>> TODAY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PLACE YOU MIGHT NOT THINK ABOUT A DRIVE SOMEWHERE.

>> WHEN YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION, IT'S A PLACE THAT'S A NECESSITY.

HAVE YOU GUESSED YET?

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PARKING LOTS.

>> SOME PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT BEFORE SOME OF THESE PLACES WERE PARKING LOTS, THEY WERE SOME NOTABLE BUILDINGS.

>> ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN --A HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONSULTANT AT COLUMBUS LANDMARKS TO UNCOVER THE STORIES BEHIND SOME OF OUR DOWNTOWN PARKING LOTS.

>> WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT PARKING LOTS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THEM IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, FEWER THAN WE USED TO HAVE BUT WE STILL HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF PARKING LOTS THAT ONE TIME HAD HISTORIC BUILDINGS.

WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO START AT THIS PARKING LOT TODAY BECAUSE THIS WAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT LOSS FOR THE CITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THIS BUILDING OR NOT.

>> IT STARTED WITH THE CITY IN 1993 WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE SAME YEAR THAT THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED.

>> JANUARY OF '93 .

>> I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS WAS AN EXAMPLE OF LOSS THAT WE HAVE SEEN TURNING TO PARKING LOTS OVER AND OVER.

>> IT WAS THE PRE-CIVIL WAR ITALIAN VILLA, YOU CAN IMAGINE IT SAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LOT AND HAD A BIG, SQUARE TOWER.

THE ENTRANCE ALTHOUGH IT WAS PAINTED BLACK WAS A DOUBLE ENTRANCE , ROUND ARCH .

>> A COUPLE INTO THE BUILDING.

>> MUCH SO, IT WAS THE ENTRANCE INTO THE EAST TOWN STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT.

THIS WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE FAIRLY WELL OFF PEOPLE LIVED, THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR WAS THE BRENT LAZARUS HOUSE.

ANYONE WHO GREW UP IN COLUMBUS KNOWS --IT REALLY WAS AN EFFORT TO TRY TO PRESERVE IT.

OUR DISCLAIMER IS MY HUSBAND, JEFF AND I WERE A PART OF THAT WITH THE IDEA OF RESTORING THESE HISTORIC BUILDINGS BUT BUILDING NEW CONDOMINIUMS FACING THE LIBRARY PARK.

WITH A COMBINATION OF THE MOVE, IT MADE THE ECONOMICS WORK, WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE OWNERS , AND OTHERS BUT TIME RAN OUT.

THEY WERE ABLE TO TEAR DOWN THE BUILDING AND THEY DID.

WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT PARKING LOTS ?

THEY ARE BUSINESSES, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY URBAN DESIGN CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY.

THERE IS NO REASON WHY THIS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED DOOR --OR DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT IS UNJUST THIS .

IT WAS TORE DOWN 30 YEARS AGO, WE HAD THIS FOR 30 YEARS.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN TERMS OF IF THERE IS A PARKING LOT REQUESTED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT BY ANY COMMISSION, LANDSCAPING WILL BE A --IMPORTANT COMPONENT.

>> A GOOD THING THAT CAME OUT OF THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.

PART OF IT WAS TO NOT HAVE BUILDINGS TORN DOWN FOR PARKING.

THERE WOULD BE A REVIEW PROCESS, IF THE BUILDING WAS TURNED DOWN, THEY DID NOT ALLOW THEM TO TEAR THAT BUILDING TOWN --DOWN UNTIL HE HAVE A COMMITMENT.

WE WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE BUILDINGS AND NOT JUST PARKING LOTS.

CAN YOU THINK OF OTHERS THAT MAY BE LED TO SOME CHANGE IN POLICY?

>> IN THE NORTH ON THE VICTORIAN VILLA SIDE, HOTEL WAS LOST THERE.

IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO REBUILD THAT LOT , THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

ALSO, THERE WAS ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT ONE, THE SENECA AND SEVERAL ENVIRONMENTAL COURT HEARINGS ON THE ALLEY BY THE SENECA.

THEY WERE VERY CLOSE TO BEING LOST AND THE REASON IT DID NOT WAS BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION AND THEN IT WAS INDIVIDUALLY -- >> AND THEN IT HAPPENED AT THE APARTMENT.

>> IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS, ONCE A BUILDING IS GONE IT IS GONE FOREVER.

YOU CANNOT ADAPTIVELY REUSE A VACANT LOT UNTIL HE REBUILD.

>> THERE ARE GOOD ECONOMIC INCENTIVES THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO BUILD.

WITH A LOT OF IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY, WE SEE DEVELOPERS AROUND COLUMBUS DOING AMAZING WORK ESPECIALLY RECENTLY.

I KNOW YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH THE POWER PLANT, THE EAST MARKET THAT WAS READY FOR DEMOLITION COULD HAVE BEEN A PARKING LOT IN THAT AREA.

ONE OF THE ONES THAT COMES TO MIND TO ME IS THE BREWERY DISTRICT.

IT IS STILL THERE, THE BREWERY IS NOT EXACTLY A PARKING LOT.

IT IS A GREEN SPACE, BUT I REMEMBER THAT BUILDING WAS TORN DOWN.

>> THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF CITIES THAT HAVE APPROACHED THE VACANT PROPERTIES IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

I THINK PITTSBURGH, I ALSO THINK OF CINCINNATI .

MANY BUILDINGS WERE KEPT.

THE 20 YEAR AGO TRIP WAS PRETTY ROUGH.

IT HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY NOW ALL, IT IS A PLACE TO BE AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT ONE OF THE ATTRACTIONS IS IN THAT CITY.

ONE OF THE ATTRACTIONS TO FOLKS IS THAT THE BUILDING IS THERE.

THERE IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR INFIELD, LOSS OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IS LOSS OF CHARACTER.

>> WE ARE NOT CREATING THESE BUILDINGS ANYMORE.

>> IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUT I'VE GOT A SITE NOT FAR FROM HERE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU AND SEE WHAT YOUR THOUGHT IS.

>> LET'S SEE IT.

>> OKAY.

>> OKAY, NANCY THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A PARKING LOT WHERE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN DOWN AND THERE IS NO LANDSCAPING.

THERE IS ALSO THE LOCATION ON THE ARMOR FRANKLIN GIRLS SAVINGS-AND-LOAN BUILDING WHICH WAS ON THE CORNER NEAR MAINE.

ALSO THE MOST RECENT DONATION --DEMOLITION WAS THE MAIN STREET BAR.

THAT BAR BUILDING WAS TORN DOWN JUST RECENTLY.

DOWN THE BLOCK, ABOUT A HALF A BLOCK AWAY THERE IS A BUILDING VERY SIMILAR TO THAT , IT WAS SAVED WITH TWO NEW BUILDINGS.

>> THAT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF COMBINING OLD AND NEW.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, WE HAVE LOTS OF CONFIDENCE OF PARKING LOTS.

IT'S A WONDERFUL, EXCITING, AND CREATIVE CHALLENGE, HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE THOSE INTO DEVELOPMENT?

TO ME, THE MOST EXCITING THING THAT CAN HAPPEN IS A BIT OF THE PAST AND A BIT OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE.

IT TAKES A LITTLE MORE CREATIVITY.

>> THESE TWO RECENT SITES, AND ALL THE VACANT LOTS ALL OVER THE TOWN.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE, THE FUTURE OF YOUR CARS, THE FUTURE NEED OF YOUR PARKING.

WHAT CHANGES THAT YOU SEE MAYBE HAPPENING.

IT'S GOING TO BE DRIVING CARS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT.

>> IS IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE, AND THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE PARKING.

WE NEED A STRUCTURED PARKING GARAGE.

A COUPLE OF PARKING GARAGES, NOT ON THE MAIN STREET BUT BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PARK LIKE THE ONE THAT WENT IN THE CITY CENTER RIGHT THERE, A BIG PARKING GARAGE, IMAGINE HOW MUCH SERVICE PARKING WOULD BE NEEDED?

>> I THINK THAT THERE ARE TWO POINTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT TO COMMISSIONS AND CLIENTS.

THE DESIGN OF STRUCTURED PARKING DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A CEMENT BUILDING WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE A PARKING GARAGE.

THERE ALL KINDS OF DESIGN SOLUTIONS FOR THAT THAT FIT IN WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT IS THE FIRST PIECE, SECOND PIECES THAT I TALK TO DEVELOPERS ABOUT IT.

