Campus Partners moved one step closer to revamping High Street.At a meeting Wednesday night with the Columbus Area Commission, an advisory group to the city of Columbus, the Campus Partners’ Steering Committee for the High Street Urban Design Project introduced their goals for High Street.These goals include:

  • making the area a diverse and traditional “Main Street.”
  • creating an active day and evening with outdoor public places.
  • a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.
  • linking the communities and neighborhoods surrounding High Street.
  • enhancement of the area by a combination of traditional and cutting-edge by creating new architecture and preserving historic buildings.
  • enlivening by a rich, unique, visual environment, diverse economic opportunities, and livable qualities.

David Dixon, a consultant for the Campus Partners’ Steering Committee, introduced a preliminary proposal to meet those goals.This proposal included a “snapshot in time,” that is a series of ideas that will change over time until an official proposal is agreed upon and finalized in late spring.Dixon said the intersection of Lane Avenue and High Street could be one gateway to the campus area, with improvements on the intersection, reworking of storefronts that would be 70 percent glass, and new development of retail and housing space. Another similar gateway could be created at 11th Avenue.”These areas could announce the district to the rest of the world,” he said. In order to bring an outdoor atmosphere to High Street, the fast food and coffee shops could incorporate patios to encourage pedestrian interaction.A “Town Square” could be created at 15th Avenue by adding more retail stores, shops and cafes to create a visually pleasing destination for the OSU community.Dixon said 90 percent of the development is already in place and fairly simple restructuring is needed in many areas. As well as considering the development of buildings on High Street, the steering committee also is considering parking solutions.Curb-side parking, large parking structures on either end of the campus area and parking added behind new and existing developments could create plenty of space to meet the needs of a redeveloped High Street.Steve Sterrett, spokesman for Campus Partners, said over the next few months, the steering committee will look over exactly what should be proposed to the city.”We will be narrowing all of these options for a formal proposal,” Sterrett said.Dixon stressed the proposals laid out were preliminary.”These are simply proposals to consider, not necessarily implement.”