A Short History of the District
Formation of the Discovery District was spearheaded by Rubye Kyles, Assistant Executive Director of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, in 1989 when she brought 10 educational and cultural institutions together to highlight the uniqueness of the eastern area of Downtown. An initial $5,200 grant from the Ohio Arts Council/Ohio Humanities Council Joint Program in the Arts and Humanities helped launch the project. The grant was supported by a $500 gift from the National Endowment for the Humanities; Carlisle, Patchen, Murphy; M-E Building Consultants, Inc.; The Friends of the Columbus Metropolitan Library and Columbus State Community College.
The 10 original institutions included the Columbus Metropolitan Library; Franklin University; the Deaf School Park; Players Theatre; Thurber House; Columbus State Community College (CSCC); Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD); Columbus Museum of Art; Center of Science and Industry (COSI); and the Kelton House Museum and Garden.
The concept of the Discovery District quickly developed into a city master plan originally called the Grant Washington Discovery District. With the involvement of Downtown Columbus Inc. and Design Group Inc., the plan was adopted by Columbus City Council in January of 1990. Its purpose was to rezone the area for commercial and residential use instead of manufacturing and make it more attractive for additional housing and a “people-oriented area”.
In 1994, the Discovery District Development Corporation was officially created. By then membership in the DDDC increased to include many businesses, religious institutions and residents in the area.
The District has seen significant growth and improvement over the years, with the relocation of COSI to the riverfront being the most significant loss. In 1997, Capital University School of Law moved into the former Columbus Life Insurance building increasing the number of colleges from 3-4 in the area. The Seneca Hotel was renovated in 2006 after remaining vacant for many years. Continued capital improvements and growth has been seen at CCAD and CSCC which has experienced unprecedented growth in the student body. Growth has also been seen in the business community with PERS, SERS and STR constructing new headquarters and the addition of a new surgical center at Grant Hospital. A high point was the relocation of the popular Columbus Arts Festival to the District in 2007.
In 2007, a Special Improvement District was instituted in the Discovery District with the support of 150 property owners and several non- profit voluntary contributors. The purpose of the SID is to provide extra security, capital improvements, promotions and marketing, and environmental maintenance.
