TRANSCRIPT:
Downtown Buildings Get Years-long Facelift
Nearly two dozen buildings in the downtown have been remodeled or restored over the past few years or may be in the near future as a part of the revitalization of the central business district.
Among those receiving facelifts in the downtown area are:
- Witt-Adams building 225 Washington, remodeled a few years ago by owner Kent Whitte and architect Frank Adams.
- A. Gross Building at 227 Washington, currently being restored by owner Fred Reams Adams is the architect.
- Former Seico Building At 309 Washington, scheduled for restoration over the next several months by Lauren Shahin and Jeff Bush. Adams is the architect.
- Old Mode theater building at 315 Washington, clean up of the façade and remodeling for Tony’s apparel store is nearly completed John Rumpel is the owner.
- Dell Bros. clothing store building at 416 Washington, remodeled a few years ago.
- Marr Building, 422-430 Washington, restored by owners Ray and Lou, and Griff and Betty Marr. Dean Taylor was the architect.
- Wells and Wells law offices, 526 Washington, owned by Mrs. William Daniel, recently received a completely new facade and an extensively remodeled interior. Adams was the architect.
- Arnett Insurance Building, 617 Washington, remodeled a few years ago. Taylor was the architect.
- Old Sherwin Williams lighting printing building 619 and 621 Washington, restoration now underway by Washington partners consisting of David Kirr, Terry Marbach and Greg Summerville. Don Wood is the architect.
- Bassett building, the old Sears Buchanan-Dietz furniture building at 629 Washington, now occupied by a Seico Inc. is scheduled for remodeling next year.
- The brick house at 728 Franklin, now being restored by James K. Baker for use as apartments. James Paris is the architect.
- The Visitors Center in the Old Story House at Fifth and Franklin remodeled extensively several years ago by the Chamber of Commerce and the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller foundation.
- Old City Hall at fifth and Franklin, will be converted into a hotel over the next two years by developers William Lentini and Thomas Dillon. Alan Melting of New York, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. J Irwin Miller of 2760 Highland Way, is the architect.
- Ulrich Block, the former White Star Building at Fourth and Franklin, recently restored by Randy Scheidt, who owns the building and is leasing the property from Clarence Schwarzkopf for 50 years. Taylor was the architect.
- Brick building in the 400 block of Fourth, remodeled extensively over the past couple of years by owners John Pusher, Tom Mote and Terry Coriden for office and apartment use.
- Left Bank restaurant at 418 Fourth, remodeled a few years ago and expanded last year by owner Reid Ladenson.
- Brad’s Warehouse Building at Fourth and Franklin now being remodeled by owner Orwic Johnson for retail and office uses.
- Carter Hatchery building at 315 Franklin, recently remodeled extensively by Cummins Engine company for labor-management offices.
- Lincoln School building at Second and Franklin, owned by Miller and Co., under study for remodeling to use as executive apartments.
ROW UPON ROW UPON ROW
The majestic bay windows of the Erwin block building in the 400 block of fifth showoff some of the most attractive features of all time architecture in the downtown. The ground floor for sod has not been restored by owner Bob Weber.
OLDEST BUILDING
The Ulrich Block building above, at the corner of fourth and Franklin, known in years past as the white star building, includes the oldest structure in Columbus and is the only building in town with a wrought iron stairway as the main entrance to a second-floor business.
FIRST MAJOR RESTORATION
The Marr building in the 400 block of Washington was the first building to be restored in recent years in the downtown, with windows and columns returned to their original appearance, and the interior and backside extensively remodeled. The work also included rebuilding the bay window on the second floor, which was removed several years ago.
NEW LOOKS
The building in the 500 block of Washington, left, owned by Mrs. William Daniel was given a real facelift over the past few months, with the old storefront removed and replaced with a brick façade more suitable for office uses. At right a brick house in the 700 block of Franklin is being restored by the James Baker family and will be used for apartments..
