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Enterprise Green Communities in Ohio

Ohio Green Communities is part of a national effort to transform the way we think about, locate and design affordable housing. Enterprise Green Communities, led by Enterprise, has invested more $700 million in homes that are built according to the Green Communities Criteria, creating nearly 16,000 green affordable homes in more than 30 states, providing significant health, economic and environmental benefits to low-income families and communities across the country.

Ohio Green Communities is part of a national effort to transform the way we think about, locate and design affordable housing. Green Communities, led by Enterprise, has invested more $700 million in homes that are built according to the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria, creating nearly 16,000 green affordable homes in more than 30 states, providing significant health, economic and environmental benefits to low-income families and communities across the country.
The Enterprise Green Communities Criteria was adopted by the cities of Cleveland and Columbus as the standard for homes rehabbed and rebuilt under the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
More than half of the developments awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in 2009 met the Criteria.
Enterprise is also developing a Green Retrofit Fund: a new financing tool for developers to retrofit their multifamily properties with energy-saving features.

Cleveland Green Homes II

Enterprise and Cleveland Housing Network recently celebrated the completion of Cleveland Green Homes II, a community of 45 fully accessible single-family homes. All are “lease-purchase” homes available to families with incomes below 60 percent of area median income, and every home meets the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria.

Cleveland Green Homes II received substantial funding from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and the city of Cleveland, and was also awarded funding from the Ohio Green Communities initiative.

These attractive, sustainable homes are scattered throughout six Cleveland neighborhoods that make up the city’s Strategic Investment Initiative targeted areas,” said Mark McDermott, Enterprise vice president and Ohio market leader. “These communities also overlap with ongoing neighborhood stabilization efforts. The development of Cleveland Green Homes II is a key part of revitalization efforts.”

Cleveland Housing Network will lease the homes during the 15-year Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) compliance period, and sell them to existing residents after the compliance period ends. Sale prices are set at an affordable amount so that a buyer’s monthly payment is no more than their previous rent payment, maintaining compliance with LIHTC affordability restrictions. Prior to purchase, Cleveland Housing Network will provide homebuyer and financial education to residents.

Green Development Strategies and the NSP:
A View from Columbus, Ohio

In 2008, the city of Columbus took a significant step in their housing policy by making green design central to their $22.8 million, federally funded, Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).
Based on the Green Communities Criteria, the City of Columbus and Franklin County were able to create the AWARE Manual which describes their specific green rehabilitation standards and sample specifications, to hand out to developers, contractors, and other partners.

We are Enterprise. Our family includes Enterprise Community Partners, Inc, a national Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides expertise for affordable housing and sustainable communities. Financing for affordable housing is offered through our tax-exempt subsidiary, Enterprise Community Loan Fund, Inc., and our for-profit subsidiary, Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. Housing development is offered through Enterprise Community Investment's subsidiary, Enterprise Homes, Inc. The content on this website reflects information about all of these entities.