The Community Builders Opens Woodhill Station East With 54 Affordable, 10 Market-Rate Apartments in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, OH — The Community Builders (TCB), the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), and the City of Cleveland have celebrated the grand opening of Woodhill Station East, a 64-unit mixed-income apartment building at the corner of Buckeye Road and Woodhill Road in Cleveland's Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood. The development delivers 54 affordable apartments and 10 market-rate apartments, along with commercial space capable of hosting up to three tenants.

The project represents the third phase of the Buckeye-Woodhill Choice Transformation and marks the completion of all off-site phases of the broader redevelopment effort, which is replacing the former Woodhill Homes public housing site with mixed-income housing and neighborhood-serving amenities.

Development Milestone for Buckeye-Woodhill

Woodhill Station East sits immediately east of Woodhill Station West, the award-winning second phase of the same transformation effort. The new building expands the mixed-income development footprint along the Buckeye Road corridor.

George Tabit, regional vice president of real estate development for The Community Builders, said the opening delivers on the project's core mission. "The Community Builders are thrilled to be here today to open the doors at Woodhill Station East and mark the completion of the third phase of the Woodhill Homes transformation. Today's ribbon cutting is a milestone that delivers 64 quality affordable homes to individuals and families, making Cleveland's Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood even stronger," Tabit said.

The full redevelopment plan calls for approximately 638 homes across multiple phases, along with public amenities including outdoor gathering spaces, recreational fields, and playgrounds. Woodhill Station East is described in project materials as the last off-site phase, with future phases expected to continue on the former Woodhill Homes site.

Amenities, Commercial Space, and Resident Services

Beyond housing, Woodhill Station East includes a commercial component with space for up to three tenants. The building's amenity package includes a community room, lounges, a fitness center, landscaped greenspace, and an outdoor patio.

All units are pre-wired for high-speed internet service. Low-cost access is being provided through Digital-C, a connectivity partner, with the stated goal of linking residents to education, employment, and community resources.

TCB will oversee a team of Community Life case managers who will provide on-site supportive service programming. According to the organization, those case managers will work collaboratively with a network of service partners to connect residents to resources in six areas: workforce development, asset building, community engagement, youth development, education, and health and wellness.

Federal and Local Financing

Financial partners include Lument, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Citizens Bank, the HUD Choice Neighborhoods program, The Community Builders, CMHA, and the City of Cleveland through ARPA HOME funds.

In 2021, HUD awarded a $35 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant to CMHA and the City of Cleveland to support the Buckeye-Woodhill Transformation Plan. In April 2023, HUD awarded an additional $10 million Choice Neighborhoods Supplemental Funding Grant to further support replacement housing development under the same plan. More than 200 collaborative and community partners are involved in the broader transformation effort.

Jeffery K. Patterson, Chief Executive Officer of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, said the opening signals momentum across the neighborhood. "The opening of Woodhill Station East marks a key moment in the Buckeye-Woodhill Choice Transformation: the completion of all off-site phases. The first three phases have already begun to reshape how residents experience their community, bringing new, high-quality homes and laying foundations for retail opportunities," Patterson said. "The transformation of Woodhill Homes has helped spark renewed energy and momentum across the Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood, with partners building on this shared vision for long-term community growth."

City and Council Leadership

Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb framed the project as an example of connecting housing to broader opportunity. "Woodhill Station East represents the future of equitable development in Cleveland, creating high-quality housing, expanding opportunity, and delivering the kind of neighborhood investment residents deserve," Bibb said. "Through the Cleveland ERA, we are proving that affordable housing can and should be connected to transit, jobs, and amenities that help families thrive."

Cleveland City Council President Blaine A. Griffin noted the project's place within the larger transformation timeline. "We've reached the halfway point in the Buckeye-Woodland Choice Neighborhood Transformation, and we're beginning to see how this neighborhood's future will look. Neighbors are more excited than they've been in years, and I'm right there with them," Griffin said.

No transaction price, total development cost, or per-unit cost figures were disclosed in connection with the grand opening announcement.

About the Organizations

The Community Builders is a nonprofit real estate developer focused on affordable and mixed-income housing. The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority owns and manages property and administers rent subsidy programs for eligible low-income residents and families in the greater Cleveland area. The City of Cleveland is the municipal government serving Cleveland, Ohio.

Sources: The Community Builders press release, tcbinc.org