31 minutes ago, amped91 said:

Another proposal for an affordable housing development. This one, in an area between Linden and the airport, could have as many as 220 units from Cleveland-based NRP.  
 

All for the affordable housing. But this is the second recent proposal to put housing under the approach to one of the runways at CMH. The other being the housing proposal for land between Hamilton and 270. And this isn't on the initial approach either. By the time a plane reaches that distance from 10L/28R, it's only hundreds of feet off the ground. CMH doesn't see a lot of night activity, but it's still pretty active at times and likely is only going to continue to attract more flights. These proposals just seem like invitations to NIMBY-ism that could stymie airport expansion. 

1 hour ago, CMHOhio said:

All for the affordable housing. But this is the second recent proposal to put housing under the approach to one of the runways at CMH. The other being the housing proposal for land between Hamilton and 270. And this isn't on the initial approach either. By the time a plane reaches that distance from 10L/28R, it's only hundreds of feet off the ground. CMH doesn't see a lot of night activity, but it's still pretty active at times and likely is only going to continue to attract more flights. These proposals just seem like invitations to NIMBY-ism that could stymie airport expansion. 

I know land cost can be prohibitive to affordable housing Downtown, but I would love to see more partnerships like the one behind the United Way redev. It’d be great to see a dozen more of those, instead of low density builds in random areas like this. 

12 hours ago, amped91 said:

I know land cost can be prohibitive to affordable housing Downtown, but I would love to see more partnerships like the one behind the United Way redev. It’d be great to see a dozen more of those, instead of low density builds in random areas like this. 

This location isn't near a bus stop or any shopping amenities forcing residents to own a car.

22 hours ago, CMHOhio said:

All for the affordable housing. But this is the second recent proposal to put housing under the approach to one of the runways at CMH. The other being the housing proposal for land between Hamilton and 270. And this isn't on the initial approach either. By the time a plane reaches that distance from 10L/28R, it's only hundreds of feet off the ground. CMH doesn't see a lot of night activity, but it's still pretty active at times and likely is only going to continue to attract more flights. These proposals just seem like invitations to NIMBY-ism that could stymie airport expansion. 

Well I hate to say it...... but one of the factors of being a successful NIMBY is generally having money or some kind of pull in the community. They aren't going to care at all about what people who move next to the airport have to say about noise from the airport. Kinda like how nobody cares when you complain about it smelling like s**t after you moved next to a farm. If NIMBYism worked in lower income communities, they all wouldn't have major highways running through them.

 

Most successful NIMBY groups are full of millionaires. Heck, there was supposed to be an enormous offshore wind farm near my hometown that would have been so helpful for the people that actually lived there. The rich summer house owners and Ted Kennedy and company got the entire project shut down because on the most clear of days they might have been able to barely see the turbines way off in the distance.

Edited February 24, 20232 yr by TIm

On 2/23/2023 at 5:58 PM, amped91 said:

Another proposal for an affordable housing development. This one, in an area between Linden and the airport, could have as many as 220 units from Cleveland-based NRP.  
 

Site plan was recently released for this one too. Max of 220 units, prices capped to be affordable for those making 30-80% AMI. 

 

DeWine's $400 million tax credits could be 'game-changer' for Ohio affordable housing
 

 

“In the budget DeWine proposed in January, $100 million each of the next four years would be spent on tax credits for affordable multifamily housing. An additional $50 million a year would be spent on building affordable single-family homes.
 

"A state tax credit would be a huge game-changer; that would be monumental," said Jonathan McKay, vice president of development with the Columbus-based affordable housing developer Woda Cooper Companies.
 

"If you had a state tax credit, you could really build a lot of housing," McKay added. "We're keeping a close eye on it. That would be crucial in central Ohio."
 

If approved, Ohio would become the 21st state with affordable housing tax credits.“

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2023/03/06/ohio-tax-credits-could-be-game-changer-for-affordable-housing/69898598007/

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther says new coalition will create to-do list for Central Ohio

 

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther called the region to action around the affordable housing crisis in his State of the City address on Tuesday.

 

Ginther said study and analysis has been done, and it's now time to start the work. That's where the new Regional Housing Collaborative comes in.

 

The mayor, Lark Mallory of the Affordable Housing Trust and Kenny McDonald of the Columbus Partnership will lead the long-planned collaborative.

 

"We know what we need to do," Ginther said in an interview with Columbus Business First."And now we need to put together those action steps, sequence them appropriately and start executing. The city needs to lead the way, but this is a regional problem and it merits regional problem-solvers."

