Toledo Celebrates Grand Opening of ‘transformative’ $29 Million Collingwood Green Living Housing Development for Adults Age 62-plus

Daily Dose | 05/28/2026 9:30 am

Federal, state and local leaders today celebrated the grand opening of Collingwood Green Living, a $29 million, 75-apartment community near downtown Toledo that will increase affordable housing opportunities for residents age 62-plus in the northwest Ohio region that has prioritized the need for building more senior housing. It’s another major step forward in revitalizing the Junction neighborhood, one of Toledo’s oldest enclaves.

“Today is a proud and exciting moment as we cut the ribbon and officially open Collingwood Green Living,” Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said.

“This project represents what is possible when strong partnerships come together with a shared commitment to our neighborhoods. It brings quality, safe and modern housing for seniors, helping them remain connected to the community they helped build. This is about progress, renewal and celebrating another step forward for Toledo. This is another meaningful step forward for our city and the neighborhoods we continue to invest in together.”

The mayor was joined at the groundbreaking ceremony that attracted a standing-room-only crowd by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio’s 9th District; Lucas County Commissioners Pete Gerken, Anita Lopez and Lisa A. Sobecki; Toledo Housing and Community Development Director Rosalyn Clemens; Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH) President and CEO Senghor Manns; LMH Board Chair Alisha Gant; National Church Residences CEO Susan DiMickele; Ohio Housing Finance Agency Senior Director of Housing Programs Matthew Sutter; National Equity Fund Director Kristen Senff; KeyBank Community Development Senior Vice President David Lacki; and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Duey Stroebel of Region V, Great Lakes.

The City of Toledo and Lucas County partnered with LMH, the nonprofit National Church Residences and builder Rudolph Libbe Group to lead the project, which was supported by $3 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the City of Toledo for the construction, as well as roughly $3.7 million in ARPA funds allocated by the Lucas County Board of Commissioners.

“We’re honored to partner on a development that supports seniors and contributes to the long-term vitality of the Junction neighborhood,” said Rudolph Libbe President Jeff Schaller.

“At Rudolph Libbe, we take pride in using local labor on construction projects that will make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.”

Collingwood Green Living highlights an ambitious slate of construction projects LMH has introduced since 2024 that totals more than $92 million as part of an innovative strategy to offer more affordable housing options to Lucas County families, people with disabilities and especially the elderly who are struggling to make ends meet in the face of rising rental home prices.

“The need for affordable housing is especially critical for seniors in Lucas County because our elderly population is significantly increasing and is projected to grow for the foreseeable future,” LMH’s Manns said.

“Our aim with Collingwood Green Living is to promote healthy aging by offering rents that are reasonably priced to lower-income older adults and allowing them to have money left each month to pay for other life necessities,” said Manns. “Providing affordable housing can help seniors free up resources to spend on other essential needs, like healthcare and food.”

Collingwood Green Living is the latest phase of Lucas Metropolitan Housing’s heralded Collingwood Green community, a strategically planned neighborhood with abundant green space and hundreds of existing units of quality affordable housing.

The Collingwood Green Phases

Redevelopment began in 2011 as a multiphase project intended to provide nearly 300 units of housing.

Phase I (2013): A 65-unit midrise building opened at Division Street and Belmont Avenue, specifically for seniors age 55 and older.
Phase II (2015): Added 68 colorful town house units for families.
Phase III (2020): Completed in early 2020, this phase added another 55 modern townhomes, helping the site transition into a cohesive neighborhood.
Collingwood Green Living (2026)

Neighborhood Features

The neighborhood is designed to be a sustainable, LEED-certified community. It features:

Green space: A central 20-acre site includes a 7.5-acre park with community gardens and a gazebo.
Community resources: Includes a family resource center and social spaces designed for “aging in place.”
Strategic location: The area is nestled near the Olde Towne Historic District and the Collingwood Arts Center, bridging the gap between downtown and historic residential areas.

The new Collingwood Green Living consists of 75 one-bedroom units. Of that total, 30 apartments will serve older adults at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI), or approximately $30,400. Of the remaining 45 units, 28 are restricted to older adults at or below 70% of the AMI, and 17 are restricted to older adults at or below 60% of the AMI. Under the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Income Averaging set-aside, the project can serve older adults up to 80% of the Area Median Income, or $48,650.

