Mural lost to a parking lot

With only a colorful block showing of the “A Street Called Home” mural, a construction worker Tuesday hoses down the remains of the Near East Side warehouse building on which the mural of Aminah Robinson’s painting appeared.

local cultural activist and a Columbus Landmarks board member who has led neighborhood tours that included stops at the mural.

Walker said she knew the warehouse was coming down, even if others didn’t. “The mural wasn’t done by Aminah Robinson. It was a copy,” Walker said.

But because it was so visible — near the art museum, CCAD and Columbus State Community College, as well as visible to motorists heading east on East Long Street — people became very attached to it, she said.

“The people felt the mural really contributed to the community in a way that no other artwork did on the Near East Side,” Walker said.

Calvin Hairston, a Near East Side resident who fought against the demolition of Poindexter Village, was more blunt. “Don’t you know that’s an insult to the history of the community?” Hairston said.

“What are you saying to black art in the community?”

Becky West, Columbus Landmarks executive director, called the mural “a very vibrant, exciting piece of public art.”

“To lose one like that is unfortunate, no question,” West said.

The building featuring the mural was behind the State Auto headquarters at 518 E. Broad St. Anderson said the company was very open with the neighborhood about its

plans, and with the city’s Downtown Commission in February and May.

“It’s not a decision we made lightly,” he said.

But State Auto is moving employees from Gahanna and another Downtown location to its Broad Street headquarters. That will increase the number of workers there to close to 1,200, from 1,075, so the company needs the parking. The new garage will have 800 parking spots.

He also said the new structure will include public art and have a digital wall that could be used to promote local artists.