On Thursday morning, shovels are set to hit the dirt in Devon Triangle as Habitat for Humanity–MidOhio kicks off its first multifamily project anywhere in Columbus. The Near East Side build is a 14-unit townhome development made up of four triplexes and one duplex, pitched as a "gentle density" test that keeps homeownership front and center while adding small-scale multifamily housing. City officials and nonprofit leaders say the goal is straightforward: create owner-occupied, affordable homes for residents who are getting priced out of traditional single-family blocks.
Project details
According to Habitat for Humanity–MidOhio, the Devon Triangle project will deliver 14 townhome-style units across four triplex buildings and one duplex. Homes are planned at roughly 1,280 to 1,400 square feet each, a size that aims to feel like a standard house even as the site adds a bit more density. WOSU notes that Habitat will stick with its usual model: sweat-equity requirements and homebuyer education paired with zero-interest, no-profit mortgages, with units targeted to households earning about 30 to 60 percent of the area median income.
Funding and site
Columbus is putting real money behind the experiment. City Council approved support from the Affordable Housing Bond Fund, and Columbus Underground reported that the project has a $1 million grant in hand along with an additional $1 million city pledge. Habitat pulled together several parcels for the site through the Columbus Land Bank, stitching them into a single development footprint. Council records from the City of Columbus show a resolution on the agenda that formally recognizes Habitat's investment in the neighborhood.
Groundbreaking details
The ceremonial launch is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. at 799 Bassett Ave, where organizers say crews will start site work before construction fully ramps up. Habitat for Humanity–MidOhio plans to begin with one duplex and one triplex, then build out the rest of the homes in phases. The nonprofit's goal is to welcome the first families by mid-January, with additional buildings coming online through 2027, a timeline previously outlined in reporting by WOSU.
Why this matters
Housing advocates are watching Devon Triangle closely as a homegrown test of so-called "missing middle" housing. Instead of single-family homes on large lots or massive apartment complexes, this category focuses on duplexes, triplexes and townhomes that fit more people into existing neighborhoods without dramatically changing the streetscape. Columbus Underground reports that Council President Shannon Hardin has framed the development as an "entryway" for townhomes in Columbus and a way to boost affordable, owner-occupied options in established areas that are otherwise slipping out of reach.
What comes next
Organizers are clear that this is a pilot project. Habitat-MidOhio has said it wants to treat Devon Triangle as a learning lab, then use the playbook to scale multifamily homeownership in other parts of Central Ohio if things go well. City leaders and private partners listed on Habitat's project page are expected to track progress as the build moves from groundbreaking to move-in day. Council documents indicate that the city intends to keep backing neighborhood-scale affordable housing efforts, with Devon Triangle serving as an early test of how far that strategy can go.
