Columbus Neighborhood Tours: King Lincoln/Near East

As part of the NNIP partners meeting in Columbus, David Reierson from HomePort conducted a tour of the King Lincoln/ Near East neighborhood, and provided handouts with maps and reference information (coming soon).

The King-Lincoln District is steeped in history. It lies within the greater Near East Side; it overlaps and is adjacent to both historical and recent neighborhood boundaries. Initially established as an elite area on the outskirts of the City of Columbus, by the 1930s and ‘40s, downtown Columbus’ near east side was home to an affluent African-American business and entertainment district. At the time, segregation actually fueled the commercial and cultural development of the area, as African-American consumers could only patronize the African-American businesses in the neighborhood. As a result, a thriving, self-sufficient community developed which celebrated its cultural heritage and created its own opportunity.

Later, the landscape and economics of the King-Lincoln District changed dramatically as desegregation and public policy encouraged middle-class flight and promoted demolition and redevelopment of certain areas within or near the KLD. Since 2001, Mayor Coleman and the City of Columbus have been dedicated to the re-development and revitalization of the King-Lincoln District on Columbus’ Near East Side.