High Street (Columbus, Ohio)

High Street (Columbus, Ohio)
Name	High Street
Location	Columbus, Ohio, United States
Length mi	23
Direction a	North
Terminus a	Interstate 71 near Worthington
Direction b	South
Terminus b	Franklin County line near Lockbourne

High Street (Columbus, Ohio) High Street is a principal north–south arterial in Columbus, Ohio that traverses downtown Columbus and connects a series of neighborhoods, institutions, and commercial districts. The street links suburban corridors near Worthington and Franklinton through the central business district adjacent to Ohio Statehouse, the Ohio State University campus, and extends toward Rickenbacker International Airport and the southern suburbs. High Street functions as a spine for transportation, retail, cultural venues, historic sites, and civic institutions in Franklin County.

Route and Description

High Street begins near Interstate 71 and proceeds south through Worthington toward the Olentangy River. The route crosses the Short North arts district and passes the Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, Columbus Museum of Art, and the Greater Columbus Convention Center near Nationwide Arena. In downtown it borders the Ohio Statehouse, Rhodes State Office Tower, and the LeVeque Tower. Southward, High Street bisects the University District near Ohio Stadium, St. John Arena, and Wexner Center for the Arts on the Ohio State University campus, then continues past German Village toward Franklin County Airport and Rickenbacker International Airport. The street interconnects with U.S. Route 23, U.S. Route 33, and U.S. Route 40 at different segments.

History

High Street's origins trace to early 19th-century plats connected to Lazarus founders and early Columbus, Ohio planners, developing alongside Scioto River commerce. The corridor grew through the 19th and 20th centuries with investments from entities like Ohio Bell and The Columbus Dispatch, and infrastructure projects such as the construction of the Broad Street and Interstate 670 interchanges. High Street hosted parades for President William McKinley and civic events tied to World War I and World War II mobilization, and later adapted during urban renewal efforts influenced by figures associated with Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Mayor Greg Lashutka. Preservation movements around German Village and the Haymarket shaped rehabilitation near High Street, while developments like Arena District and the Short North revival involved partnerships with Downtown Columbus, Inc. and Greater Columbus Arts Council.

Neighborhoods and Landmarks

High Street traverses a mosaic of neighborhoods including Worthington, Short North, Victorian Village, Italian Village, Downtown Columbus, the Discovery District, the University District, Olde Towne East, German Village, South Side, and Grove City borderlands. Notable landmarks along High Street include the Ohio Statehouse, Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, The Ohio State University, Ohio Stadium, Wexner Medical Center, Columbus Museum of Art, Franklin County Courthouse, LeVeque Tower, Ohio History Center, Historic Hayden Run, COSI proximity, and the Schiller Park area near German Village. Institutions such as Wexner Medical Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Mount Carmel Health System, The Columbus Foundation, Columbus Metropolitan Library, and Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are within the broader corridor. Cultural venues include Capitol Square, Huntington Park, and Mapfre Stadium relative to north-south access.

Transportation and Infrastructure

High Street serves as a primary transit spine for agencies including the Central Ohio Transit Authority, intersecting with COTA Main Street routes and connecting to Columbus' COTA bus rapid transit corridors and park-and-ride facilities near McConnell Arts Center. It integrates with regional highways like Interstate 70, Interstate 71, and Interstate 270, and interfaces with U.S. Route 23 and U.S. Route 40. Rail crossings include proximity to Amtrak corridors and historic Pennsylvania Railroad rights-of-way. Infrastructure projects have involved agencies such as the Ohio Department of Transportation and local planning by Columbus Metropolitan Area Planning Organization and Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, focusing on streetscape improvements, bicycle lanes linked to Olentangy Trail, and streetscape grants influenced by National Trust for Historic Preservation incentives.

Commerce and Economy

High Street anchors diverse commercial activity spanning national retailers like Lazarus predecessors, regional firms such as Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Battelle Memorial Institute, and hospital systems including The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The corridor supports small businesses in the Short North arts district, hospitality represented by Hilton and boutique hotels, dining establishments in German Village, and corporate office towers including Rhodes State Office Tower and LeVeque Tower. Economic initiatives involve Downtown Columbus, Inc., Columbus Partnership, Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, and Columbus 2020 strategies to attract technology startups, finance firms, and tourism tied to Ohio State Buckeyes athletics and Columbus Crew matches. Real estate development along High Street includes mixed-use projects influenced by Tax Increment Financing programs and investment from entities like Huntington Bancshares and JPMorgan Chase regional operations.

Cultural Significance and Events

High Street hosts parades, festivals, and cultural events connected to ComFest, Arts Festival of Columbus, Columbus Pride, Short North Gallery Hop, and HighBall Halloween. The route has been the site for civic gatherings at Capitol Square and university-related celebrations for Ohio State Buckeyes victories at Ohio Stadium and events organized by The Ohio State University Alumni Association. Arts organizations such as the Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus Museum of Art, and Greater Columbus Arts Council stage programming that leverages High Street's pedestrian corridors, while music venues like Newport Music Hall and Express Live! contribute to nightlife. The corridor's role in film and media includes appearances linked to Columbus Film Commission initiatives and location shoots that engage Ohio Film Tax Credit incentives.

Category:Streets in Columbus, Ohio