A long-empty 3.5-acre lot across from Riverside Methodist Hospital may finally be in for a major change. New public filings this week outline a mid-rise rental project with hundreds of apartments at 3670 Olentangy River Road, replacing a weed-filled gap in a riverfront corridor that has been rapidly filling in with medical and commercial development.
As reported by Columbus Business First, an initial concept from the developer sketches out roughly 340 apartments across from Riverside Methodist, with a photo by Leslie Caimi showing the current state of the vacant site. That kind of unit count would put the project among the larger recent rental proposals along the Olentangy corridor.
Permit Record Shows 'Riverside Flats' With Fewer Units
The city’s permit filings tell a slightly different story. The City of Columbus permit system lists a project titled “Riverside Flats” at 3670 Olentangy River Road as a five-story apartment development with 259 units on about 3.5 acres, according to the City of Columbus permit portal. The entry also cites Parcel Number 010126692 and lists the record status as closed, reflecting a recent administrative step for the site plan.
Rezoning Set Limits And Design Commitments
The property was rezoned under application Z25-032, and the city’s limitation text tied to that rezoning caps the site at a maximum of 275 dwelling units while spelling out design and traffic commitments. Those conditions include a reduced required parking count and a northbound right-turn lane at the site entrance, unless the Department of Public Service accepts a fee in lieu. The terms were part of the Development Commission recommendation and are detailed in the record on the City of Columbus Legistar.
Site Opposite a Major Hospital
The vacant parcel sits directly across Olentangy River Road from OhioHealth’s Riverside Methodist Hospital, which lists its location at 3535 Olentangy River Road, according to OhioHealth. Proximity to the hospital and to the planned Northwest BRT Corridor features heavily in the city’s push for denser housing and infrastructure along the Olentangy corridor, making the property an appealing play for developers.
TIF, Transit And Public Infrastructure Funding
Columbus City Council last year established the Olentangy 315 North tax-increment financing area to help pay for public infrastructure tied to new development along this stretch. Council records show that Continental Development Ventures and Crawford Hoying requested TIF assistance for nearby projects connected to the BRT corridor. The ordinance that created the TIF and spells out its public-improvement role is recorded on the city’s legislative site, per the City of Columbus.
What Is Next For The Site
With zoning commitments in place and a site plan on file, the final unit count is still in play as building permits, financing, and construction documents come together. Public records list CAG Riverside Flats Acquisitions LLC as the applicant and Spectrum Acquisition Columbus LLC as the recorded owner for the parcel, according to the City of Columbus permit portal. A construction timeline or lease-up schedule has not yet been posted in the public records reviewed, the initial reporting surfaced in Columbus Business First.
