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89-612: Downtown Columbus may refer to: Downtown Columbus, Ohio Downtown Columbus, Georgia [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles about distinct geographical locations with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Downtown_Columbus&oldid=932801254 " Category : Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

178-501: A federal building and courthouse , and a state office building . Floodlights were first installed on the LeVeque Tower in 1989, illuminating its top floors with white light from evening into the night. Later, the owners had theatrical gels installed to add colored lights as an option. During the building's 2012-17 restoration, the floodlights were replaced with computer-controlled LED lights to save on energy usage and allow for

267-561: A Columbus City Schools bus depot. The Civic Center is part of the central hub of the city, encapsulating the homes of the city government. It is bounded to the north by Long Street, to the south by Broad Street, the east by Front Street, and the Scioto River to the west. Home to numerous city government buildings, the unprecedented growth of Columbus lead to a much needed expansion of the cities civic center. The city began renting office spaces, and started to plan for additions to increase

356-602: A bookend for downtown before it reached the Scioto River and I-70. The buildings are owned by developer Ron Pizutti, and serve currently as his headquarters. The Market-Mohawk District is located in the southeastern section of downtown and is bordered to the north irregularly by Chapel, Town, and Main Streets, Livingston Avenue to the South, South Parsons Avenue to the East, and to the west South Third Street. The Market-Mohawk District

445-457: A hotel and residential structure. In 2012, the owners announced the renovation would cost $ 26.7 million, including $ 5 million in tax credits from the State of Ohio for the renovation. The renovation project, completed in 2017, saw extensive work to repair the building's terracotta facade and modernize its interior. LeVeque Tower was redesigned as a mixed use development , with floors 5 to 10 of

534-405: A large number of figures situated 495 feet (151 m) and higher along the building's façade and around its pinnacle , including eagles with wingspans up to 22 feet (6.7 m) and giants and angels up to 26 feet (7.9 m) tall. Some of these were later removed after concerns about falling materials and to obtain unobstructed penthouse views. An octagonal bartizan was designed at the top of

623-623: A main 2,827-seat auditorium, designed as a vaudeville house and movie theater. It was acquired by the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts in 1989. While the LeVeque Tower was designed by Detroit architect C. Howard Crane, who was noted for designing over 250 theatres across North America, the Palace Theatre within the LeVeque Tower was designed by another leading theatre architect, Thomas W. Lamb . Lamb

712-403: A number of bands in the 1940s, including Duke Ellington , Tommy Dorsey , Glenn Miller , Louis Armstrong , Count Basie , Guy Lombardo , Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton . The theatre hosted the world premiere of The Male Animal on March 12, 1942, which was attended by Henry Fonda , Olivia de Havilland , James Thurber and Joan Leslie . Closing in 1975, the property fell vacant and

801-405: A peculiar significance as the architectural culmination of a great humanitarian institution. In the old days of strong fortifications, such cities as Nuremberg , Chester and Quebec were defended, first of all, by a surrounding wall, the foundations of which were protected by a moat. Within that wall was added, as a second line of defense, a Citadel, such as the lordly castle still standing inside

890-570: A restaurant, which opened in 2017. What would become the LeVeque Tower was commissioned by the American Insurance Union, a group formed in 1894 as a "fraternal insurance company, secret society and social club" by John J. Lentz , who would later become a U.S. Representative , and who served as president of the organization. Originally named the American Insurance Union Citadel, the tower was to be

979-440: A third empty, in spite of the change of leasing teams several times. In 2011, the tower was purchased by Tower 10 LLC, a joint venture of Columbus real estate investors including Bob Meyers, Don Casto and Michael Schiff, for $ 4 million. By that point, the office building's vacancy rate had risen to 43 percent. The partners planned a $ 22 million project to fix cracked terracotta on the tower and convert it from an office building to

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1068-758: A walking trail. The park is also in close proximity to the science entertainment center known as COSI. The Park opened in 1999 and is also home to the Columbus Police Memorial. The McFerson Commons , in the Arena District, is a 2.21 acres (0.89 ha; 0.0089 km ) park that was developed after the demolition of the Ohio State Penitentiary . The park is named after the Nationwide Insurance CEO from 1992 to 2000, Dimon R. McFerson. The focal point of

