Affordable housing development to be built near Columbus State

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A real estate affiliate of Columbus State Community College is planning to transform a block near its campus Downtown into a 160-unit apartment complex, with some units reserved for students.

Affordable housing developer Woda Cooper Companies is building and managing a $47 million project called Opportunity Pointe. The joint venture with Columbus State Community Partners will reserve 20 of 160 planned affordable units for students enrolled at Columbus State.

“This innovative development will address a key impediment to student success -- housing insecurity -- while bringing affordable rents within reach of lower-wage workers to a highly desirable downtown location,” said Zachary Woodruff, the college’s chief real estate development officer and executive director of Columbus State Community Partners.

Columbus State Community Partners is contributing seven parcels to the project through a long-term lease. About 75% of the project block will be made up of the leased properties. The block is bordered by Cleveland Avenue, North Grant Avenue, East Spring Street and East Long Street. Woda Cooper is working to secure additional parcels on the block.

The project's go-ahead is waiting on a 9% tax credit that Woda Cooper is seeking from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. If those credits are approved, the project's development would begin in early 2025.

Rent prices of the new units would vary based on income eligibility and size of the units. Projected rents will range from the following:

• One bedroom: $365 to $995
• Two bedroom: $410 to $1,175
• Three bedroom: $440 to $1,295

Columbus State expects to incorporate the student apartments into its housing support program. The program received $2 million in support from the City of Columbus in 2023.