That makes first-ring neighborhoods and suburbs increasingly attractive, he said this week.

"The close-in suburbs appear to be pretty well-positioned," Phillips said.

Years ago, developers continued to build homes, stores, restaurants and office buildings farther and farther out from cities. These areas are now the inner rings and include Bexley and Grandview Heights.

But Columbus neighborhoods such as Merion Village, Clintonville, Eastmoor and the Fifth by Northwest area north of Grandview Heights also fit the bill, said Vince Papsidero, the city's planning administrator.

You don't have to look to 2050 to see the inherent attractiveness of first-ring suburbs outside of Grandview and Bexley. Columbus home buyers figured this out years ago.

Still, nice to hear someone else talk about my wheelhouse in an informed manner....