Columbus officials to get updates on riverfront prospects

A special joint meeting of the Columbus City Council and Redevelopment Commission is coming up tomorrow for an update on the status of the downtown riverfront development project, as well as analysis of its costs and benefits.

Back in September, Heather Pope, the city’s redevelopment director, announced that the city has just received the permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the work in the river. But Pope also urged the city to take a fresh look at the benefits and costs from the project, since it has been more than 6 years since the project was conceived.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission approved a $44 thousand contract with James Lima Planning & Design out of New York City to determine the economic impact of the proposed riverfront improvement efforts. The work includes an economic benefits analysis report and the production of a policy report outlining the return on public investment.

On Tuesday, those consultants along with Hitchcock Design Group and JS Held will give reports and updates on the design, safety considerations, timeline, and finances of the project.

The meeting will be at 4 p.m. in the Cal Brand meeting room at Columbus City Hall and you are invited to attend.