 

"We're really proud of the public-private partnerships here in Central Ohio," Ginther said. "Clearly housing is a major public policy issue for those of us in public service, but it's a huge economic issue, too. (McDonald's) job is to continue to lead economic development and civic engagement involvement for the private sector and housing has never been a bigger issue. Companies will not continue to grow and expand here if their workers aren't going to be able to afford to live in the communities they're working."

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/03/21/mayor-ginther-state-of-city.html

 

Franklin County land bank, developer partner to build affordable homes using insulated panels
 

 

“The Central Ohio Community Land Trust is partnering with Columbus-based Cap City Collaborative to pilot a new affordable housing concept using structural insulated panels, an approach that cuts down on construction costs and the time it takes to build much-needed housing.

 

The land trust, a subsidiary of the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corp., is exploring innovative and sustainable ways to increase affordable housing in the county, a media release said.

 

A SIP consists of insulating foam core sandwiched between two structural boards, usually oriented strand board. Building with SIPs uses 40-60% less energy and requires half the labor, according to the SIP Association.

 

Once the panels are manufactured and delivered, an SIP home exterior structure is assembled in about three days.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/04/20/insulated-panels-for-homes.html

20 minutes ago, amped91 said:

Franklin County land bank, developer partner to build affordable homes using insulated panels
 

 

“The Central Ohio Community Land Trust is partnering with Columbus-based Cap City Collaborative to pilot a new affordable housing concept using structural insulated panels, an approach that cuts down on construction costs and the time it takes to build much-needed housing.

 

The land trust, a subsidiary of the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corp., is exploring innovative and sustainable ways to increase affordable housing in the county, a media release said.

 

A SIP consists of insulating foam core sandwiched between two structural boards, usually oriented strand board. Building with SIPs uses 40-60% less energy and requires half the labor, according to the SIP Association.

 

Once the panels are manufactured and delivered, an SIP home exterior structure is assembled in about three days.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/04/20/insulated-panels-for-homes.html

If these are good quality, that’s awesome. Anything that can cut cost for affordable housing is great. 

56 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

If these are good quality, that’s awesome. Anything that can cut cost for affordable housing is great. 

I like that they can be built on narrow lots. My home was built in 1927 and sits on a 33' wide lot. Wider lots could be split to allow for more home ownership.

7 minutes ago, Pablo said:

I like that they can be built on narrow lots. My home was built in 1927 and sits on a 33' wide lot. Wider lots could be split to allow for more home ownership.

 

Be careful what you wish for.  Nashville's form-based code made lot splitting so easy that the land "starter" homes sit on became much more valuable than the homes themselves.  This motivated thousands of tear-downs and the replacement of 1,100 sq foot "starter" homes with 4-6 slot homes, or as they say down there, "tall-skinnies".  

5 minutes ago, Lazarus said:

 

Be careful what you wish for.  Nashville's form-based code made lot splitting so easy that the land "starter" homes sit on became much more valuable than the homes themselves.  This motivated thousands of tear-downs and the replacement of 1,100 sq foot "starter" homes with 4-6 slot homes, or as they say down there, "tall-skinnies".  

Sounds like a win!

11 minutes ago, Boomerang_Brian said:

Sounds like a win!

No...here on this board there was someone (Jmecklenborg or something like that)who had all kinds of posts of those atrocities in Nashville. We do not want that. Much of it was damn ugly.

Just now, Toddguy said:

No...here on this board there was someone (Jmecklenborg or something like that)who had all kinds of posts of those atrocities in Nashville. We do not want that. Much of it was damn ugly.

 

The neighborhoods and their institutions were absolutely decimated.  There is gentrification and then there is pulverization. 

 

 

8 minutes ago, Lazarus said:

 

The neighborhoods and their institutions were absolutely decimated.  There is gentrification and then there is pulverization. 

 

 

 

...and the Phoenix that rose from this scorching is still completely auto-centric.  

9 minutes ago, Lazarus said:

 

...and the Phoenix that rose from this scorching is still completely auto-centric.  

It looked like a lot of that one area was lacking in basic things like sidewalks. It looked kind of like they were redeveloping a rural country Southern town with no sewers, curbs or sidewalks. It must not have been a nice area before the boom I guess. Very close to the CBD though.

1 hour ago, Toddguy said:

No...here on this board there was someone (Jmecklenborg or something like that)who had all kinds of posts of those atrocities in Nashville. We do not want that. Much of it was damn ugly.

Not sure if you were joking, but this made me laugh. Lazarus and Jmeck are the same person. And I’m glad he’s back for the Elon and Nashville dunks, and train knowledge.

1 hour ago, Lazarus said:

 

The neighborhoods and their institutions were absolutely decimated.  There is gentrification and then there is pulverization. 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Lazarus said:

 

...and the Phoenix that rose from this scorching is still completely auto-centric.  

