Linden Community Master Plan

Located approximately three miles northeast of Downtown Columbus, Linden benefits from proximity to major institutions and employment centers but has historically experienced disinvestment, commercial vacancy, and other barriers to private investment. As part of the community-driven One Linden planning process led by the Neighborhood Design Center, Development Strategies was engaged to evaluate the neighborhood’s retail and commercial market and identify an achievable framework for reinvestment.

The analysis assessed demographic and spending conditions, existing businesses, retail demand, commercial properties, and the competitive position of Cleveland Avenue and other neighborhood nodes. It identified opportunities to build on Linden’s locally owned business community, investments in schools and public spaces, and CMAX bus rapid transit service along Cleveland Avenue.

Development Strategies translated these findings into a commercial enhancement strategy organized around targeted subarea recommendations, commercial tenant recruitment, activity centers, public-realm improvements, placemaking, and people-based investments. Development feasibility testing quantified the financial gaps affecting priority development concepts and helped identify where public or philanthropic support would be necessary. The resulting strategy established a market-informed foundation for incremental corridor investment while supporting the broader housing, economic opportunity, and quality-of-life goals of the One Linden Plan.