120 S. Central Avenue

Office building in Columbus, Ohio January 2025 January 2025 West High School Former Starling Middle School in Franklinton-crop.jpg 260px 1908 building 39.9553 -83.0372 type:landmark_region:US-OH inline,title 1.824 acre 1908 120 S. Central Avenue, Columbus, Ohio David Riebel NRHP September 6, 2022 100008068 Columbus February 14, 2022 CR-81 yes yes center 39.9553 -83.0372 260 point 13 school 120 S. Central Avenue is a former school building in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. The building was built for the West High School, and later served as Starling Middle School and Starling Elementary School. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places and Columbus Register of Historic Properties in 2022.https://columbus.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5452492&GUID=23916FEF-33FC-4067-886D-CE0A4CFD14F9 City of Columbus - File #: 0371-2022 Attributes thumb|upright=1.3|1908, 1926, and 1955 buildings The building is situated in a residential part of the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. It is on a 1.824 acre plot, bordered by Central Avenue to the west, State Street to the north, Town Street to the south, and Brehl Avenue to the east. The grounds include grassy lawns, sidewalks, and trees, as well as asphalt parking and play areas to the north and east of the building. The school was designed in the Neoclassical style. It was made of blond brick, with a stone foundation and a symmetrical T-shaped layout. The original structure was designed by prominent Columbus school architect David Riebel. It has three projecting pediments; one at either end and one in the center. Its roof once had dormers on its facade and side elevations, no longer extant. A rear addition was created in 1926, designed by Howard Dwight Smith, architect of the Ohio Stadium. This housed a cafeteria, five classrooms, two locker rooms, and sewing and mechanical drawings rooms. Another addition was completed in 1955. This addition was built in the International style, and contained a gymnasium and auditorium. It was not part of the building's nomination to the Columbus Register of Historic Properties. The building's main entrance is at the center of the facade, with a sidewalk leading up to it, as well as stone steps with a stone rail near the door. History The building was built for the West High School, and was converted to Starling Junior High School in 1929, when a new West High School was built. The school was eventually converted to become Starling Elementary School, and closed in 2012 when a new Starling Elementary School was constructed across the street, at 145 S. Central Avenue. The building has been vacant since c. 2014. alt=The original West High School building, seen in 1916 in black and white|thumb|The original West High School building, seen in 1916 The school building was listed as one of several endangered properties in the city, in Columbus Landmarks' 2021 list.Here are Columbus Landmarks' most-endangered historic properties for 2021 www.bizjournals.com https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/05/14/columbus-landmarks-most-endangered-historic-prope.html 2022-07-27 In 2022, it was announced that a Columbus developer plans to convert the building into units of affordable housing.Old Franklinton school to become affordable housing www.bizjournals.com https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/07/12/starling-middle-school.html 2022-07-27 The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places and Columbus Register of Historic Properties in 2022. See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbus, Ohio Schools in Columbus, Ohio References External links Starling Yard - Future Apartment Building Architecture NRHP Ohio Schools Category:1908 establishments in Ohio Category:School buildings completed in 1908 Category:Columbus Register properties Category:Defunct public high schools in Ohio Category:Franklinton (Columbus, Ohio) Category:National Register of Historic Places in Columbus, Ohio Category:Public elementary schools in Ohio Category:Public middle schools in Ohio Category:Residential buildings in Columbus, Ohio Category:School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio Category:Schools in Columbus, Ohio Category:Columbus City Schools