March 28, 2024 – Cleveland – The Community Builders, City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) today celebrated the grand opening of Woodhill Station West, an affordable apartment community featuring 120 affordable homes for individuals and families in Cleveland’s Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood.
Woodhill Station West, the first phase of the Buckeye-Woodhill Choice Neighborhoods Implementation, converted an empty lot into a vibrant community featuring 42 one-bedroom, 62 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom homes, alongside 4,520 square feet of community space. The development includes 90 replacement homes for existing Woodhill residents and is located across from the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Woodhill-Buckeye train station.
“As President Biden has recently reinforced, we need to meet the urgent housing supply challenges in this country by building more quality housing,” said HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing Richard J. Monocchio. “The $46.4 mixed-income, service-enriched housing at Woodhill opening today in Northeast Ohio is testament to the power of HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods program in meeting supply challenges and making critical investments after decades of disinvestment.”
“We are excited to continue to partner with CMHA, The Community Builders, and HUD on the Woodhill Choice project, and look forward to continuing this neighborhood transformation into a model mixed-income community,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb.
“The Woodhill community has experienced years of neglect and abandonment. With phase one completed, it’s the first concrete step of a project that will transform a neighborhood, a community,” said Cleveland City Council President Blaine A. Griffin. “The impact on the neighborhood and the legacy residents cannot be overstated. Something special is happening here in the Woodhill community.”
“The opening of Woodhill Station West is a fabulous start to a transformative project,” said Cleveland City Councilwoman Deborah Gray. “It’s location near public transit is a real bonus to help improve and positively impact the residents in the neighborhood.”
“On behalf of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, residents, and staff, we are excited to welcome the newest residents to Woodhill Station West,” said Jeffery K. Patterson, Chief Executive Officer of CMHA. “Many of these residents include those that lived in the former Woodhill Estates and we couldn’t be more pleased to offer this updated housing for them and their families.”
“The Community Builders is thrilled to open the doors at Woodhill Station West, marking the completion of the first phase of the Woodhill Homes transformation. This milestone brings 120 quality homes to individuals and families, making Cleveland’s Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood even stronger,” said George Tabit, regional vice president of real estate development for The Community Builders. “On behalf of our organization, I extend my deepest thanks and well-earned congratulations to the many partners and leaders who made this development possible, including CMHA, the City of Cleveland, Council President Blaine Griffin, Councilwoman Deborah Gray and our funders. And, to the residents of Woodhill Station West, welcome home.”
TCB Community Life staff members work on site to connect residents to opportunity in six areas: workforce development, asset building, community engagement, youth development, education, and health and wellness.
In 2021, HUD awarded a $35 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant to CMHA and the City of Cleveland to support the Buckeye-Woodhill Transformation Plan. With the support of more than 200 collaborative and community partners, CMHA, the City of Cleveland and TCB are leading the transformation and revitalization of Woodhill Homes and the surrounding Buckeye-Woodhill community.
The Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant ensures that equitable neighborhood development in Cleveland becomes a reality in a prime southeast Cleveland neighborhood. In April 2023, HUD awarded CMHA and the City of Cleveland a Choice Neighborhoods Supplemental Funding Grant for $10 million, to further support the development of replacement housing in conjunction with the Transformation Plan.
Implementation of the Choice Plan is transforming Woodhill Homes into high-quality, mixed-income apartment buildings that meet high-quality health and environmental standards. The redevelopment, which is taking place in six phases, will include approximately 638 homes and public amenities such as outdoor gathering spaces, recreational fields, and playgrounds.
Woodhill Station West is made possible in part with financing provided to TCB under the federal and state low income housing tax credit. Key financial participants include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), City of Cleveland HOME funds, Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH), and Lument. Marous led construction of Woodhill Station West with design by City Architecture.
About the City of Cleveland
The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents by strengthening neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing diversity, and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, play, and do business. For more information on the City of Cleveland, visit www.clevelandohio.gov, or follow @CityofCleveland on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About CMHA
The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority’s mission is to create safe, quality, affordable housing opportunities and improve the quality of life for the communities we serve. CMHA owns and manages property and administers rent subsidy programs to provide eligible low-income residents and families with safe, sustainable, dynamic communities of choice where everyone can strive for success. Visit www.cmha.net and follow @CuyahogaHousing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
About The Community Builders
The Community Builders’ mission is to build and sustain strong communities where all people can thrive. Our mission-driven businesses work with partners to develop, finance, and operate residential communities, neighborhood amenities and opportunity programs for families, seniors, and adults with disabilities. Since 1964, we have advanced housing equity through award-winning affordable and mixed-income communities and our pioneering Community Life model for resident success. Today, our ownership and management portfolio includes over 14,000 apartment homes. Anchored by offices in Boston, Chicago, Columbus, New York, and Washington D.C., we operate across 15 states.