1157-970: A wider array of color options. The new lights, ranging from 6-inch lights to 3-square-foot arrays, allow for 256 million color combinations. The building is now lit for events about six to eight times per year, including pink for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer organization in April and May; rainbow colors during the Columbus Pride weekend in June; red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July ; purple for Purple Heart recognition in August; teal for ovarian cancer awareness in September; and red and green during

1246-770: Is a two-year associates-degree institution located in the Discovery District with an enrollment of just under 25,000 students. Also located in the district are the Columbus College of Art and Design , which was founded in 1879 as the Columbus Art School and enrolls roughly 1,300 students, and the Capital University Law School . The ABA-accredited law school is a branch of Capital University in Bexley, Ohio . Within

1335-519: Is also sometimes considered within downtown. There are several large businesses and organizations that operate out of downtown Columbus. Companies such as Nationwide , AEP , Huntington , and PNC all have buildings in downtown Columbus. The only mainstream daily newspaper in Columbus, The Columbus Dispatch , is headquartered in downtown Columbus on Broad Street. Along with many bars and restaurants, there are several venues that attract visitors to

1424-634: Is an intact block of buildings built in the 1960s, though other buildings built nearby at that time have since been replaced. The building and district are named for the Central Market and Mohawk Public School , both of which have since been demolished. The Market-Mohawk Center was listed on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties and the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. The brick and concrete building

1513-547: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Downtown Columbus, Ohio The state capitol, the Ohio Statehouse , is located in the center of downtown on Capitol Square . Downtown is also home to Columbus State Community College , Franklin University , Columbus College of Art and Design , Grant Medical Center , Capital University Law School , as well as

1602-585: Is high for Downtown, rated as one of five zip codes with very low food security in Columbus. The Hills Market, an independent grocery for local and organic foods, is the only grocery in Downtown Columbus. LeVeque Tower The LeVeque Tower is a 47-story skyscraper in Downtown Columbus, Ohio . At 555 feet 5 inches (169.29 m) it was the tallest building in the city from its completion in 1927 to 1974, and remains

1691-742: Is now known as the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center . During the 1988–89 school year, the Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School was created, and joined the Columbus Public Schools' excellently-rated programs. Notable buildings still present as of 2015 include Shot Tower, one of the most recognizable buildings due to its central tower, and the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center, and

1780-426: Is the Scioto River, which snakes directly through downtown. The downtown of Columbus has changed roles since its founding, going from a government center, to an industrial and commercial center, to what it currently is as the major commercial hub of central Ohio. The first modern skyscraper to adorn downtown Columbus' skyline is LeVeque Tower , built in 1927. Many other high rises and skyscrapers have been added since

1869-672: Is the eastern district of downtown Columbus. Interstate 670 borders it to the North while Interstate 71, Fulton Street, and Fifth Street borders it to the East, South, and West, respectively. Within the Discovery District are buildings of culture, art, design, and education. The Columbus Metropolitan Library 's Main Library and the Columbus Museum of Art are both located within the district. Also, there are numerous educational options within this district. Columbus State Community College

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1958-474: The Brewery District and German Village are directly south of Downtown. Franklinton is to the west of downtown. Almost 90,000 people are employed downtown, and more than 33,000 students attend school at one of the many institutions of higher education located there. As of 2022, Downtown is home to about 11,200 residents. The city of Columbus began development in 1812 with the purpose of being

2047-457: The Christmas and holiday season . After the tower's completion, the American Insurance Union occupied floors 19 and 20, with the remainder of the space available for rent to other office users. The construction of the building saw several significant cost overruns, prompting the American Insurance Union to dip into its monetary reserves to pay for the tower. Financial problems soon arose for

