Blog 1: City in Photos

The James – ‘Prominent’

The Oval (The Lucky 7) Organized

Corner of Summit and 4th – ‘Quirky’

Corner of Summit and Iuka – ‘Rustic’

Summit Ave – ‘Dull’

Contrast-DDABS Alliance

Community-DDABS Alliance

Fresh-DDABS Alliance

Nostalgic-DDABS Alliance

Vibrant-DDABS Alliance

Downtown Columbus, Outside Nationwide Arena – Collegiate Rebel Penguins

North Rotunda, Ohio Stadium – Collegiate Rebel Penguins

Nationwide Area, Downtown Columbus – Collegiate Rebel Penguins

High Street and 2nd Ave – Collegiate Rebel Penguins

The Short North – Collegiate Rebel Penguins

Green Space Apple Orchard-Collegiate Rebel Penguins

Fun fact: Iuka Avenue was the first street in Columbus that broke with the city’s grid plan. The Iuka Run is buried in a brick storm sewer underneath the ravine that leads down from N. 4th St. In 2008, the city spent $1.3 million to fix up the avenue with new bricks and streetlights. While the scenic area attracts residents such as professors to move into the neighborhood, Iuka Ravine has problems. There is a block watch to prevent vandalism and graffiti, and police regularly have to watch for crime. It is not uncommon to see sleeping bags and blankets under the bridges. The narrow alleys clog with snow and ice during the winter. To reverse slope erosion and invasive plants, the city granted an $80,000 Urban Infrastructure Recovery Fund. While the area is a great focal point, upkeep is expensive and different issues tend to affect the area.

This arch is reminiscent of the Union Station designed by Daniel Burnham. Despite the fact that Union Station was demolished when the use of passenger train became less popular, this last arch still stands in the Arena District to connect people with Columbus’ great past.

The trail is paved and is wide enough with lines so people can walk, run, and bike. The building to the right and the buildings across the river remind you that you are in an urban setting. The river and the trees farther down along the trail are trying to get the people away from the city.

The long road of Columbus, commercialism at its best.

The Columbus Commons is a public gathering space known for its summer concerts and food truck lunches. This green space provides a perfect get away from the downtown core of Columbus, while providing underground parking.

Outdated

College

Safe

Hidden

Growth

Substance

Idle

In this picture we see the old building standing lowly and humble compared to the towering new modern Thompson Library. This picture makes me wonder, as good as progress is sometimes are we simply renovating and upgrading simply to hide what we come to think is ugly, despite its historical significance. New is good and I don’t disagree renovating and upgrading older existing buildings, but sometimes renovating means destroying what was once sacred ground for the generations before us. This picture does a good job of representing the ever coming change to the old life we are used to, and it is only us who can decide whether that change will be good or bad.

This photo showcases the MAPFRE Stadium, which houses the Columbus Crew, Columbus’s very own professional club soccer team. This picture showcases what appears to be an empty stadium, and an almost empty parking lot; however, this is a very different image than one would see on a game day in late spring or the summer. The cold weather and absence of entertainment led to dreary appearance of the stadium, but the passion and love of sports in the city is still evident and represented in this photograph.

Some areas of Columbus look run down and abandoned, even on major roads like Cleveland Avenue. The building towards the back of the photo has no visible windows, and looks as if the plaster is falling off the sides of the structure. In order to let people know it is still a running business, the owners had to paint a sign outside that says “STILL OPEN”. The building towards the front of the photo appears to have bars on the window, and have stained and run-down walls. This photo demonstrates that even in well-known and highly populated areas of a city, things can still manage to deteriorate and remain unkempt if residents do not make an effort.

The infamous German Village is known for their cobblestone streets. This area of Columbus draws in a younger crowd, since it is surrounded by activity and things to do, including being close to clubs, bars, and restaurants. The neighborhoods appear to be very cute and quaint, since the mostly brick houses accompany the traditional streets. This character and tradition is showcased in the photo. This area of the city is very nice and well kept, which demonstrates the effort made by residents, and their desire to preserve the neighborhood and its outstanding qualities and reputation.

This photograph showcases the newly renovated area of the Scioto Mile. The city of Columbus invested a great deal of money into improving this beautiful downtown area, to attract more people to the waterfront and green areas. The area is most likely empty due to the cold weather, but should begin to populate and draw crowds in the summer. The area offers parking and has plenty of meters, and is easily accessible to residents in the downtown area, as well as people who have come into the city for other events.

Port Columbus International Airport is the major airport for central Ohio. Columbus is a city full of diversity and a variety of cultures, which is represented by this hub for international and domestic travel. This is the place where often a lot of families and students come to begin their life in a new city. The multiple lanes suggest the airport is well equipped for heavy traffic, and can get busy. In the picture the airport does not appear to be crowded with people, which could be due to the time of year, week, or day this photo was taken; travel congestion varies often.

This photograph was taken in a trailer park neighborhood near Parsons Avenue. The neighborhood was located close to a sewage plant, which caused the air to reek. Although residents of this area must be accustomed to the smell, it is unpleasant for those who are used to breathing cleaner air. This is a direct reflection that money and living conditions are directly correlated: those who cannot afford as much are stuck with not only lower quality homes, but also lower quality living conditions and environments.