Trends and Forecasts
Columbus Municipal Airport
The Columbus Municipal Airport served as a military base during World War II. The U.S. government declared the property to be excess and deeded it to the City of Columbus Board of Aviation Commissioners, with the proviso that in the event of a national emergency, the federal government may reclaim the land. The city has long seen this property as an economic development opportunity, especially as the location for a high-tech industrial park. Property at the airport is available for lease, not purchase. The rent receipts have kept the airport self-supporting; local property taxes are not used to fund the operations there. This area contains the airport operations, including the terminal, tower, runways, and hangars. The property belonging to the Board of Aviation Commissioners encompasses an area much larger than needed for aviation use. Development on the airport property tends to be clustered according to the type of use: an educational complex, industrial development, recreational uses, health care uses, and some commercial development. This area is also home to the primary higher education complex in Columbus, the Indiana University-Purdue University at Columbus. The People Trail system serves this area, but other than that, there are no other pedestrian facilities.
Fig. 1.12 - Map showing the Columbus Municpal Airport neighborhood.
Arch 401 - Fall 2013
The airport has excellent access, via Central Avenue, Marr Road, River Road, and C.R. 500 N. Interior roads offer easy access to businesses and institutions. Once the location of dilapidated barracks, the aviation board and its staff worked diligently to improve the area during the 1990s. Old buildings have been removed, and new, attractive buildings have been constructed. Planning process participants found that there is room for improvement, and that some unattractive metal buildings remain. The group also found that the airport is lacking in landscaping.
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