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Riverfront redevelopment getting redesign without recreation features

By Joe Hren

Posted February 6, 2025

The original estimate was around $10 million. The last bid came in at well over $20 million. (Joe Hren, WFIU/WTIU News)

The Columbus downtown riverfront redevelopment is getting a redesign. Mayor Mary Ferdon said since the project took off in 2016, costs have more than doubled.

“It took us six plus years to get through all the alphabet agencies, right? The permitting from DNR and IDEM and Army Corps. So we really didn't get that until, I think it was 2022,” she said.

The parts of the design moving forward are the safety issues. Erosion, a century-old dam, and landfill embankment all need to be fixed.

Ferdon said the city had to bid out the project again, but without the recreation and in-water features.

Columbus Riverfront proposed design from 2019 (Courtesy photo)

“It's sad that we have to give up on something that we felt like would be a huge amenity for the community. But you know what? Those safety features are really important, that we take care of those,” Ferdon said.

The original estimate was around $10 million. The last bid came in at well over $20 million. Ferdon says the city has state grant money it needs to use on the project.