05/21/2026
On May 21, 2026, Franklin County Commissioner Erica C. Crawley joined Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, Columbus City Councilmember Tiara Ross, and community partners on the Near East Side to mark the beginning of demolition at the former Sawyer Towers site. The commemoration honored the residents who were displaced on Christmas Day 2022 and marked the start of what will become the single largest affordable housing investment in the history of Columbus and Franklin County.
The event brought together elected officials, developers, neighborhood leaders, and community members to reflect on the history of the site and the accountability commitments made since the emergency evacuation. Speakers addressed the path from crisis to construction and outlined the protections now embedded in the redevelopment framework.
Key highlights from the commemoration included:
• 380 new homes will be affordable for households earning up to 60% of the area median income -- roughly $46,000 for a single renter and up to $66,000 for a family of four
• Revised county development guidelines ensuring resident protections travel with properties through ownership changes, including health and safety standards and clawback provisions
• Recognition of displaced residents who received $10,000 each following legal action by the City Attorney's office
• Acknowledgment of the Bronzeville Neighborhood Association, the Near East Area Commission, Legal Aid, the Community Shelter Board, and dozens of county and city agencies that responded on Christmas Day 2022
Commissioner Crawley, Mayor Ginther, Councilmember Ross, Near East Area Commission Chair Dr. Nathan Harris, and Paths Development Director Max Zarin each spoke to the community's history, the failures that led to the 2022 crisis, and the accountability standards being built into what comes next.
