The High and Gay Streets Historic District is a

historic district A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...

Downtown Columbus, Ohio Downtown Columbus is the central business district of Columbus, Ohio. Downtown is centered on the intersection of Broad Street (Columbus, Ohio), Broad and High Street (Columbus, Ohio), High Streets, and encompasses all of the area inside the Inner ...

. The site was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 2014. The district includes 18 buildings, including three that are non-contributing, and one contributing building that has since been demolished. The buildings span three of four blocks surrounding the intersection of

High High may refer to: Science and technology * Height * High (atmospheric), a high-pressure area * High (computability), a quality of a Turing degree, in computability theory * High (tectonics), in geology an area where relative tectonic uplift ...

and Gay Streets; the northwest block was predominantly used for parking at the time, with only one building, the Rankin Building (separately listed on the NRHP), on that block. Its boundaries are Wall St. on the west, Elm Aly. on the north, Lynn St. on the east, and Pearl St. on the south. The 15 contributing buildings range from two to ten stories in height. Their architecture styles include

Italianate The Italianate style was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. Like Palladianism and Neoclassicism, the Italianate style drew its inspiration from the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian R ...

Classical Revival Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing style ...

, early 20th century commercial, mid-century modern,

vernacular A vernacular or vernacular language is in contrast with a "standard language". It refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, n ...

, and

Art Moderne Streamline Moderne is an international style of Art Deco architecture and design that emerged in the 1930s. Inspired by aerodynamic design, it emphasized curving forms, long horizontal lines, and sometimes nautical elements. In industrial design ...

. The buildings are considered eligible for their quality of design and representation of noted Columbus architects. In addition, their association with the 19th and 20th century development of the city's High Street business corridor adds to the district's qualification. A block east reaching to Third Street was determined eligible for the National Register in 1990, as the East Gay Street Commercial Historic District. Several of the High and Gay contributing buildings were a part of the earlier nomination as well. The 1990 nomination failed due to opposition from property owners. Several were approached again for the High and Gay listing, but again did not support listing. The row of buildings at 72-84 North High are in the process of renovation, and were awarded historic preservation tax credits. The buildings were listed on

Columbus Landmarks The Columbus Landmarks Foundation, known as Columbus Landmarks, is a nonprofit historic preservation organization in Columbus, Ohio. The foundation is best-known for its list of endangered sites in the city and its annual design award, given to ...

' 2019 List of Endangered Properties as the tax credits expired and the buildings continue to deteriorate.

Gallery

;Southwest block File:COTA headquarters.jpg, 33 North High ( William J. Lhota Building) File:Mile on High 021.jpg, 37-41 North High (non-contributing) File:High and Gay 14.jpg, 43 North High (non-contributing) File:Columbus-Citizens Building (OHPTC) - 11572971666.jpg, 49-53 North High (the Citizens Building) ;Southeast block File:High and Gay 19.jpg, 15-19 East Gay File:High and Gay 01.jpg, 56 North High File:High and Gay 07.jpg, 50-52 North High File:High and Gay 08.jpg, 46-48 North High File:High and Gay 06.jpg, 44 North High File:High and Gay 05.jpg, 40 North High File:High and Gay 10.jpg, 32-34 North High File:High and Gay 11.jpg, 30 North High ;Northeast block File:High and Gay 02.jpg, 90 North High (demolished) File:White Haines Building 01.jpg, 80-84 North High (the

White–Haines Building The White–Haines Building, also known as C. O. Haines Optical Company Building, is a historic building located at 82 North High Street in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. The building is part of the High and Gay Streets Historic District on the National ...

) File:High and Gay 03.jpg, 78 North High (non-contributing, planned demolition) File:High and Gay 04.jpg, 72-74 North High File:High and Gay Streets Historic District 02.jpg, 66-68 North High File:High and Gay 17.jpg, 20-24 East Gay (Ruggery Building)

References

External links

* {{National Register of Historic Places in Ohio National Register of Historic Places in Columbus, Ohio Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio 2014 establishments in Ohio Buildings in downtown Columbus, Ohio Historic districts in Columbus, Ohio High Street (Columbus, Ohio)

Gallery

See also

References

External links