Abandoned Fort Rapids Hotel to Become Affordable Apartments

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A Columbus developer plans to convert the long-abandoned Fort Rapids Hotel and Water Park into more than 300 affordable apartment units, potentially reviving a property that has sat vacant for nearly a decade along Interstate 70 and Hamilton Road.

Maxwell Drever, of Drever Capital Management, announced plans to redevelop the shuttered hotel into housing with rents targeted at approximately $700 per month, aiming to address the city's shortage of affordable housing.

The project, which Drever has named "Hamilton Rising," would repurpose the existing infrastructure on the site along the Hamilton corridor.

"It's a generational opportunity to restore the Hamilton corridor," Drever said.

The Fort Rapids property has remained closed and abandoned for nearly 10 years. Drever said the facility's existing amenities, including a large commercial kitchen, conference rooms, a restaurant and a bar, could provide opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

"They've got a huge commercial kitchen, they've got these monster conference rooms that can be used for other things. It's got a restaurant, it's got a bar," Drever said.

Drever said converting distressed hotel properties is a specialty of his company.

"My hope is to see this as soon as possible up and running, and hopefully we can buy more broken hotels in Columbus," he said.

The project is pending approval in probate court. No timeline has been announced for a court decision or for potential development.

Nearly one year ago, a portion of the facility was heavily damaged in a fire. The former hotel and indoor water park closed in 2016 following health, safety and fire code violations.


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