Check out the new Civic Center Drive

Oh for heaven’s sakes, where has time gone? One blink, and we’re eight months into 2009 — and that much closer to the debut of the Scioto Mile in June 2011. One more blink, and the big day will have arrived!

Civic Center Drive is no longer a one-way passage. The two-way thoroughfare is now open from Broad Street all the way to Town Street, serving north and south bound drivers.  When all is said and done, it will have on-street parking, planters and trees.

While the demolition of the Town Street Bridge is already completed, some old things are very much worth saving. One of the most unique features of the Scioto Mile is the restoration of the carved limestone balustrade. It’s a breathtaking feature from the 1920s built sturdy enough to withstand the demands of time. We’re honored and excited to work on this masterpiece.

Most of the work on the balustrade will wrap up this autumn. The next projects aren’t far behind. The Promenade area will begin its demolition process in November 2009; with underground utilities to follow. And then, like they say in the movies, “Coming soon . . . to a park near you: A four-foot canal with water jets, a giant stone bench just a leg’s length away from the water, extra-wide pathways, trellises, accent lighting, swinging benches, and permanent card and chess tables.”

Construction is in full swing on the River's Edge

The River Edge project is also progressing rapidly – we will soon have a natural riverfront right Downtown. The Town Street overlook construction will begin this month, and it’ll be largely completed by January of 2010 – its hardscapes and handrails will arrive a little later to provide the crowning touches.

Bicentennial Park has closed while its demolition and salvage work nears completion. A new cafe and a band shell will be standing by next summer. By 2011, the whole park will be in bloom with an amazing programmable 15,000 square foot fountain, a permanent amphitheater and a scenic eatery.

Blink once and we’re halfway there – Blink again . . .

Working hard on the balustrade

What does the balustrade have in common with the Egyptian Pyramids? Nope, not camels. Nope, not dead mummies either.

Limestone. That’s right, the Great Pyramid of Giza is solid limestone, just like the balustrade on the Scioto. Ancient civilizations recognized the timelessness of the substance, just as those who built the local floodwall back in the 1920s. 

We recognize its value today too.

The time has come for the balustrade to participate in Downtown’s revitalization. In fact, its columns have already undergone restoration and are being re-installed as we speak. New limestone reinforcements are scheduled for a September installation (and the project, with the exception of a small section at the south end, will be completed by November).

New spindles will improve the safety of the balustrade, while maintaining its charm

These changes are not drastic, but they are important. Standards of safety have changed since the 1920s. The spaces between the beautiful carved pedestals are the just the right size to permit a wayward child or pet to slip through. The challenge will be to preserve the old-school beauty with modern sensibilities in mind. When the project comes together, it’ll be a real victory in uniting Downtown’s glorious past to its glorious future.

And there couldn’t be a more appropriate medium than limestone. The rock itself has a knack for capturing the past from long before the balustrade’s construction.  It’s characteristically filled with fossils, and so Ohio’s great natural history in limestone will continue on into the future on the Scioto Mile’s balustrade.

Check out the progress on the Scioto Mile!

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