Downtown population, employment up in 2024 as $1 billion in projects underway
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Downtown's population and workforce continued to rebound in 2024 as nearly 29 million visits fueled an increase in hotel occupancy and $174 million worth of projects wrapped construction.
A new report by the Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts found that Downtown's population rose from 12,000 to about 12,500 last year. The annual report, gauging the vitality of Columbus, said Downtown's office vacancy rate decreased in the last quarter of 2024 to 22.3%, coinciding with an increase in workers from about 88,000 in 2023 to more than 92,000.
Ohio State to give LeBron James an honorary degree
Downtown's post-pandemic recovery in hospitality also continued as hotel occupancy reached 58.1%, up from 54.3% in 2023 and 49.1% in 2022. The report said there were 5.2 million unique visitors to Downtown in 2024 who made a combined 28.6 million visits, a million more than in the previous year.
Columbus' bump came as 13 projects totaling $174 million completed construction in 2024, including the $56 million Astor Park office building near Lower.com Field, a $60 million apartment building named The Madison on North High Street, a $15 million renovation of the Scioto Mile Fountain, and a $4 million BalletMet expansion.
Downtown also saw 10 new businesses open their doors last year, including a French bistro at the corner of Gay and High streets and the neighboring first Ohio location for a South Carolina seafood restaurant. The city continued its small business initiative that saw several move into the area, like Black Kahawa Coffee and Three Bites Bakery on Broad Street.
The Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts hope $1 billion worth of projects under construction will continue fueling Downtown growth. The report said an increase of about 1,000 housing units a year could yield a Downtown population of 14,100 by the end of 2025, 16,400 in 2026 and 17,100 in 2027.
Ray Ray's Hog Pit to open new location in former Wizard of Za shop
Projects under construction include the $430 million Merchant Tower being built on the North Market's former parking lot, a $107 million conversion of Continental Centre into housing, and an Astor Park residential building with nearly 450 units.
The report noted there are $2.3 billion worth of projects that are being proposed, like the $573 million Capital Square Renaissance project revamping underutilized buildings and surface parking lots, the $290 million second phase of The Peninsula, a $122 million apartment building with a grocer, and the $100 million Capital Line project building a two-mile pathway through the heart of Downtown.
View the full Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts report below.
2024-State-of-Downtown-ReportDownload
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Veolia Environnement: Information Relating to the Total Number of Voting Rights Forming the Share Capital
Article L. 238-8-II of the French commercial Code and article 223-16 of the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) general regulation PARIS, June 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Corporate name of the issuer: Veolia Environnement 21 rue La Boétie 75008 PARIS FRANCE (ISIN code: FR0000124141-VIE) Information closingdate Total number ofshares forming theshare capital * Total number of voting rights * May 31, 2025 740,652,608 Total number of theoretical voting rights: 740,652,608 Total number of voting rights that may be exercised (1): 730,304,023 * Inclusion in the Veolia Environnement Articles of Association of a clause requiring a reporting obligation of the declaration of crossing a shareholding threshold, complementary to the one relating to the thresholds provided by the French law and the regulations in force (article 8). (1) Number of voting rights that may be exercised = number of theoretical voting rights (or total number of voting rights attached to shares) - shares without voting rights (number of treasury shares held as of May 31, 2025, i.e. 10,348,585 shares). View source version on Contacts Veolia Environnement Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brazil's Lula calls on France to ratify MERCOSUR trade deal with EU
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has urged France to stop blocking the implementation of the free trade agreement between the European Union and South American states which make up the MERCOSUR group. During a visit to Paris, Lula called on President Emmanuel Macron to approve the agreement without further delay. "I will assume the presidency of MERCOSUR on June 6. I want to tell you that I will not leave the MERCOSUR presidency without concluding the agreement with the European Union," Lula told Macron during a news conference on Thursday. "So, my dear friend, open your heart to the possibility of finalizing this agreement with our beloved MERCOSUR." With a nod to US President Donald Trump's tariffs, Lula further added that the deal "is the best response our regions can give" to