Columbus Downtown 2030

The results of the Columbus Downtown 2030 study are in! The consulting team of Sasaki, SB Friedman, and Storyboard, supported by the City of Columbus and Columbus Redevelopment Commission, has assembled their recommendations for enhancing our downtown into a comprehensive Columbus Downtown 2030 Plan. Building upon the great work accomplished through Envision Columbus, the goal for this new plan is to provide a framework for Downtown Columbus that remains focused, site-specific and time-bound. Through community engagement, stakeholder feedback and market research, Sasaki and their team have provided a plan for strategic downtown development, programming, infrastructure and activation that we are excited to begin implementing.

On July 21, 2025, the plan results were presented to the public along with the City’s planned approach for implementation of these findings. The implementation, as with the research, will be a community-led initiative. Guided by three teams of subject-matter experts from various stakeholder groups, the strategy will focus on real estate & economic development, public realm & infrastructure, and programming & activation over the next year.

Through several phases of community listening, stakeholder engagement and public input, the research team identified a series of strategic objectives for the downtown, including making the downtown district a vibrant residential neighborhood, enhancing and expanding access to Mill Race Park, and diversifying downtown offerings.

Market research indicated the most promising short-term demand for downtown Multifamily Residential development, with medium-term demand for additional Hotel spaces and longer- term demand for Office and Retail space. From the research, three primary development objectives were identified: Expand & enhance 4^th Street entertainment district; Activate historic Washington Street through strategic infill, redevelopment and public realm programming; and create an Avenue of the Architects along the 5^th street corridor that provides residential housing opportunities alongside further commercial and public realm development.

The findings provided a comprehensive framework for future development of Downtown Columbus with five clearly defined goals:

• Develop and redevelop sites throughout the downtown, embracing urban infill – with an emphasis on housing
• Concentrate active uses on the ground floor of three focus corridors: Washington Street, 4^th Street, and 5^th Street
• Forge stronger connections between 4^th and 5^th Streets and Mill Race Park
• Create new destinations along the three focus corridors and within Mill Race Park
• Connect and enhance elements of the public realm with a focus on a comfortable pedestrian experience

With these goals in mind, the plan outlines specific development concepts for a number of priority sites that have been identified as opportunities for near-term development, including many properties currently owned by the Columbus Redevelopment Commission. Alongside catalytic development, the plan also identifies policy initiatives, partnership opportunities, and supportive programming that will further enliven the downtown and make it a regional destination for residents and visitors alike.

Contact Information:
Bonnie Boatwright
Project Manager, Columbus Downtown 2030 Plan
bonnieboatwright@gmail.com