Lucas County’s 60-plus population is growing fast, while the 85-and-older demographic is increasing even more, according to the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio. Roughly 1 in 4 Toledo residents — 64,000 people or 24% of the city’s population — are age 60 or older, U.S. census data show.

“Toledo is undergoing a large demographic transformation, with our senior population — especially those age 85 and older — climbing at an unprecedented rate,” Gant said.

Said Congresswoman Kaptur: “By investing in projects like Collingwood Green Living, we are ensuring that our communities have access to safe and affordable housing that meets their evolving needs.”

Studies show safe and stable housing can reduce stress and improve physical and mental health outcomes. Research by the National Institutes of Health shows that affordable housing for seniors can lead to lower hospitalization rates and annual healthcare cost savings of $1,300 per person.

“To be impactful comprehensively, I wholeheartedly believe that LMH’s efforts must include creating ways that help our seniors to live and age with dignity, respect and without fear for their safety,” Gant said. “I’m confident Collingwood Green Living will surpass that standard.”

The four overall previous phases of Collingwood Green development spearheaded by LMH have been 15 years in the making and all properties combined total more than $80 million. The reinvigorated Collingwood Green neighborhood replaced the formerly blighted Brand Whitlock and Albertus Brown Homes sites, which were a concentration of more than 400 public housing units built nearly 80 years ago and demolished in 2011.

“Collingwood Green Living is more than just a building; it’s a commitment to our seniors — a promise that we honor their legacy and ensure they live with dignity and respect,” said Clemens.

“By investing in quality housing that supports both their physical and mental well-being, we are taking a vital step toward a stronger Toledo for everyone,” Clemens added. “Together, we have the power to foster community, connection and compassion, proving that in caring for our seniors, we strengthen the fabric of Toledo.”

Collingwood Green Living will allow vulnerable older adults to age in place in a service-enriched, dignified independent living community on a 20-acre site bounded by Nebraska Avenue, Division Street, Indiana Avenue and I-75 near downtown Toledo.

“Affordable housing options like Collingwood Green Living play a crucial role in preventing homelessness among Ohio’s most vulnerable seniors,” HUD’s Stroebel said. “By addressing their unique needs, we are standing up for those at risk of losing their homes due to financial challenges, ensuring that everyone in our community has a place to call home.”

The new complex will serve as a hub for social, educational and community engagement, bringing Collingwood Green Living and surrounding neighborhood residents together in meaningful ways. With amenities like a fitness center, media room and versatile common areas, the new building is designed to enhance mental health and elevate the overall quality of life for its residents.

“This development will be a game changer for our community,” Commissioner Sobecki said. “Collingwood Green Living aligns with our commitment to make Lucas County a place where everyone is proud to live, work, play and retire, regardless of age, gender, race or income.”

“I’m proud that the Board of Lucas County Commissioners invested $3.7 million into this project because it meets a real need in our community,” Commissioner Gerken said. “Our senior residents deserve to have high-quality, affordable housing options and this will provide them a safe, stable place to call home.”

“Our seniors helped build this country and helped make Lucas County the wonderful place it is today,” Commissioner Lopez said. “We owe them a debt of gratitude and must provide them with affordable, quality living spaces. For many seniors, Collingwood Green Living will be that place.”

In addition to the city and county ARPA funding, Collingwood Green Living received a $5.7 million Section 202 Capital Advance award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“This new development represents a collaborative effort to provide critically needed affordable housing for older adults in Toledo,” National Church Residences CEO DiMickele said.

“National Church Residences is proud to continue our commitment to Toledo. Collingwood Green Living joins our existing family of six affordable senior communities in the city."

These financing sources were combined with noncompetitive 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency that were syndicated by the National Equity Fund. Construction and permanent financing for the project were provided by KeyBank.

“Investing in senior housing, such as Collingwood Green Living, goes beyond improving individual lives — it strengthens the entire Toledo community,” Senff said.

“These types of high-quality developments attract essential services and businesses that cater to seniors, fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive together,” Lacki said.