GREENVILLE – A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday morning for Oakley Commons, a new residential neighborhood in Greenville featuring 38 single-family attached homes designed to offer comfortable, convenient, and affordable living near Historic Downtown Greenville.
“This is meeting the need we have had for more affordable housing with 38 units,” said Greenville Mayor Jeff Whitaker. “It will make a significant dent in that. It is a welcome addition. We’re glad to see it get underway.”
Benanzer Custom Homes of Darke County is developing the project.
“We’re trying to make them more affordable, trying to appeal to the $170,000 price point and below,” said Derrick Robinson, vice president of Benanzer Custom Homes. “Everything that is built here will be put up for sale, and if it doesn’t sell, we’ll retain it within our company—but the intention is to put everything up for sale.”
Robinson expressed appreciation for the cooperation and support from city leadership.
“The city has been great to work with,” he said. “The previous administration under Mayor Steve Willman was great, and Mayor Whitaker stepped in and carried on with everything we had. They’ve been arms wide open—they need housing and are doing everything in their power to help us make it affordable. They have been great.”
“This is a much-needed project, a real need in the city of Greenville,” added Greenville Safety Service Director Ryan Delk. “It’s a great project and we’re excited to help them through the process, and now it’s go time.”
