ADVERTISEMENT

    City Lays Out Plan for Spending $50 Million Affordable Housing Bond

    City leaders yesterday released an accounting of the $50 million affordable housing bond that Columbus voters approved in 2019, detailing what has been spent so far and which projects and programs will receive funding through the end of 2022.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    A little over $14 million of city bond dollars were spent in 2020, going toward projects like Jenkins Street Lofts in Merion Village, a 180-unit development on Sinclair Road, and Mulby Place in Linden, which is scheduled to start construction soon.

    In 2021 and 2022, the remaining $36 million will be split among new projects and those that have already received some funding (see the full list below). All told, the city says that the bond money will result in 1,324 units of housing being built or preserved. All of the units will be targeted toward individuals earning less than $46,960 per year, or families of four making less than $67,050.

    “Affordable housing is absolutely vital to the well-being of our residents and their ability to achieve their full potential,” said Mayor Andrew Ginther in a statement. “From expanded access to education and employment to improved health, wellness and stability, having a safe, reliable place to call home lifts people up and moves communities forward by laying the foundation for inclusive prosperity throughout all our neighborhoods.”

    The city is also currently evaluating its tax abatement and incentive policies, as required by legislation passed by city council in 2018. A press release specifically stated that the city hopes to “incentivize the creation of additional units that are accessible to families earning Columbus’ median household income of $47,000,” but no further details were provided.

    “These tools are two key components of the broader strategy to become a city that is affordable, equitable and economically vibrant,” said Erin Prosser, the city’s assistant director of housing strategies, referring to the bond money and the incentives. “We will need to continue to protect and create units at every stage of the housing spectrum and throughout our community to ensure that all families benefit from the growth and prosperity coming to the Columbus region.” 

    Additional Reading:

    Study Shows Need for Zoning Code Re-Write, City Says

    Interview: Retiring Homeport CEO Bruce Luecke Talks Affordable Housing

    New Report Lays Out Affordable Housing Strategy for Region

    ProjectPartnerUnitsCity Bond DollarsTotal Development Cost
    2020
    Mulby Place (first allocation)Homeport100$2,725,000$18,000,000
    Jenkins Street Lofts (first allocation)Woda Group60$250,000$12,000,000
    Touchstone Place ICommunity Housing Network56$1,000,000$12,000,000
    Sinclair (first allocation)NRP Group180$2,175,000$38,500,000
    Affordable Homeownership Milo Grogan, Weinland Park, Near East, Franklinton COCLT22$3,000,000$3,600,000
    48 ParkwoodBeatty/Kelley35$500,000$6,000,000
    Lockbourne GreeneHNHF/Woda Group60$1,753,875$16,000,000
    Scattered Site RentalHNHF73$2,500,000$7,500,000
    Emergency Shelter RepairsHuckleberry House, Lutheran Social Services, Southeast, YWCA Columbus$350,000
    2020 Total  586$14.2M$113.6M
    2021
    Jenkins Street Lofts (second allocation)Woda Groupcounted above$250,000counted above
    Sinclair (second allocation)NRP Groupcounted above$2,175,000counted above
    Mulby Place (second allocation)Homeportcounted above$3,325,000counted above
    Touchstone Place IICommunity Housing Network44$500,000$9,800,000
    West Broad SeniorNational Church Residences92$500,000$19,000,000
    Easton Place Homes (first allocation)Homeport100$2,250,000$25,400,000
    Oakwood Apartments RenovationCPO/CMHA53$1,200,000$12,500,000
    Topiary ParkCDDC90$4,000,000to be announced
    Meadows Renovation (first allocation)CMHA95$500,000$16,400,000
    614 for LindenHNHF20$2,000,000$25,000,000
    Affordable HomeownershipCOCLT25$4,000,000$3,500,000
    Linden Town Center HousingNascent Group Holdings41$500,000$5,200,000
    2021 Total 560$21.2M$116.8M
    2022 
    Meadows Renovation (second allocation)CMHAcounted above$500,000counted above
    Easton Place Homes (second allocation)Homeportcounted above$2,250,000counted above
    West Broad Senior (second allocation)National Church Residencescounted above$1,500,000counted above
    Oakwood Apartments Renovation (second allocation)CPO/CMHAcounted above$700,000counted above
    McKinley ManorCMHA/WODA44$1,250,000$12,100,000
    Starling YardWoda97$3,000,000$28,700,000
    Affordable HomeownershipCOCLT37$5,400,000$5,100,000
    2022 Total 178$14.6M$45.9M
    Total Affordable Housing Bond Allocation1,324$50M$276.3M
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    The Confluence Cast: COTA Bus Transfer

    The city’s transit system is going through a transformation. At least that’s the intention. On the occasion of an impending transfer of power and a sales tax issue on the ballot this fall to bulk up services, Columbus Underground reporter Brent Warren sat down with both the outgoing and incoming CEOs of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (or COTA) to discuss the shift in leadership, the transportation projects set to be on the ballot this fall, and what’s next for the former Greyhound station in Downtown.

    11th Annual Urban Living Tour Returns on Sunday, May 5th

    Looking for a new place to live? Want to see what living in the city could be like? The Urban Living Tour is a self-guided open house of apartments, condos, and homes in the Columbus area. You'll see an assortment of new builds, remodels, apartment communities, parks, and all the amenities that go with city living!

    CCAD Wants to Uncover Historic Building, Fill in Parking Lot

    The Columbus College of Art & Design has submitted...

    Intel Gets More Federal Funding for Ohio Production Plants

    Nearly $20 billion in federal grants and loans is on its way to Intel to support work on semiconductor fabs in Ohio and around the country. The funding is part of the CHIPS Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022. Ohio’s New Albany-area Intel facility currently under construction stands to benefit substantially.
    Brent Warren
    Brent Warrenhttps://columbusunderground.com/author/brent-warren
    Brent Warren is a staff reporter for Columbus Underground covering urban development, transportation, city planning, neighborhoods, and other related topics. He grew up in Grandview Heights, lives in the University District and studied City and Regional Planning at OSU.
    ADVERTISEMENT