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WELCOME HOME

COLUMBUS, OHIO

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WE EXIST TOREACH THE

UNCHURCHEDAND

AWAKEN THE SPIRITUALLY RESTLESS TO

LOVE GOD ANDLOVE PEOPLE.

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WELCOME TO ROCK CITY CHURCH & COLUMBUS, OHIO!

We are so glad you are here visiting us and our great city. We hope you feel welcomed and that you enjoy Columbus as much as we do. Columbus is the home to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (you must try their ice cream!), Bath & Body Works, Homage apparel and The Ohio State Buckeyes! This is a great city to explore, discover amazing food and to settle down and plant roots. I think you’ll find it’s easy to build a home here.

This packet is designed to help you get to know our town a bit better and to hopefully make a potential transition a little easier! Detailed information is included on the city, neighborhoods and housing, education, activities and attractions and local favorites.

Enjoy your visit!

Chad FisherLead Pastor

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COLUMBUSColumbus is one of the fastest growing major metropolitan areas in the country and is celebrated as the second strongest metro in the country for job creation. Columbus is the 15th largest city in the United States, with a population of almost 750,000. It is the capital of the State of Ohio and is the largest city in the state (the greater Columbus area boasts nearly 2.5 million people).

An up-and-coming tech city, Columbus area research and technology institutions are attracting the brightest minds from around the world, and our nationally acclaimed arts scene guarantees you’ll find creativity around every corner. Our smarts, energy and vibrancy are fueled by a workforce that’s younger and more educated than the national average. And our youthful, progressive nature is matched by a diverse economy that offers a variety of career paths.

Columbus is growing in recognition for its historic neighborhoods, booming arts and sporting district downtown, open attitude and a noticeably affordable quality of life. This city is young, smart and entrepreneurial with a growing creative community, every sort of urban and suburban neighborhood, quality schools, incredible health systems and short commutes.

The City is perfect for active lifestyles and is investing $20 million in a growing system of bike and fitness trails, connecting the suburbs and river trails to downtown where a new $44 million riverfront park system is under construction.

Columbus offers a variety of housing options, from the restored historic German Village, the Short North, condominiums downtown, to new neighborhoods around the city. Shopping, entertainment and dining choices include the Arena District, Easton and Tuttle. The Ohio State Buckeyes, NHL Columbus Blue Jackets, the Columbus Crew, the Columbus Clippers are among the many choices for the sports enthusiast. Numerous fine golf courses are in the region. The area is also home to the Memorial Golf Tournament each summer. Museums, festivals, parks, live music and theatre make Columbus one of the best places in the nation to live, work and raise a family. The city of Columbus has grown every year since its founding in 1812, and we expect the church of Jesus Christ to follow suit.

The city has enjoyed continuous growth due to stable local employers, reasonably priced housing and an excellent location.

COLUMBUS.GOV // COLUMBUSREGION.COM

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NEIGHBORHOODS + HOUSINGNeighborhoods near the office - Hilliard, Dublin, Upper Arlington

RESOURCES FOR HOMEBUYERS:Coldwell Banker King Thompson - find an agent, search more than 16,000 listings in Central Ohio or explore by county

Columbus REALTORS® - Explore tools for homebuyers, a glossary of housing terms and find a REALTOR® who specializes in the Columbus Region

Crawford Hoying - Search Central Ohio real estate listings, find an agent or contact a their team of specialists for more information

Lifestyle Communities - Residential communities in Canal Winchester, Columbus, Dublin, Gahanna, Hilliard, New Albany and Sunbury, each offering unique amenities and events

Zillow - Search a database with thousands of Central Ohio housing listings

RESOURCES FOR RENTERS:Champion Real Estate Services - apartment communities in suburban areas including Canal Winchester, Delaware, Gahanna, Grove City, Hilliard, Powell, New Albany and Westerville

Crawford Hoying Living - Offers 25 residential communities throughout the Columbus Region

Homestead America - Offers 12 residential communities throughout the Columbus Region

Kaufman Development - Contemporary, upscale apartment homes in New Albany, the Polaris area and downtown Columbus

Mid-Ohio Development Corporation - Apartments and condominiums throughout Franklin, Fairfield and Licking counties

Preferred Living - luxury and upscale apartment communities throughout the Columbus region that provide stylish and relaxed environments.

