October 1, 2021…Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. is pleased to announce the U.S. Green Building Council has certified the second phase of the affordable housing community Wheatland Crossing with the prestigious LEED Gold designation for sustainability. Wheatland Crossing is in The Hilltop neighborhood of Columbus. Woda Cooper Companies’ partners in the development include Homes on the Hill CDC and Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
Phase II of Wheatland Crossing is a 64-unit general occupancy new community completed in early 2021. It is comprised of 10 townhouses plus 54 garden apartments. The new phase complements Wheatland Crossing’s first phase completed in 2017 for residents age 55 and older. Phase I was certified LEED Platinum.
LEED certification is achieved as a result of implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
“Our goal in developing and building Wheatland Crossing and all of our affordable communities is focused on meeting the needs of our residents by providing a comfortable, high-quality home they can afford to rent and maintain,” said Joe DiCesare, Woda Cooper Companies’ Senior Vice President – Construction. “Our green building practices and the resulting energy efficiencies allow our residents to pay lower utility bills and maintain a higher percentage of their monthly income for other expenses such as rent, food, medical costs, and other daily living costs.”
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) allocated essential tax credits to Wheatland Crossing II, with Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing as primary investor. A first mortgage was provided by Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, with a second soft mortgage from OHFA and third from City of Columbus HOME Funds. Huntington National Bank provided a construction loan. Equity bridge loans were provided by OHFA and the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County.
“We appreciate the strong support from the City of Columbus, OHFA, and our other important partners to make it possible for Woda Cooper Companies to create 64 new affordable homes for residents in Columbus’ Hilltop neighborhood,” said DiCesare.
Sol Design + Consulting served as Wheatland Crossing’s sustainability advisor, PCI Design Group was architect, and Woda Cooper Companies’ construction division Woda Construction Inc. was general contractor. Woda Cooper’s management team oversees day-to-day operations.
#GreenBuilding #AffordableHousing #LEED
Wheatland Crossing is a combination of a garden apartments and townhomes.
About Woda Cooper Companies, Inc.
Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. and its affiliates specialize in the development, design, construction, and management of high-quality affordable multi-family apartments, senior communities, and single-family homes. The company marked 30 years in business May 2, 2020, with operations in 16 states and a portfolio of approximately 400 communities and 16,000 units. Green building is standard with certifications including Passive House, Zero Energy Ready Homes, LEED, Enterprise Green, EarthCraft, and ENERGY STAR. Woda Cooper has offices in Savannah, GA; Indianapolis, IN; Shelbyville, KY; Annapolis, MD; Mackinaw City, MI; Charlotte, NC; Columbus, OH; and Norfolk, VA. Affordable Housing Finance magazine ranked Woda Cooper Companies 10th in nation among Developers and 18th among Owners in 2021.
