Since 2002, Mayor Coleman has led the effort to rebuild Columbus’ downtown with the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation and local businesses through the implementation of the Downtown Business Plan. Now in its sixth year, the Downtown Business Plan is a 10 year effort to bring new investment, energy and activity into downtown.  Since 2000, there has been more than an estimated $2.19 billion in new Downtown commercial, office, and residential investment. 

There is a new market for downtown housing with more than 5,000 apartments and condos built or opening soon, the opening of North Bank Park, nearly $39 million in City and private funding committed to create the Scioto Mile Park, two new bridges being built at Main Street and Town Street, two new parking garages to add 1,400 new spaces in critical business and development areas, the construction of Huntington Park Baseball Stadium in the Arena District, and private partners are developing acres of surface parking lots into new housing and retail throughout the district. Since 2002, the Mayor has also worked with 35 companies to retain 583 jobs in the district and create 2,385 more. 

In addition, the City and CDDC have taken control of the downtown City Center Mall, and are working with developers to plan for the nearly vacated mall's future.  A part of the plan will be a strategic incentive plan to bring retail back to an area round the Mall, called "The Mile on High."

The City is also focusing on strengthening the business environment, making Downtown safer and friendlier for pedestrians and to better manage traffic flow by converting one-way streets into two-way streets.  The city invested $6.5 million to convert Gay Street into a two-way street between Cleveland Avenue and Front Street that also includes the addition of a median, streetscape enhancements, new lighting system and signals as well as water and storm-drainage improvements.

The City will begin the next phase of converting streets from one-way to two-way this summer, with completion expected in 2009.  Road Conversions include:

• Front Street (Broad to Rich)
• Ludlow Street (Town to Rich)
• Wall Street (Town to Rich)
• Rich Street (High to Ludlow