Columbus housing, business and legislative leaders celebrate grand opening of McKinley Manor, new $14 million affordable housing complex for senior citizens relocated from historic former Downtown YMCA

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Leaders with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) joined yesterday with local elected officials, developers and investors during a press conference to celebrate the grand opening of McKinley Manor, a $14 million, 44-unit affordable housing community that will exclusively serve low- and fixed-income citizens aged 55 and over who are being relocated from the former Downtown YMCA of Central Ohio building that was planned for decommission in 2019.

4 low- and fixed-income residents moving into homes developed by Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority will now be able to ‘age-in-place’ at West Broad Street site in fast-growing Franklinton neighborhood.

“McKinley Manor will build on the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority’s efforts to provide low-income seniors with more housing options in Franklin County,” said Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Board Chair James Ervin Jr.

“Our team’s goal in serving this population is to enable the residents to age-in-place, while providing an atmosphere conducive to the highest quality of life,” Ervin said.

Among the dignitaries who spoke at the press conference were: Ohio state Sen. Hearcel Craig, Ohio state Rep. Asst. Minority Leader Dontavius Jarrells; Franklin County Board of Commissioners President Kevin Boyce; Columbus City Councilmember Shayla Favor, chair of the Housing, Homelessness & Building Committee; YMCA of Central Ohio CEO Tony Collins; Joe DiCesare, Senior Vice President- Construction for Woda Cooper Companies, Inc.; Marble Cliff Capital President and CEO John “Jack” Kukura III; Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) for Columbus and Franklin County Vice President Michelle Proulx; Park National Bank Vice President, Commercial Lender Scott Green; and, Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Single Family Relations Program Manager Jonathan Duy.

The neighborhood where McKinley Manor is located has a high concentration of vulnerable senior citizens facing housing cost burdens and chronic health issues. Now, the new residents of McKinley Manor will be able to “age-in-place,” defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.” CMHA owns the land at the West Broad Street site in the fast-growing Franklinton neighborhood on the city’s west side.

CMHA has partnered with Columbus-based Woda Construction, Inc. (an affiliate of Woda Cooper Companies, Inc.) as general contractor. The public-private project has received funding and investment support from the City of Columbus, Franklin County, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Marble Cliff Capital, Park National Bank and the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County.

“As Columbus continues to grow, it’s crucial to have accessible housing options available for all residents,” said state Sen. Craig. “Public-private partnerships like McKinley Manor are the key to guaranteeing the long-term success of our communities.”

A Beautiful New Beginning

McKinley Manor is an impressive early step toward accomplishing the mission set by YMCA of Central Ohio leaders after the sale of its historic building to the Columbus Development Corporation: Finding safe, permanent homes for tenants at the former 40 W. Long St. facility. The YMCA building – which opened in 1924 and was the largest YMCA resident facility in the United States – had contained about 400 units of affordable housing for individuals needing support.

CMHA’s completion of the new McKinley Manor community will help address the transition of 44 of those former YMCA residents into their new homes. The eligible residents who qualify for housing assistance will only pay 30% of their income. If a would-be renter makes no money, the rent will be covered in full by CMHA. Monthly rents in the four-story building are $1,082 per month.

The YMCA of Central Ohio is continuing its efforts to relocate the remaining residents from the Downtown Y who are currently living in temporary housing and moving them into affordable housing units or permanent supportive housing communities like Touchstone Field Place in Columbus and now, McKinley Manor, said Collins.

“Our YMCA team remains committed to helping our most vulnerable community residents who need permanent supportive housing or experiencing homelessness,” Collins said. “Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live, and we are so grateful to all the partners who work with us to help individuals in need find stability and take charge of their lives.”

McKinley Manor is designed specifically with the needs of residents aged 55-plus in mind. The smoke-free property offers one-bedroom apartments with quality cabinetry, flooring and energy-efficient appliances, including dishwashers. Each unit has central air conditioning and washer/dryer hookups, with access to a community room, fitness center and laundry facility. It is anticipated the building will achieve and exceed LEED Silver certification and City of Columbus AWARE environmental performance standards.

