Columbus City Council approved the final payment for land on South High Street where the new Franklin County Municipal Courthouse will be built.
In May 2019, voters approved a $130 million bond issue for the courthouse.
No construction has started since then. A chain-link fence surrounds the site at South High and East Mound streets.
The city agreed to buy the property from Franklin County for $7 million. The city made a $3.5 million payment in 2022, and will be voting Tuesday to pay the remaining balance.
The new courthouse will be built across from the current one.
Chris Long, Columbus' deputy director for finance, said in an email that construction work could begin in late 2025. That work would include site preparation.
The total design process is expected to last about 24 months, with construction continuing through early 2029.
Long said the city currently has $170 million in the proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Program for construction.
The city has used $35 million in capital money for property acquisition, owner’s representative, design and construction management for at risk services.
However, Long said there is no final cost estimate for the new courthouse.
