Protestors at Columbus City Hall react to a mixed-use apartment project planned in downtown Columbus.
Jana Wiersema | The Republic
Protesters came in numbers to Columbus City Hall last week to speak out against the city’s plans to use tax increment financing (TIF) redevelopment funds to subsidize a new downtown apartment and retail building on a vacant lot at Sixth and Washington streets.
The residents oppose the city’s plans to write a check for $5.8 million in public money to subsidize a $15 million to $16 million five-story building in front of Cummins Inc.’s parking garage that would have 50-some apartment units along with ground-floor retail space. Redevelopment director Heather Pope said Flaherty & Collins will pay the $5.8 million back over time through property taxes.
The Dec. 5 council meeting “saw a packed house, with about 80 individuals in the audience and 25 speaking during the time for public comment,” The Republic’s Jana Wiersema reported. “Most of the speakers asked the council to vote no on the project or at least hold off on making a decision until the city completes its housing study.”
The property is owned by Cummins and would be developed by Flaherty & Collins of Indianapolis, which also is working on The Taylor apartments downtown on Second Street.
Ultimately, the council voted 4-2 to advance the downtown apartment proposal, with council members Grace Kestler and Jerone Wood voting no. Elaine Hilber abstained due to her employment with Cummins.
This is a situation where we believe both the council and the protesters may be right. This particular redevelopment proposal is a close call, and we cannot fault council members who were persuaded to vote for or against the proposal.
It’s important to note that this was not an either/or proposition. Using redevelopment funds to improve a vacant property downtown doesn’t mean the city cannot also support future affordable housing initiatives.
There is no doubt that Columbus has a dire lack of affordable housing, and The Republic has long taken an editorial position that the city must take a more assertive if not a leading role in addressing this need.
Having said that, we also realize that the mission of redevelopment is to encourage private investment in a way that will provide a catalyst that sparks further economic activity in the downtown area. This new apartment building should do that, and its future tenants should also give downtown businesses a lasting boost.
We should give the city the benefit of the doubt that a robust strategy on affordable housing will emerge as a result of its forthcoming housing study. There is absolutely local momentum around these issues: Last month saw an extremely well attended first discussion on addressing homelessness in our community. More such forums are expected.
Simply put, the issue of affordable housing isn’t going away. And what we saw last week was a demonstration of active grassroots advocates speaking truth to power. If the city truly wants to take bold action to address affordable housing, these advocates’ participation should be welcomed.
