Columbus has found itself in the midst of a housing crisis as the city's population booms.
Columbus' former mayor Michael Coleman spoke with WOSU Tuesday about the policies that he pushed during his time as mayor, and how collaborating with suburbs resulted in a better economy, but created a need for housing as a consequence. He cited Columbus recently changing its zoning code, and says suburbs need to follow Columbus' lead and allow for denser, more affordable housing.
"There's a consequence to the success of increasing our economic vibrancy, increasing our jobs, increasing our ability to receive those from other cities around the country into our city. And that is where do they live," Coleman said.
Coleman is part of a Columbus Metropolitan Club panel speaking about housing on Wednesday titled "Housing, Health, and Hope: Opening The Gates To Opportunity In Central Ohio."
He discussed the issue of housing during his time as mayor, and what he thinks needs to be done to tackle to the city's current housing crisis.
Coleman said when he was mayor from 2000 to 2016, Columbus and its suburbs were focused on building up the city regionally. He said affordable housing was a concern back then, but it wasn't a crisis yet and now that has changed.
"It's like whack-a-mole. There's one problem you try to address and another issue turns into a crisis. So we are in our affordable housing crisis today. Actually, (that is) because of the success of the city in jobs and opportunities and people migrating to our city," Coleman said.
Coleman called out restrictive zoning that keeps out affordable housing. He also says suburbs need to get out of the mindset of gated communities designed to keep people out. He also criticized negative attitudes in suburbs towards affordable housing.
Reynoldsburg, for example, recently approved a 100-unit affordable housing project in partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. The plan to build on land across from city hall along Main Street received opposition from residents, but passed with a 6-2 vote in July. Twenty-five units will be set aside for low-income tenants who receive federal rental assistance.
Coleman declined to call out a specific suburb for either good behavior or bad behavior.
"I cannot blame any person or government or community for these gated communities. It has been decades, maybe 100 years that we've seen this development of gated communities in our city and our region," Coleman said.
Instead he described how some tend to adopt a "gated community" attitude of keeping people out based on income. He also cited race as a past factor.
"Part of the responsibility of our region going forward is to tear down the gates for those gated communities that keep people out and those chaotic communities that keep people out," Coleman said.
Coleman also called the average rental rate in Columbus unacceptable. According to Rent.com, the average rental rate ranges from $1,422 for a one-bedroom apartment to $1,811 for a two-bedroom apartment.
The panel featuring Coleman will start at noon Wednesday at The Ellis on North 4th Street. The talk will be livestreamed on the Columbus Metropolitan Club's YouTube page.
