Franklinton’s weekday vibe is starting to feel a lot less sleepy, and Trace Quarter has plenty to do with it. The new apartment community on the former Mount Carmel West campus is feeding a steadier stream of residents onto nearby sidewalks, helping fill dinner shifts at neighborhood restaurants and giving local shops more of the everyday traffic they have been chasing for years. With modern units wrapped around shared courtyards and lounges, the project is already nudging up demand for ground-floor retail in this slice of Columbus.
As reported by CoStar, Trace Quarter was named multifamily development of the year for Columbus in the 2026 CoStar Impact Awards. Judges called the complex a “successful conversion of a hospital campus,” and CBRE’s Molly Leach said the project “completely transforms a blighted former hospital area and provides housing in a needy area.” CoStar also credited the development with giving nearby retailers, restaurants and creative venues a tangible boost.
Design And Amenities Built To Keep People Local
Developer Thrive Cos. pitches Trace Quarter as an amenity-heavy community meant to keep residents rooted in the neighborhood instead of driving across town. The property at 80 South Souder Avenue lists on-site management, 24/7 maintenance, a secured package room and a courtyard pool as key perks. Multiuse courtyards and indoor lounges are billed as a kind of shared “living room” for the neighborhood, features that Thrive says make it easier for tenants to head out on foot to nearby bars, galleries and cafes, according to Trace Quarter.
Redevelopment Was Years In The Making…