This last part is definitely a bad outcome.  Nothing truly great can develop in an auto-centric area. 

 

Commissioners approve more than $15 Million for Affordable Housing 

 

"This morning, the Franklin County Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Healthy Homes program for $15.5 million to support the creation of more than 200 new units of affordable housing in the Linden neighborhood.  In addition to supporting the construction of 33 new houses, the funding will be leveraged to secure additional funding for hundreds of additional units that will be available for low-income families to rent.

 

In addition to the new affordable housing units, the commissioners’ funding will be used to provide repairs for up to 100 lower-income families’ homes, and to support a $192,000 renter support program that can provide emergency short-term funding for struggling renters.  It will also support child development and early learning programing in the Linden neighborhood to ensure on-time enrollment for students entering kindergarten.

 

The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Healthy Homes program is a partnership that includes Community Development For All People and the Franklin County Land Bank (Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation), and which has provided repairs, renovations, and new homes at more than 730 sites across Franklin County since 2008. The new homes and rental units that the partnership builds are constructed on Land Bank land, which ensures that they will remain affordable in the years to come."

 

More information found here:

 

https://commissioners.franklincountyohio.gov/

 

Franklin County providing $15.5M to Nationwide Children's Healthy Homes for affordable housing

 

Franklin County Commissioners approved a contract with Nationwide Children's Hospital's affordable housing initiative to support the creation of more than 200 affordable housing units in Linden.

 

The county will provide $15.5 million to help build 33 homes, repair as many as 100 homes and boost a renter support program with Healthy Homes.

 

“The need for affordable housing is perhaps the greatest challenge facing our community right now,” Board of Commissioners President John O’Grady said in a release.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/04/27/affordable-housing.html

On 4/20/2023 at 12:12 PM, Boomerang_Brian said:

Not sure if you were joking, but this made me laugh. Lazarus and Jmeck are the same person. And I’m glad he’s back for the Elon and Nashville dunks, and train knowledge.

 

This last part is definitely a bad outcome.  Nothing truly great can develop in an auto-centric area. 

I had no freakin' idea that was the same person! LOL.  That explains the Nashville hate.  The name Lazarus makes me sad though because of the store and all being gone.

Columbus tiny home village eyes summer groundbreaking, hopes to replicate model elsewhere

 

Plans for the community include 41 420-square-foot homes, a community center and a 2-acre park. It's slated for a 15-acre site south of Refugee Road and west of Hamilton Road, at 3791 Soldier St. 

 

EMH&T is doing final site work now, said Harvey Hook, chief engagement officer for Vista Village. Modular homebuilder Unibilt will build the homes. Construction is expected to take about a year. 

 

Residents, who will be brought in as homes are completed, won't pay traditional rent. Instead they'll pay a "program participant fee," only starting after they are employed. The fee will be capped at $350 a month. 

 

Each resident will be given an individualized plan to transition out of the community in 18 to 24 months. They'll receive services, learn new life skills such as cleaning or home maintenance, and undergo job training before ideally securing an apartment or house and steady employment.

 

I wish they were closer together like a New Orleans village but I dig the concept.

Columbus tiny home village eyes summer groundbreaking, hopes to replicate model elsewhere
 

 

“Vista Village – a tiny home community designed to help people experiencing homelessness – could start construction this summer. 

 

Plans for the community include 41 420-square-foot homes, a community center and a 2-acre park. It's slated for a 15-acre site south of Refugee Road and west of Hamilton Road, at 3791 Soldier St.

 

EMH&T is doing final site work now, said Harvey Hook, chief engagement officer for Vista Village. Modular homebuilder Unibilt will build the homes. Construction is expected to take about a year. 
 

Residents, who will be brought in as homes are completed, won't pay traditional rent. Instead they'll pay a "program participant fee," only starting after they are employed. The fee will be capped at $350 a month.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/05/02/tiny-homes-columbus-housing-groundbreaking.html

14 minutes ago, amped91 said:

Columbus tiny home village eyes summer groundbreaking, hopes to replicate model elsewhere
 

 

“Vista Village – a tiny home community designed to help people experiencing homelessness – could start construction this summer. 

 

Plans for the community include 41 420-square-foot homes, a community center and a 2-acre park. It's slated for a 15-acre site south of Refugee Road and west of Hamilton Road, at 3791 Soldier St.

 

EMH&T is doing final site work now, said Harvey Hook, chief engagement officer for Vista Village. Modular homebuilder Unibilt will build the homes. Construction is expected to take about a year. 
 

