Ohio Urban Infill Project Improves Quality of Life in Neglected Neighborhood

Design
Published

Any project that involves urban infill — taking an existing landscape and changing it — will be a large task to undertake. When you layer a zoning process, a demolition in a dense neighborhood, and a coordinated effort to fit into the neighborhood, development can become complicated.

However, due to the relative lack of development in the south side of Columbus, The Residences at Career Gateway was a welcome addition to the neighborhood. The Residences is a community housing development, funded with the help of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), which aims to revitalize the south side of Columbus and connect residents with meaningful workforce supports. Developers constructed the urban infill project on the site of a vacant elementary school building and created a total of 58 units, split between one- and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom townhomes.

Workforce training and career development are emphasized through a 2,400-square-foot innovative workforce training room, where community partners host specialized workshops for all members of the Gateway. Similarly, the project has partnered with local entities such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital to create a link to area employment.

Background on the South Side of Columbus

Prior to construction, the south side of Columbus was one of the worst neighborhoods for economic quality of life relative to the entire city. In 2010, median income of households in the south side was 43% lower than Franklin County as a whole ($27,943.63 and $49,087, respectively). The percent of people with a high school diploma or higher was also greater in Franklin County at a rate of 88.9%, compared to 74.9% in the south side.

Employment indicators were similarly worse for the south side; the south side had an unemployment rate of 23.9%, compared to 8% for Franklin County.

Since 2010, the south side of Columbus has been undergoing substantial transition. In 2016, changes in the south side were spurred, in part by a massive $730 million, 11-project expansion at Nationwide Children’s Hospital that will add 2,000 jobs to the city by 2024. Beyond the thousands of employment opportunities available at the hospital, Columbus State Community College also offers workforce training for in-demand occupation to residents of Career Gateway.

Success Metrics

Since 2010, the south side of Columbus has modestly improved in all quality of life indicators. The Residences at Career Gateway positively contributed toward these changes by providing stable housing and promoting employment.

The success of the Residences at Career Gateway can be tied to a complete buy-in from the partners involved with the project, as well as the recognition of the connection between housing and health care. From the top down, those at Nationwide Children’s recognized that proactively treating the community through stable housing and employment is a financially efficient health care strategy. Those who fill the role as major employers and economic engines of communities, such as hospitals, as well as those on the policy side of housing and health care, are beginning to understand how community investment can be a financially sustainable and benevolent decision.

The location has also provided opportunity for beneficial housing to be in walking distance to employment. The Residences provides secure housing intended as a starting point and model for health and safety to revitalize the south side, which has suffered from loss of industry and employment opportunities over the years. A focus on social determinants, primarily for children, provides justification for the housing design. Those involved see the applicability of The Residences’ design for cities across the United States.

This article was originally published in Best in American Living. Read the full post here.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Sustainability and Green Building | IBS

Jul 22, 2025

2026 IBS Sustainability & Green Building Scholarship Application Now Open

The NAHB IBS Sustainability and Green Building Scholarship aims to provide emerging green builders exposure to the world of high-performance homes and help them jump-start their professional journey by attending the International Builders’ Show (IBS).

Housing Finance

Jul 21, 2025

House Bill Restores Funding for Several Housing Programs from Trump Budget

The House Appropriations Committee has voted to restore funding for key housing programs that President Trump eliminated in his “skinny budget,” such as housing choice vouchers, project-based rental assistance and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jul 22, 2025

Top 10 Builder Market Share Across Metros

An earlier post described how the top 10 builders in the country captured a record 44.7% of new single-family closings in 2024. BUILDER Magazine has now released additional data on the top ten builders within each of the 50 largest new home markets in the U.S., ranked by single-family permits.

Economics

Jul 21, 2025

Use of Private Water and Sewer Systems in New Single-Family Homes

The share of new single-family homes built with individual septic systems declined slightly in 2024 compared to the previous year, while the share of homes served by private wells remained steady.

Economics

Jul 21, 2025

Sales of Lower-Priced New Single-Family Homes Declined Over the Past Five Years

From 2020 to 2024, sales of lower-priced new homes declined significantly as the market moved toward higher-priced segments. Rising construction costs—driven by inflation, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages—as well as higher regulatory costs, made it increasingly difficult for builders to construct affordable homes.