On Columbus’s Far South Side, a long-anticipated affordable housing project is finally getting off the ground. Lincoln Avenue Communities has broken ground on Landmark on Scioto, a 321-unit affordable, build-to-rent community that will bring 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom single-family rental homes to households earning up to 60% of the area median income. Crews are already on site, and the developer expects leasing to start this summer with full buildout wrapped by 2028.
The ceremonial shovel-turn drew a crowd of elected officials and housing partners, including U.S. Rep. Mike Carey and leadership from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, according to WhatNow. Representatives from the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing joined Lincoln Avenue at the event, and the outlet reports the project is being delivered as a public-private partnership. The coverage also notes this is Lincoln Avenue’s first ground-up project in Ohio, a sizable debut for the developer in the state.
What the site will include
Lincoln Avenue’s announcement frames Landmark on Scioto as a low-rise, neighborhood-style development spread across roughly 44.5 acres, with one- and two-story homes instead of high-rise apartments. Plans call for a clubhouse, pool, fitness center, outdoor dining areas and open green space. The developer says about seven acres will be dedicated to the City of Columbus for a public park.
Construction is already underway, and initial leases are expected to begin this summer, with completion targeted for 2028, according to PR Newswire. The emphasis, the developer says, is on family-sized rental homes that can serve residents who might otherwise be pushed toward more expensive or less stable housing options.
What state filings show
State application materials filed with the Ohio Housing Finance Agency list the project address as 4080–4086 South High Street and confirm that the development will use 4% low-income housing tax credits to deliver 321 single-family build-to-rent units, all restricted to 60% of AMI. The filing breaks the unit mix into 48 two-bedroom, 176 three-bedroom and 97 four-bedroom homes.
The same packet anticipates roughly 688 parking spaces along with on-site management and resident services. It also flags the parcel as a qualified census tract and notes nearby amenities such as Cedarwood Elementary and the Scioto Southland community center, according to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.
How it’s financed
Lincoln Avenue says the financing closed earlier this year and combines tax-credit equity, loans and nonprofit capital. In a financing notice, the developer reported that the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing is providing more than $51 million in investor equity and a $5 million bridge loan through its lending affiliate, OCFC. LAC described the arrangement as a major public-private partnership intended to preserve long-term affordability, according to PR Newswire.
Why one project won't close the gap
Even so, 321 units will not solve Central Ohio’s housing crunch. The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Gap report finds that the Columbus metro faces a deficit of tens of thousands of homes affordable to households at or below 50% AMI, so Landmark on Scioto only chips away at demand. Advocates argue that LIHTC projects like this need to be paired with rental assistance and additional public investment in order to reach the lowest income renters. The Gap report lays out the scale of that need. Full data are available from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Leasing and application details have not yet been posted. Lincoln Avenue and its public agency partners say they will publish waitlist and income-certification information as the first units near completion. For the latest project updates, residents can look to local coverage and the state filings. More information is available from WhatNow and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.