Residents, who will be brought in as homes are completed, won't pay traditional rent. Instead they'll pay a "program participant fee," only starting after they are employed. The fee will be capped at $350 a month.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/05/02/tiny-homes-columbus-housing-groundbreaking.html

This is a very good idea toward really helping people out of homelessness. I would welcome more of these for people in general(once the homelessness issue is more resolved). Some people would be quite happy in a 420 square foot home-they  just don't need that many things like others do.

37 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

Columbus tiny home village eyes summer groundbreaking, hopes to replicate model elsewhere

 

Plans for the community include 41 420-square-foot homes, a community center and a 2-acre park. It's slated for a 15-acre site south of Refugee Road and west of Hamilton Road, at 3791 Soldier St. 

 

EMH&T is doing final site work now, said Harvey Hook, chief engagement officer for Vista Village. Modular homebuilder Unibilt will build the homes. Construction is expected to take about a year. 

 

Residents, who will be brought in as homes are completed, won't pay traditional rent. Instead they'll pay a "program participant fee," only starting after they are employed. The fee will be capped at $350 a month. 

 

Each resident will be given an individualized plan to transition out of the community in 18 to 24 months. They'll receive services, learn new life skills such as cleaning or home maintenance, and undergo job training before ideally securing an apartment or house and steady employment.

 

 

Shoot, you beat me to it!

Exclusionary and entitled: Dublin study exemplifies affordable housing concerns across suburbs

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2023/05/04/dublin-study-exemplifies-suburban-opposition-to-affordable-housing/70162843007/

 

The lack of affordable housing is a problem across many of Columbus' suburbs ...

 

When asked about the affordability of homes in Dublin:

• One builder said the general belief in Dublin is that it may be perfectly fine for Columbus to absorb all the suburb's workforce housing.
• Another response: "Not sure if there’s a collective desire in Dublin to make the housing stock attainable for all incomes. Hoping that will change in the future."
• And: "Mandating affordable housing in the style of Columbus (set aside requirement of 10%) is not going to work, numbers wise."
• A real estate agent replied that even before current housing supply issues, Dublin was expensive. "Now there’s absolutely no new construction that average households can afford."
• One neighborhood association representative said workforce housing should be accommodated throughout Dublin, and not in just a few locations within the city.

In a statement, Dublin Planning Director Jennifer Rauch said among the strategies the city will pursue is creating housing variety to support the needs of Dublin's employment base.

 

========================================

 

Today in "newsworthy news that's not news to anyone" ...

^ So Dublin is going to be a free rider and let Columbus provide all affordable housing (since they have mandated a carve out) and then let workers in Dublin commute from Columbus. Dublin and then focus on high income housing that further props up their property tax base. Columbus just increased the cost to build for developers now and further exacerbates the affordable housing problem as developers push to build high in projects in Dublin, Upper Arlington and Worthington (because they get a larger return) and Columbus struggles to find people wanting to build in the city (at enough scale to make a dent in the problem)

I really think the whole affordable housing crisis boils down to two things.

 

A. The national housing shortage and rapid expansion of major urban areas (landlock).

B.  The transition in the workplace. There's a large number of lower-pay jobs that will be phased out within the next decade due to technological advancements. We need to work to create new, higher skill jobs that will pay well and create stable, lifelong employment. Also has to do with the failure and overpromising of the American college system, which has placed an unrealistic value on college that has driven the price up.

 

In short, housing affordability is really just the symptom of two much larger problems.

11 hours ago, columbus17 said:

I really think the whole affordable housing crisis boils down to two things.

 

A. The national housing shortage and rapid expansion of major urban areas (landlock).

B.  The transition in the workplace. There's a large number of lower-pay jobs that will be phased out within the next decade due to technological advancements. We need to work to create new, higher skill jobs that will pay well and create stable, lifelong employment. Also has to do with the failure and overpromising of the American college system, which has placed an unrealistic value on college that has driven the price up.

 

In short, housing affordability is really just the symptom of two much larger problems.

What most industry experts recognize as the cause of the housing crisis are supply side issues caused by

1) NIMBYiSM - Towns and cities have restrictive zoning codes that make it difficult to construct multi-family housing at an affordable price. Even when they can ben constructed, many cities place covenants and restrictions on them to drive up the overall costs and therefore make them affordable to only the top echelon of renters (maybe with a few affordable units mixed in). Multi-family can only be in certain areas of town. It used to be that you could have a 4 family mixed in next to a single family or duplex. Now you cant do that.  Some of this is getting better with the allowance of accessory dwelling units. Also, you have too many parking restrictions on development, especially in urban areas. To build an apartment in many cities (at least in Ohio) you need 2 parking spaces per unit. Many lower income apartment dwellers do not have a car or only have one at most. There is no need for 2 spaces. These are certain rules that need to be rethought.

