Ordinance 2231-2026 Approved for the North Market Grand Atrium
Construction oversight for The Merchant Building development at 475 N. Wall St. and 55–59 Spruce St. in Columbus advanced through municipal milestones in late summer and fall 2026. On Sept. 30, 2026, Building and Zoning Services issued fire-protection permit FSUPC2638838 fire-protection permit.
On Aug. 28, 2026, Building and Zoning Services approved the final inspection on ALTC2603555 final inspection approval. Columbus officials had previously issued alteration permit ALTC2615140 for The Merchant Building on July 13, 2026 alteration permit. On June 9, 2026, Building and Zoning Services issued alteration permit ALTC2611346 alteration permit. The project filing for 55 Spruce St. lists a commercial major renovation market renovation.
City Council Clears Grand Atrium Agreement
Intergovernmental financing for the complex gained formal municipal authorization in late August 2026. On Aug. 24, 2026, Columbus City Council introduced legislation for the project. Ordinance 2231-2026 proposes to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable grant of up to $1,000,000.00 from the State of Ohio through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to utilize remaining funds from the original grant for the North Market Grand Atrium grant proposal.
Columbus City Council held its regular meeting on Aug. 31, 2026. Ordinance 2231-2026 was approved ordinance approval. The legislation authorizes the city to enter into a new Cultural Project Cooperative Use Agreement with the state commission, the North Market Development Authority, and the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority cooperative agreement. Under the measure, the city can reimburse the North Market Development Authority for eligible costs of the North Market Grand Atrium incurred prior to the purchase order and expend up to $1,000,000 utilizing remaining state funds from the original project allocation reimbursement authorization.
Scale, Background and Tenancy Timeline
A 32-story mixed-use office and residential tower known as Merchant Building is planned to open in the North Market neighborhood of Columbus tower overview. Developed jointly by Columbus-based Rockbridge Capital and developer Edwards Cos., and designed by architecture firm NBBJ, the high-rise is being constructed by Gilbane Building Co. development team. Project costs grew from an initial $345 million estimate to $430 million budget increase.
Public financial support from the City of Columbus has reached nearly $50 million across multiple aspects of the development, including market expansion, atrium work, and garage facilities city assistance. Construction was halted in February 2023 as archaeologists dug for human remains on the jobsite, and the city gave approximately $7.1 million for the removal and care of bodies discovered during the digs archaeological recovery.
The build will feature 174 rental units and provide nearly 65,000 square feet of Class A office space, along with a 206-room luxury boutique hotel and a 350-space parking garage tower specifications. The adjacent 148-year-old North Market is adding 15,000 square feet across two levels to accommodate eight or nine new merchant stalls, alongside an outdoor plaza and farmers' market market expansion details.
The new mixed-use tower was expected to open in 2026 target opening. Specific leasing commitments for the commercial office space, hotel brand operator agreements, and individual retail tenants remain unconfirmed as interior construction moves forward. The progression of municipal permits from structural alterations toward fire protection systems and interior inspections reflects continuous base building work as developers prepare the downtown site for eventual tenant fit-outs and occupancy.
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Supporting evidence (1)
On Sept. 30, 2026, Building and Zoning Services issued fire-protection permit FSUPC2638838 fire-protection permit.
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P0002318,2026-09-30,Building and Zoning Services,issued,issued,FSUPC2638838,Fire-protection permit FSUPC2638838 issued,https://ca.columbus.gov/permits/Cap/GlobalSearchResults.aspx?QueryText=FSUPC2638838
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Supporting evidence (3)
On Aug. 28, 2026, Building and Zoning Services approved the final inspection on ALTC2603555 final inspection approval.
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P0002318,2026-08-28,inspected,,Final inspection approved on ALTC2603555,Building and Zoning Services,Final Inspection Approved,ALTC2603555,cbus_permit,https://ca.columbus.gov/permits/Cap/GlobalSearchResults.aspx?QueryText=ALTC2603555
Columbus officials had previously issued alteration permit ALTC2615140 for The Merchant Building on July 13, 2026 alteration permit.
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P0002318,2026-07-13,issued,,Alteration permit ALTC2615140 issued,Building and Zoning Services,issued,ALTC2615140,cbus_permit,https://ca.columbus.gov/permits/Cap/GlobalSearchResults.aspx?QueryText=ALTC2615140
On June 9, 2026, Building and Zoning Services issued alteration permit ALTC2611346 alteration permit.
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P0045625,2026-06-09,issued,Permitted,Alteration permit ALTC2611346 issued,Building and Zoning Services,issued,ALTC2611346,cbus_permit,https://ca.columbus.gov/permits/Cap/GlobalSearchResults.aspx?QueryText=ALTC2611346
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Supporting evidence (1)
The project filing for 55 Spruce St. lists a commercial major renovation market renovation.
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P0045625,Alteration at 55 Spruce St,Commercial,Major renovation,55 SPRUCE ST,Columbus,43215,2026-06-09,,3000000,,11875,ALTC2611346,https://ca.columbus.gov/permits/Cap/GlobalSearchResults.aspx?QueryText=ALTC2611346
Columbus City Council · 2026-08-24
Supporting evidence (1)
Ordinance 2231-2026 proposes to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable grant of up to $1,000,000.00 from the State of Ohio through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to utilize remaining funds from the original grant for the North Market Grand Atrium grant proposal.
