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| South High Street (Columbus) | |
|---|---|
| Name | South High Street |
| Location | Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| Length mi | 7.5 |
| Direction a | North |
| Terminus a | High Street north terminus |
| Direction b | South |
| Terminus b | Franklin County / State Route 104 |
South High Street (Columbus) is a major arterial road running north–south through Columbus, Ohio linking the Ohio Statehouse, Ohio Stadium, and neighborhoods such as German Village, Franklinton, and Near South Side. The corridor intersects historic districts, civic institutions, and commercial centers, forming a spine for urban activity between downtown Columbus and southern suburbs like Bexley, Ohio and Groveport, Ohio. South High Street has been shaped by events including the Great Flood of 1913, postwar suburbanization, and recent revitalization tied to initiatives by Columbus Metropolitan Library and Columbus Downtown Development Corporation.
South High Street originated in the early 19th century as an extension of the original plat of Columbus, Ohio laid out by Lucas Sullivant and surveyed under the direction of Merchants of Ohio. By mid-19th century it served stagecoach routes connecting Franklinton to agricultural markets in Pickaway County, Ohio and trade hubs like Lancaster, Ohio. Industrialization brought mills and warehouses linked to the Ohio and Erie Canal and later the Pennsylvania Railroad, prompting construction of brick commercial blocks and Victorian residences. The street witnessed social changes during the Great Migration and the Prohibition in the United States era, with jazz clubs and speakeasies near German Village and entertainment venues hosting performers influenced by the Chitlin' Circuit. Urban renewal projects of the 1950s and 1960s—driven by agencies such as the Columbus Redevelopment Commission—altered many parcels, while preservation efforts by the German Village Society and listings on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s protected key blocks. Recent decades saw investment from American Electric Power, Cardinal Health, and local nonprofits, alongside civic events like the Columbus Arts Festival and infrastructure responses to storm events such as Hurricane Ike (2008)-related rainstorms.
South High Street begins near the civic core adjacent to the Ohio Statehouse and runs south through the Discovery District, passing landmarks including the Ohio Theatre and Greater Columbus Convention Center. The route intersects major corridors including Broad Street (Columbus), Main Street (Columbus), and Morse Road, eventually crossing Interstate 70 and Interstate 71 where it skirts Franklinton and the Arena District. Topographically the street descends toward the Scioto River floodplain and traverses the Olentangy River watershed before rising into residential elevations near South Columbus. Zoning transitions along the corridor reflect overlays like the German Village Historic District and University District influence from The Ohio State University and Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
South High Street hosts architecture ranging from Federal-era rowhouses near Capitol Square to Italianate commercial blocks, Richardsonian Romanesque former banks, and mid-century office towers. Notable sites adjacent to the street include the Ohio Theatre, the Goodale Park perimeter, St. Joseph Cathedral, and historic residential clusters in German Village including Schiller Park. Institutional presences such as Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio Dominican University, and St. Francis Hospital, Columbus are tied to the corridor. Adaptive reuse projects converted former warehouses into lofts, galleries, and venues similar to those in the Short North and Arena District, with examples echoing design precedents like the Columbus Central High School adaptive programs. Sculptures and memorials along the way reference events like the Haymarket affair-inspired labor memorials and veterans' monuments connected to World War II and Korean War service.
South High Street functions as a multimodal spine served by Central Ohio Transit Authority bus routes and intersections with Columbus Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Commission-designated transit priority corridors. Bicycle infrastructure links to Olentangy Trail and Scioto Greenway Trail, while pedestrian improvements align with standards promoted by the U.S. Department of Transportation and local ordinances from the City of Columbus. Road engineering includes coordination with Ohio Department of Transportation for signal timing and maintenance near Interstate 70/Interstate 71 interchanges. Utilities along the corridor are managed by entities such as Columbus Water Company and American Electric Power, with stormwater measures informed by Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain mapping and Ohio EPA regulations. Planned projects have referenced federal funding mechanisms like the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants.
The corridor supports a diversified economy with employers including Nationwide Insurance, Huntington Bancshares, and retail clusters anchored by malls and independent shops in districts resembling the Short North Arts District. Cultural institutions—Wexner Center for the Arts, Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board-sponsored events, and music venues—drive tourism and nightlife economies that complement festivals such as the Columbus Jazz and Rib Festival and Pride Festival (Columbus). Neighborhood associations, business improvement districts like Downtown Columbus, Inc. and arts organizations such as CAPA collaborate on placemaking and market initiatives. Real estate trends along the street mirror metropolitan patterns seen in Phoenix, Arizona urban corridors, with mixed-use development, office conversions, and rising property values influenced by proximity to The Ohio State University and civic anchors.
Planning along the street involves coordination among the City of Columbus Department of Development, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, and historic preservation bodies including the Columbus Landmarks Foundation. Zoning overlays like form-based codes and historic district regulations shape infill, while transit-oriented development proposals cite models used in Portland, Oregon and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Key policy debates have centered on balancing density with preservation, parking standards, and resilience against flooding informed by studies from Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Recent initiatives emphasize equitable development tied to programs by Local Initiatives Support Corporation and federal community development funding through Department of Housing and Urban Development grant frameworks.
Category:Streets in Columbus, Ohio