Columbus’ “Grand Street”

By Deborah C. and John F. Edsall

Managing Directors

Edsall & Associates LLC

During the past several years, there has been significant interest in restoring the lost median to downtown Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio. In response to this interest, the Director of the Department of Trade and Development requested the Discovery District Corporation form a private sector study group to explore the matter in 1997.

Between 1860 and 1900, the 120-foot wide street was known as "Judge's Row." In the late 1800s, dual 15-foot side medians existed, lined with Elm trees to provide a safe lane for horse-drawn carriages. When the stately Elm trees died from the devastating Dutch Elm disease, the dual median also disappeared, and accommodation for the automobile became the dominant development standard.

The Broad Street Study Group set out to obtain a consensus from Broad Street property owners, businesses and tenants regarding the best design for returning Broad Street to the "Grand Street" status it held at the turn of the century. In the late 1800s, dual 15-foot side medians existed, lined with Elm trees to provide a safe lane for horse-drawn carriages.

The Broad Street Study Group set out to obtain a consensus from Broad Street property owners, businesses and tenants regarding the best design for returning Broad Street to the "Grand Street" status it held at the turn of the century. The City of Columbus sent requests for numerous architects, engineers and Landscape Architects to work with property owners and city officials on the creation of a plan. Consensus was achieved through a series of design charettes conducted by Edsall & Associates LLC between June and November of 1998.

During the course of the five-month study period, Edsall & Associates LLC conducted numerous charettes with the property owners and worked with a myriad of public officials, including: the Mayor and representatives of the Department of Trade and Development, Public Safety Department, Recreation and Parks Department, Public Utilities Department, Division of Electricity, Public Service Department, Engineering and Construction Division as well as the Division of Traffic Engineering/Parking. The result was the adoption of the Broad Street Median Study by the Downtown Commission and City Council.

Where left turn lanes are depicted, a separate vehicular stacking lane will be included, and center pedestrian-at-grade safe zones will be located in the median at each pedestrian crossing.

In 1996, a study prepared by Cambridge Systematics, Inc., for Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the City of Columbus indicated that traffic on Broad Street could be adequately handled with six lanes, three eastbound and three westbound, rather than the existing eight lanes. 

The goal became to restore the grand stature of Broad Street through careful redevelopment of a central median, in combination with a complimentary streetscape development.

Development recommendations for the 1.1-mile downtown improvement include:

Shade trees will be incorporated into raised planting areas, separated from the walk surface by a 6-inch granite curb. Street furnishings are intended to evoke a classical/timelessness/traditional character. Broad Street is not only a significant gateway to downtown Columbus, but also to the Ohio Statehouse, City Hall, the Museum of Art, national corporate offices and the nationally renowned Center of Science and Industry.

Median Development:

• Long lasting granite materials will be utilized for all curbing.

• Maintain a minimum of three vehicular lanes, eastbound and westbound.

• Public sculpture will be incorporated into the median and the streetscape areas.

• Where left turn lanes are depicted, a separate vehicular stacking lane is included.

• Create center pedestrian-at-grade safe zones in the median at each

pedestrian crossing.

• Other than at

designated turn/stacking lanes, the median will be 20 feet wide.

• Where turning and stacking lanes occur, the median will be narrowed to 10 feet in width.

• The median will be curbed in an 18-inch high, 18-inch wide granite curbing.

• Maximize the width of the median to enhance the ability to maintain landscape materials in this midwest landscape.

• Dual parking restrictions will be maintained for:

Eastbound Traffic:

3:00 A.M.-

7:00 A.M.

4:00 P.M. -

6:00 P.M.

Westbound Traffic:

3:00 A.M. -

9:00 A.M.

4:00 P.M. -

6:00 P.M.

• Maintain rest-ricted hour parking on the north and south sides of Broad Street during rush hours. 

