Housing Authority plan would raze old Columbus nonprofit HQ for 80-plus apartments

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The former headquarters of a central Ohio nonprofit could be demolished for an apartment development with over 80 units south of Downtown Columbus.

Called "AspireCOLUMBUS," the mixed-income apartment building at 360 S. Third St. is set to include studio, one, two and three-bedroom units. The proposal would see the former United Way of Central Ohio headquarters removed to make way for the $28.8 million development.

This plan is being brought about by the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, with help from a $17.5 million commitment in tax credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. According to Robert Bitzenhofer, the CMHA's vice president for planning and development, this project will help with a dire issue.

"The AspireCOLUMBUS redevelopment of the former UWCO site comes amid a well-documented shortage of affordable housing in Central Ohio," Bitzenhofer said. "Only 29 affordable housing units are available for every 100 extremely low-income households in the Columbus and Franklin County area."

The Aspire apartments will host 31 rent-subsidized units thanks to CMHA's Housing Choice Voucher program. Residents in those apartments are expected to be at 30% of the Area Median income, or about $21,700 for one person and $27,900 for a family of three. Another 12 units will be at market rate, estimated to range from $1,211 for a studio to $2,280 for a three-bedroom.

The current plans for Aspire are revised from what was originally proposed. It was first introduced as a $70 million, 12-story building with commercial space and 136 apartment units. However, the project's scope changed to a five-story, 82-unit building without retail space when it was unsuccessful in securing some of its expected funding.

CMHA will go before the Downtown Commission this fall to request a Certificate of Appropriateness for the project. If approved, the United Way's former headquarters will be demolished in late 2024, and construction is then planned to begin Spring 2025. Columbus-based architecture firm Moody Nolan is overseeing the design of the project.