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Notice/Advertisement Title: Housing, Homelessness, and Building Committee "Yes in God's Backyard" Housing Policy Hearing Minutes
Contact Name: Jessica Clinger
Contact Telephone Number: 614-645-6354
Contact Email Address: jnclinger@columbus.gov
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Columbus City Council
Housing, Homelessness, and Building Committee Hearing Minutes
Hosted by Council President Hardin: City Hall, Corban Commons, 3426 Corban Commons Dr, Columbus, OH 43219
Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 2pm
Call to order: 2:05pm
Present: Council President Shannon Hardin, Council member Nancy Day-Achauer, Building and Zoning Services Deputy Director Tony Celebreeze, Zoning Administrator Shannon Pine, Mario Dovell, Marion Meadows, Katie Fallon, and Jessica Clinger.
Presentation:
Introduction and welcome to hearing: Council President Shannon Hardin
Opening Prayer - Pastor Johnny Pitts
Opening remarks - Council President Hardin
- Background Yes In God’s Backyard housing policy idea. Discussion meetings with faith based leaders, importance of building more housing. Mentioned barriers that stand in the way of this type of development. Discussion of Columbus’ rapid growth and need to work on creative solutions to solve the housing crisis.
Council member Nancy Day-Achauer: Council member mentioned her role as a Pastor in Methodist church. Previously lived in San Francisco where commuting an hour is typical, where being priced out of housing is the norm, when she was earning $75k a year could not find housing and couch surfed for 3 months with her child. We can’t have Columbus become like San Francisco.
Invited Speaker:
Johnny Pitts, President, Dayspring Christian Community Development Corp
Grateful to work with Council President on this policy - those with experience are happy to provide partnership, mentorship, and capacity building.
We need everybody interested to grab a shovel and meet the growing need. Having 25+ years in this space, the city can help support new, smaller and minority devel...
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