Downtown Columbus is getting a different kind of new build at 360 South Third Street, where construction crews have started work on AspireCOLUMBUS, a $29 million, five-story apartment project set to deliver 82 units on the former United Way site. The development, led by the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), is designed for middle- and low-wage households along with residents with disabilities, adding a mixed-income option to a core that has largely tilted toward higher-end projects in recent years.
Groundbreaking and first reactions
According to MyFox28, crews officially broke ground on Friday, June 5, 2026, and CMHA estimates the effort will support more than 500 construction jobs. CMHA Vice President of Design & Construction Mike Wagner told local reporters, “It definitely kickstarts a great year that we’re having,” noting that the authority has a sizable pipeline of projects queued up over the next 12 to 18 months.
What the building will include
Project plans from CMHA call for a total of 82 apartments: 17 studios, 33 one-bedroom units, 23 two-bedroom units, and nine three-bedroom units, along with about 70 surface parking spaces, per a CMHA press release. Of those 82 apartments, 31 units, or roughly 38 percent, will be subsidized through CMHA’s Housing Choice Voucher program and are expected to serve households at about 30 percent of Area Median Income. CMHA also notes that at least 5 percent of units will meet physical, visual, and auditory accessibility standards, and that around a dozen apartments will be offered at market rates.
How the project is financed
The financial backbone of the deal is a $17.5 million award of 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, which is slated to cover about 60 percent of the total cost, according to the OHFA project application. That application packet and related filings list a total development budget just under $29 million and show CMHA filling the remaining gap with public housing funds and other sources. The OHFA materials and CMHA documents were submitted as part of the competitive LIHTC approval process.
Site history and earlier plans
The AspireCOLUMBUS site previously housed the United Way of Central Ohio’s downtown headquarters, a three-story office building at 360 S. Third Street. Demolition of that structure began in April 2025, as reported by Columbus Underground. Earlier concepts for the property envisioned a taller tower, but the design was scaled down after changes to tax-credit eligibility, leaving the five-story version now under construction. Local coverage and neighborhood conversations have situated AspireCOLUMBUS within a larger debate over how to keep housing attainable as the Downtown population and skyline grow.
Jobs and CMHA’s pipeline
Local reporting indicates the project is expected to generate more than 500 construction jobs and that AspireCOLUMBUS is one of eight developments CMHA plans to move forward in Franklin County this summer, according to MyFox28. CMHA leadership has told reporters that roughly 1,100 units are in its near-term development pipeline, a push that is intended to broaden affordable options downtown and in nearby neighborhoods. Officials say they expect to share construction updates as major milestones are reached.
Next steps
In a January 30, 2025, press release, CMHA projected that AspireCOLUMBUS would open for residents in 2026. As crews began work this week, the agency did not offer an updated completion date. CMHA officials say they plan to release information on permitting, leasing and key construction milestones as the project moves ahead and apartments inch closer to becoming available.
