columbus lofts Guide

Loft trends have arrived in the Columbus metro area in a big way. The Scioto River, Brewery District and the Warehouse District boast over 110 Loft Conversions.

A true loft is a conversion of a vintage factory or warehouse, having a harder edge of either concrete construction, or "mill" construction of exposed brick and original wood posts, beams and floors. Ceilings should be over ten feet high. Ceiling height is increasingly very important for loft purchasers, as developers are now building condos with slightly higher ceilings than in the past. It is the height that helps give a loft the feeling of air and space. Larger windows and open concept layouts also help. Ceilings are unfinished and pipes and heating ducts are exposed. Do not expect to find a 1000 square foot loft divided up into two bedrooms and a den. It will much more likely have a kitchen and a bathroom with the rest of the space left as one large open room.

Beware of another type of loft -- the newly constructed loft, which are for the most part "condos with high ceilings", and are examples of Columbus condo developers trying to cash in on the popularity of lofts. They are still great units, just not "true" lofts. Columbus lofts are found mostly in the Warehouse District and downtown Columbus areas. The average price for a loft in Columbus is about $300,000. Though they can vary in price from $200,000 to over $1.5 million dollars.