Columbus has cleared the way for a major South Side housing push, signing off on plans for 150 income‑restricted apartments just off South High Street. On June 1, the City Council approved a key funding move that opens up to $5 million from the city’s affordable‑housing bond to help pay for Barthman Family Homes. City officials say the development is aimed at keeping family‑sized apartments in the mix as market‑rate projects keep marching down the corridor.
The ordinance authorizes the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus‑Franklin County Finance Authority, which will serve as a pass‑through for up to $5 million to Barthman Family Homes LLC, according to the Columbus City Council. The legislation file (1356‑2026) names The NRP Group as the developer and records the vote as an emergency action so the project’s financing schedule does not slip.
Project Details and Funding
State application materials filed with the Ohio Housing Finance Agency put the project site at 45 W. Barthman Ave. The proposal outlines two buildings with 150 apartments, from one‑bedroom units up to four‑bedroom homes, with most of the mix tilted toward larger, family‑sized layouts, according to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. The application states the development is designed for households earning roughly 30–70% of the area median income, includes more than $5 million in environmental remediation, and features amenities such as a fitness center, playground, and leasing office.
Mayor, City Context
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther touted the latest step on social media, saying “everyone who works here should be able to afford to live here” and framing the project as part of ongoing work along South High, according to Facebook. His message tracks with the administration’s broader pledge to steer bond dollars into family‑oriented housing as the South Side heats up for investors.
Where It Fits on South High
Barthman Family Homes lands in the middle of a broader wave of activity on South High Street, where city leaders have said new investment needs to include real affordable options, not just glossy market‑rate complexes. The administration has pitched a $500 million affordable‑housing bond package that would dedicate $150 million to building and preserving homes, according to reporting by WOSU. Just up the corridor, the massive Steelton Village master plan, which won council approval earlier this spring, is expected to bring hundreds of additional units as part of a $200 million Steelton Village bet.
What’s Next
With the council’s sign‑off secured, city staff and the development team will finalize the grant pass‑through and keep chasing state tax credits and other financing needed before construction loans can close. The council file notes that the emergency designation was requested so the project could stay on schedule, while OHFA materials say the team is positioned to submit final applications quickly if awards are announced. That could move environmental cleanup and site work into the latter part of this year, assuming financing locks into place. The filings do not give a firm construction start date.
Housing advocates see Barthman Family Homes as an important move to hold on to family‑sized, income‑restricted units in a shifting South Side market. At the same time, experts caution that the city will need more production and additional rental support to seriously narrow Columbus’ affordability gap. City officials say projects like Barthman are exactly what the bond funds are meant to back as they try to preserve and expand affordable homes across the area.
