Columbus Evaluates Public Land for Development

The city spent $140,000 to identify underutilized land for future housing and business growth.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Commercial

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of simplified urban planning blocks on a grid, representing city development strategy. — Columbus has completed its participation in a land-use initiative, identifying 66 square miles of public property for potential residential and commercial development. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should your city prioritize redeveloping public land to create more housing and business space?

Columbus has completed its participation in the Putting Assets to Work initiative, which identified 66 square miles of public and tax-exempt land. This program aims to unlock property value by targeting city-owned and institutional sites for redevelopment.

Why it matters

The initiative helps the city identify land for housing and business development to stimulate economic growth. By evaluating underutilized sites, officials hope to maximize the utility of existing public assets.

The initiative identified 66 square miles of land, with the city owning 14% of these parcels. A key focus is the West Broad Missionary Chapel site, currently valued at $500,000 but projected to reach $2.8 million if redeveloped.

The players

Ben McAdams

He is a public official who provided details regarding the citys participation in the Putting Assets to Work initiative.

The details

The program provides strategic recommendations for property use, including focusing development near bus rapid transit corridors and planned LinkUS stations. Experts suggest utilizing a revolving loan fund or a public asset corporation to incentivize these projects.

October 15, 2026: Ben McAdams discussed the initiative findings with reporters.

Culture Shift

This initiative follows the successful pattern of land repurposing set by previous public space developments like the Arena District and the Scioto Mile. The move reflects a shift toward maximizing the value of dormant public property for modern urban utility.

Residents may see new housing or business developments in areas currently designated as vacant or underutilized. The potential redevelopment of specific sites, like the West Broad Missionary Chapel, could shift local land use and neighborhood amenities.

The takeaway

Cities often hold significant amounts of land that remain dormant due to tax-exempt status or lack of planning. By identifying these parcels, municipalities can potentially turn underutilized space into valuable housing and economic hubs.