SOMETIMES THEY PUSH BACK ON THIS, I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT OF CONSIDERATION ABOUT WHEN PARKING LEVELS ARE BEING ADDED TO THE BUILDING, A NEW BUILD OR A PARKING GARAGE STANDALONE.

BEING ABLE TO CONVERT THAT TO ANOTHER USE OUTSIDE OF PARKING IS SOMETHING THAT SUCCESSFUL CITIES ARE LOOKING AT NOW.

>> SPEAKING OF AN EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW BEHIND US, THE JULIAN IS THE FORMER INDUSTRIAL BUILDING.

THEY DESIGNED THE PARKING INSIDE THE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING.

THE WAY THEY DESIGNED THE PARKING, THE PARKING IS NEEDED AND THEY GET CONVERTED TWO MORE APARTMENTS.

>> THANKS A LOT, NANCY.

THIS HAS BEEN WONDERFUL, BOTH SITES WERE GREAT TO VISIT.

REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION, REALLY GOOD ANALYSIS.

>> I HAVE ENJOYED IT.

>> THANKS.

>> AT ANY POINT IN TIME, A CITY LANDSCAPE CAN BE DEFINED BY DISTINCTIVE ARCHITECTURE.

WHAT STANDS IN A PARTICULAR SPOT CAN CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE DECADE.

>> ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN JEFF DARBY VISITED ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS FOR THE CHRISTOPHER IN TO SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY NEEDS IMPACT SPACES.

>> WE ARE IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS AND WE ARE GOING TO A SITE WHERE THE CITY EVOLVES OVER TIME, THIS IS WHERE THE CITY MOVED WHERE THE CITY WAS MORE PROPS --PROSPEROUS .

THERE ARE SPECTACULAR HOMES, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE KELLY MANSION BUILT IN THE EARLY 19th CENTURY.

KELLY WAS A VERY IMPORTANT FIGURE IN COLUMBUS AND OHIO HISTORY, IT CAME DOWN IN THE EARLY 1960s.

WE WILL BE MEETING WITH -- WHO WAS LEAD ARCHITECT FOR THE PROJECT.

WHO WAS VERY AWARE OF THE MANSION AND HIS --WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING TO HEAR.

>> HELLO, HOW ARE YOU?

>> FANCY MEETING YOU.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> WE ARE OUT AT A HISTORIC PART OF TOWN, EARLY ON PEOPLE STARTED TO MOVE OUT HERE AFTER THEY CAME ON CAPITOL SQUARE.

ONE OF THE HOUSES THEY BUILT WAS ALBERT KELLY'S, HIS MANSION RIGHT ON THE SITE.

HE BUILT THAT IN THE EARLY 1800s.

HE WAS AN IMPORTANT FIGURE, HISTORICALLY.

>> VERY IMPORTANT FIGURE HISTORICALLY.

HE WAS A PROMINENT CITIZEN IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY, GROWING THE COMMUNITY AND HE ALSO WAS PRESENT FOR STATE OF OHIO WHEN THEY WERE GOING BANKRUPT.

>> THAT PROBABLY IS NOT INDIVIDUAL THAT WOULD DO THAT.

HE HAD A WONDERFUL HOUSE , THAT WAS A LANDMARK BUT IT WAS REPLACED BY ANOTHER LANDMARK AND THAT'S WHERE YOU CAME IN.

>> THAT'S WHERE I CAME IN AND MY CLIENT WAS THE JOSEFINA COLLEGE .

I WORKED WITH THE BUSINESS MANAGER, HE TOLD ME I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD A HIGH-RISE HOTEL.

I SAID ALL RIGHT, HE SAID I HAVE A PROPERTY AT 300 EAST BROAD STREET.

I WALKED UP HERE AND LOOKED AT THE SITE, LO AND BEHOLD HERE IS THE KELLY MANSION I REMEMBERED AT THE TRIAL.

>> IT WAS GONE BY THE TIME I CAME TO COLUMBUS.

>> THIS WAS IN 1961, I CAME DOWN AND LOOKED AT THE SITE.

I WALKED AND FACED OFF AT THE FRONT, 149 FEET AND 263 FEET IN DEPTH.

I WENT HOME AND COMPARED THAT WITH MY FRONT YARD, IT WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT SMALLER.

