A new housing development in Lewis Center is adding more than 100 homes to the Central Ohio market at a time when the region is struggling to keep up with housing demand.
Midwest homebuilder Onyx+East recently announced the completion of Greenery, a single-family rental community located at 303 Shanahan Road in Lewis Center, Ohio. The $46 million development spans about 37 acres and includes 121 homes designed specifically for renters.
It’s the company’s first completed build-to-rent community in Central Ohio.
Unlike traditional apartment complexes, the neighborhood offers stand-alone homes designed to provide a single-family living experience while still giving residents the flexibility of renting.
Homes at Greenery feature three- and four-bedroom layouts with attached two-car garages and up to roughly 2,900 square feet of living space. Monthly rent starts at about $2,700.
The community sits within the Olentangy Local School District and is located near several major amenities, including Alum Creek State Park and the rapidly growing Evans Farm district.
About half of the homes have already been leased, according to the developer.
Designed for suburban living
The community was built with amenities meant to encourage outdoor recreation and neighborhood connections. Residents have access to walking trails, a playground, a dog park and a shared pavilion space.
The property is also located near U.S. Route 23, providing relatively quick access to job centers, restaurants and shopping throughout the Columbus region.
“Greenery reflects our continued commitment to developing high-quality residential communities in strong, growing markets,” said Onyx+East CEO Kelli Lawrence in a statement.
The site was previously approved for a senior rental housing development before plans shifted to the current build-to-rent neighborhood.
Housing demand continues to rise in Central Ohio
Projects like Greenery come as the Columbus region faces a significant housing shortage.
Local housing experts estimate the region needs to dramatically increase housing production to keep pace with population growth and job expansion. In Columbus alone, there is a shortage of more than 58,000 affordable housing units.
Over the past 15 years, the region has built roughly 5,000 fewer homes annually than needed, contributing to rising housing costs and limited availability.
Rent prices have climbed significantly as a result. Median rent in the region increased roughly 34 percent between 2017 and 2022, and more than 80,000 families now spend over half their income on housing.
While developments like Greenery expand the region’s housing supply, the starting rent reflects the broader rise in housing costs across Central Ohio.
More developments planned for the region
Greenery is just one of several projects Onyx+East has planned locally.
The company is preparing its first Central Ohio for-sale housing community in Hilliard, where a development called Alton Place is expected to bring 123 homes to the area.
Two additional build-to-rent communities are also under construction, including Haven in Upper Arlington and another Lewis Center development called Mural.
As Central Ohio continues to grow, developers and local leaders say expanding the region’s housing supply will be critical to keeping up with demand.
