From Sheryl Nulph
Columbus
This coming Tuesday, the Columbus City Council will have a second reading of a request for TIF funding to be directed to the proposed Rubicon Apartment complex at 11th and Washington streets. As citizens, we should be greatly concerned about this request and ask our city council to turn down the request for funding.
Many residents in the historic area of 11th and Washington have expressed concern over this project and the request for TIF money to subsidize it. Rubicon started communications with the residents by saying no TIF funding would be requested for the project. That was later changed to more of a “maybe” attitude. Now that bar has been changed again to the tune of $6.4 million. Make no mistake, TIF money is taxpayer money and the jump from “nothing” to $6.4 million is staggering. What else has Rubicon underestimated?
The need for affordable housing has been a concern in our community and addressed by various studies and focus groups. The city council believes that the need is such that $9.1 million was earmarked toward low income housing. With rental units starting around $1,300 monthly, the Rubicon complex can not be considered affordable housing. Their ask of $6.4 million moves 73% of taxpayer funds toward market rate housing.
Is the city serious about affordable housing or not? There are already three market rate apartment buildings in the downtown area with a fourth approved and on the way at Sixth and Washington. Do we really need a fifth project? I would urge Columbus residents to weigh in quickly and ask your city council representative to turn the Rubicon request down and keep taxpayer money directed toward what they have already agreed is necessary – affordable housing.
