COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A home-grown web site with a distinctly Capital-City focus is making its mark in downtown Columbus.
Walker Evans launched ColumbusUnderground.com in November 2001 just to bring a few friends together for a discussion. He says it was just a hobby. They talked about Columbus' nightlife: the music scene, the clubs, the bars and the restaurants.
"Over time, as I grew up and my interests changed and more people found out about it, we delved further into other topics," Evans says.
Now, the site covers everything from local entertainment to news, politics and urban development.
The site uses dozens of freelance writers, photographers and contributors, and a host community members who just want to share their love of our fair city.
And ColumbusUnderground.com is actually making change in the city. With thousands of new, unique visitors every month, the site is able to stay on the pulse of the city and its opinions. When the city administration wanted to put bike racks and two-wheel parking downtown, ColumbusUnderground.com users helped decide where to do it.
Evans says he describes the web site to people as "being pro urban but not anti-suburban."
For years, Walker ran the whole operation from home, with all the distractions and temptations. Now, with another baby on the way, he's leaving the nest and has rented office space in a building on Gay Street in downtown Columbus. That makes ColumbusUnderground.com an official part of the downtown revitalization.
"I kinda saw this as an opportunity to put my money where my mouth is," he says.
As the site continues to grow, Evans hopes to add another full-time position this year.
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