2136-480: The Columbus Bus Station downtown. There are taxicabs and ridesharing companies such as Lyft and Uber . There are several interstates such as Interstate 70, Interstate 71, and Interstate 670 (Ohio) that run through downtown along with State Route 315 . There are also bike lanes along several streets in downtown Columbus. Downtown Columbus lacks a major commercial grocery store. Food insecurity

2225-624: The Hilton Hotels chain, which renamed the hotel the Deshler-Hilton. In 1964 it was sold to a company owned by Charles Cole who renamed it the Deshler-Cole. Cole eliminated the 600 rooms located inside LeVeque Tower and invested $ 2 million to remodel the hotel. The hotel rooms in the building's wings having been eliminated, the "venetian bridge" was demolished. The building was sold a final time to Fred Beasley in 1966 and renamed

2314-561: The Holland Tunnel in New York City , were brought in and the construction site had an on-site hospital and decompression chamber for men suffering from decompression sickness . On January 26, 1925, an accident occurred underground that killed four workers when a toxic gas was accidentally released during the setting of the caissons, overwhelming them and causing them to fall into the foundation. A fifth construction worker

2403-1108: The Main Library of the Columbus Metropolitan Library , the pioneering Main Street Bridge , and many parks. Downtown has many neighborhoods or districts, but it can be separated into three main areas: the Discovery District , the High Street Corridor, and the Riverfront. Downtown also includes the Arena District , Capitol Square , and the Columbus Civic Center . The Short North , Italian Village , and Victorian Village are directly north of downtown. The Warehouse District , Olde Towne East and King-Lincoln Bronzeville are directly east, while

2492-606: The Palace Theatre . After the American Insurance Union went bankrupt in the Great Depression , the tower was renamed the LeVeque-Lincoln Tower in 1946, and later the LeVeque Tower in 1977. The tower's office space saw mixed success in attracting tenants during its early history, but it became home to a number of state agencies and law firms. As development of Downtown Columbus peaked beginning in

2581-713: The Southern Theatre , the Ohio Theatre , and the Capitol Theatre. In addition to theaters, downtown Columbus has many specialty bars and clubs. A number of the restaurants and bars in the downtown area are situated around important buildings and venues all along High Street and in the surrounding area. The main form of public transportation is the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) bus system. Greyhound Lines also operates

2670-433: The 1960s and several other high rise buildings were constructed, the tower faced increasing competition from other major office buildings and its vacancy rates rose. Over the course of its history, the tower changed hands several times before being sold to a group of real estate investors in 2011. The current owners subsequently converted it into a mixed-use development , including a hotel, apartments, condominiums, offices and

2759-531: The American Revolution, and the original settlement lay about a mile west of the Scioto River and the current downtown area. The center of downtown Columbus is focused on the intersection of Broad Street and High Street. The City of Columbus includes an area of around 225 square miles, but downtown is generally referred to as the area within the Scioto River, Interstate 70 , Interstate 71 , and Interstate 670 . The last of these major highways, I-670,

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2848-890: The Deshler-Beasley before being closed in 1968 and demolished in 1969. Today the site is the home of the One Columbus Center, a tower developed in part by LeVeque Enterprises. Palace Theatre, at 34 W. Broad St., opened November 8, 1926 as a vaudeville house under the Keith-Albee name. A number of famous performers would appear there, some before their careers took off. Among them were Bing Crosby , George Burns , Gracie Allen , Gypsy Rose Lee , Jack Benny , Tom Mix , Jackie Gleason , The Three Stooges , Eddie Cantor and Mae West , who performed in March 1938 and broke all its previous attendance records. It hosted

2937-420: The Discovery District is The Discovery Special Improvement District. The goal of this private-sector corporation, that encompasses a 37 square block area, is to improve the safety and image for the Discovery District neighborhood. The River South District is the southwest area of downtown Columbus along the Scioto River that is surrounded by Town Street to the North, Mound Street to the South, The Scioto River to

3026-546: The LeVeque Tower, fitting a variety of uses from commercial to residential. In the early 1950s, major cities began revitalization projects of slums and blighted areas in their communities. Assisted by federal and state funding, these were intended to clear major slums in an effort to revitalize that area for the overall welfare of the city. In January 1952, the Department of Development for the city of Columbus began commissioning task forces in an effort for urban renewal in

