of Chillicothe, Ross County & South-Central Ohio
of Chillicothe, Ross County & South-Central Ohio new 7/26/04 |
| An aerial view looking north along Ohio State Route 104, north of Chillicothe along the Veterans Administration Medical Center golf course |
State Route 104 north of Chillicothe is a pleasant entrance and exit to the first capital. From the the Veterans Administration Medical Center's golf course, past the mysterious earthworks of Mound City, along the "gated community" of the Chillicothe Correctional Institution, across from the arc of Colonial Revival prison workers subdivision houses, and along remnanats of the historic prison farms, SR 104 travels towards Chillicothe though a series of almost campus-like groupings of cohesive places.
Although compromised by the recent new prisons and the "Gateway Interchange Industrial Park," it's still better looking than almost all of the other arterial roads leading into the First Capital. Western Avenue, Bridge Street, East Main, South Bridge Street - all are muddled with unplanned short-lived commercial sprawl or industrial wastelands that lack any identity or character.
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| The Chillicothe Improvement Corporation's proposed mega-building at the "Gateway Interchange Industrial Park" just north of the interchange at SR 104 and US 35. From the Chillicothe Improvement Corporation website |
At least, it's better looking until until the Chillicothe Improvement Corporation erects the 252,200 square foot building illustrated on thier website. The image shows a computer-genrated image of the proposed building - much like those (if I remember right) along I-71 at SR 665 southeast of Columbus, and at SR 41 near Jeffersonville. The proposed CIC plan has its 6,000 foot, one-story facade right along SR 104 just north of the westbound offramp.
So, instead of Camp Sherman Park, this grey wall is what will attract the eyes of travellers and visitors entering Chillicothe from the north on SR 104.
Come on, people, the First Capital deserves better than this. You can make money adding to our character, culture, and history - not detracting from it.
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| The Chillicothe Improvement Corporation's proposed plan, including a mega-building, at the "Gateway Interchange Industrial Park" just north of the interchange at SR 104 and US 35. From the Chillicothe Improvement Corporation website |
