District History

As one travels south on Summit Street from Hudson Street toward downtown, an interesting retail strip appears on the east side of Summit at Oakland Avenue and continues for several blocks. The current uses of the structures include a variety of retail uses appropriate to the large number of people who live in close proximity to the area.

It is apparent as well from the architectural styles present that most of these buildings were constructed between World War I and the 1950s. The only real question is why the commercial strip is located here rather than a few blocks to the north or south.

While most of the neighborhoods near High Street in the University Area had been annexed to Columbus in 1871, a narrow strip of land on the eastern side of the district near the railroad tracks was not annexed until 1910. As the streetcar lines slowly moved up the Summit and Fourth Street corridors, housing was developed along the streets as well. Until well into the 1920s the streetcar turnaround for the Summit and Fourth Street lines was at Wyandotte Avenue. This explains why that street is wider than its neighbors even to this day.

A commercial strip grew up on Summit Street within the city limits and below Wyandotte to serve the needs of the neighborhoods within walking distance. It started up along Summit because the land east of Fourth Street was not part of the city and escaped annexation until 1920. The retail establishments came into being at the turnaround in the middle of the built-part of the district.

With the passage of time the original reason for the area’s location became superseded by the advent of the motor car and of motor buses, which did not need the Wyandotte Avenue turnaround. But the shops and stores continue to provide needed services to the neighborhood, and offer interesting possibilities for adaptive reuse for a variety of purposes as well.