Woda Cooper Companies, Inc.

Canaan Crossing in Madison, GA, is the new home for an original metal sculpture commemorating the Jackson Youth Center that was once located on the site. Canaan Crossing is a 60-unit affordable housing community opened by Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. and Parallel Housing, Inc. Madison’s Public Arts Commission hosted a dedication ceremony for the new artwork September 30, 2024. Sculptor Harold Rittenberry was there to explain how he created the artwork, incorporating two salvaged columns from the building that housed the youth center. Other sculpture components include metal birds that pay tribute to the 12 Apostles and additional symbols of activities once held at the youth center, including weddings, sports games, dances, and church events.   Madison Mayor Fred Perriman also gave remarks, as did Councilmember Carrie Peters Reid, and the city's communication officer Ken Kocher. Woda Cooper Companies’ Jonathan Kuhn welcomed the group to Canaan Crossing and gave a brief background on the development.

Enjoy more photos from the Juniper Crossing I and Juniper Crossing II groundbreaking. The two-phased development will build a combined 81 affordable rental homes for seniors at 60 Obetz Road in Columbus. Phase II is one of the first developments under construction with financing resulting from the new state housing tax credit program. Timothy J. White, who spoke at the event on behalf of lender Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust noted that "affordable" isn't the best description for this housing option. “I think a property like Juniper Crossing should be called dignity housing," he said. Elon Simms, who spoke on behalf of Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, noted the value of investing in residents. "The people in this community are our greatest asset and any investment in our fellow neighbors is an investment in our collective future," said Simms, who serves as the Mayor's Chief of Staff. Thank you to our partners who participated in the event Chief Simms, Mr. White, plus representatives of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, the Affordable Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County, Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority, and Jewish Family Services, who will provide referrals and coordinate supportive services at Juniper Crossing II. We also extend our gratitude to Merchants Capital who invested in the tax credits for both phases of Juniper Crossing and their affiliate Merchants Bank of Indiana who is construction lender. #housingforseniors #affordablehousing #dignityhousing #OhioLIHTC

Overnight rains didn’t stop the festivities at the groundbreaking celebration for Juniper Crossing I and Juniper Crossing II held October 2 at the construction site at 60 Obetz Road on Columbus’ south side. The event celebrated the start of the two phases to be built simultaneously to provide 44 units in Juniper Crossing I and 37 units for Juniper Crossing II, both targeted for senior residents. The combined 81 units will be offered to residents at a mix of incomes between 30% and 70% of area median income. Juniper Crossing II is one of the first developments to be constructed in Ohio using the state’s new workforce housing tax credit program to support financing. Shawn Smith, Executive Director of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), told the audience that Juniper Crossing, “symbolizes a new era in affordable housing…leveraging of the new state tax credits to benefit individuals across state who are so desperate for stable affordable housing,” Thank you to our partners who participated in the event, including OHFA plus Elon Simms, Chief of Staff for Mayor Andrew Ginther, City of Columbus, plus representatives of the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority, and Jewish Family Services, who will provide referrals and coordinate supportive services at Juniper Crossing II. We also extend our gratitude to Merchants Capital who invested in the tax credits for both phases of Juniper Crossing and their affiliate Merchants Bank of Indiana who is construction lender. #housingforseniors #affordablehousing #dignityhousing #OhioLIHTC Read more https://lnkd.in/gGyTGZYQ

The two-phased Granville Woods Lofts, co-developed with the Gertrude Wood Community Foundation, has made history. Granville Woods Lofts I in Columbus is Ohio’s first property closed and under construction with financing supported by Ohio's new workforce tax credit program for affordable multifamily housing. The program was signed into law in 2023. Granville Woods Lofts I will provide 58 new general occupancy apartments, plus community amenities such as library, fitness center, parcel room, a children’s playroom, and management office. It will include commercial spaces on the first floor for retail or professional businesses.  A second phase will provide 60 units. Ohio workforce housing tax credits were awarded by Ohio Housing Finance Agency who also allocated federal LIHTCs. Equity financing for phase one will be provided through an investment in the credits by Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing.  It also received equity bridge loans from OHFA and the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County (AHT), as well as bond volume cap from OHFA. Additional gap funding came through Franklin County Capital Magnet Funds and Ohio Department of Development Brownfield Remediation Program, the City of Columbus, and AHT. Construction lender for both phases is Huntington National Bank. Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority issued a sales tax exemption. Granville Woods Lofts I includes a partnership with Jewish Family Services for resident referrals and supportive services coordination. Granville Woods Lofts was named in honor of Ohio inventor Granville T. Woods who credited with filing nearly 60 patents improving transportation and telecommunications during the early 20th century. We are proud of Granville Woods Lofts' early accomplishment and look forward to construction and operations.

This week we celebrated the opening of our first affordable housing community in Minnesota with Shelby Commons in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis. The new housing community offers 46 new affordable rental homes for families and individuals. We thank our partner Project for Pride in Living (PPL) for collaborating on this great new development and co-hosting the event which included tours, remarks, and a reception in the property’s community room. “We couldn’t be prouder to have partnered with Woda Cooper in bringing this impactful development to life,” said PPL President and CEO Paul Williams. “The families and individuals who come to reside in Shelby Commons will get to enjoy stable, affordable housing in the vibrant North Loop and continue to contribute to this dynamic neighborhood for many years to come. Shelby Commons embodies our vision of building safe, resilient, and equitable communities.” The City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Housing each awarded Shelby Commons with housing tax credits to support primary financing. All of the units at Shelby Commons are affordable for households earning 30% to 80% area median income. Shelby Commons provides 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments with energy efficient kitchens, a community room, central laundry, and outdoor spaces including a rooftop terrace, playground, and community gardens for residents. Underground parking is also available onsite. The four-story contemporary-styled building features a corrugated metal façade with brick accents. It will be highlighted by two large murals now underway by celebrated local mural artist Jordan Hamilton in association with Juxtaposition Arts. The artwork symbolizes the neighborhood’s history and culture. Twelve units are dedicated for people experiencing housing insecurity with rental assistance from the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. Five additional units offer rental assistance provided by Hennepin County who also provided other support including a soft loan.   PPL will provide optional supportive services for residents in the twelve units reserved for residents who have faced housing insecurity and need assistance. These services include items such as skill building around budgeting, housekeeping, and managing relationships with a variety of professionals. Additionally, PPL will make referrals to community services, health care providers, employment services, and education resources for these individuals. Thank you to all of our collaborators and financing partners Merchants Capital who invested in the tax credits, Security Bank & Trust Co. who provided a permanent first mortgage and Huntington National Bank who provided a construction loan. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ga6TqJtb

