COLUMBUS, OH (December 29, 2025) — Trinity Baptist Church, in partnership with Nix Development Company, and National Church Residences, is moving forward with The Scarborough, a new affordable senior housing community designed to help longtime Near East Side residents in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood age safely and affordably in the neighborhood they call home.
Rooted in more than a century of service to the community, Trinity Baptist Church has long recognized the need for stable, affordable housing for seniors who have lived in the neighborhood for decades but are increasingly priced out. After more than ten years of visioning and planning, the church chose to leverage its land to address this critical need in a way that reflects its mission and honors the neighborhood’s history. They partnered with Nix Development Company and National Church Residences, bringing together mission-driven leadership, neighborhood-focused development expertise, and national affordable housing experience.
“For our church and for the Bronzeville community, this moment has been a long time coming. It truly feels like a lifetime in the making,” said Pastor Victor Davis of Trinity Baptist Church. “The Scarborough is the result of years of vision, hard work, faith, and prayer. Every step of this journey has been rooted in our commitment to the people who call this neighborhood home, and today we celebrate not just a groundbreaking, but a promise fulfilled to our seniors and to the future of this community.”
The Scarborough is an 84-unit affordable senior housing development that will serve residents ages 62 and older with incomes ranging from 30% to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The community will include one and two-bedroom apartments in a newly constructed, elevator-served building designed to support accessibility, safety, and long-term aging in place.
The need for affordable senior housing is closely tied to health and well-being outcomes. According to a 2024 study by the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO), Finding Home in the Heart of It All, communities that reduce the number of residents who are cost-burdened by housing see measurable benefits: increased life expectancy, reduced food insecurity, and fewer instances of older adults skipping or rationing necessary medications. Access to safe, decent, and affordable housing allows older adults to live longer, healthier lives while remaining rooted in their communities.
National Church Residences has received HUD Section 202 Housing for the Elderly funding for the project, which will be paired with 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency to ensure long-term affordability and stability. Additional financial partners include National Equity Fund, JLL, Lument, Huntington National Bank, the City of Columbus Bond Program, and the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County. Service coordination will be provided through operating expenses, connecting residents to resources that promote independence and well-being.
“The Scarborough represents a growing trend in affordable housing that is referred to as ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’. Churches around the nation are making their land available to serve those most in need. We are excited about this growing role of faith-based and community-led partnerships in addressing housing needs,” said Amy Rosenthal, Vice President of Affordable Housing at National Church Residences. “By working alongside Trinity Baptist Church, we are helping ensure older adults can age in place with stability, dignity, and support.”
Bronzeville has long been a center of Black culture, leadership, and community life in Columbus. Today, churches, community leaders, and local organizations are playing a central role in shaping a future rooted in restoration, opportunity, and inclusive growth. The Scarborough reflects that forward-looking vision, honoring the past while investing in the next chapter of the community.
Named in honor of Rev. Dr. N. L. Scarborough, the third pastor of Trinity Baptist Church and the first mayor of Bronzeville, elected in 1937, The Scarborough reflects both the neighborhood’s history and its future. The name serves as a reminder of the church’s long-standing role in spiritual, civic, and community leadership.
The project reached a milestone on December 28th. Trinity Baptist Church hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on its Near East Side campus along with Nix Development Company, National Church Residences, church leadership, community partners, and local officials, including Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, emphasizing the broad community and civic support behind the development.
About Trinity Baptist Church
For over 100 years Trinity Baptist Church has provided ministry from its location in the near eastside of Columbus, OH. In 1937, the late Rev. Dr. N.L. Scarborough who was serving as the third pastor of the church was elected the mayor of Bronzeville. Bronzeville represented the African American community that was predominantly populating the near eastside. Trinity Baptist Church continues to be a growing divers Christian ministry committed to the transformation and growth of humanity. Trinity-Baptist.com
About National Church Residences
National Church Residences is the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of affordable senior housing and a leading developer, owner, and operator of senior and permanent supportive housing communities. Headquartered in central Ohio, the organization operates more than 350 communities nationwide and serves approximately 65,000 seniors through high-quality housing paired with supportive services. Driven by a vision to advance better living for 100,000 seniors by 2030, National Church Residences has developed, preserved, or operates more than 2,000 housing units across 26 communities in the City of Columbus alone.
The organization also offers a variety of additional senior living options, home and community-based services, as well as permanent supportive housing for the formerly homeless and disabled. For more information, visit us at NationalChurchResidences.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
About Nix Development Company
Nix Development Company is a Maryland-based, real estate development and advisory firm focused on community revitalization and mixed-income housing development. With a mission to improve the quality of life and strengthen the economic stability of residents and distressed neighborhoods through responsible revitalization. Nix Development approaches every project through a transformative lens, with a national footprint of projects that have planned and developed more than 1,600 residential units, totaling over $320 million in value. For more information, visit www.nixdevco.com.
CONTACT:
Chris Herbert, Public Relations
