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Council approves $1.2 million grant to Hilltop Rise for West Broad mixed-use acquisition
Summary
Columbus City Council approved a $1,200,230 grant to Hilltop Rise Economic Community Development Corp. to acquire two adjacent mixed-use buildings on West Broad Street and preserve affordable housing and commercial space along the future bus rapid transit corridor.
Columbus City Council on Monday approved a $1,200,230 grant to Hilltop Rise Economic Community Development Corp. to acquire two adjacent mixed-use properties at the intersection of West Broad Street and West Gate Avenue.
The funding will support property acquisition and related costs for sites the developer said contain roughly nine to 10 residential units and six to seven commercial units. Danny Patterson, executive director of Hilltop Rise, told the council the nonprofit plans to use equity from the purchases to secure loans for building improvements while maintaining affordability for current residential tenants.
The measure, listed as ordinance 20-59-2025 in the economic development committee, passed after members of council expressed support. Chair Bankston said the project preserves “naturally occurring affordable housing” and supports neighborhood commercial activity as the city prepares for the LinkUS bus rapid transit investments along West Broad Street.
Patterson said the properties are more than 100 years old and that the current owners prefer to sell to a locally rooted organization. “Public investment from the city of Columbus would allow Hilltop Rise to establish site control for both properties, which is the only thing that would make the numbers work for us to get loans to make property improvements,” Patterson said.
Councilmembers noted the proposal’s emphasis on transit-oriented development and on recruiting Hilltop business owners to occupy commercial units. Chair Bankston and Councilmember Green highlighted the project’s alignment with neighborhood planning and efforts to direct investment to longtime residents.
The council approved the grant and declared an emergency so the Department of Development may execute the agreement and allow expenditures. The legislation authorizes use of funds held in the Old Dublin Road TIF fund. No additional conditions or amendments were recorded in the public remarks at the meeting.
The council vote was recorded as passed on the ordinance.
