The Preston Centre: The New Must-See In Columbus

Vutech | Ruff team members were thrilled to attend the recent open house for the Preston Centre, formerly the PNC Tower on East Broad Street. Hosted by Columbus Landmarks, the event showcased the innovative adaptive reuse of the building, now a bustling hub of mixed-use spaces including residential, office, and retail. The project is Downtown’s largest transformation yet of an office building into residences.

We were pleased to support our good friend, Jeff Edwards, president and CEO of The Edwards Companies, which developed the project. More than seven years in the making, the project involved converting floors 10 through 23 of the 24-story office tower into 105 apartments. 

During the open house, Marilyn Vutech, Anna Vutech, and Emily Ahlering had the opportunity to tour the luxury apartments with incredible views of the city, gorgeous common area spaces that include an art gallery, game room, workout facility, and beautiful outdoor garden-itself an incredible piece of art.

When finished, the building is expected to include up to five restaurants and bars, including Cameron Mitchell’s new Butcher & Rose.

Welcome To Central Ohio And The Columbus Area 

Whether you’re interested in big city living, small town charm, or anything in between, Ohio has you covered. And while Ohio offers all the exciting entertainment and recreation of the coasts, your cost of living is low enough to get out there and enjoy it all.  

Whoever you are, wherever you’re coming from, whatever you’re looking for—you can find it in Ohio. A microcosm of the U.S. in a single state, Ohio represents the best of what our country has to offer: an amazing mix of affordability, quality of life, diverse industry, diverse communities, natural beauty, and a dynamic hub for innovation, culture, sports, education, and economic growth.  

A place where you can have balance. Live. Work. Invest. Live your own version of the American Dream. In Ohio, you don’t have to make the false choice of success in your business endeavors or professional endeavors at the expense of success in your family, personal, or community endeavors. You can do all of those things here. That’s why people from all walks and stages of life are reassessing, reprioritizing, and relocating to Ohio – the heart of America’s Heartland – to realize their best work and their best self.  

Ohio is more than 40,000 square miles of busy cities, charming small towns, sparkling rivers, sprawling hills, and beautiful farmland. The people who have called Ohio home have left their mark on history and Ohio continues to be at the center of cutting-edge innovation. Some of the world’s biggest historical moments started in Ohio: the invention of the airplane, both the first man to orbit the moon and to set foot on the moon, and eight U.S. presidents all started here. With one of the world’s biggest economies, plentiful resources, technology, and world-class education, it’s clear why Ohio has left its mark on history.  

  • – 14th Largest City in the Country 
  • – #1 Fastest-Growing Midwest City for GDP, Job Growth & Population  
  • – #1 Top City for Rising Tech Start Ups – Forbes 
  • – Named on of the “30 Most Fun Places to Live in the U.S.” by U.S. News & World Report  
  • – Home to 53 Colleges & Universities – One Columbus 

 

Why Choose Ohio? 

With its centralized location, access to transportation routes, and history of success, Ohio is a hub for business and commerce. World-famous companies, midmarket, and small businesses all choose Ohio as their headquarters, including:  

  • – The Ohio State University  
  • – Cardinal Health  
  • – Worthington Industries  
  • – Grange Insurance  
  • – Plaskolite  
  • – Kimball Midwest  
  • – Abbott  
  • – American Electric Power  
  • – Big Lots  
  • – Abercrombie & Fitch  

Columbus is a short drive to other Midwestern metropolitan hubs and destinations like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville and close to many charming small towns that make up the rest of Ohio. You also won’t be breaking the bank as Ohio is ranked number one in affordability. 

How to Make Ohio Home  

Whether you’re moving from another state or another country, Ohio has a lot to offer. Here are some important details to help you get acclimated to life in Ohio:  

TIME ZONE: Eastern Standard Time (EST) – Daylight Saving Time observed 

CLIMATE: Continental, with warm, humid summers and cold, dry winters. A typical Columbus winter brings an average snowfall of 28.2 inches, with January and February being the snowiest months. 

REGION: Midwest 

How to Get Around 

Bigger cities in Ohio offer robust public transportation options in the city core, however, a vehicle is highly recommended. Transportation anywhere in Columbus is less than 30 minutes with a car because of the extensive freeway system(s). 

Cost Of Living  

OHIO IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS  

While there are many factors contributing to business owners’ decisions to relocate, the lower cost of doing business and lower cost of living in Ohio over the coasts are proving too good to pass up. Since 2016, over 40 new companies, nearly 10,000 jobs, and $625M in payroll have come to Ohio from the coasts.  

OHIO’S AFFORDABILITY  

In Ohio, every dollar goes further without sacrificing quality. Ohio is the No. 1 most affordable state, according to the 2020 U.S. News rankings. The cost of living in Ohio’s significant cities is 42-70% lower than San Francisco and New York City. Ohio Ranks No. 3 in Moody’s Housing Affordability Index, which measures the combination of higher median income and lower housing price, providing a good quality of life (2020, Q3).  

ENTERTAINMENT & EXCITEMENT  

A lower cost of living is a benefit on its own but knowing that in Ohio, you and your employees can still enjoy a vibrant lifestyle with festivals, live events, museums, cuisine, arts, and more is icing on the cake.  

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Ohio School Report Cards | reportcard.education.ohio.gov 

Property Tax Information/Franklin County | franklincountyauditor.com  

Zip Code Map for Demographics | city-data.com/city/Ohio.html 

Learn more about the neighborhoods in Central Ohio in our full relocation guide here.