Third Street (Columbus, Ohio)

Third Street (Columbus, Ohio) is a north–south thoroughfare in downtown Columbus, Ohio that connects historic neighborhoods and civic institutions. The street traverses commercial, residential, and entertainment districts, linking landmarks associated with Ohio Statehouse, Columbus Commons, Nationwide Arena, and the Short North arts district. Its alignment and development reflect urban planning decisions tied to figures and institutions such as Thomas Worthington, Edward S. Gauntlett, and the Columbus Metropolitan Library system.

History

Third Street follows the original 1797 plan for Franklinton, Ohio and early Columbus, Ohio platting influenced by Governor Arthur St. Clair and surveyor Lucas Sullivant. Development accelerated after the 19th-century arrival of the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Columbus and Xenia Railroad, which spurred commercial activity near the Scioto River and the Broad Street (Columbus) corridor. Industrial growth during the American Civil War era and the postwar expansion associated with figures like Samuel P. Huntington and firms such as The Columbus Dispatch reshaped parcels along the street. Twentieth-century urban renewal projects including works by planners influenced by Daniel Burnham and policies from the New Deal era altered building stock; later preservation efforts invoked the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and local advocacy by groups connected to Historic Columbus and the Short North Alliance.

Route and Description

Beginning near the Columbus State Community College campus and the Ohio Theatre vicinity, the street runs north through the downtown grid past intersections with High Street (Columbus), State Street (Columbus), and Goodale Avenue. It crosses commercial blocks adjacent to the Ohio Statehouse grounds and continues into the Arena District near Nationwide Arena and the former Battelle Memorial Institute campus. Beyond downtown Third Street enters the Short North, abutting galleries associated with the Short North Arts District and retail corridors near Norton Road and North Market. The street's northern extent approaches the University District fringe and intersects with arterials serving Ohio State University.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Third Street has carried vehicular, streetcar, and pedestrian traffic through phases marked by transit shifts from horse-drawn streetcar lines operated by companies like Columbus Street Railway Company to electric streetcars and later bus routes under the auspices of Central Ohio Transit Authority. Infrastructure investments include signal modernization projects coordinated with the City of Columbus Department of Public Service and streetscape improvements championed by the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation. Utility relocations for projects funded by entities such as Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission accompanied redevelopment near the Arena District and Columbus Commons. Bicycle lanes and pedestrian amenities tie into regional networks promoted by Bike Columbus and connectivity plans involving Capitol Square and John Glenn Columbus International Airport transit links.

Landmarks and Notable Buildings

Along Third Street are civic and cultural sites including proximity to the Ohio Statehouse, the Ohio Theatre, and the Columbus Museum of Art. Entertainment venues like Nationwide Arena and historic structures associated with Tuller Hall-era developments anchor the corridor. Adaptive reuse projects have converted industrial properties once associated with firms such as Kroger affiliates and Ohio Bell into mixed-use space managed by developers connected to The Rouse Company-era practices. Institutional neighbors include branches of the Columbus Metropolitan Library and offices for organizations like Greater Columbus Convention Center partners. Public art installations commissioned through collaborations with Greater Columbus Arts Council and murals tied to the Short North Arts District contribute to the street's visual identity.

Events and Cultural Significance

Third Street serves as a spine for events that engage entities such as Columbus Downtown Commission, Columbus Blue Jackets, Columbus Arts Festival, and neighborhood organizations from the Short North Alliance. Parades and sporting processions associated with championship runs have moved along sections of the street, intersecting with gatherings at Nationwide Arena and celebrations near Capitol Square. Festival programming organized by Gallery Hop participants and fundraisers coordinated with United Way of Central Ohio and OhioHealth community partners leverage Third Street's location. The corridor embodies layers of Columbus Bicentennial commemoration activities and ongoing dialogues between preservationists affiliated with Preservation Ohio and development interests represented by Columbus 2020.

Category:Streets in Columbus, Ohio