COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 4, 2023)-- The Columbus REALTORS® Foundation gathered on Chicago Avenue in Franklinton with public elected officials and representatives from Franklinton Rising and Vista Village to celebrate the Foundation’s $50,000 “Big Give” donation to each organization.
Held next to the construction site of two of Franklinton Rising’s newest home builds, the event featured Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and Columbus City Councilmembers Nick Bankston and Emmanuel Remy, along with Steve Wathen from the Franklinton Rising Board of Directors and Harvey Hook, the Chief Engagement Officer for Vista Village.
Columbus REALTORS® CEO Brent Swander welcomed the crowd of attendees, which included members of the youth trade apprentice program, one of the integral parts of the Franklinton Rising initiative. Columbus REALTORS® President Patti Brown-Wright spoke about the commitment displayed by REALTOR members toward finding affordable housing solutions. 2023 Foundation Chair Brian Kemp and 2022 Chair, Jesse Shkolnik presented Wathen and Hook with the contributions before turning the program over to Mayor Ginther and Councilmembers Remy and Bankston.
“Great families make for great neighborhoods, and great neighborhoods make for great cities,” said Mayor Ginther. “I’m more excited about the future than I ever have been because we are growing in a dynamic and inclusive way. If you work in this region, you ought to be able to afford to live in this region and have a safe home where you can grow and thrive.”
Remy and Bankston followed Mayor Ginther in the program and presented Columbus REALTORS® leadership with a resolution from the City of Columbus.
“With this expansive growth comes challenges. We are not building fast enough when it comes to housing, so it takes partnerships and investments to make a difference,” said Councilmember Remy. “Organizations like Franklinton Rising and Vista Village are critical to our mission to provide affordability in the City of Columbus. Contributions like the ones from Columbus REALTORS® Foundation are necessary to make these projects affordable and successful.”
Speaking on behalf of the Columbus REALTORS® Foundation, Kemp touted the organization’s ability to impact the region.
“The charitable work that Columbus REALTORS® performs is truly the organization’s lifeblood,” said Kemp. As REALTORS®, we believe that everyone deserves a place to call home, and we’re committed to making that a reality for as many people as possible.”
The $100,000 total gift matches the largest single-year contribution in the history of the Columbus REALTORS® Foundation. Since 2008, Columbus REALTORS® has invested over $2 million into central Ohio’s neighborhoods and communities through its charitable entity.
More About the “Big Give” Recipients…
Franklinton Rising
Formed in 2014 by community leader Tom Heffner, Franklinton Rising is a multifaceted housing program dedicated to buying and rehabbing homes on Chicago Avenue while providing job training and trade apprenticeship opportunities for young at-risk youth in the area. Transforming neighborhoods while minimizing gentrification is a primary goal for Franklinton Rising. In addition to rehabbing existing homes, the organization’s newest initiative is constructing two apartment buildings, resulting in four affordable 3-bedroom apartments. Between 30-40 local youth trainees will work with 8-15 local contractors to complete the project. Funds from the “Big Give” will be responsible for constructing one of the four units.
Vista Village
One of the area’s most exciting new initiatives is Vista Village, led by Columbus lawyer John Perez. Located on a 15-acre site south of Refugee Road and west of Hamilton Road on the city’s east side, the development plans on harnessing the popularity and practicality of tiny homes to impact homelessness and housing instability positively. Vista Village will consist of 41 homes constructed on foundations. Each home will be 420 square feet, furnished with a front porch. In addition to the 41 homes, a community center and a park will be located on-site. The overarching belief of Vista Village is that everyone deserves the dignity of a home. This will be a transitional space where residents can stay for 18-24 months while getting back on their feet. Residents will pay a subsidized run of $350 and be responsible for home maintenance and lawn mowing. Many local real estate developers have joined Perez, and there are plans to expand the project after the first 41 homes are completed. Funds from the Columbus REALTORS® “Big Give” will go directly to sponsoring one of the 41 homes.
