Brighton Center, and its wholly-owned subsidiary Brighton Properties, in partnership with Northern Kentucky University and the City of Highland Heights are breaking ground today on Opportunity House.
Opportunity House will provide a supportive environment to young adults to help them reach their educational and career goals that lead to success for those who experience barriers to completing education beyond high school. Perhaps they have aged out of foster care and have no support system or don’t have the means to afford housing.
The goal of Opportunity House will be to reduce the challenges young adults face, including housing, allowing them to enjoy educational success, employment, and self-sufficiency.
The facility is expected to be ready for occupancy in August 2022. It is located at 3530 Alexandria Pike in Highland Heights and is on the NKU campus.
Concept drawing of Opportunity House.
“Opportunity House is positioned to change the trajectory for these young adults and promote their successful transition from education beyond high school to living-wage employment. A truly transformational opportunity – ultimately leading to educational success, employment, and self-sufficiency,” said Tom Stoll Brighton Center’s board chair.
“At Brighton Properties, we understand the importance of having the best facilities and housing for everyone we serve and Opportunity House will be no exception. We are excited to serve as the developer and property manager of this project that will address our community’s critical need for affordable housing,” said Robert Arnold Brighton Properties’ board chair.
Opportunity House will have 15 efficiency units and one one-bedroom apartment with individual bathrooms and kitchenettes. On the lower level of the facility will be a large group room, classroom, full teaching kitchen, offices, laundry, and small meeting rooms.
“Opportunity House creates a beacon of hope and access to higher education for learners with a specific need. That is our responsibility as a student-ready and regionally engaged university – to innovate and find new ways to meet diverse learners where they are and to meet their needs. It is a worthy addition to those efforts because access to higher education and the removal of barriers to completion benefit students, their local and state communities, and the national and global economy. Together with our partners, we are effecting real change, and empowering the future of our students, and enhancing the economic, social, and civic vitality of our region,” said Northern Kentucky University President Ashish Vaidya.
“We have such a tremendous group of citizens that have all decided to call Highland Heights home – a community that clearly values the importance of education and one that is committed to ensuring opportunities exist for everyone to thrive,” said City of Highland Heights Mayor Greg Meyers.
“We are so grateful to the City of Highland Heights, Mayor Meyers, and the City Council, for their commitment to this community and for submission of the Community Development Block Grant request to the Department of Local Government, and to Commissioner Dennis Keene for his unwavering and steadfast support. To President Vaidya, and his dedicated team at NKU, who have been true champions for this project since the beginning. Being able to align these critical public resources with support from the Doug and Sheila Bray Family and Duke Energy will ensure the renovation of this building. And it will be with the support of other key donors, both public and private, that we will be able to ensure the property management and operations of Opportunity House. We are also extremely appreciative of the innovative support of Neighborhood Foundations, the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and The R.C. Durr Foundation,” said Wonda Winkler President & CEO.
Brighton Center