>> YOU HAD TO CRAM A HOTEL IN THAT.

>> YOU WANT TO BUILD A MOTOR HOTEL ON THE SITE?

FIRST OF ALL, I SAID YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

WE HAVE THE KELLY MANSION.

>> HE SAID WE ARE GOING TO MOVE IT.

I WAS STILL A YOUNG PERSON, SO I TOOK HIS WORD FOR WHAT IT WAS.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PERSISTENT AND TRIED TO SAVE IT BECAUSE IN THAT SAME PERIOD, 1960 I WAS SPENDING --PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN SAVING THE THEATER.

I HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE IN HOW TO DO THAT.

I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE TRY TO SAVE IT, IT WAS REALLY A SERIOUS BLOW TO ME BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MOVE THE BUILDING.

THEY NEVER REALLY GOT TAKEN CARE OF.

I UNDERSTAND PIECES ARE SCATTERED AROUND THE STATE BUT THEN CHRISTOPHER BECAME A LANDMARK IN ITSELF, LET'S GO DEEPER AND TALK MORE ABOUT THIS.

>> RIGHT AWAY.

>> THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG SITE FOR A HOUSE, FOR A HOTEL, NOTHING BIG.

>> THIS IS TRULY AN EMOTIONAL TRIP FOR ME.

THIS WAS 60 YEARS AGO, I STOOD HERE AND TRIED TO IMAGINE 140 ROOM HOTEL ON THIS SITE, ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY FRONT YARD.

THAT WAS A DESIGN CHALLENGE.

I MENTIONED, WITH MY CLIENT HE WAS AN INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUAL .

HE WAS A BUSINESS MANAGER, AND HE HAD A GREAT VISION FOR CHRISTOPHER AND WHICH WAS VERY -- THEY WERE QUITE SIGNIFICANT.

HE WANTED AN ENTRANCE AND EXIT RIGHT HERE ON BROAD STREET, VERY VISIBLE .

HE WANTED THE GUESTS TO HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO ALL THE FACILITIES, THE RULES AND ALSO PARKING FACILITIES FOR ABOUT 200.

>> IT WAS NOT A TRADITIONAL DOWNTOWN HOTEL BUT IT WAS NOT A SUBURBAN MOTEL EITHER.

IT WAS A HOTEL BUT THE OWNERS WANTED IT TO BE CONVENIENT FOR PARTICULAR ACCESS .

>> I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAD VISIONS OF COMPETING WITH THE WHEELHOUSE.

PEOPLE THINK THAT THE CIRCULAR TOWER WAS PRECONCEIVED, IT WAS NOT.

I STUDIED VEHICULAR ENTRANCES AND EXITS, I DETERMINED THAT THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY WAS A CIRCULAR RAMP UP AND DOWN.

THAT IS REALLY THE CRITERIA FOR THE TOWER.

>> IT WAS ROUND WHICH WAS UNHEARD OF IN THE HOTEL LINE.

OF COURSE, HE'S GOING TO DO A TOWER.

THIS WAS BEFORE MARINA CITY.

>> RIGHT.

ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS HE HAD WAS THAT I WANT THIS HOTEL COMPLETED IN ALL REGARDS RIGHT UP TO THE CHINA, THE SILVERWARE , THE MATCHBOX .

I WANT YOU TO HAND ME A KEY WHEN IT'S COMPLETED.

>> IT WAS A COMPLETE DESIGN , DOWN TO THE MATCHBOX, THE KEY CHAINS.

>> HERE IS MY DESIGN FOR THE MATCH.

>> LET'S SEE HERE.

THERE IT IS.

IT WAS A TRUE LANDMARK AND IT LASTED UNTIL THE LATE 1980s?

>> CORRECT.

>> WE ARE STANDING ON THE SITE THAT HAS BEEN FULLY DEVELOPED INTO A PARKING LOT.

>> SADLY, IT IS.

>> IN RETROSPECT, IF THE KELLY MANSION WAS STILL HERE , THAT COULD BE A FABULOUS MUSEUM .

>> IT REALLY OCCURRED.

>> THERE WERE A LOT.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF SITES AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME.

>> IT SHOWS YOU HOW DECISIONS BY INDIVIDUALS OFTEN HAVE A BIG ROLE IN SHAPING THE CITY.

