What Will It Take?

Part two of The Columbus Foundation’s “Meeting the Moment” series authored by Matt Martin, Director, Community Research at The Columbus Foundation.?

As I suggested in the first article of this series on what it will take for central Ohio to prepare for the anticipated impact of major new investments like Intel, planning for the future of the region is no longer as simple as “Are we prepared to grow?” Rather, we must begin to ask ourselves questions like, “How will we grow?” and “Are we prepared to grow in new ways?” Because, as is always the case, avoiding change is not an option. Growth and change will continue—and Columbus has a rich history of adapting to both.

Figure 1.?

So, how can we make the most of these new investments and opportunities while preserving the strengths and assets that are unique to the region? Importantly, how do we make sure everyone gets to participate and benefit?

Our region can learn from the stories of places like Phoenix, Austin, and yes, even Silicon Valley, whose seemingly uncontrollable growth has challenged their ability to function economically, environmentally, and equitably into the future. As Anna Zhou, economist for the Bank of America Institute, points to in a recent article about the rapid housing cost increases in these markets, “Ultimately, population and employment growth are two main factors driving a region’s housing market, and this may be why we are seeing an over 20% year over year increase in rents in many Sun Belt cities.”

Almost without exception, conversations about growth in central Ohio gravitate first to housing, then to transportation, education, and the labor force—all for good reason. The rapid rise in rents and home prices in central Ohio over the past few years suggests that not only have we not been keeping up with growth to date, but we will need to do even more to have a sufficient housing supply in the years to come. Throughout much of the last century, central Ohio’s transportation improvements prioritized moving cars around the region as efficiently as possible. But a transportation system ready for continued growth must also prioritize multi-modal safety, mental health and quality of life, environmental sustainability, and enhanced connection to other parts of the state, the Midwest, and beyond through additional modes such as commuter rail and more direct flights.?

We must avoid the urge to focus only on one thing at a time. For instance, are we prepared to welcome more people from beyond Ohio, the Midwest, and even the United States? Are our school districts, trade schools, and higher education institutions ready to prepare all of our young people for emerging jobs and industries? Are our social sector agencies, nonprofits, and faith communities prepared and positioned to help prevent people from falling through the cracks, and to connect them to opportunities that get them back on their feet? Are our healthcare networks and transportation infrastructure prepared to meet the growing needs of an aging population, and how might we more thoughtfully integrate older adults into communities as civic assets?

Fortunately, there were several initiatives already underway to address these matters before Intel’s announcement, with others launching in the past year. While not an exhaustive list, examples include:??

• Universities stepping up to prepare the workforce
• Licking County joining MORPC and launching the Framework?
• MORPC updating projections, convening stakeholders across the region, and supporting local planning efforts
• LinkUS BRT creating a roadmap for high-capacity transit
• Construction of an additional water treatment plant
• Additional bond funding for housing and neighborhood development and modernization of the zoning code
• Launch of the Regional Housing Coalition to identify action items to increase housing production regionwide
• Age-Friendly Columbus to innovate with older adults through research, education, and engagement to ensure inclusion and to make communities more age-friendly and resilient

One may ask, “Who else is responsible for helping us prepare?” The answer is somewhat simple—it’s everyone’s responsibility to not only ask these kinds of questions but to also play a part in preparing the region to evolve and include everyone in the growth and prosperity. Thankfully, much of this work is already underway, and there are great examples of leaders and institutions stepping up across the region. But we must prepare to expand and sustain our collective efforts in the years to come.?

Our growth may be preferable to the challenges facing other parts of the state, but we cannot afford to assume that someone else can take responsibility for tackling the challenges to come. All communities, sectors, companies, organizations, and institutions must step up to help prepare the greater region to meet this moment. Individuals can also take part in that through volunteering, philanthropy, or by simply being welcoming and supportive neighbors, and by showing support for the necessary steps to enable inclusive growth, including the various kinds of additional housing that will need to be built all across the region.

All this may take many forms, but one thing is clear: we need to work together in order to be ready for the growth and change that lies ahead.

About the Meeting the Moment series

Meeting the Moment is a series that examines the dynamic changes in our region, what those mean for our community and those who call it home, and the importance of coming together to face the opportunities and challenges ahead.?