Columbus Approves $500,000 Service Contract With Next Generation Corporation
The agreement provides upfront funding for property acquisitions across core neighborhoods as city staffing capacity limits direct municipal management.
The City of Columbus authorized a $500,000 service contract with the Columbus Next Generation Corporation to purchase and acquire key urban real property assets in targeted central city areas.
Municipal records confirm the measure passed into law. Columbus City Council approved the legislation on its Oct. 26 consent agenda, followed by the mayor's signature on Oct. 27 and attestation by the city clerk on Oct. 28 to complete formal enactment.
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 23 that council was scheduled to consider the contract.
The Linden Fresh Market building at 1464 Cleveland Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, developed with Columbus Next Generation Corporation support.
Credit: Columbus Next Generation Corporation Image source
Funding structure and cash advancements
The contract authorizes up to $500,000 for purchasing and acquiring real property to support commercial, industrial, and economic development in targeted urban corridors, with funding budgeted in the Economic Development Division’s 2026 General Fund budget.
Under the terms of the legislation, the city is authorized to advance money to the redevelopment nonprofit on a predetermined schedule.
Distributing municipal dollars through scheduled cash advances provides upfront capital for property acquisitions rather than requiring the entity to seek reimbursement after transactions close, according to redevelopment reporting. That liquidity allows the organization to negotiate and secure properties in competitive real estate conditions.
Municipal capacity and nonprofit role
According to city records, municipal personnel cannot provide the acquisition and development services because the work is beyond the city's current staffing capacity.
Columbus City Council established the Columbus Next Generation Corporation as a nonprofit development corporation, naming the city as its sole member. Former Mayor Michael Coleman created the organization to find core-neighborhood properties with potential and prepare them for redevelopment.
The nonprofit's operating structure involves securing control of underutilized sites, conducting feasibility studies, and gathering community feedback before positioning projects for private developers to complete construction.
The organization operates under a board that brings together civic, legal, and development leaders to align city priorities with private-sector real estate expertise. The nonprofit's municipal contract compliance status is scheduled to expire on May 5, 2027.
Property holdings and corridor projects
The redevelopment corporation focuses its geographic acquisition priorities within the city's 1950 municipal boundary, concentrating on Linden, Franklinton, the Near East Side, Parsons Avenue, and the Southside.
The corporation holds an active real estate portfolio of more than 20 parcels valued at roughly $3 million, situated primarily in the Linden area.
At Chittenden and Cleveland avenues, NextGen purchased a corner store and converted the property into a neighborhood food and pharmacy market. Along Cleveland Avenue at Myrtle Avenue, NextGen partnered with Homeport to build Mulby Place, a 100-unit senior housing complex. The organization also acquired frontage between Briarwood, Myrtle, and Arlington avenues to support workforce housing and retail opportunities, and acquired a site at Cleveland and Hudson avenues for future corridor development.
On the Near East Side, NextGen acquired the historic property that became The Adelphi, where a mixed-use residential and retail development was completed in 2021. The city deeded the closed Carl L. Brown grocery site to NextGen, which sold the property to Columbus Metropolitan Housing to complete the rebuild of New Poindexter Village.
In the Hilltop, NextGen purchased a city block including the historic Ohio National Bank building to construct approximately 70 units of affordable senior housing. The organization also renovated four city-owned properties in Franklinton to support neighborhood revitalization, and acquired a former adult bookstore on Parsons Avenue that was converted into a restaurant.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (7)
The City of Columbus authorized a $500,000 service contract with the Columbus Next Generation Corporation to purchase and acquire key urban real property assets in targeted central city areas.
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non-profit service contract with the Columbus Next Generation Corporation in an amount up to $500,000.00 for activities associated with purchasing and acquiring key urban real property assets in targeted, central city areas
Municipal records confirm the measure passed into law.
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Status=Passed
The contract authorizes up to $500,000 for purchasing and acquiring real property to support commercial, industrial, and economic development in targeted urban corridors, with funding budgeted in the Economic Development Division’s 2026 General Fund budget.
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FISCAL IMPACT: $500,000.00 is budgeted in the Economic Development Division’s 2026 General Fund Budget.
Under the terms of the legislation, the city is authorized to advance money to the redevelopment nonprofit on a predetermined schedule.
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WHEREAS, the funding will be advanced to the agency on a predetermined schedule;
According to city records, municipal personnel cannot provide the acquisition and development services because the work is beyond the city's current staffing capacity.
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The services included in this not-for-profit service contract cannot be provided by existing city employees because these services are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity to provide.
Columbus City Council established the Columbus Next Generation Corporation as a nonprofit development corporation, naming the city as its sole member.
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Columbus City Council passed Ordinance Number 1968-2012 which established a nonprofit development corporation, the Columbus Next Generation Corporation, for the purpose of advancing, encouraging and promoting industrial, economic and commercial development in the City of Columbus and named the City of Columbus as the sole member of the entity.
The nonprofit's municipal contract compliance status is scheduled to expire on May 5, 2027.
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CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor’s contract compliance 008637 and expires on May 5, 2027.
