Civic leaders and residents celebrate the start of renovation of Community Properties housing in the University District

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman (center) holds a commemorative brick with a small plaque reading, "Community Properties of Ohio, June 14, 2004, One Brick at a Time." Joining the mayor in the celebration of the property renovation are (left) Hal Keller, president of Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, and (right) Dr. Karen Holbrook, president of The Ohio State University. More than 125 community civic leaders and residents attended the celebration in the courtyard of 1332 N. Fourth St. Hal Keller, president of Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, shows one of the apartments at 1332 N. Fourth St. to Congresswoman Deborah Pryce. The renovation, which will average $50,000 per unit, will include new doors and windows, new kitchen cabinets and appliances, new bathroom shower and sink, carpeting, air conditioning, landscaping and more.

Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH), Community Properties of Ohio (CPO) Management Services and Campus Partners have begun the renovation of what will be the nation’s largest low-income housing initiative of its type. Congresswoman Deborah Pryce joined Mayor Michael Coleman and Karen Holbrook, president of The Ohio State University, at a public celebration on June 14, 2004, to mark the start of renovation. More than 125 community civic leaders, housing advocates and neighborhood residents also attended. The event was held in the courtyard of 1332 N. Fourth St. – one of the first buildings to undergo rehabilitation. "I am thrilled to have been associated with this effort. The work of Community Properties continues to improve the University District and other urban neighborhoods in Columbus through safe and affordable housing opportunities for some of our most vulnerable families," said Congresswoman Deborah Pryce. "I am pleased that over the previous three years, Congress has continued to dedicate substantial federal funding toward this important housing initiative, which can serve as a national model for affordable housing redevelopment and neighborhood revitalization." Congresswoman Pryce secured three special federal appropriations totaling $2.2 million to provide critical early support for the planning, acquisition and renovation of this housing, as well as to address public safety issues. Community Properties is an $85 million low-income housing initiative that will renovate more than 1,000 apartments and townhouses in over 200 buildings for people with average household incomes of less than $10,000. The buildings are located in seven urban Columbus neighborhoods, focused primarily around Ohio State and the near east side.

As part of a collaborative effort with Campus Partners, OCCH closed on the acquisition of the former Broad Street Portfolio in April 2003 and assumed leadership of the redevelopment

initiative. OCCH consolidated ownership of the properties and transformed the previous

management company into a nonprofit company, CPO Management Services. Columbus Housing Partnership, Community Housing Network, and Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority – leaders in affordable housing in Franklin County – are also part of the development team for this significant effort.

“We expect Community Properties to have a profound effect on the physical and social landscape of Columbus,” said Hal Keller, president of OCCH. “Already, our new management company – CPO Management Services – has made great strides in turning the units into homes by improving the appearance of existing buildings, connecting residents with social services and addressing safety issues.”

Each unit will receive on average about $50,000 in renovation, including upgraded kitchens and baths, window and door replacements, landscaping and property maintenance. To assist with these efforts, about 300 rundown units will be sold or demolished. The improvements are part of a six-phase redevelopment plan. Renovation work on the first 300 units began in May, with an anticipated completion date on all the units by the end of 2006.

In addition to the physical improvements, CPO Management Services is working with the Columbus Division of Police to address safety issues by increasing neighborhood patrols in identified troubled locations, or “hot spots.” A “hot spot” is an address with persistent drug activity, gang activity, prostitution and/or gunfire. To address the criminal activity, CPO Management Services is partnering with the Columbus Department of Public Safety, the Columbus Division of Police, the division’s Strategic Response Bureau, and the Columbus Department of Development’s Code Enforcement office in a crime prevention plan called “Eliminate the Elements.”

“The City of Columbus looks to all of our community partners to take a stand for creating more affordable housing in our neighborhoods, and we are proud to see so many step up with the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing to make this historic investment in safe, affordable housing for families," said Mayor Michael Coleman. "While we work together, not only will families have better places to live and a higher quality of life, we'll be investing in better neighborhoods with less crime and a brighter future."

Specifically, the ‘Eliminate the Elements’ crime prevention plan incorporates increased community policing, community safety support and training for residents and community groups, service-enriched resident programs, and rehabilitation efforts on each unit.

“Community Properties is a monumental initiative of which the City of Columbus and The Ohio State University are proud,” said Karen Holbrook, president of The Ohio State University. “This project will not only improve the appearance of aging properties in the University District, but it is addressing safety concerns and the needs of residents and neighbors to make it a win-win situation for everyone involved. Ohio State and Campus Partners are pleased to be associated with this project.”

Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing is an independent, non-profit corporation originally created by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. OCCH has raised more than $650 million in equity and invested in over 225 partnerships, which have produced more than 11,500 units of affordable housing in 65 Ohio counties.

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Campus Partners for Community Urban Redevelopment, Inc.
1824 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 294-7300; fax (614) 294-7333