3115-464: The Mid-Air Club, was built on the 43rd floor, sponsored by local businessmen and aviation enthusiasts. The 44th floor served as an observation deck that would be open to the public for 25 cents. The floor featured 24 floor-to-ceiling windows as well as an observation balcony on the 46th floor, which would be reachable only by ladder. In all, 60 construction contractor companies were named to build

3204-490: The Promowest Pavilion) is the first dual indoor and outdoor concert venue in the country. The LC hosts mainly musical acts, averaging just about 110 shows each year. The district also plays host to a variety of bars, restaurants, and cafes in the area. The district originally contained old industrial buildings, but began redevelopment in 1996 under then City Councilman Michael B. Coleman . The Discovery District

3293-596: The West, and Wall Street to the East. One of the main attractions of the River South District is a 7 acres (2.8 ha; 0.028 km ) green space called Columbus Commons . Columbus Commons was built over the former site of City Center Mall in 2010 and includes within it the outdoor venue Bicentennial Pavilion. Another area of interest is the Scioto Mile which is a network of parks and trails that follow

3382-524: The area. Its name is derived from the Park Street that dissects the district. The Fort Hayes area is primarily located within the boundaries of the I-670 loop northeast of downtown, primarily along Cleveland Avenue. It was sold by Robert A. Neil and his brother William to the state in order to build a United States barracks in the then northeastern part of the city. The facility was built, and by 1875

3471-408: The bathrooms and public areas of the building. In 1984, the opening of Huntington Center , Capitol Square and One Columbus Center put 2,000,000 square feet (190,000 m ) of new office space on the market in Downtown Columbus. The State of Ohio was a major tenant in the building for a significant part of its history. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services leased nearly 20 percent of

3560-511: The blighted areas. The efforts of these task forces are evident in numerous older communities and districts, including Market Mohawk and German Village . Columbus' location was chosen based on its central location within the state of Ohio along with the confluence of the Scioto River and Olentangy River being right next to it. Originally, part of the area that is now Columbus was to be allotted to those displaced from Nova Scotia during

3649-439: The book Ohio Art and Artists , Edna Clarke called the building "a milestone in the growth of the city ... it signalizes the transformation from a large overgrown country town into a city. It stands out against the skyline so sharply it can't be ignored." Architectural Forum called it "splendid" and "impressive." The tower quickly became a symbol synonymous with Columbus and one of the city's most well-recognized landmarks. It

Downtown Columbus - Misplaced Pages Continue

3738-594: The building 5 inches (130 mm) taller than the Washington Monument . Designed in the Art Deco or Art Moderne style, the building took inspiration from Byzantine architecture , particularly religious buildings constructed in the 4th through 13th centuries. Initially, Crane considered stone for the building's exterior but later decided on cream-colored terracotta despite concerns its blocks would be small and prone to warping. The design featured

3827-499: The building converted into a 150-room boutique hotel , the Hotel LeVeque under Marriott International 's Autograph Collection brand, and with some event space. Floors 3, 4, and 11-18 were renovated as 160,000 square feet of office space, while the remaining 19 floors were converted into upscale residential units, a mix of 68 apartments and 12 condominiums, with two penthouse units on the top floors. A restaurant, The Keep,

3916-426: The building through a trust in 1977. That year, the name was officially changed to the LeVeque Tower. It faced increasing competition from other office buildings being constructed in Downtown Columbus in the 1980s, and LeVeque put $ 18 million into renovations to keep the historic tower competitive with newer and more modern office space, including an entirely new HVAC system, energy efficiency upgrades, and updates to

4005-452: The building took 19 months. It was dedicated on September 21, 1927. When complete, it was the tallest building in Columbus and the fifth tallest building in the world, including being the tallest building between New York City and Chicago. Albert Bushnell Hart , who spoke at the building's dedication, likened the building to the French fortified city Carcassonne . The word "Citadel" has

