist's rendering of the proposed tree-lined Broad Street. This is looking east from High Street.

 

I find it interesting how the dispatch left out the one building they almost built but here it is

 

Very interesting!  Thank goodness that tower was not built RIGHT NEXT to Leveque, yuck!  I kind of dig the serpentine sculpture though.

The serpentine bridge's maintenance costs and potential for liability were the apparent killers.

Awesome, thanks and welcome!

Amazing post! I hope this works out:

 

 

Tres Parisian!

I'm okay with most of that not happening.

Most especially this:

 

Reminds me, I photocopied a riverfront plan from the 80s for the riverfront along City Hall. I'm glad it wasn't built. Out of all of the above, we really need those raised, tree-lined medians.

eh :|

Great post....I thought I was the only one who remembered that monstrosity they planned to  build on the site of the old Deshler Hotel.  What a relief that they could not find funding.  It was to be the tallest building in the state, and certainly the ugliest.  Some of the other proposals would have been interesting, but a bit far fetched.  The serpent on the bridge is odd, and colbalt blue????  The Columbus statue looks very Soviet, in the worst sense of the word.  The trees on Broad St seem a practical, great idea. 

Thanks for posting this.  Some of these I actually remember reading in the paper at there times.  The tree lined E. Broad St. I was really eager to see done and from what I read at the time, it seemed like a done deal.  I have come to learn since then though to never get my hopes up.  There have been so many times though that things seem to be a done deal but never come to fruition, which I find to be very frustrating. 

 

I never knew about the Russian statue.  I love it.  Even if it was 'hideous' it still would have created some discourse on public art, created a great public park downtown.  I almost want to liken it to Central Park of New York.  Shame it was not built.  Columbus once again dropped the ball on that one.  I think I would have rather had this park than the one they are currently building now.  I guess I will just have to settle for less than the best as I should be accustomed to by now when it comes to all things Columbus.

 

I honestly don't know what people were thinking when they decided NOT to build the serpent mound sculpture over the broad street bridge.  Again, great public art work.  It would have been something people may actually want to see when visiting Columbus.  Maybe it is not dead yet.  Perhaps it can still be incorporated with a pedestrian bridge over the Scioto connecting the Arena District to Franklinton.  Maybe there wouldn't be such a liability with no cars.

 

I remember Proposition 1 back  in 1997.  I really still am sad that Crew Stadium was built so far from Downtown.  I would have much rather preferred it be built where it was originally proposed.

 

THANK GOD that building behind the LeVeque was never built!  Hideous!  But then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it if it were built it may have created interesting public discourse. 

fantastic post.

 

i remember the debate about the giant russian columbus statue. i believe it was actually built and that no one wanted it in russia or anywhere else -- so the guy saw 'columbus' on a map and tried to foist it on ohio. thank god the city didn't bite, as i recall it was indeed kitschy and hideous. agree the park itself could have been great, but not really with that looming over it.

 

downside in this thread is what a shame it is that outside of leveque the most notable towers in columbus came about or were proposed during the nadar of american architecture trends. oh well, the good news is at least that, that, that...giant cheap crap thing...wasnt built. holy mother of god what an atrocity -- what a nightmarish rendering, plz burn it, i never want to see it or think about it again!  :whip:

 

Very interesting, thanks!

This one reminds me of Nashville:

This reminds me of 1982:

 

haha yeah it's 2 decades clashing in battle -- 1982 vs 1972!  :laugh:

Fascinating!  Biggest boo to the tower next to LeVeque (like everyone else said) and the Franklinton plan... but then, is actual Franklinton looking any better than 1960s urban renewal dream Franklinton?  Honest question, really; I've never taken a good look and maps only get me so far.

The 1960's plan for Franklinton, I like the idea of the little stream there but that cannot happen today because of the tracks that are in the area.  It would have been cool though to do something like that and have the moat like they have in, is it Austin, TX?  I dunno.  I like the idea anyway.

Looks like pure Radiant Cities garbage to me. Knowing what we know now about sorting out the disadvantaged, piling them into apartment towers, and isolating them from other populations, this would have been an unmitigated disaster.

We don't have to imagine. Riverside Bradley and Sunshine Terrace anyone? Regular shootings and drug dealing. Glad they're tearing it down, but until they actually do not much will happen since most people don't want to be near that. Also still waiting for that median and some sharrows on Broad and I have a feeling I will be for quite some time.