The planned teardown of two long-vacant buildings on Cleveland Avenue has been bumped to May 6 after a scheduling mix-up sent demolition crews home, briefly slowing momentum on the $54 million Opportunity Pointe affordable-housing project steps from the Columbus State campus.
Demolition Put Off After Contractor-State Mix-Up
According to ABC6, crews were set to start knocking down the two empty buildings on Tuesday but were told to stand down when it became clear the demolition contractor and a state agency were not on the same page about timing. The vacant structures had been queued up for removal, but the miscommunication over scheduling and paperwork forced a pause while the parties sort out the details.
What Opportunity Pointe Will Deliver
Columbus State describes Opportunity Pointe as a joint venture with Woda Cooper that will bring 166 workforce apartments and 20 units reserved for Columbus State students, for a total of 186 units, at an estimated cost of about $54 million. Columbus State notes that demolition and construction were expected to kick off in the second quarter of 2026, with the project slated to wrap up by the end of 2027.
Site And Developer
The development centers on 145 Cleveland Ave at East Long Street and is planned to occupy the block bounded by Cleveland Avenue, North Grant Avenue, East Spring Street and East Long Street, according to project filings. Columbus Business First and city documents list Woda Cooper as the developer and Columbus State Community Partners as the land partner for the two-building project.
Funding And Community Context
The project secured Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, a key financing milestone that helped firm up the two-phase plan. Columbus Underground and college materials report that Opportunity Pointe is designed to add affordable housing close to jobs, transit and campus activity, with rents set at different income tiers.
What Comes Next
With demolition rescheduled for May 6, the next steps hinge on city permitting and tighter coordination with contractors to keep the build on track. Developers and college officials still cite the previously published timeline that calls for work to begin in the second quarter of 2026 and finish by the end of 2027, although the recent scheduling hiccup will determine how tight that construction window becomes.
