Also, finding people who are willing to to work with you- I recommend bringing them value in some way- this will cut your learning curve while minimizing the amount of unnecessary mistakes you make. 

To base a decision on something that may or may not happen - even if the odds are with you (and the general sense of it is that Columbus will prosper but who really knows what will happen because of forces outside of Columbus) - is definitely unnecessary and, in my humble opinion, unwise. 

I've heard of the land trust approach and have found this way is unnecessary if done correctly.

Home run investments tend to get all the attention, but stable growth and not taking unnecessary risks is what builds long term financial success.Best of luck,John