COLUMBUS ON THE RISE: MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS RESHAPING OUR CITY

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In today's newsletter:

• Columbus Ranks Among World's Happiest Cities: Our city earns global recognition at #63!

• Evans Farm Marks 10 Years: Delaware County's ambitious master-planned community is only 20% complete

• The Fitzgerald Taking Shape in Bexley: Six-story mixed-use development bringing apartments, retail, and more

• Columbus Fire Division Welcomes 46 New Firefighters: Historic class includes 20 legacy graduates

• Since We Love Ohio So Much, We Read the 597-page State Budget So You Didn't Have To

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A MESSAGE FROM GAGAN: WE'RE A HAPPY BUNCH...

Well, it's official - Columbus is one of the happiest cities on Earth! I've been telling people this for years, but now we have the data to back it up. (You should see my insta comment section right now through. It’s PRETTYYY wild!)

As many of you know, my mom has been in a pretty severe car accident, so we’re juggling some pretty fun things, from finances, to health, but we’ll make sure every transition is smooth.

When I first moved here, people would ask, "Why Columbus?" Now the question has shifted to "When did you discover Columbus?" as more people recognize what we've known all along - this city offers something special.

Albeit we are transition for the massive Nepali community in the east side, there’s so many other reasons for why we moved, and honestly, that’s why I started this newsletter as well - to share what’s amazing about the city we all love.

The secret is out, and it's showing in our continued growth across the region. From massive master-planned communities like Evans Farm in Lewis Center to innovative mixed-use developments in Bexley, our city and suburbs are evolving in exciting ways.

With this growth comes responsibility, though. I'm encouraged to see our fire division expanding to meet the needs of our growing population. These investments in infrastructure and safety services are crucial as we continue to attract new residents and businesses.

Let's dive into all the exciting updates happening across Central Ohio!

— Gagan Timsina

COLUMBUS RANKS AMONG WORLD'S HAPPIEST CITIES!

Our city has been named one of the 200 happiest cities on Earth, coming in at #63 according to the World Happiness Report. We're the only Ohio city to make the list and we ranked ahead of major cities like Boston, Phoenix, and Los Angeles!

Do you believe me when I tell you, people thought I was LYING…who lies about something like that…people are silly…

Key Happiness Highlights:

• Columbus ranks #63 globally and #6 among U.S. cities

• Only 18 U.S. cities made the list

• Top U.S. city was New York (#17)

• We beat Los Angeles (#70), Boston (#131), and Phoenix (#181)

The report evaluates cities based on several factors including affordable housing, environmental impacts, inclusive policies, and government transparency.

While the U.S. as a whole has fallen to 24th place in country rankings (down from 11th in 2012), Columbus is showing that we're bucking the national trend with our quality of life and community satisfaction.

I've always said there's something special about the Columbus vibe - looks like the rest of the world is finally noticing!

Check out the rest of the hilarious comments here 👇

EVANS FARM: 10 YEARS IN AND JUST GETTING STARTED

What began as 1,100 acres of farmland in Lewis Center has transformed into one of Central Ohio's most ambitious master-planned communities—and it's only 20% built! [EvansFarm]

Current Development:

• 300+ single-family homes completed

• 300+ apartment units

• 50,000 sq ft of commercial space

• Tenants include Yabo's Tacos, Parlor Doughnuts, CRMD, and more

What's Coming:

• Plans for 2,100 homes + 1,600 apartments

• Up to 400,000 sq ft of commercial space

• New businesses including The 1 Fitness, Sexton's Pizza, and a golf simulator

• Buckeye Swim Club & Jennings Sports Park to drive foot traffic

"We're only scratching the surface… The next 3-4 years will take us from 20% to 60% built," said co-developer Zenios.

Evans Farm is designed as a "new urbanist" community, focusing on walkability and a traditional neighborhood design. Located off Lewis Center Road in Delaware County, the 1,200-acre development has drawn attention for its commitment to creating a true community rather than just a housing development.

With a projected $2 billion economic impact, Evans Farm isn't just growing—it's becoming a destination that's reshaping how we think about suburban development in Central Ohio.

Looking for a new construction home in one of the area's most distinctive communities? Evans Farm offers a unique blend of small-town charm with modern amenities.

