Harbor Bay Ventures Builds 493-Bed Mass Timber Project with Zero Parking in Columbus

Touted as the tallest mass timber student housing development in the country, the project will be the first in Columbus to utilize the building technique. The development, which is located at 1487 North High Street and is now called 9th and High, was approved by the University Impact Review Board last year. In municipal project records filed under the name Buckeye Apartments at 1497 North High Street, the development lists a construction valuation of $41,391,520 across 186 units and 244,386 square feet.

Mass Timber Engineering

The new tower features a one-story concrete podium that the main structure is built on top of. The superstructure of the building's second through 13th floors is entirely made of mass timber, utilizing engineered wood products like cross-laminated timber for the floor panels and glulam for the columns and beams.

The first prefabricated mass timber products were delivered to the site in May, and construction crews averaged 44 panels installed per day at a pace of about two-and-a-half floors every two to three weeks Warren. Manufactured by SmartLam North America in Alabama, the structural timber framework went up rapidly using pre-cut glulam beams and cross-laminated timber plates. General contractor Elford Construction is overseeing the work, and the apartments will be managed by Coastal Ridge upon completion.

Interior Timber and Carbon Impact

DLR Group project architect Cameron Jacobson explained that wood ceilings will remain exposed in about half of the building, including all student bedrooms and living rooms inside the apartments. Jacobson noted that the architectural design deliberately prioritized keeping natural timber exposed everywhere residents spend their daily time, rather than restricting the material to public lobby areas.

Designers estimate that the building is on track to save 1,128 metric tons of carbon compared to an equivalent concrete and steel structure. Josh Dortzbach, CEO of Forefront Structural Engineers, stated that the project will realize a net sequestration of 1,128 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, calling it equal to 2,169 round-trip flights from Columbus to Key West Dortzbach.

Demolition and Parking Policy

In September 2025, crews demolished the small commercial building that held the Bier Stube for decades to clear the site for the new 13-story apartment tower, removing adjacent storefronts near the corner of West Ninth Avenue.

Under zoning rules requiring half a parking space per bedroom, the 493-bedroom project would have required 247 parking spaces Harbor Bay. The applicant requested a variance to reduce the required off-street parking from 247 parking spaces to 0 parking spaces Harbor Bay. Representatives of Harbor Bay Ventures stressed that an internal garage was not necessary given the building's location, which is within walking distance to campus and on a frequent transit corridor.

Harbor Bay and a group of investors purchased 13 buildings on the south side of West Ninth Avenue used as student rental housing, previously noting that parking for the new apartments would be available behind those existing buildings and in the 1,200-space South Campus Gateway Garage on East Ninth.

Permitting and Planned Opening

Columbus Building and Zoning Services issued trade permits for electrical and mechanical work in April 2026, followed by a fire-protection alarm permit in September 2026 as life-safety installations progress.

The 186-unit, 493-bed building is expected to open by summer of 2027, according to Harbor Bay Ventures Harbor Bay. The building is on track to be completed by next summer, and is now leasing for the 2027-2028 academic year.