>> I COMPLIMENT YOU FOR WANTING TO SHARE THIS HISTORIC LEGACY OF THESE TWO LOSS LANDMARKS.

I AM KIND OF SHUTTING INTERNALLY AT TEARE BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN MORE ASSERTIVE TO HELP SAVE THESE.

>> I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOSE AN IMPORTANT LANDMARK, WE HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESSES TOO.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN HELPING US HOW THE CITY CHANGES OVER TIME.

>> I COMPLIMENT YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NOT ALL PARKING LOTS ARE JUST FOR PARKING.

SOME LOCATIONS HAVE FOUND CREATIVE WAYS TO USE THEIR SPACES FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES.

>> CASE IN POINT IS THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES GREENHOUSE WHICH SITS ON TOP OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY'S 12 AVENUE PARKING GARAGE.

>> IT'S A HIGHLY CREATIVE USE OF SPACE, LETIZIA WIGGINS WENT TO GO CHECK IT OUT.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU BOTH TODAY, I WANT TO START BY ASKING WHERE ARE WE WHITE NOW?

>> WE ARE ON THE MEDICAL TEAM AT OSU, WE ARE ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR OF THE 10th AVENUE PARKING GARAGE WHICH IS THE ORIGINAL VISITOR PARKING FOR THE HOSPITAL, OR THE MAIN HOSPITAL.

>> THAT'S GOT TO BE A SURPRISE SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN UP HERE, SOME PEOPLE COME THROUGH.

>> NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW WE ARE UP HERE, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE WALKED EITHER UP AND DOWN 12 AVENUE OR JOHN HARRIS DRIVE.

TOTALLY MISSED US WAY UP AT THE TOP, IT IS A HIDDEN GEM.

>> WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> WE DO OUTREACH, WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT COME IN AND USE THE FACILITY ANYWHERE FROM PRESCHOOL, DAY CARE, ALL THE WAY THROUGH ELDER HOSPITAL GROUPS .

SECOND WE DO SOME RESEARCH UP HERE AS WELL, WE HAVE SOME GREENHOUSES THAT HAVE RESEARCH IN THEM RIGHT NOW.

AS WELL AS SOME GROWTH CHAMBERS, THEN THERE IS A LIVING LABORATORY FOR A LOT OF OUR CLASSES AT LSU.

--OSU.

ECOLOGY CLASSES, THEY, PEER AND USE THE FACILITY TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR LEARNING.

ANYWHERE BETWEEN THREE AND 4000 STUDENTS END UP COMING UP AND USING THE FACILITY.

>> HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN HERE?

IN THIS SPACE, I GUESS.

>> THE GREENHOUSE HAS BEEN ON TOP OF THE PARKING GARAGE 1993, ORIGINALLY DOWN ON STREET LEVEL BEHIND WHAT WAS THE OLD ZOOLOGY BUILDING.

AS THEY BUILT THE CANCER CENTER, THEY STARTED BLOCKING SUNLIGHT AND SUNLIGHT NEEDS TO GROW.

THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO ADD THREE LEVELS TO THE PARKING GARAGE AND PUT THIS UP ON TOP.

>> OHIO STATE HAS HAD GREENHOUSES FOR A LONG TIME, I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

>> OUR MISSION IS BASED AROUND AGRICULTURE AND GREENHOUSES ARE A BIG PART OF THAT.

WE ARE SET UP A LITTLE MORE FOR EDUCATION, IN OUR ROOM.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING SEPARATED BY SPECIES.

YOU GET TO GO THROUGH AND SEE ALL OF THE AGAPE , FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

THIS IS TYPICAL CONSERVATORY -- >> IT REALLY OPENS UP IN HERE, THIS IS INCREDIBLE.

OH MY GOSH.

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF INTERESTING PLANTS IN THE SPACE.

>> ONE OF THE PLANTS THAT WERE NEW IS THE AUTHOR PHALLUS TITANIUM ALSO KNOWN AS THE STINK FLOUR, IT'S THE WORLD'S LARGEST FLOWER.

WE HAD SEVERAL EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE COME UP AND VIEW IT, WE CONSIDER IT A VEGETATIVE STAGE.

IT WILL BE IN THIS VEGETATIVE STATE FOR SEVERAL.

