German Village

German Village is a historic neighborhood just south of downtown Columbus, Ohio. Initially platted in 1814 in Columbus’s South End, the German Village area primarily developed between 1840 and 1914. It was settled largely by German immigrants in the mid 1800s. German descendants at one time comprised as much as a third of the population of the entire city of Columbus. A highway bridge over Interstate 70 is all that separates the German Village Historic District from downtown Columbus, but as one looks east from the interstate, the difference between old and new is glaring. A 20+ story structure sits just north of the interstate bridge, and just south, in German Village, no structure is higher than three stories. Five blocks south, the spire of St. Mary Church stands 197’ off the sidewalk and towers over everything around it. Structures and sidewalks are orange masonry, and many streets (about half) are still brick pavers. German Village does not have a recreated sense of history or kitschy Bavarian feel ~ rather, it is a neighborhood with architecture dating from the 1840s-1890s that has been preserved, and its use as a shared residential and commercial neighborhood has been maintained. People walk to their destinations, park on the street due to the overwhelming absence of driveways, and live life at a very pedestrian level. The neighborhood is extremely dense ~ very often only inches separate neighboring structures, and many structures were built for multi-family use. German Village is notably different because its appearance has changed so little.

German Village is memorable for a thousand reasons, all of which are intimately personal to the individuals fortunate to reside in or visit the neighborhood. The sense of community is palpable, the historic architecture is beautiful, and the history is visible. German Village is not easily forgotten. The neighborhood is a vibrant place to live, work, shop, and play. The community’s sense of character is built on a foundation of community. Residents see richness — in our history, our tradition, and our social interaction. They see new generations enjoying our own brand of urban living, created more than 50 years ago by previous generations of trailblazers. As a visitor to German Village, walking the area’s brick sidewalks for several blocks will take you past homes built close together and close to the road with subtle architectural detail. You’ll glimpse a neighborhood full of urban gardens. Every few blocks, you’ll happen past one of the neighborhood’s unique businesses. German Village is located just eight blocks from the Ohio Statehouse. From walkability to a great sense of community, German Village is an incredible place to be. You feel it when you cross through the Third Street gateway or explore its gorgeous parks. Millions of individual bricks were placed on top of one another to form this Village. What German Village has can’t be replicated. Homeowners live this way — and protect it with great passion — because they understand that what they have is a neighborhood like no other.