COLUMBUSREGION.COM/LIVING-HERE/HOUSING.ASPX

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EDUCATION

K-12 EDUCATION:The Columbus Region’s K-12 education options include schools that are ranked by U.S. News & World Report as top U.S. high schools, offer college preparatory curricula such as Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, offer first-class extracurricular activities and athletics and have built-in internship programs.

GREAT SCHOOLS/DISTRICTS: Tree of Life Christian SchoolsUpper Arlington SchoolsHilliard School DistrictOlentangy School DistrictDublin School District

HIGHER EDUCATION:The Columbus Region is home to 63 college and university campuses with a total enrollment of more than 138,000 college and graduate students and more than 22,000 annual graduates. The Ohio State University, the state’s flagship university and one of the largest in the U.S., has more than 57,000 students at its main campus in Columbus. The area also has a variety of liberal arts schools, community colleges, technical schools and art and design schools, contributing to one of the largest concentrations of college students in the country. COLUMBUSREGION.COM/LIVING-HERE/EDUCATION/K-12-EDUCATION.ASPX

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ACTIVITIES + ATTRACTIONS

COLUMBUS FAVORITESOhio Stadium / The Ohio State University

North MarketShort North Arts District

The Book Loft of German VillageThe Ohio Theatre

Columbus Museum of ArtWexner Center for the Arts

Columbus Commons

SHOPPING CENTERSEaston Town Center

Polaris Fashion Place

FAMILY-FRIENDLYCOSI [Center of Science & Industry]

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

PARKS + TRAILSWhetstone Park/Park of RosesScioto Mile/Bicentennial Park

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensAntrim Park

Sharon Woods Metro ParkSchiller ParkGoodale Park

Grange Insurance Audubon Center

EXPERIENCECOLUMBUS.COM

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LOCAL FAVORITESVOTED BY THE ROCK CITY STAFF

Breakfast: Katalina’s – Kyle + Meridith | Tasi – Chad

Brunch: First Watch – Austin | German Village Coffee Shop – Matt (French toast just like Grandma’s!)

Coffee: Mission Coffee – Nate | Luck Bro’s – Steve

Lunch Go-To: Piada – Chris | Bibibop + Panini Opa – Bethani | Northstar Cafe – Cassy

Place for Tacos: Los Guachos – Nate | Las Maravillas | Jr’s Taco’s

Upscale Restaurant: Hyde Park – Lauren | The Rossi – Andrea | The Refectory – Shana | The Guild House – Katie

Dinner: Vino Vino – Andrea | Bakersfield – Steve + Shana | Melt – Chris | Thurman’s

Pizza: Hounddog’s – Ben (Smokin’ Joe’s crust!) | Harvest Pizzeria | Plank’s (on Parson’s not High, the crust is sweeter!) – Matt

Hole in the Wall: Jack + Benny’s | Nancy’s

Free Entertainment: Art museum (Thursdays are “pay what you want” and Sundays are free) – Matt | Visit a park | Shakespeare in the Park at Schiller Park

Date Night: Sweet Carrot - Hayley | Schmidt’s

Ice Cream: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (all-staff) | Graeter’s (they have a great play area too!) – Rich

Barbeque: Ray Ray’s Hog Pit Food Truck – Steve | Barrel & Boar - Hayley

Place to Take the Kids: Trampoline Park in Mill Run – Rich | Columbus Zoo

Have to Visit: North Market (wide range of unique restaraunts, bakeries, flowers, etc.) Easton Towne Center (great shopping, dining, and entertainment)

Fun to Try: COGO (rent a bike and ride around Columbus) – Matt | Ride CBUS – Nate | Frank Sinatra Friday Nights at La Scala

T-shirts: Homage (all-staff)

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