Let’s connect and see if a home there is a possibility for you. Press here to schedule a call with one of our real estate partners.

THE FITZGERALD MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT TAKING SHAPE IN BEXLEY

A massive six-story, mixed-use building called The Fitzgerald is under construction at 2200 E. Main St. in Bexley, bringing new living options and commercial spaces to the area. [Dispatch]

Development Details:

• 232 apartments

• 11,000+ square feet for restaurants and retail

• 12,500 square feet for medical offices

• 300 parking spaces in a public garage

• Columbus-based Continental Development Ventures leading the project

Construction is well underway, with the structural portion up to the third floor completed on the front of the building where commercial space will be located. A large crane was erected Tuesday and will remain for the next six to eight weeks as trusses and framing materials are delivered.

Timeline:

• Commercial spaces expected to complete in spring 2026

• Residential portion finishing in summer 2026

• No confirmed tenants for the commercial or medical spaces yet

The nearly 3-acre site, located on the north side of East Main Street between the Bexley Gateway development and Bexley Square, was formerly home to a 60-unit apartment complex that previously housed Trinity Seminary students with families.

This development represents another significant investment in Bexley, maintaining its reputation as one of Columbus's most desirable inner-ring suburbs.

COLUMBUS WELCOMES 46 NEW FIREFIGHTERS WITH HISTORIC LEGACY CLASS

The Columbus Division of Fire just got stronger with 46 new firefighters graduating from the Fire Academy last Friday, including a historic 20 legacy graduates who have family members in the fire service.

Graduation Highlights:

• 46 new firefighters joining the division

• 20 legacy graduates (family members in fire service)

• 32-week training program completed

• Mayor Andrew Ginther and city leaders attended the ceremony

Among the graduates was Sam Foster, whose father has been with the division for 36 years. "I can't even put into words the way this feeling is. Being able to celebrate the last 32 weeks and all the hard work coming to a head, it means the world," said Foster.

CFD Staffing Status:

• Currently 1,736 firefighters in the division

• Record high staffing levels to serve growing population

• 159 firefighters added in 2024

• One additional firefighter class planned for 2025

"We have more firefighters now than ever before in our city's history which is important because we continue to grow as a city," said Mayor Ginther.

While Fire Union Local 67 President Steve Stein appreciates the mayor's efforts to grow the division, he noted that continued hiring will be necessary to keep pace with Columbus's expanding population.

It's reassuring to see our city investing in critical services like fire protection as we continue to grow!

SINCE WE LOVE OHIO SO MUCH, WE READ THE 597-PAGE STATE BUDGET SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO

I know what you think…”did they ACTUALLY read it?”

Yep…

Ohio is holding strong heading into 2026—and the numbers prove it. Our team dove into the state's budget document to pull out the most important facts for Columbus residents and investors.

Key Highlights from the State Budget & Economy:

• Total Tax Revenue (FY 2025): $28.44B

• Projected FY 2026 Tax Revenue: $29.62B (+4.1%)

• Projected FY 2027 Tax Revenue: $30.58B (+3.2%)

• Ohio's 2023 GDP: $884.8B — 7th largest in the U.S.

• Unemployment (Dec 2024): 4.4%

Where the Money's Going:

• Transportation Budget (2026–2027): $9.6B

• Infrastructure & Capital Projects: $2B

• Federal Grants Allocated: $5.69M

Economic Momentum:

• GDP Growth (2022–2023): +6.3%

• Projected GDP Growth (2025–2027): +1.8% per year

• Personal Income Growth (2025): +4.2%

Top Industries by GDP Contribution:

• Trade, Transport & Utilities: $200.7B

• Manufacturing: $158.3B

• Finance & Real Estate: $134B

Additional Economic Indicators:

• Auto Sales Tax Revenue (2025): $1.91B

• Retail & Food Service Sales Growth (2027): +3.2%

• Projected 2027 Light Vehicle Sales: 17.04M units

What does this mean for Columbus? The state's strong economic foundation provides an excellent backdrop for our local growth.

With Columbus continuing to attract new residents and businesses, we're well-positioned to benefit from Ohio's stable fiscal outlook and strategic investments in infrastructure.

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