Columbus Stops New Courthouse Plan and Turns to Renovation

Columbus ended its planned new Franklin County Municipal Court project in July 2026 after Mayor Andrew Ginther said its estimated cost exceeded $335 million. The city now proposes renovating existing facilities, but it has not published a complete renovation scope, budget, schedule or accounting of sunk costs.

What the city stopped

WOSU reported the cancellation on July 29. The planned eight-story, 340,000-square-foot courthouse would have occupied Dorrian Commons and connected with existing government buildings.

The mayor’s office said a new building estimate had risen from $200 million in 2018 to more than $335 million. That comparison is the administration’s estimate as reported by WOSU, not a construction contract total audited by CREN.

Public money was already committed

A 2025 City Council ordinance authorized up to $12.59 million more for Moody Nolan’s architect-of-record services. The ordinance also documents earlier design contracts.

WOSU reported that voters approved a $250 million bond issue in 2025 with $100 million earmarked for a new courthouse. Stopping the project raises separate questions about which funds remain available, which expenses cannot be recovered and what voter or Council action may be required.

Renovation is not yet a complete alternative

The administration proposes work at 375 South High Street and the Karnes Building. The Municipal Court said it was disappointed but would work with the city on next steps.

The mayor said renovation could free at least $75 million for other capital needs. CREN found no published renovation design, cost estimate or schedule that independently demonstrates those savings.

The unresolved public-record questions

The original headline said Columbus picked renovation, which is directionally correct but too final. The city selected a policy direction; it has not yet presented a fully approved replacement project.

Authorized design spending is not necessarily the same as the amount ultimately paid, and a contract ceiling does not reveal what can be recovered after cancellation. A complete accounting would need invoices, amendments, termination obligations and any reusable design work. The available ordinance and news reports do not provide that closeout ledger.

The next records should include contract closeout costs, bond-fund treatment, renovation feasibility and design documents, court operational requirements and Council authorizations. Until those appear, neither the renovation price nor the claimed savings can be treated as settled.