| Downtown Columbus | |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Georgia |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Muscogee |
| Subdivision Type3: | City |
| Subdivision Name3: | Columbus |
| Parts Style: | coll |
| Population As Of: | 2007 |
| Population Total: | 8,080 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 31901, 31902, 31908, 31993, 31997, 31998 |
Downtown Columbus, Georgia, also called "Uptown" (see here), is the central business district of the city of Columbus, Georgia. The commercial and governmental heart of the city has traditionally been toward the eastern end of Downtown Columbus, between 10th Street and 1st Avenue. Recent developments, particularly between Broadway and 2nd Avenue, have expanded the boundaries of the "central" part of the neighborhood. The term "Downtown Columbus" can also mean this smaller, more commercial area, particularly when used in the context of the city's nightlife and restaurants.
South of Broadway is a much more residential area, characterized by historic homes, new infill construction, and some public housing. This part of Downtown Columbus has the highest concentration of hotels, particularly along Front Avenue, and the Broadway commercial corridor is the center of business.
Buildings
The following is a list of the tallest buildings in Downtown Columbus.
| Name | Picture | Height (ft) | Stories | Year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 246 | 19 | 1975 | Aflac HQ is the tallest building outside of Atlanta in the state of Georgia | ||
| 2 | Columbus Consolidated Government Center | 235 | 13 | 1973 | ||
| 3 | The Ralston Addition | 11 | 1977 | |||
| 4 | Corporate Center | 129 | 10 | 1973 | ||
| 5 | The Ralston Addition | 110 | 10 | 1919 | ||
| 6 | The Ralston Addition | 9 | 1941 | |||
| 7 | The Ralston | 106 | 9 | 1914 | ||
| 8 | Columbus Regional Hospital | ≈110 | 9 | 1968 | ||
| 9 | Muscogee County Jail North Tower | 8 | 1984 | |||
| 10 | Columbus Marriott | 8 | 1982 | |||
| 11 | Muscogee County Jail South Tower | 7 | 2002 | |||
| 12 | Hotel Indigo | 7 | 2021 | Built along the river. Has 107 hotel rooms and features the rooftop bar eighteen85 | ||
| 13 | 1601 First Avenue | 6 | 1999 | |||
| 14 | AC Hotel by Marriott Columbus | 6 | 2021 | |||
Two Historic Districts are located in the main district of downtown: the Columbus Historic District and the Columbus Historic Riverfront Industrial District Structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places include Columbus Ironworks, the former Ledger-Enquirer Tower, and the YMCA.[5] The Columbus Battlefield spans across the Chattahoochee River in the location of Mott's Green.
Downtown Columbus is home to many Antebellum homes, most listed in the NRHP, including the 1839 Goetchius House, the Garrett-Bullock House, and the Illges House.[6] The Mott House was destroyed by fire in 2014; its memorial facade, pictured, was completed in 2016.
Downtown Columbus is full of places that may interest tourists. These places include government buildings, sporting venues and other miscellaneous places, such as parks and convention centers.
Downtown consists of many places to worship, such as historic Church of the Holy Family, Columbus' first Roman Catholic parish. The area is also home to other historic congregations, including First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, St. George's Anglican Church, St. Luke United Methodist Church, and Trinity Episcopal Church.
There are many modes of transportation in Downtown Columbus that can be used by both tourists and residents. METRA Transit System operates bus service in downtown, which connects riders to other places in the city. The primary way of getting around downtown for many people is by car. Downtown Columbus is accessible from Interstate 185 by J. R. Allen Parkway, which allows direct travel into the area via 2nd Avenue. Downtown is also served by two arterial roads, Veterans Parkway (north–south) and Victory Drive (east–west).
There is confusion brought about by the use of the terms "Downtown" and "Uptown" for Columbus' central business district. Uptown Columbus is the title given to both a non-profit organization operating to encourage area growth and development (sometimes called "urban renewal") and also to the actual physical area of that development itself, which is an expanding subsection of the Downtown district located in the areas from Broadway to the Chattahoochee River.[9]
On April 20, 2009, at approximately 12:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time, an EF2 tornado hit downtown with winds up to 135 miles per hour (217 km/h). This tornado caused damage to the Columbus State University Campus, the Springer Opera House, and the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. This is the first time a tornado touched ground in downtown Columbus since weather records keeping began in the 1890s. While there were dozens of injuries, there were no fatalities.[10]