Supporting evidence (2)
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 23 that council was scheduled to consider the contract.
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Columbus City Council Scheduled to Consider $500,000 Contract With Columbus Next Generation Corporation
Distributing municipal dollars through scheduled cash advances provides upfront capital for property acquisitions rather than requiring the entity to seek reimbursement after transactions close, according to redevelopment reporting.
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Distributing municipal dollars through scheduled cash advances provides funding up front for real property acquisitions rather than reimbursing expenditures after transactions close.
https://columbusnextgen.org/about/
Supporting evidence (6)
Former Mayor Michael Coleman created the organization to find core-neighborhood properties with potential and prepare them for redevelopment.
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NextGen was created by former Mayor Michael Coleman to find core-neighborhood properties with the potential to thrive — then do the patient work of preparing them for redevelopment.
The nonprofit's operating structure involves securing control of underutilized sites, conducting feasibility studies, and gathering community feedback before positioning projects for private developers to complete construction.
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NextGen identifies underutilized land, secures control of the property, builds a master plan, completes feasibility studies, and gathers community input — then positions the project for developers to complete construction.
The redevelopment corporation focuses its geographic acquisition priorities within the city's 1950 municipal boundary, concentrating on Linden, Franklinton, the Near East Side, Parsons Avenue, and the Southside.
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NextGen’s targeted area falls within the 1950 boundaries of the City of Columbus, with emphasis on Linden, Franklinton, the Near East Side, Parsons Avenue, and the Southside.
The corporation holds an active real estate portfolio of more than 20 parcels valued at roughly $3 million, situated primarily in the Linden area.
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The corporation currently holds more than 20 parcels, valued at roughly $3 million, primarily in the Linden area.
The organization also renovated four city-owned properties in Franklinton to support neighborhood revitalization, and acquired a former adult bookstore on Parsons Avenue that was converted into a restaurant.
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Renovated four City of Columbus–owned properties in Franklinton to support East Franklinton revitalization.
The organization also renovated four city-owned properties in Franklinton to support neighborhood revitalization, and acquired a former adult bookstore on Parsons Avenue that was converted into a restaurant.
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Acquired a former adult bookstore on Parsons Avenue; later sold to a developer and now a vegan restaurant.
https://columbusnextgen.org/our-board/
Supporting evidence (1)
The organization operates under a board that brings together civic, legal, and development leaders to align city priorities with private-sector real estate expertise.
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NextGen is guided by civic, legal, and development leaders from across Columbus — people who bring the City’s priorities and the private sector’s expertise to the same table.
https://columbusnextgen.org/projects/
Supporting evidence (7)
At Chittenden and Cleveland avenues, NextGen purchased a corner store and converted the property into a neighborhood food and pharmacy market.
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In 2020, NextGen purchased a public nuisance corner store at Chittenden and Cleveland Avenues. Along with the City of Columbus, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Charitable Pharmacy, NextGen converted the store into a community market offering fresh food and pharmacy access.
Along Cleveland Avenue at Myrtle Avenue, NextGen partnered with Homeport to build Mulby Place, a 100-unit senior housing complex.
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In 2017, NextGen acquired approximately three acres along Cleveland Avenue at its intersection with Myrtle Avenue in the North Linden community, removing several dilapidated buildings to make way for new development. Partnering with Homeport, NextGen helped build a 100-unit senior housing complex that includes affordable housing and commercial space.
The organization also acquired frontage between Briarwood, Myrtle, and Arlington avenues to support workforce housing and retail opportunities, and acquired a site at Cleveland and Hudson avenues for future corridor development.
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NextGen purchased property on the west side of Cleveland Avenue, between Briarwood, Myrtle, and Arlington Avenues, for future development. The goal is to provide workforce housing along with office and retail opportunities.
The organization also acquired frontage between Briarwood, Myrtle, and Arlington avenues to support workforce housing and retail opportunities, and acquired a site at Cleveland and Hudson avenues for future corridor development.
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NextGen unlocked this site at the corner of Cleveland and Hudson in 2025, positioning it for future development that will bring lasting economic momentum to the corridor.
On the Near East Side, NextGen acquired the historic property that became The Adelphi, where a mixed-use residential and retail development was completed in 2021.
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This historic Near East Side property once housed a funeral parlor and Adelphi Savings and Loan — the city’s first African American–owned financial institution — before sitting vacant for years. NextGen acquired it in 2016; Borror completed a mixed-use residential and retail development in 2021.
The city deeded the closed Carl L. Brown grocery site to NextGen, which sold the property to Columbus Metropolitan Housing to complete the rebuild of New Poindexter Village.
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The City acquired the closed Carl L. Brown grocery site in 2014 after years of vacancy and deeded it to NextGen in 2015. The site was sold to Columbus Metropolitan Housing in 2017 to complete the rebuild of Poindexter Village.
In the Hilltop, NextGen purchased a city block including the historic Ohio National Bank building to construct approximately 70 units of affordable senior housing.
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NextGen purchased an entire city block that includes the historic Ohio National Bank building along with other retail and residential space. The goal is to construct approximately 70 units of affordable senior housing to serve the Hilltop community.