We wanted to share a quick video from the ribbon-cutting today at Shelby Commons in Minneapolis. We are so proud to partner with Project for Pride in Living (PPL) on the new affordable community with 46 units, including several units for residents facing housing insecurity and all affordable for those under 80% of area median income. Elfric Porte, Director of Communty Planning and Economic Development at City of Minneapolis, helmed the scissors today. Come back soon for more details and photos from today’s event. This our first property in Minnesota.

We are pleased to share that Malik Jordan recently joined Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. as Senior Vice President – Development. Malik is based in Baltimore, Maryland, and for the past 16 years has navigated the crossroads of community development, affordable housing, and urban planning. He brings a problem-solving lens to development projects that involve housing, capital projects, and community engagement. He has experience creating partnerships between real estate developers, anchor institutions, state and local municipalities,  and philanthropic and nonprofit organizations.    Malik holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Coppin State University and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Georgetown University. Malik is a board member for GEDCO, a faith-based housing advocacy organization, and a member the Lake Evesham Community Association.   He is pictured at left. We are also very pleased to announce that Jared Miller, who is based in Columbus, has joined Woda Cooper Companies, Inc’s team as Vice President-Development. Jared has worked in the affordable housing/multifamily industry for the past four years and is a proven project leader for land acquisition, development planning/qualified application plans, housing financing, including the use of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, navigating local and federal regulatory environments, closings, pre-construction, and project tracking. Jared earned a master’s degree in real estate from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in architecture, with a minor in business administration, from The Ohio State University. His professional affiliations include the Urban Land Institute, LEED/US Green Building Council, and the American Institute of Architects. Jared, who reports to Jeffrey J. Woda, will focus on Woda Cooper’s development initiatives in Tennessee and Pennsylvania, as well as other states.

OpenDoor Women's Recovery Alliance is a grassroots nonprofit organization with the purpose of helping women in recovery. The organization provides one year of free services to women as they transition from treatment and/or incarceration to a drug-free life. It was started by three mothers after the opioid crisis’ had terrible impacts to their own children. Representatives of Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. were deeply moved upon hearing about OpenDoor’s work when they attended the organization’s first annual Morning of Hope fundraising breakfast held September 14 in New Albany, OH.   Keynote speaker for the event was Hilary Phelps, addiction recovery advocate and sister of Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps.  “Addiction and mental health issues cross all cultures, age groups, and socioeconomic backgrounds,” said Cheryl Cooper, wife of Woda Cooper’s President David Cooper. “It was deeply inspiring to learn about OpenDoor’s work and hear the personal stories shared by the speakers, including the founding families who are rising from devastating circumstances to help strangers recover from the grips of addiction.”  The organization’s website summarizes its mission: “Offering hope, help, and healing to women in recovery from addiction while supporting transition to a healthy and drug-free life.” To donate to OpenDoor Women’s Recovery Alliance, visit https://lnkd.in/g-wafWAj Several representatives from Woda Cooper attended the Morning of Hope breakfast, including from left in photo: Andrew Speicher, Allyson Amstutz, Cheryl Cooper, Gillian Gross, Kristina Quach, and Maia Cooper.

Woda Cooper Companies' Development team members Tammy Stansbury, Pat Olding, and Omer Sarig recently attended the 2024 Kentucky Affordable Housing Conference held in Louisville, KY. Tammy Stansbury, Vice President and lead for our Kentucky Development operations, is shown in photo with microphone. She was a speaker at a workshop for Developers about the State of the Market. The August 21-22 conference was themed, “Closing the Gap: Building Bridges to Innovative Housing Solutions.”   Photo credit: Kentucky Housing Corporation

Ben Esser and Andrew Speicher, both interns at Woda Cooper Companies, Inc., were named as 2024 recipients for the NorthSteppe Realty/T. Ewing Miller Memorial Scholarship recently at a special luncheon at The Columbus Club. The scholarships reward students at The Ohio State University (OSU) who have an interest in real estate and exhibit excellent academic performance.  Woda Cooper Development Analyst Omer Sarig is a past recipient and participated in this year’s luncheon as a presenter. Woda Cooper’s Maia Cooper, Vice President-Development, is an advisory board member for the Fisher College of Business and strong OSU supporter. She was proud to attend the event to support the Woda Cooper interns and employees who have benefited from this scholarship.  “We are thrilled to see Ben and Andrew recognized this year,”  Ms. Cooper said. “Working in the affordable housing industry as interns at Woda Cooper builds on their excellent educational foundation in real estate at OSU.” About the photo: Michael Stickney is the founder of NorthSteppe Realty, Inc. and great-great grandson of Thomas Ewing Miller, the scholarship’s namesake. Mr. Stickney and his wife, Linda, established the scholarship in 2007. Shown from left to right are Ben Esser, Mr. Stickney, Omer Sarig, and Andrew Speicher.