2) Overregulation - The cost to develop is exorbitant. There are regulations after regulations that drive up the cost, many times in needless ways. Many of these regulations often prevent formally usable buildings from being converted into affordable housing and essentially make high end renovations the only type that will work.  One example is requirements that cities place to develop 10-20 % of a project as affordable housing. While this does in fact bring on a small fraction of affordable units to the marketplace, it forces the developer to recoup that cost in the other units. Those units will rent for higher than otherwise without the affordable requirement. Renters whio may have been able to afford those market rate units at a slightly lower rate will stay in their old space thus not allowing the older space to rent at a more affordable rate to a lower income renter. also, the years it takes and red tape to develop a complex make it extremely difficult for many developers to expand housing. Another example is that a lot of older apartment communities were designed with excess space, or even old community space that is no longer used. When a building is a Class A or Class B building, amenities like community rooms etc are more valuable than when the building becomes a Class C building. In many cases, it makes sense to convert these underused spaces into affordable living units which could be done at an affordable cost and add a few units to the housing mix that would rent at an affordable rate. Unfortunately, this does not happen because the costs to get the permits to undertake such an expansion makes the project unfeasible. These keep newer and renovated affordable workforce housing from entering the market at a faster pace and cheaper cost. 

 

 

2 hours ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

What most industry experts recognize as the cause of the housing crisis are supply side issues caused by

1) NIMBYiSM - Towns and cities have restrictive zoning codes that make it difficult to construct multi-family housing at an affordable price. Even when they can ben constructed, many cities place covenants and restrictions on them to drive up the overall costs and therefore make them affordable to only the top echelon of renters (maybe with a few affordable units mixed in). Multi-family can only be in certain areas of town. It used to be that you could have a 4 family mixed in next to a single family or duplex. Now you cant do that.  Some of this is getting better with the allowance of accessory dwelling units. Also, you have too many parking restrictions on development, especially in urban areas. To build an apartment in many cities (at least in Ohio) you need 2 parking spaces per unit. Many lower income apartment dwellers do not have a car or only have one at most. There is no need for 2 spaces. These are certain rules that need to be rethought.

2) Overregulation - The cost to develop is exorbitant. There are regulations after regulations that drive up the cost, many times in needless ways. Many of these regulations often prevent formally usable buildings from being converted into affordable housing and essentially make high end renovations the only type that will work.  One example is requirements that cities place to develop 10-20 % of a project as affordable housing. While this does in fact bring on a small fraction of affordable units to the marketplace, it forces the developer to recoup that cost in the other units. Those units will rent for higher than otherwise without the affordable requirement. Renters whio may have been able to afford those market rate units at a slightly lower rate will stay in their old space thus not allowing the older space to rent at a more affordable rate to a lower income renter. also, the years it takes and red tape to develop a complex make it extremely difficult for many developers to expand housing. Another example is that a lot of older apartment communities were designed with excess space, or even old community space that is no longer used. When a building is a Class A or Class B building, amenities like community rooms etc are more valuable than when the building becomes a Class C building. In many cases, it makes sense to convert these underused spaces into affordable living units which could be done at an affordable cost and add a few units to the housing mix that would rent at an affordable rate. Unfortunately, this does not happen because the costs to get the permits to undertake such an expansion makes the project unfeasible. These keep newer and renovated affordable workforce housing from entering the market at a faster pace and cheaper cost. 

 

 

 

I've been a consistent opponent of much of zoning regulations and the parking requirements - so I totally agree there. My only qualm with "affordable" developments is the type built like an MI/DR Horton/Pulte/Ryan/Centex home. Most of these are slapped up garbage with low grade materials and shotty labor. That being said, I feel there are many ways to create quality affordable developments and agree there needs to be a mixture of dense and non-dense residential. Personally, I'd like to see developments in the style of Bridge Park, Evans Farm (high density but still separate homes), townhomes, and then single family in 0.5+ acre lot. The traditional developments we see thrown up are quite bad and still, not very affordable. 

39 minutes ago, columbus17 said:

 

I've been a consistent opponent of much of zoning regulations and the parking requirements - so I totally agree there. My only qualm with "affordable" developments is the type built like an MI/DR Horton/Pulte/Ryan/Centex home. Most of these are slapped up garbage with low grade materials and shotty labor. That being said, I feel there are many ways to create quality affordable developments and agree there needs to be a mixture of dense and non-dense residential. Personally, I'd like to see developments in the style of Bridge Park, Evans Farm (high density but still separate homes), townhomes, and then single family in 0.5+ acre lot. The traditional developments we see thrown up are quite bad and still, not very affordable. 

