Changing Face of the Short North
Mike takes a walk along High Street, beholding the rapid architectural transformation of Columbus. Noting the tension between the loss of historical landmarks and the emergence of modern, "IKEA-style" developments and luxury hotels throughout the skyline, he praises the city's improved transit infrastructure and pedestrian-friendly layout.
Good morning, this is Mike George coming at you live from Columbus, Ohio, as part of my continuing series, "Holy Shit, This is Columbus???" For those of you Columbus veterans who still live here or moved away in the last five years, you might remember the iconic arches along High Street in the Short North.
I have to remind myself that I’m still in Columbus and not in a place like Rotterdam or Copenhagen, or some weird modern European city filled with "IKEA buildings." While you can still recognize some of the older structures in the southern section of High Street, new buildings from the 2015+ vintage have sprung up everywhere.
It is amazing to see these new "IKEA-esque” buildings stretching all the way up High Street toward the campus. Fortunately, there are still some familiar relics left, like The Pearl, Lemongrass, and the Happy Greek restaurant — though I wonder if they’ll be priced out of the neighborhood in a few months.
There are still signs of the old Short North we grew to love, but as I stroll from the southern end toward the Convention Center and into downtown, it is mostly change, change, and more change. Enough has remained the same that I still know where I am, but there are so many new structures that have "mushroomed up" along the way.
Take this hotel, for instance, which was one of the first of these new buildings to pop up. Since then, the massive Hilton building has appeared in the last 5 years. I believe it holds the notoriety of being Ohio’s tallest residential building, or at least its tallest hotel.
Interestingly, the development of the “cap” over Interstate 670 heralded this modern age of the Short North, but to my chagrin, it was built on the site of our former train station. That station no longer exists except in name, in the form of a gay bar (Union Cafe) with no tracks or passenger rail service — which feels like a bit of a slap in the face.
Columbus has become quite beautiful, but as someone currently looking for housing, it’s intimidating. Seeing all these bougie developments makes me wonder how much I’ll have to pay for a 1-bedroom apartment. However, I’m staying optimistic; you just have to know where to look and who to haggle with.
As for the Convention Center area, we’ve expanded our parking garages to address the trite and inevitable complaints of insufficient parking. Of course, it doesn't matter how many spaces you build; people still find reasons to complain about parking. Some things never change; excessively wide highways and complaints about parking remain foundational cornerstones of Columbus’s character.
The city is still growing, and I don’t think we are anywhere near a plateau. Intel’s new manufacturing complex still has yet to be completed, which will bring in more young professional tech workers and likely drive rent prices up even further. I hope the city wisens up about spreading that wealth and residential development to other neighborhoods.
I often complain about transportation, but I have to give a huge shout-out to the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA). They deserve credit for the buses zipping up and down High Street, like the #2, which is a "spine" of the bus network. Columbus has made leaps and bounds in improving the quality of life for pedestrians and non-motorists. It seems the regional development organizations have heard my prayers and gripes, and as a resident, I’m very impressed with how the city has responded to these challenges.
It is nice to see the government respond to the needs of its citizens. It feels like I live in a modern utopian metropolis. I’m going to continue my Sunday morning stroll here on High Street.
Wherever you are, make sure to get outside, say hello to your neighbors, and appreciate the little things you might take for granted. As I say at the end of every broadcast: take care of yourself, take care of yourselves, and take care of somebody else.
Coming at you live from Columbus, Ohio, on this beautiful Sunday morning, 24 September 2023, this is Mike George. Toodaloo!
Insights and Context
Recurring Themes: Across your conversation history, Mike George consistently focuses on the tactile experience of the city—from the "thick brickwork" of German Village in 2025 to the "Ikea buildings" of the Short North in 2023.
Urban Evolution: These sources capture a specific moment in Columbus's history, highlighting the transition from a "relic-filled" neighborhood to a tech-driven "modern utopian metropolis" influenced by the upcoming Intel Factory.
Signature Sign-off: Mike maintains a consistent personal brand, ending his videos with the same call to community care: "Take care of yourself, take care of yourselves, and take care of somebody else".
