Project Highlight- Starling Yard

AHT is providing funding to Woda Cooper Companies, Inc., working in partnership with Franklinton Development Association, to develop a project known as Starling Yard. This project involves the adaptive reuse of the vacant Starling Middle School, originally built as West High School in 1908, by converting it into 45 affordable units. West High School was listed on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties in February of 2022. On the same site, two new construction three-story walkups consisting of a total of 52 affordable units will be constructed as part of the development for a total of 97 affordable units.

The site was secured by a purchase agreement between Woda Cooper and the Board of Education of the Columbus City School District in December of 2020. The Board had approached Woda Cooper knowing they had done similar projects in transforming schools in other towns such as Nelsonville and Washington Court House. This site was in danger of demolition and listed on the Columbus Landmarks most endangered sites list in 2021 but will now be saved and adapted for quality affordable housing. In addition to the equity financing provided by AHT, this project is unique in that primary financial support for Starling Yard is the result of a bond issuance and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits allocated by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) and Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits awarded by the Ohio Department of Development. 

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EDAP Cohort II Announced

The Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County (AHT) is proud to announce the next class of participants in the Emerging Developers Accelerator Program (EDAP). The EDAP is a 6-month training program that supports emerging developers who are women and people of color with comprehensive technical assistance, education, and access to capital. In addition to providing participants with the opportunity to accelerate their businesses, the program will also help increase the supply of affordable housing units throughout the Central Ohio community.

Participation in the EDAP will assist individuals with experience in business, construction, real estate, and development take their careers to the next phase. The second cohort is made up of 15 emerging developers eager to make an impact in affordable housing across Central Ohio:

• Otto Beatty III, Otto Beatty Companies/Otto Beatty Real Estate
• Mike Doss, Doss Companies LLC
• Eboni Eiland, 360 Builders LLC
• Alice Foeller, Northland Collective LLC
• Amalea Harding, Dream Living LLC
• John Henson, JH Elite Properties LLC
• Deonte Holder, Holder Property Group
• Wade Jordan III, WJ3 Properties LLC
• Keith B. Key, A-Team Management Group
• Chris Macisco, Bushwood Investments LTD
• Antoine Matthews, Genesis Development Company
• Courtney Musick, Musick Properties, LLC
• Beatrice Nokuri, Mackuri LLC
• Cephas Pearson, Minneapolis Property Investments
• Mashelle Williams-Gladney, Gertrude Wood Community Foundation

Bios for each of the developers can be found here.

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Let's Talk

Are you a developer interested in partnering with us, or do you know one who should be? Check out our FAQs here or email our Director of Lending David Butcher: david@hztrust.org