Bank of America is cutting a hefty check to help turn a long-vacant downtown Columbus church into a new mid-sized music hall. The bank is putting up a $500,000 grant for the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), backing a plan to reimagine the former Central Presbyterian Church at 132 S. Third Street as a flexible performance and event space. Work is slated to begin in May 2026, with organizers eyeing a fall 2027 opening.
According to Bank of America, the award lands during the final phase of CAPA's capital campaign and is being billed as the largest strategic philanthropic investment the bank has made in Central Ohio. In the announcement, CAPA president and CEO Chad Whittington called the grant "a powerful catalyst" for the long-discussed project.
What The Building Will Look Like
CAPA's project summary notes that the former Central Presbyterian Church was built in 1859 and will be renovated to blend historic preservation with modern production and accessibility upgrades, according to CAPA. Plans call for flexible seating that can handle roughly 300 to 650 people, depending on the setup, improved acoustics, new dressing rooms, and a new rear addition with a rooftop bar and better back-of-house access. CAPA also puts a spotlight on affordable ticket prices and community-focused programming as core to the venue's mission.
Local reporting pegs the total project cost at about $14 million and says CAPA has already raised most of that amount, with the campaign reported to be around 82% funded. Demolition and construction permits filed this spring keep the project on track for a late 2027 debut, as reported by Columbus Underground. The conversion replaces a long-idle downtown property and is intended to give Columbus another option in the mid-sized performance space category.
Why It Matters Downtown
City planners and CAPA say the new hall is designed to plug a gap between intimate clubs and large theaters, giving local bands and midlevel touring acts a room that actually fits their draw while helping push more evening foot traffic to nearby bars and restaurants. The project also appears on the city's State of Downtown project list, which shows the CAPA Music Hall at 132 S. Third St. with a $14 million budget, according to Downtown Columbus. CAPA says the space is also expected to host educational programs and community rentals, with an eye toward broadening access to the arts.
Bank of America's $500,000 gift gives CAPA fresh momentum heading into the final community phase of fundraising, and organizers say the backing could help close the remaining gap. For more details, see Bank of America and coverage by Connect CRE.