Nearby amenities include a full-service grocer (Jubilee Market), a pharmacy, and the Mount Carmel Medical Group Franklinton. Residents will benefit from direct transit access to downtown Columbus via the COTA #10, the bus stop at West Broad Street and Rodgers Avenue near the Columbus Metropolitan Library: Franklinton Branch.

“McKinley Manor offers an age-in-place design, barrier-free units for those who have either physical or sight/hearing challenges, community spaces for social connections, all built utilizing energy efficiency materials and products to ensure low monthly utility bills, as well as onsite property management to oversee maintenance and assist residents,” said Woda’s DiCesare.

Immense Need for Senior Housing

According to a report from the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, elderly households make up 38% of low-income, cost-burdened homeowners in Franklin County. Franklin County has the second-highest population of seniors in Ohio, according to a study by the Kirwan Institute. This population is projected to grow by 53% between 2015 – 2030, a rate five times higher than the overall population growth of Franklin County.

Housing costs represent the greatest expense, and biggest share of household budgets, for Americans 55 and older, according to the National Council on Aging. The median monthly rent in America's 50 largest metro areas including Greater Columbus hit $1,876 in June, a new record after 15 consecutive months of increases, according to Realtor.com.

Rents in America have risen 14% overall since 2021, going up much more than wages, according to U.S. Census data. Experts say the spike is partly due to landlords making up for their inability to raise rents during the COVID-19 pandemic and current vacancy rates at their lowest point in 35 years, census data show.

“As the population moving into Central Ohio is exploding, the affordable housing crisis is exploding as a critically important issue,” said state Rep. Jarrells.

“My hope and prayer is that we can develop more partnerships now and in the immediate future that will replicate the success of McKinley Manor,” Jarrells said. “By working together, I am confident we can figure out a way to make housing in Columbus more affordable.”

Eligibility criteria for McKinley Manor Apartments' residents include:

• Head of household or spouse 55 years of age or older;
• Very low income (at or below 30% and 50% of median income), or low income (typically at or below 60% of median income; but as high as 80% of median income with compliance with average income policies); and
• Could be experiencing homelessness and will benefit from permanent supportive housing.

“It’s no secret that we have a supply and demand issue in the city of Columbus,” said Councilmember Favor. “And as long as the demand for housing outpaces the supply, we’re going to continue to be on the wrong side of the affordability issue. It’s essential that we build more stories of success like McKinley Manor.”

Woda Cooper Companies’ affiliate Woda Management & Real Estate will oversee leasing and property management.

Support Services Will Assist Residents

CMHA cites studies that have shown the average age of residents moving into an elderly housing facility is at least 74 years. Recent surveys indicate that 25% of all residents in federally assisted elderly housing need some level of supportive services.

In Franklin County, 4 out of every 10 renters are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their annual income on housing. Since 2010, the population within Franklin County has grown 14%, to over 1.3 million, while total housing units in Franklin County have increased only 10%, further widening the affordability gap.

“That’s why building more communities like McKinley Manor is so critical,” said Franklin County Board President Boyce.

“I want to congratulate the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority and their partners on this tremendous achievement,” Boyce said. “Today’s grand opening demonstrates that much of the work required to increase our affordable housing stock depends on engagement with the community.”

CMHA will prioritize promoting awareness and encouraging McKinley Manor residents to utilize the services offered through CMHA’s Resident Initiatives for Success & Empowerment (RISE) Center.

The nonprofit RISE Center, which opened in 2021, creates sustainable partnerships and programs that embody the values of choice, empowerment, and inclusion to support residents’ success in all aspects of their lives. The RISE staff will work with other community organizations to coordinate onsite events and activities at McKinley Manor, such as resource fairs, digital literacy programs and health clinics.