New housing development in Columbus hopes to help more seniors live with dignity
The quest to provide more affordable housing for Columbus residents took another step forward Thursday, when community leaders celebrated a new development they hope will give more seniors a place to call home — and live with dignity.
NeighborWorks Columbus and the Housing Authority of Columbus hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for Providence Pointe, a new 102-unit affordable housing development for seniors ages 55 and older. The groundbreaking ceremony was on Brownie Lane in the Elliott’s Walk community. Elliott’s Walk is off Victory Drive in Columbus.
“Not only are we celebrating Providence Point, but we are celebrating the completion of Elliott’s Walk,” said Kimberly Hinton-Poole, CEO of NeighborWorks. “It gives me great pleasure to say that all 56 units are owner occupied.”
She said Elliott’s Walk is far from the end of the story, as Providence Pointe will build on Elliott’s Walk legacy.
“The new chapter will continue to provide fit, affordable and safe housing for members of this community,” Hinton-Poole said.
Providence Pointe will offer housing for seniors earning 60% or less of the area median income (AMI). Eleven of the units will be reserved for residents earning 30% or below AMI. The development has also secured 102 project-based Section 8 vouchers to ensure long-term affordability, according to the news release.
The Housing Authority of Columbus is the project’s lead developer, and NeighborWorks Columbus is the co-developer.
“When NeighborWorks approached the Housing Authority a couple years back, we immediately recognized the value of working together with such a strong partner and to address the critical need of housing that we have here in Columbus and across the United States,” said Laura Johnson, CEO of the Housing Authority of Columbus. “Today’s groundbreaking is a testament to what we can accomplish when organizations come together and we all have a shared vision and a commitment to serving our residents.”
Johnson said construction should take about 15 months, so completion is expected around September 2027. She said they hope to have most of the units leased by the beginning of 2028.
Providence Pointe will provide more than housing, Johnson said. It will give senior citizens a place to call home — and a community where they can live with dignity, independence, comfort and security, she said.
“We look forward to the day when we welcome our first residents home to Providence Point,” Johnson said.
