Columbus Downtown Development Corporation

Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) is a dynamic organization dedicated to the planning, development, and management of projects that revitalize downtown areas. With a mission rooted in community input, the corporation has been instrumental in bringing about significant transformations since the adoption of its 2010 strategic business plan.

CDDC has spearheaded numerous projects in recent years. One of these initiatives includes the renovation of a former department store into premier office and retail space. Another project involves the development of downtown parks, overseeing the Scioto Mile Park and the Scioto Greenways Project. In addition, CDDC played a key role in the construction of a new National Veterans Memorial and Museum and the development of the Downtown Scioto Peninsula.

In 2018, CDDC's subsidiary, SP Holdings, entered into agreements with three developers for the development of sites on Scioto Peninsula property that the corporation and SP Holdings were leasing from the city. These sales were completed in September 2020, and construction on the Phase 1 office, hotel, and residential sites began in 2021. The Phase 1 office site opened in 2022, while the residential and hotel sites are expected to open in 2023. The planning and development of the remaining components of the Scioto Peninsula Master Plan will continue into 2023 and beyond.

In response to a priority identified by the City of Columbus, CDDC acquired72 acres of land at 497 East Town Street in downtown Columbus in February 2021. The corporation is currently developing a 98-unit affordable and workforce housing project, Topiary Park Crossing, on the site, which is being funded through a commercial real estate loan, grants from the City of Columbus and Capitol South, and an equity investment from the corporation. Construction of the facility started in 2022, and it is expected to open in fall of 2023.

In 2021, the City of Columbus requested CDDC to lead the development of a new downtown strategic plan. CDDC engaged consultants and scheduled a series of public forums in 2022 to receive input from downtown stakeholders and the general public. The final plan was issued in late 2022, and implementation of the 2022 Downtown Strategic Plan will continue into 2023 and beyond. In 2022, CDDC and the City of Columbus entered into a grant agreement, providing CDDC with the funding for the purchase of the Downtown YMCA and the purchase or renovation of other real property assets in downtown Columbus. CDDC entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the YMCA in October 2022, with the closing of the purchase expected to be completed in early 2023.