Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther gave his State of the City speech Tuesday evening, touting progress on reducing violent crime in the city and investments the city plans to make with the billions of dollars in bonds voters passed in November, including money for housing.
"When we spoke with stakeholders about how to invest our bond dollars, one recurring theme was that demand is outpacing supply. The other theme we've heard is that housing stability is just as important as housing creation," Ginther said.
Ginther outlined how he wants to spend $500 billion in affordable housing bonds passed in November.
"These goals aren't about bricks and sticks, developers and builders. It's about creating options for every young person, family, empty nester and senior to have an affordable place to call home," Ginther said.
Ginther said Columbus had more than 9,000 new building permits last year while the region had more than 15,000. The city has said the region needs to build 200,000 new units in the next decade, of which Ginther said it can build half.
Ginther said the city has allocated or committed more than $200 million of the $250 million voters approved in 2019 and 2022. That resulted in the creation or preservation of more than 7,000 affordable homes.
Ginther also talked about 84 homicides in Columbus in 2025 being the city's lowest homicide rate since 2007.
Ginther cited the collaboration between officers and residents and stronger partnerships with community organizations as one factor.
"We committed to a strategy that focuses on prevention, intervention and enforcement," Ginther said.
Ginther said the city also will spend $8.8 million in 2026 to continue and expand its Alternative Crisis Response programs, including $1 million in new funding that will equip the city with five non-uniformed experts to respond to calls people for people experiencing mental or behavioral health crises.
Ginther also talked about the Linden Green Line project where the city is transforming 58 acres of a former rail corridor in the Linden area and the city's northeast side into trails and parks.
Ginther also said he wants the city to aggressively pursue a women's professional soccer and basketball team.
Ginther made his speech at the Harmony Project Theater in the Northland area.
