CMHA Opens 82-Unit Senior Complex in Grove City, Backs $125M Housing Push

The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority opened its first Grove City development in April 2026. It is called Cobblestone Manor. The complex has 82 apartments for seniors. It cost $28.6 million to build. This was first reported by Hoodline.

Here is who the homes are for. About three quarters of the units are set aside for people who earn near $20,000 a year. The rest go to households earning up to about $55,000 a year. The building includes a fitness center, a community room, a library, and a walking trail to nearby services.

Cobblestone Manor is just the start. CMHA has committed about $125 million across four Grove City sites. The plan includes buying 11 acres next to the Demorest Townhomes to build more than 100 new townhomes. It also includes a mixed-use project near Mount Carmel Grove City hospital with more than 200 units and ground-floor retail and restaurant space. Several of these projects are expected to break ground later in 2026.

What does this mean for you? The need is real and it is large. Across central Ohio, there are only about 29 affordable units for every 100 households with very low incomes. Roughly 54,000 Franklin County households spend more than half of their income on housing. That is a heavy burden. When rent eats half your paycheck, one car repair can push you toward the edge.

Grove City has grown fast. Home prices and rents have climbed with that growth. For years, most new building here was market-rate. Cobblestone Manor and the projects behind it aim to fill a gap that private builders often skip. Board Chairman James L. Ervin Jr. said CMHA wants to do more than hand people keys. He said the goal is to add supportive services too.

If you own a home or a rental in Grove City, this matters to your bottom line. New affordable units near jobs and a hospital tend to keep neighborhoods stable. Stable neighborhoods hold their value. A mix of incomes also keeps local shops busy year round.

Here is what to watch next. Watch for groundbreaking dates on the Demorest Townhomes expansion and the hospital-area project. Watch how fast Cobblestone Manor fills up. A fast lease-up would prove how deep the demand runs. Also watch whether the city adds more land or zoning changes to speed things along.

Here is your takeaway. Grove City is no longer only a market-rate town. Public money is now flowing into homes for seniors and working families at a large scale. If you are a landlord, expect steadier demand at the lower end of the market. If you are a senior on a fixed income, more options are coming. If you are thinking about buying or selling nearby, this wave of investment is a signal worth tracking. When you are ready to make a move, you can sell your home with a clear read on what these projects mean for your street.

Sources: Hoodline, WOSU