Panel: Downtown Columbus shows strong growth as coordinated safety program expands

Amy Taylor, president of Downtown Columbus Incorporated, told a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum that 'the state of downtown is very strong, but the exciting part is that the future is even better.' She outlined recent residential, retail and institutional gains and previewed infrastructure and safety efforts intended to support projected growth to 40,000 residents and 120,000 workers by 2040.

Taylor said downtown added roughly 770 new residential units this year, bringing the downtown residential total to about 13,500, and that about 90,000 employees work downtown. She reported about 11.5 million downtown commute trips this year and roughly 6.7 million visitors, and described more than $475 million in completed projects and about $1.72 billion in work currently under construction.

"Grocery stores, retail and a mix of housing and jobs are critical," Taylor said, announcing that Giant Eagle plans a roughly 20,000-square-foot store near downtown and noting projects such as the Pembroke and a Continental Tower conversion that add housing. She also highlighted education and health-care investments, including an OhioHealth commitment she described as a $400 million investment tied…