Project Summary

The City of Columbus seeks an updated downtown strategic development plan that recognizes the recent history of redevelopment, incorporates current initiatives, and provides a clear, comprehensive strategy for continued advancement. Envision Columbus, the most recent strategic plan, was completed in 2018 and remains relevant as we pursue wide-ranging strategies for enhancing our community. Although some solutions provided through Envision were implemented, many were affected by the pandemic. Post-Pandemic, the City of Columbus has placed emphasis on redefining goals for activation, acquisition and placemaking downtown. More recently, focus has been directed to revitalizing our downtown community, especially following employment shifts, property vacancies, and recently launched initiatives to activate downtown spaces.

We are calling the new plan: “Columbus Downtown 2030”. Columbus Downtown 2030 has a smaller footprint, but includes more available buildings and spaces for consideration, and should explore the opportunities that have surfaced from a post-pandemic landscape. Below is the proposed boundary map for the Columbus Downtown 2030 Plan.

Boundary Map (click to enlarge):

Guiding Questions

The City has identified the following key questions to which we seek an outcome from an updated downtown strategic development plan:

How do we build a downtown where people want to be?
How do we maximize the use of the spaces and places downtown?
What gaps do we have downtown, and how do we address those gaps?

Proposed Timeline:

July 29, 2024 – Request for Proposals Issued
August 21, 2024 – Optional Virtual Meeting / Q&A Session with Prospective Firms
August 26, 2024 – Written Questions Due
August 30, 2024 – Responses to Written Questions Due
September 16, 2024 – Proposals Due by 5PM
October 2-4, 2024 – Interviews for Shortlisted Firms
October 14, 2024 – Selection of Urban Planning Firm
October 21, 2024 – Introduction of Selected Urban Planning Firm at Columbus Redevelopment Commission Meeting

Request for Proposals:
More information can be found in the Request for Proposal.

Download the RFP

What’s New?

A total of 18 proposals for the Columbus Downtown 2030 Plan were received in mid-September, followed by interviews with five (5) of the shortlisted firms. The Guiding Team unanimously selected the firm Sasaki, which is partnering with the firms SB Friedman and Storyboard, to lead the CD 2030 Plan initiatives. Sasaki is a well-known firm which specializes in planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, and strategy. SB Friedman represents the analytical arm of the team and is a real estate, economic development, and public-private finance advisory firm with implementation strategies rooted in market realty and financial feasibility. Storyboard is a woman-owned business enterprise with a focus on design and implementation of a full suite of community engagement strategies.