What: Design-build contract for a parking garage of about 500 spaces for the Columbus Convention and Trade Center, on the Front Avenue side across from the Trade Center in the historic district.
Where it stands: On 2026-09-22 Council approved the purchase item to award the design and construction services contract under the RFP. A resident of the historic district objected before the vote (scale, empty-garage and construction concerns); Trade Center staff said stakeholder meetings with the selected team would follow.
Next: Stakeholder meetings with the design-build team, then design development. The vote did not approve a final design, a bridge or a future convention hotel.
Details
Trade Center staff said the Trade Center Authority recommended "scenario A" after a parking and traffic study, citing parking capacity during construction, multiple access points and less pressure on the historic district.
The Council scope requires the garage to accommodate a separately designed future bridge.
Built from a Whisper speech-to-text transcript, so figures and names may be misheard.