Apartments are scooped minutes after being placed on Craigslist, waiting lines form at open houses, rents are rising. San Francisco? Not quite, but with developers rising to the occasion with 5,000 units in construction, growth may be sustainable.
To be sure, urban apartments are in demand nationwide. Jim Weiker writes that "the national vacancy rate is 4.9 percent, the lowest in a decade, according to the national real-estate research firm Reis Inc."
"Central Ohio has a 4.5% vacancy rate in apartments. In Columbus' popular urban neighborhoods, vacancies are rare."
"I don't think I've seen this good of rental conditions in at least 20 years," said Rob Vogt, partner of a Columbus real-estate research firm."
"Developers are responding to the demand with the biggest apartment construction boom since at least 2005. About 5,300 apartments are under development in central Ohio."
"The new construction "is largely concentrated in the urban core to attract 20- or 30-somethings. The new urban apartments tend to be smaller, many one bedrooms and studios, but high in style."
"You're seeing more quality over quantity, smaller apartments that are nicer," said Columbus architect Jonathan Barnes, who has designed some of the complexes.
"For some developers, the demand suggests a demographic shift toward urban living, a shift documented in census data released on (July 28) showing a rise in the urban population."
As tough as the market may be for renters in Columbus' popular urban areas, they can be thankful they are not competing for apartments in San Francisco, as Shira Ovide describes on June 26 in the WSJ: "Tech Boom Hits San Francisco Rental Prices, Prices Soar as Well-Paid Tech Workers Stream Into City After a Long Exodus."
Thanks to Reconnecting America
FULL STORY: Rush to rent, and build apartments
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Indy Bikeshare System Turns 10, Expands to E-Bikes
Pacers Bikeshare riders logged over 700,000 rides since the system launched in 2014.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
New York’s Deadliest Neighborhoods for Pedestrians
Pedestrian deaths rose last year, but remain below pre-2020 levels.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.