Columbus Eyes Millions in Gains From Public Land Value
The city is analyzing 66 square miles of land for potential housing and business redevelopment.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Commercial
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Columbus has identified 66 square miles of underutilized public and tax-exempt land through a $140,000 initiative aimed at boosting housing and business development. The city is currently analyzing specific sites for redevelopment to increase their economic potential.
Why it matters
By repurposing vacant or underused government-owned properties, the city hopes to create new space for housing and local commerce. This shift could help maximize tax revenue and land productivity in areas identified near planned transit corridors.
The city paid $140,000 to analyze 66 square miles of land, where it holds 14% of the property and nonprofits or governments hold 24%. One site, the West Broad Missionary Chapel, is currently valued at $500,000 with a projected $2.8 million value following redevelopment.
The players
Ben McAdams
An official involved in the Putting Assets to Work initiative who spoke regarding the city's land strategy.
The details
The initiative catalogs underutilized tax-exempt properties to provide strategic redevelopment recommendations. By focusing efforts near LinkUS stations and bus rapid transit corridors, officials aim to drive density and business growth. The plan suggests using a revolving loan fund or a public asset corporation to incentivize these new property developments.
Timeline
October 15, 2026: Ben McAdams discussed the initiative with reporters.
Money Landscape
This initiative marks a shift toward optimizing existing public real estate to meet growing local housing and business needs. It builds on the precedent set by successful past urban transformations like the Arena District and the Scioto Mile.
While these developments target land use at a city level, they may create new opportunities for residents to access housing or business space in transit-rich areas. Consult a financial advisor to understand how shifts in local property values could influence long-term real estate investments.
The takeaway
The city is actively evaluating ways to increase the value of taxpayer-owned property to support community growth. Residents should track announcements regarding transit-corridor development for potential impacts on property markets near planned stations.
Further reading
Find more local updates on our Columbus Commercial page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Axios.
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