Second phase of affordable housing development at Easton welcomes residents
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The second phase of an Easton apartment complex that is promoted as affordable housing has begun welcoming residents, and units are filling up.
The Columbus-based nonprofit developer Homeport held a grand opening event for the second phase of its Easton Place Homes development, consisting of 100 rental units, on July 30. However, residents have been moving into the second phase for two months, and it is currently about 75% leased, according to President and CEO Leah Evans.
The Easton Place Homes complex is located on a 2.61-acre site, located at 3792 Easton Commons. The second phase of apartments contains 24 one-bedroom, 59 two-bedroom and 17 three-bedroom apartments in four three-story buildings.
The new units join 50 existing apartments that debuted in 2023 as part of the complex’s first phase. The initial units include eight one-bedroom apartments, 34 two-bedroom apartments and eight three-bedroom apartments, across three three-story apartment buildings.
The development will serve as affordable housing for at least the next 30 years, with rents set for families and people who earn between 30% and 70% of the area’s median income. For example, 30% of the area’s median income in Columbus in 2025 equates to about $31,000, according to Homeport.
Evans said the maximum rents are $1,166 for a one-bedroom apartment, $1,390 for a two-bedroom apartment and $1,585 for a three-bedroom apartment.
“But residents could, for even a three-bedroom, could be paying as low as $618,” Evans said. “It just depends, because we have varied rent levels based on income.”
The second phase of the complex, which features a community room, management office and fitness room, offers convenient access to shopping and employment, according to a Homeport news release. With city leaders declaring Easton as the second-largest job center in Columbus, outside of Downtown, Evans said the units offer convenient housing for local employees.
“Just in terms of workforce and job and economic development opportunities, having housing right in the hub of that is really valuable, particularly when you're talking about low- and moderate-income people,” Evans said.
Homeport shares ownership of the project with Georgetown Companies, the entity that developed Easton Town Center. The new development marks Homeport’s 48th community in Franklin County, according to Evans. KMG Property Management is in charge of the day-to-day management of the property.
The third and final phase is expected to consist of 50 more units, bringing the complex’s total to 200 apartments. Developers expect construction to begin next year and to begin welcoming residents in spring or summer of 2027, Evans said.
The project took advantage of low-income housing tax credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, along with funding from Franklin County and the City of Columbus.