COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 27, 2024)- Columbus REALTORS hosted the first annual State of Housing & Development on Thursday, June 27 at Villa Milano. The two-hour forum, which was free to Columbus REALTORS members and key stakeholders, opened with a look ahead to the development efforts taking place in the region.
Kenny McDonald, CEO of the Columbus Partnership, opened the program along with Columbus REALTORS® CEO Brent Swander. The two discussed the rising prices surrounding housing and the competition that is taking place around the country for the development and industry that Columbus is currently attracting.
“We’re in a competition every day,” said McDonald. “Are we going to win the battle? We make up 93% of the state’s growth. Do you think other cities don’t want that growth? This is not a static situation.”
William Murdock, the Executive Director at MORPC, followed McDonald and outlined some of the key initiatives that could be coming to central Ohio soon. After outlining some of the shortfalls surrounding our current and potentially future housing stock, Murdock took a deep dive into the future of transportation in the region. This included a detailed discussion on LinkUs, the expanded public bussing venture, and the potential for trains that could link Columbus with other midwestern metros, providing our audience with crucial insights for future planning.
Moderator Scott Light closed out the program by interviewing panelists Leah Evans (Homeport), Jon Melchi (Building Industry Association of Central Ohio—BIA), and Joe Thomas (DRK Metro Development). Each panelist brought a unique perspective, enriching the discussion and broadening our understanding of the housing and development landscape.
“I encourage all of us to at least get to a baseline that everyone deserves a safe place to call home,” said Evans. “That doesn’t mean that it should be free, but it should be accessible.”
Melchi followed by shining a light on some of the pitfalls experienced by metros on both coasts of the United States.
“We know that when you have high housing costs, combined with high taxes, that will cause people to leave. They will find somewhere else to live,” said Melchi.
The State of Housing & Development is a new program developed by the Columbus REALTORS Government Affairs Forum, chaired by Kristie Ramsey.
