COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A significant step forward in the pursuit of affordable housing in downtown Columbus has been achieved with the approval to convert the historic YMCA building on Long Street into 121 affordable housing units.
The century-old building will be transformed into studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments designed to be affordable for residents.
Mayor Andrew Ginther highlighted the project’s significance, stating, “This project will give more families the chance to live in the heart of Columbus — close to jobs, transit, and opportunity — at price points they can afford. It’s about making sure our growth includes everyone, and I’m proud to see our partners coming together to preserve a piece of our city’s history while helping more of our residents access a safe and stable place to call home.”
Ray Seel, a former resident of the YMCA building, expressed his approval of the development. “I think it’s great. They need to do something. There are a lot of mentally ill patients that still think it’s home, so if they make it an apartment building that’s low income, that’ll be great for them,” said Seel.
The next step for developers is to submit final architectural drawings to the city’s planning division. Once reviewed by planning staff, the city will issue a certificate of appropriateness and approve the plans with the downtown commission stamp.
