A long-empty corner just off Ohio State’s University Square is finally getting a starring role. Crawford Hoying has rolled out plans for an $84 million mixed-use project that would bring a 141-room Marriott hotel, roughly 121 apartments and a new parking garage to the vacant site at East 15th Avenue and Pearl Alley.
The proposal packages the hotel, a residential building and structured parking into one development, with the hospitality piece flying a Marriott flag and offering 141 rooms alongside 121 residential units, according to Columbus Business First. Under the current deal with the city, about half of the garage spaces would be available to the public.
What's Planned
Earlier design submissions sketched out a slightly different mix, as the team adjusted the concept over time. Planners had previously floated roughly 145 hotel rooms, around 120 apartments and a 430-space garage while Crawford Hoying was being tapped to lead the site, according to Columbus Underground. The current version tightens those numbers but keeps the same basic formula of hotel, housing and parking.
Parking and Public Access
Parking was a sticking point in negotiations, and the city pushed for a setup that did not wall off the new garage from neighbors. The agreement on the table calls for about half of the spaces to remain open to public use, Columbus Business First reports. Supporters say that split is meant to keep event, visitor and neighborhood parking in play near campus while still letting Crawford Hoying reserve stalls for hotel guests and residents.
Who's Behind It and Timeline
Crawford Hoying, a Columbus-based developer with a string of hotel and mixed-use projects around Ohio, is leading the effort. Campus Partners, Ohio State’s nonprofit development arm that has been steering the broader University Square plan, submitted rezoning and design documents last fall as the proposal moved into formal review.
Neighborhood Impact
Backers argue that dropping a new hotel next to University Square should soak up some of the OSU visitor and conference traffic that now spills across nearby blocks, while the roughly 121 apartments would add housing options within easy walking distance of campus. University materials have framed the project as the next phase of the University Square vision to better connect High Street with the campus core, according to The Lantern.
Next Steps
The plan still has a few bureaucratic hurdles in its way. It must clear design review and rezoning approvals from the University Impact District Review Board and Columbus City Council before any building permits can be issued. Earlier coverage set an initial construction window in late 2026, assuming those approvals fall into place, according to Columbus Underground.
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