New study, contracts show Columbus growing

COLUMBUS -- A new study, plus new contracts, is showing the city of Columbus growing in the Northwest part of the city.

The city creates a housing study every five years. It's now in the final stages of completing the newest one, according to President of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, Dawson Brunswick. He explained the study is helpful for gaining grants to aide in the city's development. 

"We're past the days of cheap land and cheap labor and it's about making sure we have a quality place to live," he said. 

Brunswick said the biggest issue they've had for growth is finding houses amid a shortage, but that he has seen the community spreading north.

The study supports this, draft evidence also showing that Columbus is growing faster than other communities in the northeast -- particularly in the last decade.

The study still has to wrap up its final drafts before it can be published officially.

At the same time, Brunswick said he's also signed new contracts with Retail Strategies, and Downtown Strategies, for community development. Having worked with Retail Strategies before, he has faith it's a smart move. 

"They've got a street scaping architecture team member to look at how downtown looks and how we can make it more aesthetically pleasing," Brunswick noted. The company also has a property development manager to compare Columbus with other cities. Essentially, Strategies will survey Columbus to see what types of business it needs, and then help the city reach those goals.