4094-470: The building until it moved in 2003, and the Ohio Department of Aging was a major tenant as well. Additionally, a number of law firms and private financial services entities leased space in the building. The loss of the major state organizations in the tower significantly hurt the building's ability to pay for its mortgage, and in 2004, an affiliate of Miami-based LNR Property Corp. took control of

4183-402: The building was sold again to Finsilver/Friedman Management Corp. for $ 8.5 million. At the time of the sale, the building remained about a third empty. The new building owner committed to substantial upgrades to the tower to keep it competitive. The renovations helped it land some smaller tenants in the office space. Leasing there, though, remained poor and by 2009 its office space was still about

4272-443: The building were a "micro self-leveling type," automatically controlled by push buttons and which could travel at 900 feet (270 m) per minute, which rose to the 41st floor. A shuttle elevator ran from there to the observation deck. Water tanks for fire protection and plumbing were placed on the 23rd and 43rd floors, and the building was also designed with duplicate mechanical systems for redundancy. An executive dining room, termed

4361-402: The building with long, narrow loop windows, and it was topped by a dome with heraldic imagery. Inside, the building contained marble imported from Italy and Belgium , and public spaces were decorated with bronze and mosaics. The building lobby was designed with a marble floor with a bronze plaque containing the building's horoscope and which shows the positions of the planets at the time that

4450-439: The building's cornerstone was laid. Following completion, the building was lit at night to accentuate its architectural features, and its four turrets were also lit with floodlights to make a landmark for aviators, which at times made it visible for up to 20 miles (32 km) as a navigational aide. The top of the tower was also designed to accommodate mooring for zeppelins . Later, it housed radio antennae. Elevators serving

4539-423: The building's dedication, September 21, 1927. Art and architecture critics spoke positively about the tower's design. Dudley Crafts Watson, director of Chicago Art Institute , highlighted it as one of five great examples of artistic achievement to come out of Columbus in the 1920s, calling it "the most original and American of skyscrapers" and "just an honest piece of magnificent construction." Writing in 1932 in

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4628-456: The company, as the tower cost $ 800,000 more than its budget allowed for, and not all of the office space in the building filled up quickly. The tower immediately became important to radio broadcasting in the city, which was increasing in prominence in the late 1920s. The building was an ideal height for broadcasting and there were no mountains or other intervening structures around Central Ohio to disrupt radio signals broadcast from antennae at

4717-472: The downtown area as well as East Franklinton), up 46% from the 2010 census. The construction of The Ohio Statehouse began in 1839 and would end in 1861. The building was designed in the Greek-Revival style by a group of architects, the most prominent of whom was Ohio-born Nathan B. Kelley. The Statehouse was built largely using Columbus Limestone taken from the banks of the Scioto River. The Statehouse

4806-549: The downtown area, such as Nationwide Arena, Greater Columbus Convention Center, and the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion . Downtown Columbus has a wide range of entertainment options to choose from, ranging from bars, restaurants, sporting events, concerts, and even theaters. Outside of the concert venues such as Nationwide Arena and the LC Pavilion in the Arena District, downtown Columbus is home to

4895-546: The facility to host special games. Nationwide first began hosting concerts and hockey games in early 2000. Huntington Park is the home of the Columbus Clippers , which is a minor league affiliate team of the Cleveland Guardians . Huntington Park was opened for games in spring 2009, making its debut in the Arena District. Huntington Park sits directly west of Nationwide Arena. The LC Pavilion (formerly

4984-504: The headquarters for the organization and would replace a smaller building it owned on the corner of Broad Street and Front Street in Downtown Columbus , a short distance from the Scioto River . The tower was designed by Detroit, Michigan -based architect C. Howard Crane , known for grandiose designs. Its construction took place during the first wave of modern skyscraper development in the United States. The original plan for

5073-421: The height of construction, about 650 men would work on the structure at a time. Groundbreaking for the tower took place on September 23, 1924. Excavation commenced after that, with 44 caissons sunk 114 feet (35 m) into the bedrock for a foundation, through 80 feet (24 m) of water using air pressure. These tunnels were so deep that specialized crews of " sandhogs ", who had gained experience building

