It seems like cranes are always up to something in Columbus lately — or maybe that’s just what these recent development details are telling us. Take a look at some of the biggest updates and projects that were announced this month.
Community
Upper Arlington City Council discussed parking updates to the new Community Center that is slated for construction next month. Plus, check out this recap of Febraury’s meeting.
A former Bob Evans on Riverside Drive will become a school for swimming lessons with hopes to open by the end of the year.
Biz
Central Insurance plans to move into a 48,000+ sqft space at Dublin’s Bridge Park this winter.
Wright-Patt Credit Union opened a new branch this week in Canal Winchester + hopes to open another later this year in Gahanna.
Discover broke ground on a $16 million customer care center in Whitehall + aims to open in 2024.
Central Ohio Primary Care broke ground in Reynoldsburg on the second largest medical campus in the Columbus region, totaling $19 million + 62,000 sqft.
Regional
New Albany Co. continues to grow its land bank after adding 100+ acres of land in Johnstown this year.
M/I Homes, a Columbus-based developer, is building 500+ new single-family homes just outside of the city near the Olentangy Local Schools District.
Terra Alta LLC., Columbus-based home builders affiliated with Romanelli & Hughes, proposed 86 new single-family homes on 470+ acres of land in Delaware.
A solar panel manufacturing company will build a 1.1-million-sqft factory in Pataskala that will eventually employ 850 people.
Live, Laugh, Llama | Wednesday, March 22 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Pinot’s Palette, 691 N. High St., Short North | $39 | Learn from an expert on how to paint a funny llama with all supplies included.
Thursday, March 23
Kane Brown - Drunk or Dreaming Tour | Thursday, March 23 | 7 p.m. | Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Arena District | $55-$133 | Catch the country star live with hits like “One Thing Right” and “Heaven.”
Friday, March 24
Harry Potter Trivia Night | Friday, March 24 | 8-11 p.m. | Sotto Terra, 610 Neil Ave., Columbus | $10 | Flex your knowledge of Hogwarts with quiz-style trivia.
Orange Soda: 2000s Hip-Hop and R&B Dance Party | Friday, March 24 | 10 p.m. | Skully’s Music Diner, 1151 N. High St., Columbus | $5-$50 | Dance the night away as DJs spin classic hits.
Symphonic Sundays| Sunday, March 26 | 5-7 p.m. | Understory, 2571 Neil Ave., Columbus | Free | Listen to local acoustic, jazz, and string performers, starring Liz Jordan this week.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
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This is a test — literally. The city will be testing its tornado sirens today at 9:50 a.m. for three straight minutes. The drill is in honor of Ohio’s Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week, which ends on Saturday, March 25. (10TV)
Open
Chick’nCone, a chicken + waffle restaurant, is now open near Polaris Fashion Place at 422 Polaris Pkwy. Visitors can enjoy a grab-and-go meal of fried chicken served in a waffle cone, topped with a sauce of your choice. (NBC4)
Concert
Peter Gabriel — a musician, singer-songwriter + former lead man of Genesis — is coming to Nationwide Arena on Monday, Sept. 25. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 24 at 10 a.m.
Civic
Columbus City Council approved time changes to food carts in the Short North, meaning these vendors will have to close up shop at 2:30 a.m. on the weekends. The new law goes into effect Monday, May 1. (The Columbus Dispatch)
Mayor Andrew Ginther named Rena Shak as the city’s director of the Office of Violence Prevention on Monday. Rena will work closely with city officials to reduce violence while also focusing on prevention and intervention efforts via recommendations from the Board of Health.
Real Estate
Homes are continuing to sell fast in central Ohio, as Columbus Realtors reports a 14% increase in home sales when comparing February to January. Last month, the average home was sold for $315,808 and a total of 1,728 houses were sold.
Watch
Brandon Anderson, general manager of Shadowbox Live, was one of the contestants on last night’s episode of Jeopardy. Brandon wagered it all going into final Jeopardy, and ultimately took home $1,000 and third place. In his defense, everyone got the final question wrong. How would you fare?
Outdoors
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will begin stocking rainbow trout in local waterways this week. A handful of Franklin County rivers + ponds will be targeted, including the Franklin Park Pond and the Linden Park Pond on Friday, March 31.
Seasonal
Has spring sprung in your home yet? If you’re looking to get outdoors, this wipeable tablecloth is just begging for some alfresco dining, and these garden and herb labels will get you in a planting mood. Plus, this viral birdfeeder practically brings the birds inside with you.
The city has been ranked a top renting market + housing market in back-to-back months. | Photo via Canva
Columbus isn’t just a hot housing market — it’s one of the most affordable for renters, too.
That’s what we found digging through new data from Realtor.com, which ranked Columbus as the No. 2 most affordable market for renters in February 2023. According to the data, the average rent price in Columbus is $1,175.
For comparison, Cincinnati also made its way in the top 10 at No. 4. Its average rent price last month was $1,233. Other notable cities on the list include Oklahoma City at No. 1, with rent rates at $980 per month.
Still not feeling great about Columbus prices? Take a look at the national averages, with affordability predicted to worsen in 2023.
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