Columbus Approves Support Grant for North Market During Merchant Building Construction
City council approved $125,000 in operational aid as adjacent tower completion is delayed to May 2027.
Columbus City Council passed legislation authorizing up to $125,000 from the General Fund for operational support to the North Market Development Authority and small businesses operating within North Market.
The Merchant Building construction site enclosed by orange safety barriers directly adjacent to the historic North Market in Columbus.
Credit: Ɱ / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Image source
The additional funding follows schedule adjustments for The Merchant Building, a 32-story mixed-use tower rising on the former North Market parking lot. While contractual completion was originally scheduled for Sept. 28, 2026, the target date for substantial completion has moved to May 3, 2027. High-rise construction that began in autumn 2023 has curbed parking and patron access at the public market.
Under the approved grant, municipal funds will support continual operations through 2026 by advancing and reimbursing expenses, including qualifying costs incurred starting Jan. 1, 2026, before formal purchase orders are executed. The measure passed council on its consent agenda on Monday, Oct. 26, and Council President signed the legislation. Mayor Andrew J. Ginther signed the grant ordinance on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and the Columbus City Clerk attested the measure on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Under the enacted measure, the ordinance takes effect at the earliest period allowed by law. Under municipal law, the 30-day grant ordinance is scheduled to take effect Nov. 27.
The grant extends multi-year municipal support initiated after tower construction began. In December 2023, the city entered into an initial mitigation agreement that was later amended in November 2025 to offset merchant business disruptions through 2025.
Previously, Pique Media reported the introduction of the operational grant on Oct. 16, 2026.
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Supporting evidence (7)
Columbus City Council passed legislation authorizing up to $125,000 from the General Fund for operational support to the North Market Development Authority and small businesses operating within North Market.
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Columbus City Council passed legislation authorizing up to $125,000 from the General Fund for operational support to the North Market Development Authority and small businesses operating within North Market.
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To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Grant Agreement with North Market Development Authority, Inc. for the purpose of providing operational support to the nonprofit organization and/or small businesses operating within the North Market as a result of construction of the adjacent Merchant Building during calendar year 2026; to authorize the transfer and expenditure of up to $125,000.00 from the General Fund pursuant to the Grant Agreement
While contractual completion was originally scheduled for Sept. 28, 2026, the target date for substantial completion has moved to May 3, 2027.
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As the contractual completion date was scheduled to be September 28, 2026 for the Merchant Building, but the current projected substantial completion date is May 3, 2027 for the Merchant Building, the Grantee has requested up to one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000.00) for calendar year 2026.
High-rise construction that began in autumn 2023 has curbed parking and patron access at the public market.
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WHEREAS, the construction activities on the adjacent former North Market parking lot (the “Merchant Building”) that began in autumn 2023 have impacted the ability for patrons to access the North Market by ways of limiting parking and entrance into the North Market; and
Under the approved grant, municipal funds will support continual operations through 2026 by advancing and reimbursing expenses, including qualifying costs incurred starting Jan. 1, 2026, before formal purchase orders are executed.
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WHEREAS, this grant will allow for the continual operation of the North Market by the Grantee during the construction of the Merchant Building through 2026 by advancing and reimbursing funds including operating expenses incurred by the Grantee prior to the execution of the purchase order starting January 1, 2026; and
Under the enacted measure, the ordinance takes effect at the earliest period allowed by law.
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SECTION 7. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
In December 2023, the city entered into an initial mitigation agreement that was later amended in November 2025 to offset merchant business disruptions through 2025.
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In accordance with Ordinance Nos. 2137-2023, 0804-2024, and 2777-2025, the Director of the Department of Development entered into with the Grantee the Grant Agreement dated December 12, 2023, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Grant Agreement dated November 6, 2025, for the advancement and reimbursement of funds for the Grantee’s operation of the North Market to help mitigate the business disruption to the North Market and the small businesses operating there during calendar years 2023, 2024, and 2025 caused by the Merchant Building construction.
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported the introduction of the operational grant on Oct. 16, 2026.
Read supporting passage
Ordinance Authorizes $125,000 Grant for North Market Operational Support During Merchant Building Construction