Looking at downtown from on high

Since the first I time I went to the top floors of the Government Center, I have always been fascinated with the views of Columbus from its tallest downtown structures.

I know, it’s a little weird.

You can stand in front of a window on the north side of the building and see all the church steeples and look upriver to Bibb City or up Second Avenue as the road becomes almost ribbon-like.

You can stand on the south side of the building and look out over trees of the Historic District to the Civic Center, South Commons and beyond.

Most people in the Government Center have more important things to do than look down on Columbus, but it is something that always gives me pause. And there is rarely a time that I don’t take a few seconds to gaze out the windows.

Why are we talking about this now? Good question. And there is a good reason.

For years, downtown redevelopment has been one of my responsibilities at the newspaper. Over those years, it has put me in some pretty cool places with amazing views of Columbus that most folks rarely get to see.

About a decade ago, when the W.C. Bradley Co. purchased the Eagle & Phenix mills, I was able to go through and see the river from a different angle. Throughout the renovation, I got to tour the mills and see the progress — and see Columbus and Phenix City in a different light.

My parents have a condominium there now, so I get to enjoy that spectacular view on a regular basis.

OK, I am getting to the point.

In the last few months I have had the opportunity to tour two buildings in the 1200 block of Broadway that will soon be under renovation. One is the old Raymond Rowe 1200 store at the corner of 12^th Street and Broadway. The other is the old Montgomery Ward and Aaron’s Rents building at 1201 Broadway, directly across the street.

Both of those buildings have spectacular views from the top. And both of the developers are working on ways to capitalize and even improve on that.

There are plans to extend the 1201 building toward Front Avenue and the river, creating even more rooftop access on what is going to be a Hampton Inn. The Pezold companies are planning event space on that rooftop.

Across Broadway in the old Raymond Rowe building, developer and businessman John Teeples is planning to add a fifth floor with a terrace and possibly a rooftop restaurant. He sees the potential return on his investment.

Both of those projects will open up views of Columbus that many people don’t get to see. And it will open up a whole new way to see our city and neighbors across the river.

There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, there is everything right about it. For decades, the top floors of these downtown buildings were not used. Now, many or them are being used for offices and loft apartments. And the owners are looking for ways to creatively use the rooftops.

It is just more proof of the change you are seeing in downtown Columbus. The more people get to look down, the more things are looking up.

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 10:55 AM with the headline "Looking at downtown from on high."