COLUMBUS, OH—Partly shielded from the economic downturn by its smaller size and Midwest location, the city is seeing commercial success both Downtown and in the suburbs thanks to a few corporate benefactors. Cranes and bulldozers are active all over the CBD as Nationwide Realty Investors continues its $1.3 billion in development program, including the recent start of a 51,300-square-foot office building in the $800-million Arena District. NRI, a division of the locally based Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., is also building the $500-million Grandview Yard project just northwest of Downtown.

Brian Ellis, CEO of NRI, says that construction started in mid-December on the $10-million 425 W. Nationwide Blvd. office, which will be anchored by the General Services Administration. Other NRI buildings under construction in the Arena District include the 200,000-squarefoot 10 W. Nationwide Blvd. property, a $26-million building that will house the company's insurance division by 2013, and 240 W. Nationwide Blvd., a 280,000-square-foot office that Columbia Gas will anchor.

The district also houses NRI's successful attempts at apartments and condo projects, including the 98-unit Burnham Square, the 20-story Condo at North Bank and the Flats on Vine apartments—all of which are fully sold or occupied. The company also bought the former Buggy Works building near the Columbus Clippers triple-A baseball stadium, though no specific plans have been released yet.