Groundbreaking Ceremony for Berwyn East Place

Celebrating the Groundbreaking of Berwyn East Place

Providing 88 affordable housing units, including formerly homeless and seniors with a disability

COLUMBUS, Ohio - National Church Residences hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction for Berwyn East Place, a much-needed development, which aims to enhance the local community while providing a safe and supportive environment for its residents. This new service-enriched housing community is designed to support residents aged 55 and older in Columbus, Ohio. This transformative development will provide 88 affordable housing units at 3341 East Livingston Avenue, including 36 dedicated units for the formerly homeless or residents with a disability.

"This new development represents a significant step forward in addressing the critical need for affordable housing in our community," said Amy Rosenthal, vice president of affordable housing development at National Church Residences. "By partnering with organizations like the National Affordable Housing Trust and KeyBank, along with multiple health plan providers, we are ensuring that residents have a place to live and also have access to essential services that enhance their quality of life."

The groundbreaking ceremony featured remarks from key stakeholders, including Columbus City Councilmembers Shayla Favor and Lourdes Barouso de Padilla, Grant Miller of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Jarrett Jordan of National Affordable Housing Trust, David Lacki of KeyBank, among other community leaders in attendance to celebrate this significant milestone.

Berwyn East Place is designed by Columbus-based architecture firm, Berardi Partners, and Ruscilli Construction is serving as the general contractor. The development is supported by additional funding sources, including OHFA's Multi-Family Lending Program, Housing Development Loan, the City of Columbus (HOME-ARP), and Franklin County (ARPA). Additionally, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is providing project-based vouchers for 55 units.

"Safe and affordable housing has a strong connection to health and well-being. UnitedHealth Group is honored to support Berwyn East Place and all those who will call it home in the future," said Marianella Napolitano, director of population health, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, a division of UnitedHealth Group. "Supporting healthier and more equitable communities does more than just improve individual lives. Understanding the needs of communities can help make the whole system work better for everyone."

UnitedHealth Group has invested $12 million in the development of the Berwyn East Place community.

In collaboration with health plan providers Molina Healthcare, Buckeye Health Plan and CareSource; Berwyn East Place will offer tailored services to residents, ensuring that their specific health care and other daily needs are met. Furthermore, the Community Shelter Board will provide essential services for the 36 units designated for formerly homeless residents.

"Setting aside 36 units for homeless individuals, speaks to this organization's commitment to serving all of the residents in the City of Columbus and we are beyond grateful for that effort," said Columbus City Councilmember Favor. "Berwyn East Place also illustrates the variety of housing needed to address our housing crisis in the City of Columbus."

Berwyn East Place was selected as one of a few service-enriched housing developments by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) to apply for 4% tax credits, alongside HOME ARP (HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program) funding. Construction began in July 2024.

Currently, National Church Residences has 46 communities with 3,500 apartments in the Columbus metro area, impacting 6,000 lives when combining housing with its service offerings.

ABOUT NATIONAL CHURCH RESIDENCES

National Church Residences serves more than 50,000 seniors through its array of housing and health care services. The not-for-profit organization is driven by a vision of advancing better living for all seniors, enabling them to remain home for life. With 340 communities in 25 states, it is the nation's largest not-for-profit provider of affordable senior housing and the largest manager of service coordinators. The organization also offers residential senior communities, home and community-based services, as well as permanent supportive housing for the formerly homeless and disabled. For more information, visit us at NationalChurchResidences.org and follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.