City Policy Designed to Create More Affordable Housing
A vision that reimagines planning and development in
Columbus is on the horizon. Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Columbus City Council
announced historic changes to a decades-long residential tax incentive policy.
Today, Tuesday, July 17, 2018, during a joint press
conference held at the River & Rich apartment construction site that is
near completion, Mayor Ginther and Council revealed new incentive policy that
focuses on creating more affordable housing opportunities in Columbus
neighborhoods.
In 2016, Mayor Andrew Ginther tasked the Department of
Development to commission the first-ever study to better understand the City’s
use of both residential and business incentives. The consulting firm HR&A
presented recommendations last summer.
“Based on research and input from the community, we have
put together a new policy that will benefit neighborhoods and residents by
spurring development of affordable housing and living wages -- real and
long-lasting changes for the people of Columbus,” said Mayor Ginther.
Subsequently, Councilmember Elizabeth Brown, then chair
of the Development Committee, convened five community and stakeholder meetings.
Hundreds of residents gave input to the Department of Development regarding
their priorities for tax incentives.
“No two neighborhoods are exactly alike, which is why our
new incentive policy will reflect their different needs. The new policy will
help us harness private market energy into public benefit: smart growth,
affordable housing and good-paying jobs,” said Councilmember Brown.
The new residential incentive policy makes significant
changes to support affordable, mixed-income neighborhoods in the City’s
existing post-1994 Community Reinvestment Areas. Neighborhoods will be placed
into one of three categories based on the following criteria: population
growth, median household income growth, poverty rate, growth in median rent,
housing vacancy rate and mortgage foreclosure rate.
“As chair of the Housing Committee, I am working
diligently to increase access to affordable housing and believe that the
implementation of this policy is a critical step,” said Councilmember Jaiza
Page. “I look forward to working with my Council colleagues to make this policy
robust."
Council will conduct a second tax incentive policy public
hearing on Monday, July 23 at 3pm, in Council Chambers, 90 West Broad
Street. The hearing is to discuss proposed amendments to the legislation,
based upon feedback received from the initial meeting.
“This historic change is only one step of many to move us
towards a housing market that works for all our residents,” said Columbus City
Council President Shannon Hardin. “At the end of the day in Columbus, if it’s
not for all, then it’s not for us.”
The new policies will take effect summer 2018.
To review the report and proposed changes visit https://www.columbus.gov/Development/