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2231-2026 · To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable grant in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 from the State of Ohio, acting by and through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, to utilize the remaining funds from the original grant for the North Market Grand Atrium; to authorize Director of the Department of Development to enter into the new Cultural Project Cooperative Use Agreement with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, the North Market Development Authority, Inc., and the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the North Market Development Authority, Inc. to reimburse them for costs of the North Market Grand Atrium incurred prior to the purchase order; to authorize the transfer of appropriation and the expenditure in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 to North Market Development Authority, Inc. ($1,000,000.00)
Columbus City Council · 2026-08-31
Supporting evidence (3)
Ordinance 2231-2026 was approved ordinance approval.
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2231-2026 · To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable grant in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 from the State of Ohio, acting by and through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, to utilize the remaining funds from the original grant for the North Market Grand Atrium; to authorize Director of the Department of Development to enter into the new Cultural Project Cooperative Use Agreement with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, the North Market Development Authority, Inc., and the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the North Market Development Authority, Inc. to reimburse them for costs of the North Market Grand Atrium incurred prior to the purchase order; to authorize the transfer of appropriation and the expenditure in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 to North Market Development Authority, Inc. ($1,000,000.00) Approved ·
The legislation authorizes the city to enter into a new Cultural Project Cooperative Use Agreement with the state commission, the North Market Development Authority, and the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority cooperative agreement.
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2231-2026 · To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable grant in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 from the State of Ohio, acting by and through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, to utilize the remaining funds from the original grant for the North Market Grand Atrium; to authorize Director of the Department of Development to enter into the new Cultural Project Cooperative Use Agreement with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, the North Market Development Authority, Inc., and the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the North Market Development Authority, Inc. to reimburse them for costs of the North Market Grand Atrium incurred prior to the purchase order; to authorize the transfer of appropriation and the expenditure in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 to North Market Development Authority, Inc. ($1,000,000.00) Approved ·
Under the measure, the city can reimburse the North Market Development Authority for eligible costs of the North Market Grand Atrium incurred prior to the purchase order and expend up to $1,000,000 utilizing remaining state funds from the original project allocation reimbursement authorization.
Read supporting passage
2231-2026 · To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable grant in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 from the State of Ohio, acting by and through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, to utilize the remaining funds from the original grant for the North Market Grand Atrium; to authorize Director of the Department of Development to enter into the new Cultural Project Cooperative Use Agreement with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, the North Market Development Authority, Inc., and the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the North Market Development Authority, Inc. to reimburse them for costs of the North Market Grand Atrium incurred prior to the purchase order; to authorize the transfer of appropriation and the expenditure in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 to North Market Development Authority, Inc. ($1,000,000.00) Approved ·
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Supporting evidence (8)
A 32-story mixed-use office and residential tower known as Merchant Building is planned to open in the North Market neighborhood of Columbus tower overview.
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A new mixed-use, 32-story mixed-use office and residential tower to be known as Merchant Building is expected to open in 2026 in the North Market neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio.
Developed jointly by Columbus-based Rockbridge Capital and developer Edwards Cos., and designed by architecture firm NBBJ, the high-rise is being constructed by Gilbane Building Co. development team.
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Developed by Columbus, Ohio-based investment firm Rockbridge Capital and developer Edwards Cos. and designed by Seattle-based architect NBBJ, was among the largest multifamily builds to break ground last year with a price tag of $345 million when it was first announced. That cost has since increased to $430 million. Providence, Rhode Island-based Gilbane Building Co. is constructing the structure.
Project costs grew from an initial $345 million estimate to $430 million budget increase.
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price tag of $345 million when it was first announced. That cost has since increased to $430 million.
Public financial support from the City of Columbus has reached nearly $50 million across multiple aspects of the development, including market expansion, atrium work, and garage facilities city assistance.
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As of last year, the city of Columbus has dished out nearly $50 million to aid aspects of the project, which include the expansion of the market itself, a new atrium and work on the parking garage and spaces.
Construction was halted in February 2023 as archaeologists dug for human remains on the jobsite, and the city gave approximately $7.1 million for the removal and care of bodies discovered during the digs archaeological recovery.
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Some of those funds have gone to non-construction costs — construction was halted in February 2023 as archaeologists dug for human remains on the jobsite. The city gave approximately $7.1 million for the removal and care of bodies discovered during the digs, Business First reported.
The build will feature 174 rental units and provide nearly 65,000 square feet of Class A office space, along with a 206-room luxury boutique hotel and a 350-space parking garage tower specifications.
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The build will feature 174 rental units. The tower will also provide nearly 65,000 square feet of Class A office space, along with a 206-room luxury boutique hotel and a 350-space parking garage.
The adjacent 148-year-old North Market is adding 15,000 square feet across two levels to accommodate eight or nine new merchant stalls, alongside an outdoor plaza and farmers' market market expansion details.
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In addition to the Merchant Building, the adjacent North Market, a 148-year-old public market that features dining and shopping from dozens of vendors, will also gain 15,000 square feet of expansion over two stories, which includes space for eight or nine more vendors in the market. Alongside the space, the developer will also add a farmers’ market and plaza.
The new mixed-use tower was expected to open in 2026 target opening.
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A new mixed-use, 32-story mixed-use office and residential tower to be known as Merchant Building is expected to open in 2026 in the North Market neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio.