We Must Rise Together For Worthington's Future

    “What I think is happening is this notion of economic self-sufficiency on the urban periphery is no longer a sufficient defense for your isolationism. Cities and regions will rise or fall together, and that’s what I think is shifting in Central Ohio.”

    — Michael Wilkos, July 16, 2025, Columbus Metropolitan Club

Michael Wilkos, a respected voice in community and regional development, will be speaking in Worthington on June 23 as part of our Worthington Together speaker series. His insight at a recent Columbus Metropolitan Club panel struck a chord with me — and I believe it should resonate with all of us who care about Worthington’s future.

Central Ohio is growing — rapidly and relentlessly. Job creation, economic momentum, and population growth are reshaping our region. And Worthington, as an inner-ring suburb with a proud history and enviable quality of life, is very much part of that story whether we want to be or not.

Some in our community believe that because Worthington has managed its finances well and maintained a strong identity, we can afford to simply “opt out” of regional growth pressures. But Wilkos’s words remind us that no city is an island. If we wall ourselves off — resisting new housing, new people, and new ideas — we not only lose the benefits of growth, we contribute to the region’s fragmentation and inequality.

We can’t keep saying “no” and expect to thrive in a future that depends on collaboration, connection, and inclusion.

Our Finances Depend on a Thriving Community

Worthington, like many Ohio cities, depends primarily on income tax revenue — paid by people who work here, whether or not they live here. But if we think that lets us off the hook when it comes to housing, we’re missing the bigger picture.

More accessible, attainable housing supports our city’s finances in important ways:

• Workers want to live closer to their jobs. And employers from small businesses to healthcare providers to the City itself want their employees nearby. When housing near jobs is unaffordable or unavailable, we create strain for workers and businesses alike.

• Shorter commutes mean less traffic, lower emissions, and better quality of life. That supports our climate goals and helps maintain the walkability and sustainability that make Worthington attractive in the first place.

• More residents mean more support for our small businesses, which in turn grow and hire, thereby feeding our income tax base.

• Attainable housing helps stabilize population, supports school enrollment, and keeps our community intergenerational — all of which matter deeply for long-term fiscal and civic health.

If we want to remain a well-resourced, economically resilient city, we need to make room for the people who keep Worthington running — and we need to do so by expanding our housing options in ways that align with our values and future.

Who Are We Making Room For?

I have heard some community members say they support “preserving” Worthington by protecting green space or limiting development only to what already exists. Others have expressed concerns about the aesthetics of certain housing types — like rowhouses — even as they support more traditional types such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

While these concerns are real, we must ask ourselves:  What is it we’re truly trying to preserve?  Because when we reject all new forms of housing that differ from our current stock, we aren’t just deciding what the city looks like — we’re deciding who gets to live here. 

Worthington once offered opportunity for families starting out, for older adults ready to downsize, for workers living near their jobs. If we close that door now — when housing demand is high and supply is limited — we say, in effect, that Worthington is only for those who already have a foothold and can afford to live here.

That’s not preservation. That’s exclusion.

Moral Imperative

We often talk about Worthington as a “values-driven” community, and I believe we are.  If we truly value inclusion, equity, and opportunity, then we must be willing to welcome people who are not exactly like us:

• People of different races, incomes, ages, and family structures.

• People who grew up here but can no longer afford to stay.

• People who work here every day but are priced out of living here.

• People who will bring new perspectives, talents, and culture to our community fabric.

Why wouldn’t we want a community that is more inclusive, more dynamic, and more connected? Why wouldn’t we want to share the good things we have with others who will care for and contribute to this place just like we do?

This Is Our Moment

Worthington is nearly built out. We don’t have endless acres of undeveloped land, and that makes the few development opportunities we do have especially important. The pressure to grow is not going away. What we do now will define who we are for the next generation.

We can choose thoughtful infill. We can support ADUs, missing middle housing, and projects that fit our character while expanding our capacity.  Or, we can say no to everything. And in doing so, we risk becoming a museum of our past instead of a community with a future.

Our city’s future deserves thoughtful debate, open hearts, and a shared commitment to the values that built this community in the first place.  I hope you will join us at the first speaker series event for Worthington Together, and in giving your input.  

Find out more at worthingtontogether.org.