The neighborhood of East Columbus (scroll down) tells the same sad story of other near-northeast neighborhoods: industrial and cultural decline, disinvestment from the city, isolation from the city, etc. Maybe I'm not as optimistic, but the only change I saw was very superficial, in the form of new signage. East 5th Ave is still a traffic sewer and businesses have closed while other commercial buildings sit abandoned. I checked out a National Night Out Kickoff event there, but the event took place in a local park tucked away in a residential area, not out on the main street. It takes a good imagination to imagine what it was like in it's heyday, but even a dilapidated neighborhood business district is better than none at all. I mainly focused on E 5th Ave and went off to a couple of residential streets. In the central and northern part are large industrial areas which I only grazed.

 

MAP

 

Welcome to East Columbus!

 

 

 

 

A bar lost in time. Weird place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A nice surprise.

 

 

 

Here's another view.

 

This is pretty cool.

 

 

 

Rather common in numerous Columbus neighborhoods: residential right next to industrial. Smelled kinda funny around here.

 

 

The National Night Out Kickoff.

 

Who knew Krumm Park had a lake? (If you even knew Krumm Park existed)

 

 

 

 

God. Damn. Cars.

 

At least there's a market.

 

I was half tempted to check out the café part.

 

 

Talk about mixed use. Wow.

 

This used to be a bar and the only difference is that the name was on the sign in green lettering. Was I missing out?

 

 

This is one case where a building burning down isn't such a bad thing. Unfortunately, this dumpy motel is poised to come back due to the fire restoration sign not in the picture. If it was a nice building you can be sure we would have found a reason to tear it down for good.

 

 

Fancy COTA sign, but how about including, I dunno, a bus schedule?

I'm not quite sure what's open for lunch.

 

 

 

A bit of residential just south of here across the tracks from Bexley. This corner feels the safest.

 

 

 

So I've covered three (Milo-Grogan, North Central, and this) out of the four large near northeast side hoods except for Linden (which is so daunting it requires both a South Linden and North Linden thread).

Off-the-beaten-path neighborhood.  Thanks!

 

Columbusite's Columbus Threads>>>>>>>>>>

 

 

Good stuff...

 

There is still a good deal of good residential in the neighborhood

 

That's St. Thomas the Apostle Church, which I attend quite frequently. The congregation is absolutely amazing and is an asset to the neighborhood. The pastor is from West Africa (I can't remember which country) and has learned Spanish to the point that he conducts a bilingual mass every other Sunday. The congregation is roughly 1/3 black, 1/3 Mexican, and 1/3 from Bexley. The music at mass reflects the mix with traditional hymns, Spanish songs, gospel choir, and African drums. It's a joy to attend mass there.