Columbus has different views on playing, living downtown
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
People are increasingly enjoying downtown Columbus for events and experiences, but feel less enthusiastic about living there, per a new national study.
Why it matters: Columbus leaders have spent years and millions of dollars to bring people back downtown and provide the amenities they need to be happy — the study suggests there's a long way to go.
Driving the news: City Pulse 2026 provides a new batch of data from the research wing of global architecture, design and planning firm Gensler.
- This year's survey investigates city downtowns, which the firm calls "reputation engines."
- The study defines a downtown as the "central business district" — high-density districts designed primarily for commercial use.
Zoom in: For Columbus, that means an area of approximately German Village to the Short North, says Gensler Columbus managing director Sheryl Schulze.
State of play: A growing number of people are enjoying downtown visits.
- 78% of those surveyed said downtown "offers a great experience," up 17% from 2025.
- 74% (up 8%) think of downtown as a place for recreation and 69% (up 9%) see it as a place to socialize.
- More than 80% think downtown is a great place to attend events, see performances or exhibits or dine out.
Yes, but: Just 45% of respondents who consider themselves "familiar with downtown" think it's a great place to live.
- Only 13% rated downtown affordability as very good or excellent, while around two-thirds consider it poor or fair.
- Just half of all respondents say they're satisfied with public transit options downtown.
Plus: The survey found what we know to be a common refrain: Columbus needs an identity.
- Just 47% say downtown Columbus is "iconic" and only 59% consider it "memorable," both toward the bottom of cities surveyed.
Threat level: Respondents don't feel particularly safe downtown, either.
- The percentage of people with positive feelings about crime reduction (25%), addressing homelessness (20%) and peace/stability (39%) are all well below the national averages.
- 38% of respondents ranked "more safety from crime" highest in the list of improvements that would make downtown more attractive.
Between the lines: That's bad news for a city trying desperately to make downtown vibrant and lively.
- The Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan aims to nearly quadruple downtown population to 40,000 residents by 2040, plus reach 120,000 workers and 10 million annual visitors.
What they're saying: "Having that identity, that placemaking to have people attached to a place is a long-game investment," says Sofia Song, Gensler's global leader of cities research.
- "What was clear in our data was that people are really tired of downtowns where stores are seen nationally or internationally," Song tells Axios. "The number one thing people want … is to see more independent shops and cafes."