IT OF TIME , ONCE IT IS TIME FOR THE FLOWER.

IT TAKES QUITE A FEW YEARS TO GET THE FORM LARGE ENOUGH .

IT WILL SHOOT A LARGE FLOWER OUT THAT OPENS OUT TO ABOUT 4 1/2, 5 FEET AROUND.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS POLLINATED BY DUNG BEETLES AND OTHER INSECTS AND THE LIKE.

IT DOES SMELL A LITTLE BIT LIKE ROTTING MEAT.

IT IS CURRENTLY A THREATENED SPECIES, IT IS NATIVE TO THE REGION OF INDONESIA.

IT DOES NOT TOLERATE HUMAN DISTURBANCE VERY WELL.

THE OIL PLANTATIONS ARE TRYING TO DRIVE DOWN OVERALL NUMBERS IN THE WILD.

COLLECTIONS LIKE OUR --ARE IMPORTANT FOR POTENTIAL REPOPULATION OF THE STINK SPECIES.

>> HOW STINKY IS IT?

>> IT'S LIKE AND 11.

IT IS BAD.

IT REALLY SMELLS FOUL.

>> WE HAVE ORCHIDS, WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE?

>> WE HAVE A NICE COLLECTION OF ECONOMIC PLANTS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OBSERVATORY IF YOU WANT TO CHECK THOSE OUT.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> THIS PLANT RIGHT HERE, THIS IS A COCKNEY TREE.

USUALLY AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR IT WILL FLOWER AND PRODUCE FRUIT.

AS THE FRUIT RIPENS, IT TURNS A NICE, RED COLOR AND INSIDE ARE THE SEEDS.

IT IS HARD FOR A LOT OF KIDS TO CORRELATE THE FACT THE SEEDS ARE WHAT WE CALL COFFEE SEEDS.

TO SEE THEM LITERALLY ATTACHED TO THE TREE AND TAKE THEM UP HIS --WE EXAMINE THEM IN THEIR HANDS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF KIDS FIND NEAT.

>> SOMETHING YOU DO WAS CONNECTING ALL THE DOTS THERE.

>> THIS TREE IS BEAUTIFUL.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS TREE?

WHAT'S THE STORY?

>> PROBABLY OUR LARGEST TREE, THE CEILINGS ARE ROUGHLY 35 FEET .

YOU CAN TELL IT'S PRETTY BIG, IT'S BEEN ON CAMPUS A LITTLE OVER 100 YEARS.

WE HAD SOME PHOTOS WHEN THEY BUILT THE GREENHOUSE OF THEM TRAINING IT UP OVER THE SIDEWALLS, THEN PUTTING THE ROOF ON AFTER.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALSO COLLECT SEVERAL SPECIES OF.

IT CAN BE SOMETHING USEFUL FOR REPOPULATING.

>> THINKING ABOUT THE WORLD AND MAINTAINING A LOT OF THIS ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM, IS THERE REALLY INTERESTING WORK --ROLE THE PEOPLE MAYBE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT?

>> WE ARE ROOM FOR PLANTS, IT IS PRESERVATION OF GENETICS.

>> WHAT WOULD BE ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD HELP STUDENTS AND PEOPLE VISITING WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THE SPACE?

>> JUST THE OVERALL DIVERSITY THAT THE PLANT WORLD HAS , ALL THESE PLANTS REPRODUCE IN SOME FORM OR THE OTHER WHETHER IT BE FRUITS, OR CONES, OR THAT SORT OF THING BUT TO HAVE THOSE DIFFERENT EXAMPLES IN A SMALL AREA , SOME OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS THAT COME UP AND SAY MY GRANDMA HAS THAT PLAN.

THERE IS RECOGNITION OUTSIDE OF OUR WALLS.

>> FOR ME, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE STUDENTS HAVING A WIDE SAMPLE OF ASSESSMENTS AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS AS OPPOSED TO LOOKING AT THEM ON A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.

I THINK YOU WILL WALK AWAY WITH A BETTER EXPERIENCE.

>> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US, REMEMBER YOU CAN CATCH ALL OF OUR EPISODES ON COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS.ORG.

PLUS YOU CAN SEE OUR STORIES ON THE W OSU APP.

>> YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.

YOU WILL SEE US NEXT WEEK ON COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS.

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