National Church Residences achieved two major milestones—the grand opening of Northland Gate and the groundbreaking for Salem Village, both affordable senior housing communities in the Northland neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio.
A new $12 million community, the three-story, 85,000-square-foot Northland Gate features 94 one- and two-bedroom apartments on a nearly 4-acre site. Amenities include free campus Wi-Fi, a fitness center, a community room with a kitchen, an outdoor walking path with a garden, and on-site laundry.
The Northland neighborhood has a high concentration of vulnerable seniors facing housing cost burdens and chronic health issues, according to a Kirwan Institute study. Representing two of three National Church Residences developments in the neighborhood, Northland Gate and Salem Village were designed to address this urgent need, said officials.
Additionally, Salem Village is a $12 million community that will offer 76 units of housing, comprised of one-bedroom apartments in a four-story building. It is one of the first developments in the country to utilize the new Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Capital Advance funds, as well as being the only such award in Columbus. Slated to open in 2023, Salem Village amenities will include free campus Wi-Fi, a library, a community room with a kitchen, a fitness center, and convenient access to public transportation.
Additional funding sources include low-income housing tax credits awarded by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and purchased by National Equity Fund, Franklin County Magnet Funds, a construction loan from Huntington Bank, and a tax abatement from the city of Columbus. The general contractor is Model Group.
“As part of our more than $48 million in investment in the Northland community by 2023, Northland Gate and Salem Village further our efforts to provide low-income seniors with more housing options in the area,” said Mark Ricketts, president and CEO of National Church Residences. “Our growth in the Northland neighborhood and throughout the metro area wouldn’t have been possible without the city of Columbus, Franklin County, and community organization partners creating opportunities and momentum for new developments. Between 2022 and 2024, National Church Residences will add seven communities and nearly 600 new units in Columbus, representing approximately $100 million in new construction investment. This will help Columbus seniors stay in the neighborhoods where they grew up, worked, made friends, and raised their families.”
Local leaders speaking at the ceremony agreed that affordable housing is a glaring issue that will require a multifaceted approach and strategic partnerships.
“The need for affordable housing is critical, and it’s greater than it’s ever been,” said city councilmember Shayla Favor. “Developments just like this one come to promote better mental and physical health, a higher quality of life, and more independence for low-income residents.”
National Church Residences serves more than 42,000 seniors through its array of housing and health care services. With 340 communities in 25 states, it is the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of affordable senior housing and the largest manager of service coordinators.
