The City of Grove City, Ohio is pleased to issue this Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional services to develop a citywide Housing Assessment.   

Community Background

The population is currently estimated to be 43,874 by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). With excellent schools located within the limits of the City, coupled with a strong sense of community, diverse housing stock and skilled workforce, it is easy to see why Grove City is considered one of Central Ohio’s premier communities.  

Location & Access  

Conveniently located seven miles southwest of Ohio’s capital, Grove City serves as the southern gateway to the approximately 2.2 million inhabitants of the Columbus Metropolitan Area.  Interstate 270 (the Columbus outer belt) forms the City’s northern boundary while Interstate 71 provides three interchanges serving the greater Grove City area.  U.S. Route 62 (Broadway) provides connectivity to Interstate 270 to the north and Interstate 71 approximately 3.5 miles to the south. Rail service is provided by Genesee & Wyoming and private air service is available at Bolton Field, five miles northwest of the City.  Public air service is also available 18 miles northeast at Port Columbus International Airport and 14 miles southeast at Rickenbacker International Airport, an intermodal facility.  

General City Information

With immediate access to Interstate 71 and 270, Grove City has emerged as an accommodation center offering approximately 1572 guest rooms with gross sales exceeding $9.1 million per year.  A growing list of restaurants complements the variety of accommodations to be found in the City.  Grove City’s accessibility and proximity to surrounding major markets have fostered the City’s balanced growth approach in professional, industrial, and commercial sectors and are firmly supported by its diverse labor force.   

Applicable Studies  

In 2018, Grove City adopted the GroveCity2050 Community Plan to guide the City’s planning efforts and build upon the success of Central Ohio and the insight2050 report for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.  The GroveCity2050 Community Plan identified housing objectives and goals, including creating a wide range of housing types for all phases of life, zoning that allows for a variety of housing types, and housing located within walkable areas. 

Development Department staff currently tracks housing information gathered from Planning Commission submittals on an ongoing basis. Additional information, including building permits issued, is gathered on a bi-annual basis for State of the City reports. 

Topic Areas 

In August 2026, Grove City Council passed Legislation (CR-30-26), expressing a desire to conduct a housing analysis to better understand the City's current housing needs and climate, and to inform housing policy moving forward.  The housing study will help support responsible growth and prepare for success within the growing Central Ohio Region. 

The scope of work includes the following: 

• Demographic, Socioeconomic Background – Review of demographic and socioeconomic trends within the City, the surrounding areas, and Franklin County.  Identify the cost-burden housing threshold and strategies to increase housing affordability within the City. 

• Housing Inventory Analysis – Review the current housing profile within the City and compare findings to the larger study area and Franklin County.  Assessment review topics should include, but are not limited to: number of units, housing type breakdown, housing market conditions (sale prices, home value), and newly constructed units.  This analysis should serve as a starting point for understanding the current housing landscape in the City.   

• Housing Needs Analysis – Evaluate current housing inventory.  Identify housing needs for different populations within the City.    

• Future Housing Needs – Identify housing locations and types to address housing needs and improve affordability and accessibility within the City, while aligning with the central Ohio region's overall housing goals.   

• Future Community Services and Infrastructure Impacts – Identify how findings from the housing need analysis would impact services and infrastructure within Grove City.  Areas including school enrollment, City services, regional transportation, city facilities, and recreational services.  

• Housing Strategy -   Develop recommendations, policy, and a strategy for Grove City that addresses the future needs of the City and closes any gaps identified in the needs analysis.     

Project Team and Previous Projects  

Provide background on team members and professional experience in conducting housing studies.  Provide an example of a minimum of three (3) previous projects and a brief overview of the scope of each project. 

Deliverables

• Site visit 

• Stakeholder meetings 

• Public engagement – survey, public meetings(s) 

• Bi-weekly meetings with Development Department staff to discuss project status and provide any needed clarifications 

• Draft plan finalization for administrative review  

• Presentation of preliminary findings at City Council 

• Final plan revision 

• Presentation of final plan at City Council
• Standalone infographic summarizing the report 

Deliverables to be provided as part of the housing study include:  

• Print-ready PDF files of plan documents and appendices 

• Editable source files of plan documents 

• GIS file of final maps 

Timeline 

 All tasks should be completed within 10 months.  Final adoption of the plan may occur outside the 10-month working period.  Provide a project management schedule with submittal. 

Proposal Submittal Requirements 

The proposals/offers must be sufficiently detailed to provide the City with a sound basis for judging the degree to which the proposed housing plan will meet the City’s objectives and demonstrate that the submitting firm has the professional capabilities and experience needed to accomplish the proposed study.

All proposals and supporting documents must be submitted in PDF format by email. Proposals will be received until 5:00pm (ET), Friday, October 2, 2026.

Submit proposals to:

City of Grove City

Attn: Kim Shields

Community Development Manager

4035 Broadway

Grove City, OH 43123

KShields@GroveCityOhio.gov