• Left turn movements with stacking lane will be provided for:

Westbound Traffic at:

South Fifth Street

South Third Street

South Sixth Street

South Ninth Street

South Washington Avenue

Eastbound Traffic at:

Cleveland Avenue

North Front Street

North Fourth Street

North Grant Avenue

North Washington Avenue

Streetscape Development:

• People places will be encouraged along the streetscape.

• Maintain a minimum 8-foot clear walkway between the face of buildings for proposed planters.

• Streetscape improvements will include the replacement of existing concrete street curbing with granite curbing. 

• Shade trees will be incorporated into raised planting areas, separated from the walk surface by a 6-inch granite curb.

• All street furniture within the public right-of-way will be unified in appearance. Street furnishings are suggested with a focus on classical/timelessness/traditional character.

• Individual property owners are encouraged to incorporate the Streetscape Development Guidelines within the walk right-of-way as they come before the Downtown Commission with their building improvement plans.

Streetscape improvements will include the replacement of existing concrete street curbing with granite curbing. The median will be curbed in an 18-inch high, 18-inch wide granite curbing.

Throughout the world, streets with medians in combination with strong allées on either side have made a very positive contribution to the image and stature of the city in which they are located. These streets have given cities a world class status. Such "grand streets" include the Avenue des Champs - Elysees, Paris, France; the Unter den Linden and Kurfurstendamm in Berlin, Germany; the Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona, Spain; the Ringstrasse in Vienna, Austria; the Viale delle Terme de Caracalla in Rome, Italy; Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia; and Park Avenue in New York City.

Initially, officials proposed only the addition of a single median to Broad Street. But after the Landscape Architects, the study group and city representatives reviewed the state of the existing streetscape in comparison to other great/grand streets, it became evident that improvements were needed within the streetscape areas as well.

The Next Step

In 1996, a study prepared by Cambridge Systematics, Inc., for Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the City of Columbus indicated that traffic on Broad Street could be adequately handled with six lanes, three eastbound and three westbound, rather than the existing eight lanes.

Once the Broad Street Median Study was adopted by City Council, engineering and construction pursued the selection of a consultant to prepare construction documents. For the first time the City Engineers determined they would accept qualifications from "Engineers teamed with Landscape Architects or Landscape Architects teamed with Engineers." 

A three-step process over a nine-month period followed, with the first step a submission of statement of each consultant's qualifications. Once the city reviewed qualifications, five teams were selected to submit technical proposals.

The finished restoration of Broad Street will include a minimum of three vehicular lanes, eastbound and westbound. The median will be 20 feet wide, other than at designated turn/stacking lanes. Where turning and stacking lanes occur, the median will be narrowed to 10 feet in width.

After interviews, the field was narrowed to two candidates for a final selection. Landscape Architects Edsall & Associates LLC were selected as the prime consultant, teamed with Engineers DLZ Ohio, Inc., and Dynotec, Inc. Since the contract was awarded, the field survey has been concluded. A detailed traffic study was recently completed supporting the Broad Street Median Study. Construction documents are now at 30 percent completion.

A new street light fixture has been adopted as a standard for not only Broad Street, but all of downtown Columbus. Several property owners along Broad Street are implementing the Broad Street standards, including the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio and the Ohio School Employees Retirement System.

People places will be encouraged along the streetscape, such as this kiosk prototype rendering, and a minimum 8-foot clear walkway will be maintained between the face of buildings for proposed planters.

The Broad Street Median Project could never have occurred if not for the support of the community. The Mayor is often quoted as saying, "Downtown is everyone's neighborhood." Columbus has great architectural works. What has been missing is a unified streetscape to complement these architectural works.

Broad Street is not only a significant gateway to downtown Columbus, but also to the Ohio Statehouse, City Hall, the Museum of Art, national corporate offices and the nationally renowned Center of Science and Industry. It is an honor the community has chosen the landscape architecture profession to lead this project.

Public sculpture will be incorporated into the median and the streetscape areas. Individual property owners are encouraged to incorporate the Streetscape Development Guidelines within the walk right-of-way as they come before the Downtown Commission with their building improvement plans.