Some of the shoddier built houses still serve a purpose. If the goal is to create affordable housing, it does that. These houses may not last 30 years and need to be redeveloped. For 30 years that house is an affordable house. After that, it could be redeveloped as a developer may see the value. Sometimes Shoddy housing can provide the affordable housing in the meantime until a higher use comes along.

I feel like the Southeast Side of Columbus has gotten that treatment. Many of those houses are 15-30 years old.

 

Columbus further commits to affordable housing in 2023 Capital Budget

 

"The city of Columbus's 2023 Capital Improvements Budget more than doubled its annual allocation for affordable housing.

 

More than $50 million of the $1.74 billion capital budget is dedicated to affordable housing and home preservation. In 2022, the budget allocation was about $21.5 million.

 

Mayor Andrew Ginther said this decision aligns with the Columbus Housing Strategy released in June 2022."

 

Full story found here:

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/06/16/affordable-housing-2023-capital-budget-increase.html

 

4 minutes ago, Luvcbus said:

 

Columbus further commits to affordable housing in 2023 Capital Budget

 

"The city of Columbus's 2023 Capital Improvements Budget more than doubled its annual allocation for affordable housing.

 

More than $50 million of the $1.74 billion capital budget is dedicated to affordable housing and home preservation. In 2022, the budget allocation was about $21.5 million.

 

Mayor Andrew Ginther said this decision aligns with the Columbus Housing Strategy released in June 2022."

 

Full story found here:

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/06/16/affordable-housing-2023-capital-budget-increase.html

 

That’s good, but with a billion dollar budget a higher portion should be for affordable housing. 

CMHA investing $50M in affordable housing in Westerville, Hilliard and Grove City

 

The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority will invest $50 million toward adding or preserving affordable housing units in Central Ohio.

 

CMHA's board of commissioners this week approved bonds for the construction of apartments in Grove City and Hilliard and renewed the housing authority's voucher contract for two projects in Westerville.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/07/20/cmha.html

 

Ohio budget provides first 'comprehensive housing policy.' Here's what's in it
 

“Housing advocates said new affordable housing initiatives in the state's biennial budget are vital to address the growing need for housing that is becoming too expensive for many.

 

"It's a great start to move Ohio forward, a tool to create 4,000 units over the next four years," said Amy Riegel, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.

 

The budget the Ohio General Assembly approved on June 30 include measures that the Senate planned to strip out. That includes $100 million for a state tax credit program to help finance those 4,000 rental units, and also tax credits for single-family housing.

Carlie Boos, executive director of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, said the new state tax credits fill a financing gap when coupled with federal tax credits,. "It's exactly what the state needs," Boos said.“

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2023/07/20/ohio-budget-will-aid-housing-affordability-officials-say/70392682007/

On 7/20/2023 at 11:44 AM, ColDayMan said:

CMHA investing $50M in affordable housing in Westerville, Hilliard and Grove City

 

The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority will invest $50 million toward adding or preserving affordable housing units in Central Ohio.

 

CMHA's board of commissioners this week approved bonds for the construction of apartments in Grove City and Hilliard and renewed the housing authority's voucher contract for two projects in Westerville.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/07/20/cmha.html

 

From that article:

 

”In addition to investing in those projects, CMHA also is working on redeveloping the former United Way building in downtown Columbus. 

 

The proposed project would create a 12-story building with 135 units at various rent rates. The project is expected to cost $70 million and wrap up in late 2025 or early 2026, according to CMHA.”

 

Is that an updated timeline, or is it from old reporting?

 

 The last update I remember seeing was on the historic structure nonsense. I’m hoping this still gets built. It’d be a great way to help revitalize that end of downtown. 

16 minutes ago, amped91 said:

From that article:

 

”In addition to investing in those projects, CMHA also is working on redeveloping the former United Way building in downtown Columbus. 

 

The proposed project would create a 12-story building with 135 units at various rent rates. The project is expected to cost $70 million and wrap up in late 2025 or early 2026, according to CMHA.”

 

Is that an updated timeline, or is it from old reporting?

 

 The last update I remember seeing was on the historic structure nonsense. I’m hoping this still gets built. It’d be a great way to help revitalize that end of downtown. 

I don’t think the historic stuff was ever a full this won’t happen. It was mostly 1-2 people saying it and I’m sure other people called them out for it. Hopefully it will happen soon, maybe they are trying for the transformational state credit also? 

On 6/16/2023 at 9:23 AM, VintageLife said:

That’s good, but with a billion dollar budget a higher portion should be for affordable housing. 

