The news that a pair of local developers have purchased two historic downtown buildings is a promising sign for Columbus and proof that the transformation of one of our city’s greatest asset will continue to build on the progress we have seen in recent years.
Local businessmen Tommy Howard and Chris Chain have purchased the buildings, located on the northwest corner of Fifth Street and Third Avenue South, from Susan McKay, whose family has owned the property for more than 70 years. The buildings, erected in 1905, have been the home of a variety of business enterprises over the past 100-plus years. As of now, however, the buildings sit mostly vacant, largely unused for 60 years or more. McKay’s Party and Paper store is the only active business, and will likely remain as Howard and Chain reinvent the property. Early plans call for shops, a restaurant and a boutique hotel, although the businessmen say their plans may evolve as the year-long restoration project begins.
The success of any community often relies on understanding and building on its greatest assets. In Columbus, that means our historic downtown. There are few cities in our state who can compare to our downtown when it comes to preserving our history. Downtown Columbus is not simply an area of commerce, but a point of pride. When we welcome visitors to town, our downtown is one of the first stops on any tour.
You need not go far to find cities where this is decidedly not the case. In some cities, downtown is an eyesore — a sad display of mostly empty, often deteriorating old buildings. We are justified to note proudly that downtown Columbus is an asset rather than an eyesore.
Our downtown is more than simply an exercise in historic preservation, although there is some real value in that. Every building has a unique and fascinating history that is worthy of preserving. But preservation alone is not unlike a movie set — empty facades, mere backdrops serving no function beyond projecting an image, an illusion.
Our downtown is so much more. More and more, the old buildings are becoming home to new businesses. We have seen this happening throughout downtown. New enterprises, all locally owned and operated, pump vitality into these old majestic buildings and when historic preservation works in harmony with this kind of entrepreneurship, it is something that we have every right to champion.
For all that may ail our community, we look to what is happening in our wonderful downtown as a sign of hope and optimism.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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