5162-565: The history of Ohio. Columbus's main riverfront parks are collectively known as the Scioto Mile. The nine parks along the Scioto River connect parts of the Scioto Greenway Trail with downtown. The Scioto Mile's main west bank park, Genoa Park, is a 2.07 acres (0.84 ha; 0.0084 km ) park located on Broad Street. Features include a riverfront amphitheater that holds events and concerts, Greenway Trail access, and

5251-469: The multitude of work spaces. The site encompasses 5.75 acres (2.33 ha; 0.0233 km ) of land in the western part of downtown. The space there is home to numerous important infrastructures, including Columbus City Hall and the headquarters of the Columbus Division of Police . According to the 2019 estimates there are a total of 18,660 people living in the 43215 zip code (which includes

5340-609: The north along Park Street. The Uptown District is also home to the Ohio Theatre , the Palace Theatre , and the Trinity Episcopal Church . LeVeque Tower, Columbus' first skyscraper, also resides in the Uptown District, west of the Ohio Statehouse and on the banks of the Scioto River. Miranova Place is located within the southwestern corner of downtown. It is bordered by the Scioto River to

5429-568: The north and west, Interstate 70 to the south, and South Civic Center Drive to the east. Within it lies two major features, the Miranova Condominiums and the Miranova Corporate Tower. The condominiums are a 26-floor residential unit, finished in 2000. The Miranova Corporate Tower is a 12-floor corporate office space that was finished in 2001. The buildings designs reflect a modern architecture meant to serve as

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5518-715: The north, Front Street to the east, Spring Street to the south, and the Olentangy River to the west. The district is home to a few defining buildings, including Nationwide Arena, Huntington Park , and the LC Pavilion . Nationwide Arena is the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets , as well as a venue for a variety of other sporting and special events. Occasionally, the Ohio State University men's and women's basketball teams will also use

5607-399: The northwest corner of Broad and High streets. Announced in 1912 and opened in 1916, the hotel already had 400 rooms, intended to rival the other luxury hotels of the world. The hotel was later leased by Lew and Adrian Wallick, hoteliers from Ohio and New York. Called the Deshler-Wallick Hotel by the time the LeVeque tower opened, the 600 rooms were accessible by a " venetian bridge " linking

5696-562: The park is the arch that was recovered from the Columbus Union Station after its demolition in 1979. Downtown Columbus has numerous historic districts, some on the National Register of Historic Places , Columbus Register of Historic Properties , and some on both or neither. These districts include the High and Gay Streets Historic District , Jefferson Avenue Historic District , North Market Historic District , South High Commercial Historic District , East Town Street Historic District , and Columbus Civic Center Historic District . Fort Hayes

5785-403: The riverfront of the Scioto River. Attractions along the Scioto Mile include Bicentennial Park and the River South Art Walk. The Uptown District, also known as the High Street Corridor, runs along High Street from Town Street in the south to the Greater Columbus Convention Center in the North. The Ohio Statehouse resides in the Uptown District, as well as a series of bars and restaurants to

5874-454: The second-tallest today. Designed by C. Howard Crane , the 353,768-square-foot (32,866.1 m ) Art Deco skyscraper was opened as the American Insurance Union Citadel in 1927 and at the time was the fifth tallest building in the world. Built at a cost of $ 8.7 million, the tower's design incorporates ornate ornamentation and a terracotta facade, and it was designed with 600 hotel rooms in two wings as well as an attached performance venue,

5963-425: The state's new capital. Originally laid out by Lucas Sullivant as the town of Franklinton, the original settlement lay west of the Scioto River. However, Sullivant laid out plans to expand east of the river for what is now downtown Columbus. Development began quickly and by 1814 significant buildings included a penitentiary, the first school, the statehouse, the first newspaper, and the first church. By 1816, Columbus

