A New Build-To-Rent Community Is Open Just North Of Columbus

Updated: July 9, 2026

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 completed Greenery in early 2026. The single-family rental community sits 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. As of summer 2026, monthly rent starts around $2,600, and the biggest four-bedroom plans run past $3,500.

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.

Homes are still available as of summer 2026, and Greenery has been running move-in specials for new residents.

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 roughly 53,000 affordable housing units, according to the 2026 Gap Report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition and COHHIO.

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. Nearly half of Ohio renters now pay more than they can afford on housing, according to the same 2026 report, and more than 80,000 Central Ohio families spend over half their income on it.

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. Construction is slated to start in summer 2026, with the first homes available in 2027.

The rental pipeline is moving faster. Mural, a 120-home build-to-rent community just down the road in Lewis Center, welcomed its first residents in December 2025 and is now leasing, with rents starting around $2,300. A smaller 25-home community called Haven is still under construction in Upper Arlington.

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.

Build-to-rent communities around Columbus

Greenery has company. Here’s where the build-to-rent concept stands across Central Ohio as of summer 2026:

• Greenery (Lewis Center): 121 detached homes, three and four bedrooms, renting from about $2,600 a month.
• Mural (Lewis Center): 120 homes just down the road from Greenery, two to four bedrooms, leasing since December 2025 from about $2,300.
• Haven (Upper Arlington): a smaller 25-home community from the same developer, still under construction.
• Landmark on Scioto (Columbus): 321 build-to-rent homes on 44.5 acres along the Scioto, with leasing expected to begin in summer 2026. One catch worth knowing: it’s an affordable-housing community, limited to households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income.

Build-to-rent FAQ

What is a build-to-rent community?

A neighborhood of houses built specifically to be rented, not sold. You get the single-family setup: a yard, a garage, a real street. A professional operator owns and manages the whole neighborhood, so there’s no mortgage and no maintenance on your plate.

Is build-to-rent the same as rent-to-own?

No. Build-to-rent is a standard lease on a purpose-built rental house. Rent-to-own is a contract that puts part of your rent toward eventually buying the home.

How much does a build-to-rent home cost in Columbus?

At Greenery in Lewis Center, rents start around $2,600 a month as of summer 2026. Mural, nearby, starts around $2,300. Expect something close to a starter-home mortgage payment, but with no down payment and no repair bills.