Its certainly not historic preservation, but the plans of developer Jeff Edwards for a nine-block area of surface parking in downtown Columbus might be described as... preservation-esque.

The first buildings in a $70 million project are now under construction, and are hidden behind a gigantic canvas which displays a rendering of the finished structures. These are the beginnings of what is envisioned – and plans show – as a “neighborhood” constructed from scratch, right in he middle of downtown, only a long block north and east of the Ohio Statehouse. The idea is an intriguing one, as it involves replacing vacant blocks in downtown with what those blocks used to have – residential buildings built on a human scale that suggest nineteenth and early-twentieth century design. The result will be 260 units that provide an outstanding urban location but with standard suburban amenities, such as garages and gardens. The project has the financial backing and support of the City of Columbus.

Click here to visit Neighborhood Launch.

The question of large-scale downtown infill is an interesting one, and has been tackled by both urban and smaller Ohio communities. In Hudson, a community of 25,000 in northeast Ohio, the “First & Main” project is still humming along in its third year. A mixed-use development which emphasizes retail and dining, the project does a limited number of residential units, each constructed in a design reflective of the community. The retail component is designed to integrate with the contiguous traditional downtown shops in Hudson, and both areas cross-market the other.

Click here to visit First & Main.

Photo: First buildings under construction in the Neighborhood Launch project - Preservation Ohio File Photo/taken August 17, 2007