6052-471: The street to reduce foot traffic and were designed in Modernist or New Formalist styles, with two-dimensional facades, blank masonry facades, poured concrete decorative elements, and with none of the prior structures' architecture taken into account. Today the district is still home to Franklin University and the Market-Mohawk apartment building, the Ohio Democratic Party Building, the Ohio Republican Party Building, and Columbus Downtown High School. There

6141-403: The structure, which cost a total of $ 7.8 million. Northwestern Terra Cotta Co. of Chicago supplied the materials wrapping the building. The American Insurance Union had a five-story auditorium building at 50 W. Broad St. which was torn down in preparation for the new tower. Colonial Theatre, opened at 1909 at 40 W. Broad St., was also closed and demolished in 1924 to make way for the tower. At

6230-525: The tower was to have three principal components: a 47-story tower flanked by a pair of 18-story wings, with a total rentable area of 353,768 square feet (32,866.1 m ); the 2,827-seat Keith-Albee Theater (later renamed the Palace Theatre ); and the 600-room Deshler-Wallick Hotel . It was to measure 188 feet (57 m) along both Broad and Front streets, with 44 floors of occupied space, and three additional floors helping it reach 555 feet 5 inches (169.29 m) in height. This intentionally set

6319-400: The tower's apex. The tower thus became home to a number of radio stations, including WAIU . Lentz had purchased WAIU in 1925 to serve as a platform for his progressive views. Moving into the tower allowed WAIU to increase its broadcasting power to 5,000 watts. By the 1980's, WCOL had a broadcast room atop the tower. The American Insurance Union failed during the Great Depression , and it

6408-400: The tower, which was then valued at $ 22 million. LeVeque turned the building over to the new ownership group in lieu of a foreclosure on a $ 16.2 million mortgage on the building, and at this point it was about a third empty. She had previously engaged an architect on a proposal to convert part of the building to residential use, but it was deemed not financially feasible at the time. In 2005,

6497-571: The two buildings on the second floor. New York Mayor Jimmy Walker , who attended the opening, tried and nearly succeeded in having a ceremonial sip of wine in each of the 600 hotel rooms. The hotel would later host President Harry S. Truman in 1946 during a meeting of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ . He and Bess Truman would later stay at the hotel again in 1953. In 1947 the hotel sold to Julius Epstein of Chicago, apparently for $ 2 million, who again sold it five years later to

6586-434: The wall of that famous fortress, Carcassonne , in southern France . There the garrison could hold on that inner line of endurance. The name of Citadel is especially appropriate as a watchword of a great insurance company; for millions of families in the United States protect themselves, from the "terror by night and the destruction that wasteth at noonday" through this defensive institution. — Albert Bushnell Hart , speaking at

6675-559: The west. The area retains numerous physical characteristics from the early twentieth century when it served as a wholesale and manufacturing focal point just north of the Columbus Union Station . In 1980, revitalization focused on becoming an exciting area, restaurant, and entertainment center. It features North Market , the only continued market of the four originals in Columbus. Numerous restaurants and bars extend off of Park Street, as well as offices and retail options in

6764-532: Was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Around 1975, Fred LeVeque bought the Palace Theatre and was killed in an airplane crash in January of that year, leaving Katherine LeVeque president of the company's prominent Columbus real estate group, LeVeque Enterprises. Columbus' downtown office market saw some issues with high vacancy rates, but the tower itself retained higher-than-average occupancy rates. Katherine LeVeque took complete control of

6853-573: Was built in 1970 in the New Formalist style. The period-specific building was listed as it reflects the time and trend of urban redevelopment. Park Street District, including the North Market Historic District , sits in the northernmost part of downtown Columbus. Sitting just north of the Arena District, it is bounded by Goodale Avenue to the north, Vine Street to the south, high street to the east, and Neil Avenue to

6942-437: Was completed in 2003. Downtown Columbus is bordered to the north by The Short North , to the northwest by Grandview Heights , to the southwest by Franklinton , to the south by German Village, and to the east by King-Lincoln Bronzeville . Downtown Columbus has several districts that make up its diverse area. The Arena District sits on the northwest side of downtown Columbus, with its borders roughly being Nationwide Arena to

