Plan OK'd to bulldoze former United Way for apartment complex
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The former United Way headquarters Downtown will face a bulldozer this spring to make way for a $29 million affordable housing complex.
The Downtown Commission approved on Jan. 28 the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's plan to replace the 55-year-old headquarters at 360 S. Third St. with a five-story apartment building. Called 'AspireColumbus,' the housing complex will predominantly serve middle- and low-wage earning families, as well as those with disabilities. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the proposal in the video player above.
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'Downtown Columbus is increasingly becoming a magnet for people of all income levels looking for a place to call home,' said Scott Scharlach, the housing authority's chief operating officer. 'CMHA is committed to ensuring affordable housing options will exist for residents to live, work and play downtown, and the new AspireColumbus site is a perfect location to help make that dream happen.'
Plans call for the complex to be home to 82 units, including a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments. After the former United Way building is demolished, construction is set to begin this summer with a tentative grand opening scheduled for 2026.
Of the 82 apartments, 31 will be rent-subsidized by the authority's Housing Choice Voucher Program. Residents in those units are anticipated to be at 30% of the area's median income, which in metro Columbus is an annual income of about $21,700 for an individual and $27,900 for a family of three. The housing authority plans for 12 apartments to be at market rate.
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The Downtown Commission also approved on Jan. 28 the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts' plan to construct a new music hall in the building previously home to the Central Presbyterian Church at 132 S. Third St. The association purchased the property in 2012 and has long-planned a major renovation of the church building.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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