Columbus Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting – February 23, 2026

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission held its regular monthly meeting on February 23, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The meeting included the swearing-in of a commissioner, a discussion of annual TIF reporting requirements, and several action items. Key actions included approving $750,000 in TIF funding for a new Animal Care Services building, authorizing $46,700 for design and engineering work for the Airplex Commerce Center Phase 2, and recommending a riverfront liquor license. The meeting also received updates on downtown redevelopment projects.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the January 29, 2026 regular meeting (Commissioner Cindy Bowles abstained as she was not present).
• Approved claims for the month totaling $2,064,703.26, including an additional $82.28 added for a Verizon bill.

Public Comments & Testimony

• An audience member expressed strong support for the new Animal Care Services building project, noting it had been neglected for years and would be a valuable community asset. The speaker urged the commission to pass the funding resolution.

Discussion Items

• Annual TIF Reporting Requirements: Andrew (Controller) presented an overview of the redevelopment commission's reporting obligations, including an April 1 report to the fiscal officer, an April 15 annual report to the state and local bodies, and a public presentation to the city council scheduled for March 3, 2026. The annual presentation to overlapping taxing units was also conducted at this meeting. Andrew reviewed the 2025 TIF report, highlighting total revenues of $18.6 million, expenditures of $27.48 million, and an ending cash balance of $24.358 million for the central allocation area. He explained the circuit breaker impact concept, noting that the TIF areas' assessed value siloed to the side reduces the tax rate and circuit breaker losses for overlapping units. For 2025, the estimated circuit breaker impact on the City of Columbus was $2.8 million (loss of levy collectibility if TIFs were removed), and for the school corporation about $2.097 million, offset by workforce development grants. The airport, midtown, and other allocation areas were also summarized. Andrew noted that the 2026 projected surplus line on some worksheets incorrectly said 2025, and he would correct that.

Key Outcomes

• Swearing-In of Commissioner: Cynthia Bowles was sworn in by Mayor Mary Ferdon for a new term on the redevelopment commission for 2026.
• Resolution 01-2026 (Animal Care Services Building): Approved unanimously to grant $750,000 in TIF funding from the central allocation area ($500,000, split equally between 2026 and 2027) and the midtown allocation area ($250,000 in 2026) toward the construction of a new Columbus Animal Care Services building. The total project cost is estimated at $9.7 million, with other funding from the city general fund ($5 million), a major donor ($1 million), a READI grant ($1.3 million), EDIT funds ($250,000), and an additional $450,000 for sewer line relocation from the airport allocation area (to be requested later).
• Resolution 02-2026 (Airplex Commerce Center Phase 2 Design): Approved unanimously to engage Milestone Design Group for design and engineering work for the Airplex Commerce Center Phase 2 initiatives, including the Osville sewer main relocation for the animal care services, at a not-to-exceed cost of $46,700. The project is the first step toward extending Supercroop Drive and related infrastructure.
• Riverfront Liquor License Recommendation: The commission unanimously voted to send a favorable recommendation to Mayor Ferdon for a riverfront liquor license for Casey Collins (doing business as Floyd's on Fourth, LLC). The license would allow the historic building to host pop-up events and operate a public bar area on select days.
• Project Updates: Heather Hope provided updates on several projects: the downtown entrance plaza (modified plan and funding sources to be presented next month, with demolition expected in August/September 2026), the Second Street thoroughfare project (potholing underway after weather delays), the riverfront project (ribbon cutting targeted for October 23, 2026), the State Street property (asbestos remediation complete, demolition starting March 2, 2026, with developer interest in affordable/mixed-use development), and Arcadia Drive (completion target April 2026, ribbon cutting scheduled for May 20, 2026, 1:00-2:30 PM).