7031-704: Was declared a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior. Now known as the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center, the Ohio State Office Building was built in 1933 and has housed several departments of government throughout the years. Since 2004 it has been the location of the Ohio Supreme Court. The building is located on Front Street and features several murals, bronze plaques, and statues which depict

7120-480: Was incorporated as an official town, and in 1824 Columbus became the official seat of the county and elected its first mayor, John Brooks , in 1834 after being elevated to "city" status. The city of Columbus has spread out and around from the original 10 acres (4.0 ha; 0.040 km ) plot surrounding the Statehouse, making downtown the literal center of the city. Another pivotal element of downtown Columbus

7209-536: Was killed later in the building's construction after falling from its steel framing. On February 13, 1926, the AIU Citadel's cornerstone was laid. The building's frame would consist of 10,000 tonnes (9,800 long tons; 11,000 short tons) of steel, and would be wired with 100 miles (160 km) of electrical wire, 137,000 feet (42,000 m) of heating pipe for thousands of radiators, 67 electrical motors, 14,000 electrical outlets , and 1,756 windows. Construction of

7298-491: Was opened by Illinois-based First Hospitality Group Inc. on the second floor. In recent years, the building's third floor has held a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office and detention center. The center has been the subject of numerous protests against unfair treatment of undocumented immigrants. The building's two wings were used as an extra 600 rooms for the Deshler Hotel, which had been built at

7387-483: Was originally a residential area of single family homes that became a mixed-land-use area as the city grew. With the unprecedented growth, Market-Mohawk became overpopulated and grew into what city officials considered a slum. In the 1950s and 1960s the area was part of the $ 43 million Market Mohawk Urban Renewal Project. The redevelopment brought facilities for Greyhound Lines, Franklin University , and several apartment complexes. These new buildings were placed far from

7476-502: Was proposed for demolition in order for a parking lot to be constructed. In 1980, the theatre was renovated and restored by Katherine LeVeque using her personal funds, and began hosting a new set of acts. Among these, it brought in Red Skelton , Sammy Davis Jr. , Mickey Rooney , Tom Jones , Natalie Cole , Judy Collins and Tony Bennett . The venue has come to host Broadway theatre acts. Palace Theatre remains in operation with

7565-551: Was re-purposed to be primarily a recruiting intake and training facility. It was originally called the Columbus Barracks until 1922, when it then became Fort Hayes, named after Governor and President Rutherford B. Hayes . By 1976, the military had largely abandoned the Fort Hayes facility. The Columbus Public Schools district purchased an area of 50 acres (20 ha; 0.20 km ) for $ 1 USD and established what

7654-443: Was renamed the LeVeque-Lincoln Tower. LeVeque was a local real estate investor, and after his death, his son Fred LeVeque and his wife, Katherine LeVeque, became prominent figures in the Columbus community. The tower dominated the Columbus skyline, which did not see significant high-rise construction until the 1960s, though there was at least one major attempt to build another high-rise in the city in 1953. The Lincoln-LeVeque Tower

7743-523: Was reorganized as the American Insurance Union Inc. in 1931. The entity survived until 1934 when it went into receivership , and then ceased to exist. During this time, the tower was known pejoratively as the "IOU Tower" given the financial difficulties of its owner. After the company went bankrupt, the group marketed the building in order to pay off unpaid policies. It ultimately sold to Leslie LeVeque and John Lincoln in 1945 and

7832-558: Was the first landmark that was easily visible from around the city. The building's construction coincided with a rebuilding of the Columbus riverfront and creation of the Columbus Civic Center along the Scioto River following the Great Flood of 1913 . In the 1920s and 1930s, the city saw a new Columbus City Hall built across the street, along with a new headquarters for the Columbus Police Department ,

7921-580: Was the only building in Columbus taller than 300 feet (91 m) until 1962. As a number of other major commercial ventures like the Huntington National Bank and American Electric Power flourished in the city, its urban core saw construction of new high-rises to suit them. The building remained the tallest structure in Columbus until the Rhodes State Office Tower was completed in 1974. The Lincoln-LeVeque Tower

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