New Council Gives Multi-Family Builders the Opportunity to Connect
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n 2021, the BIA launched a council that gives a key group of builders and developers the chance to link up. The new Multi-Family Builders Council provides multifamily builders and developers with a forum for focusing on the issues that are most important to them. “Approximately 50% of the housing units created in central Ohio are from multi-family projects and it was important to the Board that companies operating in that space have an opportunity to network and discuss the issues that impact their businesses,” says BIA Executive Director, Jon Melchi. The Multi-Family Builders Council is co-chaired by Jane Arthur Roslovic of Treplus Communities and Joe Thomas of Metro Development. Both are experienced multi-family builders with a good understanding of the issues faced by other builders and developers in their field. The Council has been initially focused on issues with the City of Columbus, such as the update to the CRA incentive policy and the City’s zoning updates, but will be engaging across the region. The Council had its first meeting in July — and there was so much interest in attending that the meeting had to be moved to a larger room at the BIA offices. At that meeting Council members met with the City of Columbus’s Assistant Director for Housing Strategy, Erin Prosser, just a few weeks after she was appointed to her position by Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther. Their discussion covered issues that included zoning
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code reform, the development plan approvement process, the neighborhood commission review process and annexation policy. In March, Council members will meet with Columbus Director of Planning and Zoning Services, Scott Messer. If you are a multi-family builder or developer who would like to learn more about the issues, network with others in your market segment and get involved, contact Melchi at jon@ biahomebuilders.com. Watch the BIA calendar on biahomebuilders.com for the dates of upcoming Multi-Family Builders Council meetings.
"Approximately 50% of the housing units created in central Ohio are from multifamily projects and it was important to the Board that companies operating in that space have an opportunity to network and discuss the issues that impact their businesses."
