INTRO vs Blume on 16th
Which Community Is Right For You?
INTRO Columbus and Blume on 16th are both brand-new student housing communities built for life near Ohio State, but they're set up around different ideas of what that should feel like. This guide walks through how each one is actually put together, so you can weigh them against what matters most to you.
If you're comparing off-campus options near Ohio State, INTRO Columbus and Blume on 16th are both easy to end up weighing against each other. They sit on opposite ends of the same University District, both open as brand-new construction, and both lean on wellness as part of the pitch. From there, they're built for different priorities: one is a 13-story mass timber tower with wellness designed into every individual unit, the other is a lower-rise townhome-style community with dedicated wellness amenity spaces. Here's what each one actually offers, so you can figure out which fits how you want to live.
Where you land in the University District changes your daily walk to class and what's within reach on foot, not just how close the pin looks on a map.
Located at 1497 N High St, at the corner of 9th and High, along the tall building corridor at the northern edge of the campus area. It's positioned within OSU's dense High Street strip of shops, restaurants, and transit.
Located at 88 E 16th Ave, two blocks off High Street and in the middle of the Greek life corridor, with the Oval and Thompson Library both within an easy walk.
Bedroom count and unit type determine who you can live with and how much space you'll actually have, which matters more than square footage on its own.
17 floor plans total, spanning studio through 6-bedroom. Every unit leases individually by the bed. INTRO also features a 3- & 5-bedroom townhome option and penthouses on the top floors.
| Studio | 477–595 SF |
| 1-Bedroom | 516–587 SF |
| 2-Bedroom | 789–904 SF |
| 3-Bedroom | 964–1,262 SF |
| 4-Bedroom | 1,331–1,511 SF |
| 5-Bedroom | 1,382–1,964 SF |
| 6-Bedroom | 2,012 SF |
15 floor plans total, spanning 2-bedroom through 6-bedroom. No studio or 1-bedroom option is published, and the lineup is built around multilevel, townhome-style layouts, including a dedicated duplex design in the 5-bedroom lineup.
| 2-Bedroom | 651 SF |
| 3-Bedroom | 968 SF |
| 4-Bedroom | 1,102–1,440 SF |
| 5-Bedroom | 1,607–2,690 SF |
| 6-Bedroom | 1,659–1,886 SF |
What's bundled into rent versus billed separately changes your real monthly cost beyond the base rent number, so it's worth lining up before you sign.
- Fully furnished units
- High-speed Wi-Fi included in rent
- Electric and water/sewer billed separately by usage
- Separate monthly trash service fee
- Fully furnished units
- High-speed Wi-Fi included in rent
- Electricity, water, and sewer billed separately by usage
- $5.50/month trash fee
- $84 annual utility fee
Both communities market wellness, but they build it in at different points: one bakes it into the architecture of every unit, the other adds it through dedicated shared spaces.
- Mass timber construction with exposed wood & 10-foot ceilings in every unit
- Over 5,000 square feet of fitness space with a yoga studio
- Private study pods and collaborative lounges
- Resident lounge with game-day viewing spaces
- Library and meeting rooms
- Outdoor courtyard sundeck
- Indoor jacuzzi and a dedicated wellness sauna
- Yoga studio and a state-of-the-art fitness center
- Academic lounge with huddle rooms and an 8-person study table, plus private study nooks on the 5th floor
- Terrace overlooking campus and an on-site cold brew station
What Matters Most To You?
Use whichever list below matches your priorities as a starting point, then tour both to see the space in person.
INTRO Columbus Wins If You Want:
- A studio or 1-bedroom option (Blume's lineup starts at 2-bedroom)
- Wellness features built into your own unit (exposed wood, 10-foot ceilings, and large windows in every layout)
- 5,000 square foot fitness center and yoga room
- Best of both worlds: minutes from Campus and the Short North
- A penthouse apartment, featuring unobstructed views of OSU campus or Columbus, 12-foot vaulted ceilings, dimmable lights throughout, a 65” TV with soundbar and subwoofer in the living room, and back-lit mirrors in all bathrooms.
Blume on 16th Wins If You Want:
- To be near North Campus
- A dedicated wellness suite: indoor jacuzzi and sauna
- In the middle of the Greek life corridor
Check Out Both If You Want:
- A fully furnished unit with stainless steel appliances
- A full-size washer and dryer in your own unit
- An on-site fitness center and dedicated study space
- Private bedrooms
- A pet-friendly building
- Usage-based electric and water billing
- A short walk to Ohio State's campus and High Street
INTRO Columbus is an Equal Housing Opportunity community.
Details for Blume on 16th reflect that community's own published materials as of this writing and are provided for informational comparison only. Confirm current floor plans, pricing, lease terms, and availability directly with their leasing office before signing.
