In Search of a City: Urban Surprises
One of the things I really love about urban spaces is the element of surprise, especially when walking. Stumbling the first time upon Basi Italia in a Victorian Village alley, for example, is a delightful shock. Franklin Avenue in Discovery District is a totally unanticipated treat. If you look above J. Gumbo’s at Gay and Pearl, you will unexpectedly see mannequins in mini skirts looking back at you from the second floor window.
Independent businesses offer that same element of surprise. You never know what to expect when you walk for the first time into a Dine Originals restaurant, for example, except for a great experience.
Few local developers understand the value of surprise better than Jeff Edwards. He has completed only about 15% of his planned Gay Street condominiums, yet his one-block neighborhood between Fourth and Fifth streets already contains many unexpected treats. They include a lush courtyard with a fountain and little patios that lead to garden apartments half a flight of steps below the sidewalk.
What other surprises are worth discovering?
Tags: Discovery District, Downtown, Downtown Columbus, Gay Street, J. Gumbo's, Neighborhood Launch, urban