TorontoChange
400 North High Street, Columbus, OH
The idea for the convention centre was developed in 1969 as a means for the City of Columbus to hold events that would bring in money and help the downtown area recover from a period of decline. [3] In 1971, voters passed a $6 million bond to buy 27.5 acres (11.1 ha), the first Union Station ever built. [4] [5] Later, after the city had secured the property, destroyed Union Station's arcade, and altered the building's blueprints, construction was put off. [4] Agencies and the general public criticised the station's demolition since it was conducted improperly and there was little to no knowledge of it until it actually happened. [6] As a result of the continuing difficulty in funding construction, Battelle Memorial Institute stepped in, made a sizable donation, and was named Batelle.