Carla Clark | For The Republic Inherent Commercial, LLC group, with Kevin Johnson, Thrive Alliance, center, and Tiffany Ackerman, HDJ, center, hold shovels full of dirt during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Haw Creek Meadows affordable housing community project in Columbus, Ind., Monday, October 20, 2025.

From The Republic, Columbus, Indiana   (LINK TO STORY HERE)

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Monday for Haw Creek Meadows, a planned 128-unit affordable housing project at 2100 Midway St. The ceremonies were hosted by Thrive Alliance, Gratus Development, the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and the Columbus Redevelopment Commission.

Housing Partnerships, Inc., a non-profit that does business as Thrive Alliance, is planning Hawcreek Meadows, a two-phase, four-story development with a combination of workforce family housing and housing for seniors at the site of the former Columbus Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Phase one involves the construction of 64 workforce family housing units with a child care component and phase two will encompass 64 units for seniors. The project is currently in phase one, with plans for the next phase to come later.

Build time is expected to take 15 to 18 months with leasing getting started in 2026 and reaching 100 percent occupancy in June of 2027.

The prospect of phase one of the project— expected to cost around $20.6 million— was significantly boosted after it received a 9% award of federal low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) from the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) in November.

The workforce family housing portion will be reserved for those making 30%, 50% and 60% of area median income (AMI), Thrive Alliance officials said, made up of 20, 30 percent AMI units, 13, 50 percent AMI units and 31, 60 percent AMI units.

The child care facility will be open to both residents and non-residents and focused on children up to age 3. Housing Partnerships has a memorandum of understanding in place with Children’s Inc. to provide daycare services at the facility, which is expected to serve up to 58 children and have 10 employees. Hours of operation at the daycare would be 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Other plans for the development include a quarter-mile walking trail, a picnic area, a gazebo and a community garden.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Announced for Haw Creek Meadows — A Transformative Affordable Housing Development in Columbus, Indiana

Columbus, IN — October 13, 2025 — Thrive Alliance, in partnership with Gratus Development, the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA), and the City of Columbus Redevelopment Commission, is proud to announce the groundbreaking of Haw Creek Meadows, a new affordable housing community designed to enhance lives and strengthen the local community.

The ceremony will take place on Monday, October 20, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM at 2100 Midway Street, Columbus, Indiana.

A Vision for Inclusive, Affordable Living

Haw Creek Meadows will transform a former blighted nursing home site into a vibrant, inclusive community featuring 65 units of affordable housing for families and individuals earning 30%, 50%, and 60% of Area Median Income.

The project includes several distinctive amenities and partnerships that make it a model for community-driven design, including Affordable Childcare: A childcare center operated by Children, Inc., offering daycare and before- and after-school care out of the first floor, Outdoor & Community Spaces: Including walking trails, play areas, picnic zones, and raised-bed community gardens, and space for Future Retail.

Haw Creek Meadows is made possible through the collaborative efforts of an outstanding team including Gratus Development, Thrive Alliance, Children, Inc., Hooker DeJong Architects, Milestone Design Group, and Inherent Commercial.  Funding support is provided by IHCDA, IEDC’s READI 2.0 program, Old National Bank, German American Bank, and the City of Columbus.

“This project represents what’s possible when public, private, and nonprofit partners unite to address housing, childcare, and inclusion,” said Kevin Johnson for Thrive Alliance. “Haw Creek Meadows will not only provide homes—it will create opportunities for connection, dignity, and growth.  We are very grateful to all of our partners for helping us bring this vision to life.”

Event Details:
📅 Date: Monday, October 20, 2025
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
📍 Location: 2100 Midway Street, Columbus, IN

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Guided by the vision that everyone should have the opportunity to live a secure, engaged and independent life, our mission at Thrive Alliance is to improve the quality of life and health for people at risk of losing their independence.

We help people get the right information, resources and support needed to live as independently as possible.  Our network of programs focuses on issues related to affordable housing, caregiver support and services, nutrition and wellness programs, transportation and accessibility services, as well as fostering community-wide support for aging related issues. We serve as Indiana’s Agency on Aging for Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties.