Five affordable homes are planned for Springfield’s southwest side, part of a Neighborhood Housing Partnership effortto help more people become homeowners and invest in their community.

The houses, planned for the 600 block of West Euclid Avenue on around 1,200-square-foot lots, will be similar to NHP’s seven-home project on Clifton Avenue, which was completed last year. NHP is continuing plans to build at least three homes each year for people with moderate to low incomes.

“There are a ton of benefits to the community when someone buys a home versus renting; for one, they’re really putting down roots, so they are invested in that block and that has ripple effects out in that community, from supporting small businesses in the area, supporting the schools, things like that,” NHP Director Rachel Goff said.

“When they go from renting to owning a home, that’s long-term stability, so kids aren’t moving around, and generally for kids in school and even the adults, they tend to perform better at work or in school.

“Civically, because they’re invested in their community, homeowners tend to want to participate in what’s going on with the local government so that helps everybody.” 

Due to the lot characteristics, the West Euclid Avenue homes will likely have two stories with at least one bedroom and bathroom downstairs to maintain long-term accessibility, and two bedrooms upstairs, Goff said. All the homes will have three total bedrooms and two full bathrooms and will feature a garage.

The houses will likely sell for about $170,000 but that price could be reduced if they are appraised at a lower value, Goff said. The homes come with $30,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance, so the loan required would be closer to $140,000.

That assistance is forgiven over 10 years, so if the homeowner sells before that period, they must pay back the percentage that has not yet been forgiven, Goff said. The houses are required to remain affordable for 15 years and any future buyers in that period must meet the same requirements, she said.

The Clifton Avenue homes sold for around $165,000, Goff said.

An affordable home means the buyer will pay up to 30% of their income toward the house, Goff said.

In order to qualify to purchase these homes, buyers must be under 80% of the area median income, be a first-time homebuyer (which legally means they cannot have owned property for at least the last three years), get preapproved with their ownloan, contribute $1,000 of their own money and take a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development homebuyer education class, Goff said.

NHP offers those classes for free to anyone.

The city of Springfield on Tuesday, June 16, approved a subrecipient agreement with NHP to provide $540,595 in HUD HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds.

City Manager Bryan Heck said Tuesday that this project is just another example of NHP’s efforts to improve the community.

The Crabill Family Foundation is also providing NHP $25,000 per house, with Goff noting the family has been “a huge supporter for us.”

“They’ve been a huge champion of affordable housing in general,” Goff said.

“They’re really excited to be helping with changing things here in Springfield.”

Kim Fish, director of philanthropy for the Crabill Family Foundation, said new affordable housing improves Springfield’s neighborhoods and helps families with economic stability.

“The Crabill Family Foundation has worked with NHP in the past; we find them to be an effective organization and a great partner. We supported their recent work to build seven homes on Clifton Avenue, which all sold quickly to first-time homeowners,”Fish said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to join other funders and NHP to now bring new homes — and other neighborhood improvements — around Euclid Avenue in the Engaged Neighborhood.”

Fish also noted that investing in southside development aligns with the Springfield 2051 effort.

NHP is also receiving support from the Ohio Department of Development’s Welcome Home Ohio Program,which has granted $400,000 for four of the homes, Goff said.

Goff said a large portion of this funding will help NHP cover the cost of building the houses versus the price tag, with an expected building cost of more than $230,000.

The West Euclid homes are part of a years-long community revitalization effort. The area is part of the Engaged Neighborhood Plan and has a new community park and planned modular single-family homes in three blocks adjacent to the Little Miami Scenic Trail bike path near West Euclid Avenue, a Clark County Land Bank project in collaboration with the Clark County Park District and other community stakeholders.

In case all the west Euclid Avenue properties don’t work out, Goff said NHP has some contingencies on Grand Avenue, which is the next street over.

A timeline has not been fully solidified, but Goff said the hope is to break ground no later than the end of August and complete builds before the end of the year, which is a similar timeline to the Clifton Avenue homes.

Like the Clifton project, the builder will once again be Premier Property Sales, which Goff said was “integral in cutting costs in ways that didn’t cut corners.”

All the Clifton Avenue houses have been purchased, and Goff said she’s heard great feedback with only very minor issues, like a squeaky ceiling fan. She said some of the homeowners have become good friends.