Realize Parsons

Discipline

City and Regional Planning

Date

2018

related to

Agyekum, Kwabena Carlson, Alex Cheng, Linya Cullums, Lindsey De Caris, Maria Dittoe, Ryan Epstein, Avi Geppert, Margo Hall, Frank Hehemann, Jack Jenks, Matthew Kerr, Wilson Lu, Zhangjun Lusson, Reyna Roberts, Cameron Vale, Nathan

faculty

Ezell, Kyle

Location

Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, United States, NA

Description

The area divided by Parsons Avenue was annexed into the city of Columbus in the 1860s and continued through the 1950s. This area remained residential and consisted of greenfields until industrialization in the early 1900s. Industrialization created opportunity, leading to an influx of immigration. After this increase in population, Children’s Hospital was founded and commercial businesses began to locate on and near Parsons Avenue. In the 1960s manufacturing jobs began to decline, causing many residents to leave the area for the Central Ohio suburbs. This resulted in commercial businesses moving or closing altogether. The stressed economy lead to low quality housing units and commercial properties. As the area’s industrial economy declined, Nationwide Children’s Hospital continued to expand. The South Side has a long tradition of community activism and planning. While most of these plans have never left the bookshelves after their creation, they are a concrete representation of the investment local organizations and residents have in their community. These plans can help shape the future of the Parsons Avenue corridor.