By the end of this year, more than 10,000 residents are expected to call Downtown Columbus home, according to a new report that documents more than $1 billion in residential development underway Downtown and another $1.7 billion proposed.

Downtown Columbus might reach 10,000 residents this year, the goal set by former Mayor Michael B. Coleman almost 20 years ago.

At the end of 2019, an estimated 9,270 people called Downtown home, according to a report issued this week by Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts, which serve Downtown.

With several more Downtown apartment complexes expected to open this year, that figure is forecast to reach 10,700 by the end of 2020, according to the report.

The landmark figure accomplishes a goal set by Coleman in 2002, when the then-mayor created tax incentives to encourage Downtown housing. However, Coleman hoped to hit the mark by 2012.

"I think 10,000 is a significant number," said Tony Lococo, president of the Downtown Residents Association of Columbus. "It took longer to get to the number, but there’s no reason to think it will slow down."

Capital Crossroads projects 14,000 Downtown residents by the end of 2022.

According to the report, Downtown is home to 6,888 apartments and condominiums, twice the number that existed in 2007. (Capital Crossroads estimates that each apartment houses 1.4 residents.)

Another 15 projects are under construction in the center city, which will add 1,670 residences, almost all of them rentals. Many of those, including some large complexes on East State and East Long streets, are expected to open this year.

Behind those are another 17 proposed projects that could add about 2,500 more residences. Though some, such as the Millennial Tower, are speculative, others such as developments on the former White Castle headquarters site and on the Scioto Peninsula, are expected to start this year.

Despite the growth in Downtown apartments, Columbus still lags Cincinnati and Cleveland in total Downtown residents, even though Columbus occupies a much larger footprint, concluded the report. While 9,270 people lived in Downtown Columbus at the end of 2019, 10,818 lived in Cincinnati and 18,800 lived in Cleveland.

Columbus also has about one-third the number of Downtown residents as Indianapolis, which is expected to reach 30,000 residents by the end of the year, according to Downtown Indy Inc.

Columbus is playing catch-up after starting the century with very few Downtown residents. Now, however, the number is likely to grow more quickly, said Marc Conte, deputy director of research at Capital Crossroads, who prepared the report.

"When you’re the first guy on the block and next to you is nothing but surface lots, it’s not exciting," he said. "But when you have all this other housing around you it becomes much more inviting."

Conte and Lococo said residents they’ve spoken with would like to see more retail Downtown. Lococco mentioned a pet store, for example.

Downtown is home to one grocery store, The Hills Market, and last year saw a DGX market store open, but the area has struggled to fill first-floor retail space because of a lack of residents.

Conte said Downtown could also use more mid- and high-rise residential buildings instead of the 5- to 7-story buildings that have dominated apartment development. And he would like to see mass transit improve.

But both said Downtown has come light years from where it was just a few years ago.

"As a resident, I have all the services I need," Lococo said. "I have a pharmacy, cleaners, restaurants and bars, a small grocery store, parks. Those are all the necessities of what people would want."

The rise in apartment construction reflects a rise in overall Downtown investment.

According to Capital Crossroads, 30 projects valued at $1 billion are underway Downtown. Another 40 projects, valued at $1.7 billion, are in the pipeline.

Among the biggest developments under construction are the new Crew Stadium in the Arena District and the 28-story Hilton hotel next to the Greater Columbus Convention Center on North High Street.

Coming up are the Market Tower mixed-use project on the North Market parking lot and the mini-city planned for the Scioto Peninsula next to COSI Columbus.

Not included in the report are substantial projects underway immediately outside Downtown such as the second phase of the Gravity project on West Broad Street; the redevelopment of the Mount Carmel West property; the final phase of Jeffery Park in Italian Village; and the ongoing expansion of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s campus on East Livingston Avenue.

jweiker@dispatch.com

@JimWeiker