Well they spent $54M on the merchant building so can't have everything.... 

Columbus State's housing program in line for city funding boost

 

The city of Columbus plans to give $2 million to Columbus State Community College's housing program.

 

The city will help fund Columbus State's Success Bridge program, which provides students experiencing housing instability with housing counseling, success coaching and emergency rental assistance. The program's goal is to ensure students are stably housed while in school.

 

“In Columbus, housing should never hinder education or personal growth. By guaranteeing that college students have access to safe and stable housing, we are investing in their future and empowering them to focus on their studies and dreams without the stress and fear caused by housing instability,” Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a release.

 

Columbus City Council on Monday will consider using $400,000 from the city's federal emergency rental assistance fund for housing-focused case management positions at Columbus State.

 

There was another $1.6 million in available emergency rental assistance funding, which the council voted on earlier this year for the Success Bridge program. This funding will help pay rents and utility payments.

 

“Success Bridge has a proven record of helping our students continue their education without getting caught up in life circumstances that can take them off track,” Desiree Polk-Bland, Columbus State vice president of student affairs, said in the release.

^ Why would anyone thumbs down the above article? It’s providing housing to those in need. 

31 minutes ago, jeremyck01 said:

^ Why would anyone thumbs down the above article? It’s providing housing to those in need. 

They need to find a way to wane public funds for this instead of increasing them. Taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing other people's homes. I'm all for affordable housing but we need to stop increasding the tax burden to bail other people out. Property taxes throughout the state are going to double in certain areas this year and bring people who could afford housing into that zone of housing being too high for them. It's a vicious cycle and we need a better solution. The band aid never heals the wound - the immune system does.

32 minutes ago, columbus17 said:

They need to find a way to wane public funds for this instead of increasing them. Taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing other people's homes. I'm all for affordable housing but we need to stop increasding the tax burden to bail other people out. Property taxes throughout the state are going to double in certain areas this year and bring people who could afford housing into that zone of housing being too high for them. It's a vicious cycle and we need a better solution. The band aid never heals the wound - the immune system does.

It for college students who need help and I’m all for it. This is what my taxes should be going to. 

9 hours ago, VintageLife said:

It for college students who need help and I’m all for it. This is what my taxes should be going to. 

Couldn't disagree more. If my tax money isn't being spent on things that help everyone in the community, then it's not worth it. Anything that's just for a tiny minority of people is not something we should be spending public funds on. Public funds should be spent on things for the public to use, college isn't even an option for everyone and some of these people benefiting from this free housing probably aren't even from here so they're taking public funds from us. Not to mention college isn't some kind of necessity, it's a choice. You make a choice so you get a bunch of free handouts? That's ridiculous.

15 minutes ago, TIm said:

Couldn't disagree more. If my tax money isn't being spent on things that help everyone in the community, then it's not worth it. Anything that's just for a tiny minority of people is not something we should be spending public funds on. Public funds should be spent on things for the public to use, college isn't even an option for everyone and some of these people benefiting from this free housing probably aren't even from here so they're taking public funds from us. Not to mention college isn't some kind of necessity, it's a choice. You make a choice so you get a bunch of free handouts? That's ridiculous.

This program is for all the students that go to Columbus state for free already. It is a tax payer funded college education that we voted on and it passed. I disagree that taxes need to only go to things that give access to everyone. I don’t have children and never will, yet I vote for school levy increases that I will never need. Bettering society can come in differently ways and helping someone through college in more than one way, is fine with me. 
 

here are the requirements to even be able to get help: 

 

The Success Bridge Housing Stabilization program was created to provide support to Columbus State Community College students experiencing housing instability. Success Bridge provides campus and community resources to stabilize students through completing of a degree. There is assistance for students facing homelessness, for past-due rent payments, and past-due utility bills.

 

Eligibility for past-due rent or utilities

 

Be in a degree-seeking program at Columbus State

 

Submit notice of overdue rent or a utility bill with a shut-off notice.

 

Have completed 9 credit hours of course work at Columbus State

 

Have completed at least 1 semester at Columbus State

 

Be in good academic standing

 

Enrolled in at least 9 credit hours during the term in which they receive assistance

 

Income at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines (see chart below)

Edited August 4, 20231 yr by VintageLife

On 8/4/2023 at 8:47 AM, VintageLife said:

This program is for all the students that go to Columbus state for free already. It is a tax payer funded college education that we voted on and it passed. I disagree that taxes need to only go to things that give access to everyone. I don’t have children and never will, yet I vote for school levy increases that I will never need. Bettering society can come in differently ways and helping someone through college in more than one way, is fine with me. 
 

here are the requirements to even be able to get help: 

 

The Success Bridge Housing Stabilization program was created to provide support to Columbus State Community College students experiencing housing instability. Success Bridge provides campus and community resources to stabilize students through completing of a degree. There is assistance for students facing homelessness, for past-due rent payments, and past-due utility bills.