global trade uncertainties. The European Commission and the South American MERCOSUR states – Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay – concluded negotiations on a vast free trade zone in December after more than 20 years of talks. However, resistance remains on the European side, particularly in countries like France, Italy and Poland. German farmers have also expressed concerns about competition from producers who can operate at significantly lower costs. National governments have to ratify the deal before it can come into force. Macron responded to Lula by stating that the MERCOSUR agreement must be improved to protect French farmers from competitors who adhere to far fewer rules and standards, particularly regarding environmental protection. He said that appropriate safeguard clauses and an additional protocol must be developed within the next six months.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sold (Bought): East Van house showcases classic picket fence curb appeal
Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver. Type: Five-bedroom, four-bathroom detached Size: 2,956 square feet B.C. Assessment: $2,852,000 Listed for: $3,498,000 Sold for: $3,500,000 Sold on: April 18 Days on market in this listing: Two Listing agent: Bridget Ross at Stilhavn Real Estate Services Buyers agent: Sam Heller at Heller Murch Realty The big sell: It took two days for this five-bedroom house just east of Main Street to be snapped up. Built in 2016, it sits behind a white picket fence and landscaped garden giving it instant curb appeal. Inside, the three-storey layout displays elevated craftsmanship with a built-in floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, a Sonos sound system, and a wood-burning fireplace (with the option to convert to gas) in the living room, an elegant kitchen finished with bespoke cabinets, engineered stone counters, and marble backsplash, and a study complete with a custom-made desk and daybed nook that leads into the dining room where French doors open to the private garden and cedar hot tub. There are four bedrooms upstairs alongside two full bathrooms with radiant heat, while the finished lower floor is fully plumbed and wired for a legal suite. A two-car garage with lane access comes fully equipped with an electric vehicle charger. Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment Size: 884 square feet B.C. Assessment: $630,000 Listed for: $749,900 Sold for: $730,000 Sold on: March 30 Days on market in this listing: Four Listing agent: Kylene Shannon PREC and Caprice Stadnyk at Macdonald Realty (Langley) Buyers agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty The big sell: This renovated two-bedroom condo resides in Harmony, a four-storey condominium development constructed in 2008 in downtown Port Coquitlam with the West Coast Express, shopping, and Gates Park all nearby. Due to its ground-floor position, this unit has a private, keyed entrance off the street, and a large partially-covered patio bordered by privacy hedging. The interior of the home shines with modern flooring, crown moulding, new doors, designer light fixtures, California wood shutters and blinds, updated bathrooms, fresh paintwork, and a stylish electric fireplace. The brand new kitchen features white Shaker-style cabinets, stainless-steel appliances, and a quartz countertop and backsplash, and all of this under nine-foot-high ceilings. The pet- and rental-friendly building offers a bike room, gym, and guest suite, while this unit comes with a storage locker, two underground parking spots, and a monthly maintenance fee of $380.00. Type: Four-bedroom, two-bathroom detached Size: 1,289 square feet B.C. Assessment: $1,582,800 Listed for: $1,498,000 Sold for: $1,600,000 Sold on: March 28 Days on market in this listing: Eight Listing agent: Marty Pospischil at Pospischil Realty Group Buyers agent: Graeme Lin PREC at Oakwyn Realty The big sell: According to the listing agency Pospischil Realty Group, multiple offers were received for this classic 1940s bungalow located in east Vancouver's Renfrew district with the successful bid coming in at $102,000 over the listed price. Sitting on a 33-by-110 foot lot, it features four bedrooms and two bathrooms divided between the two-level layout with almost identical square foot dimensions on each floor. On the main level, there are thin-slat oak hardwood floors, a brick-surround wood-burning fireplace, and corner windows in the living room, an updated functional kitchen with an eating area and views across the rear garden, and two bedrooms that are separated by a four-piece bathroom. Downstairs, there are a further two bedrooms and a bathroom, as well as laundry and mud rooms. The rear garden is fully fenced and mainly lawned, and contains a single-car garage with lane access. These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@ Stay up to date on with our guide to the lowest national insured and uninsured mortgage rates, updated daily. Sold (Bought): West Coast-themed Boundary Bay home sells for asking Sold (Bought): Chinatown condo showcases spacious floor plan