 

Eligibility for past-due rent or utilities

 

Be in a degree-seeking program at Columbus State

 

Submit notice of overdue rent or a utility bill with a shut-off notice.

 

Have completed 9 credit hours of course work at Columbus State

 

Have completed at least 1 semester at Columbus State

 

Be in good academic standing

 

Enrolled in at least 9 credit hours during the term in which they receive assistance

 

Income at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines (see chart below)

That's even worse.... These people are already getting a ton of handouts now they get more? Terrible waste of public funds. This money could go towards fixing the horrible public schools we have, public parks, public transportation, bike lanes, social services available to all residents etc. I'll never support giving public funds to tiny contingencies of the local population. Tax dollars are supposed to be used for us, not some of us.

 

Columbus City Council approves zoning changes intended to help fight housing shortage

 

"Columbus City Council typically hears more than a dozen zoning issues and code variances at each meeting, but it made a point Monday of announcing that the 17 zoning ordinances it approved could eventually provide 878 new housing units, half of them designated "affordable."

 

The new units will be spread across neighborhoods throughout the city, including in parts of the North, South and East sides, and will have impact on the city's housing shortage, officials said.

 

"Columbus City Council wants to make it clear that affordable housing is for everyone, and everywhere in the city," City Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans said. "As we know our region has experienced a housing crisis as economic growth continues, and at the current rate of growth Columbus is currently being underdeveloped as it relates to housing" by about half of current demand.

 

The 17 zoning ordinances, heard during a separate zoning meeting following the regular City Council meeting, included eight rezonings of property.

 

The votes Monday changed the zoning on a total of about 35 acres of land. The rest dealt with granting variances from zoning requirements, such as reduced perimeters, allowing habitable space above detached garages, to permit apartment complexes with "reduced development standards," and more.

 

One zoning variance, at 45 W. Barthman Ave. just west of High Street on the city's South Side, will permit a 200-plus-unit apartment complex in a manufacturing district."

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/09/12/columbus-council-approves-zoning-changes-that-could-clear-way-for-nearly-880-new-housing-units/70800985007/

 

 

 

5 hours ago, Luvcbus said:

 

Columbus City Council approves zoning changes intended to help fight housing shortage

 

"Columbus City Council typically hears more than a dozen zoning issues and code variances at each meeting, but it made a point Monday of announcing that the 17 zoning ordinances it approved could eventually provide 878 new housing units, half of them designated "affordable."

 

The new units will be spread across neighborhoods throughout the city, including in parts of the North, South and East sides, and will have impact on the city's housing shortage, officials said.

 

"Columbus City Council wants to make it clear that affordable housing is for everyone, and everywhere in the city," City Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans said. "As we know our region has experienced a housing crisis as economic growth continues, and at the current rate of growth Columbus is currently being underdeveloped as it relates to housing" by about half of current demand.

 

The 17 zoning ordinances, heard during a separate zoning meeting following the regular City Council meeting, included eight rezonings of property.

 

The votes Monday changed the zoning on a total of about 35 acres of land. The rest dealt with granting variances from zoning requirements, such as reduced perimeters, allowing habitable space above detached garages, to permit apartment complexes with "reduced development standards," and more.

 

One zoning variance, at 45 W. Barthman Ave. just west of High Street on the city's South Side, will permit a 200-plus-unit apartment complex in a manufacturing district."

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/09/12/columbus-council-approves-zoning-changes-that-could-clear-way-for-nearly-880-new-housing-units/70800985007/

 

 

 

A good start.

Columbus downtown YMCA will be redeveloped by affordable housing developer Woda Cooper

 

Woda Cooper will redevelop the downtown Columbus YMCA.

 

The Columbus Downtown Development Corp. bought the building for $1 million in March, several years after the YMCA announced it would be decommissioned. The CDDC bought the building at the behest of the city, CEO Greg Davies said.

 

"This is such an important building and we wanted to be sure it was preserved," Davies said. "We also wanted to be sure that it kept serving all people in the community. We didn't want it to become market-rate apartments."

How does no one at the City of Columbus allow the development of a major affordable housing complex on a busy city street be considered finish without having sidewalks? An excellent story. Note the completely inadequate answer by the Mayor of Columbus.

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2023/09/19/new-affordable-apartments-on-sinclair-road-have-no-sidewalks-nearby/70889518007/