About Greenmont Mutual Housing
Who We AreGreenmont Mutual Housing Corporation (GMHC), as a non-profit corporation and cooperative, relies on each member as a shareholder to participate in their community through volunteering, engagement, and voting.
About Greenmont Mutual Housing
Who We AreGreenmont Mutual Housing Corporation (GMHC), as a non-profit corporation and cooperative, relies on each member as a shareholder to participate in their community through volunteering, engagement, and voting.
Our community in Kettering – part of the greater Dayton area – has 500 units across 300 buildings that we fill with residents that meet specific criteria and are vetted through our application process. We offer a variety of floor plans, and our community boasts a number of amenities that are exclusive to us, including an event hall, commercial space, community activities and programs and is within a high-quality school district.
Members are proud that Greenmont Village has withstood the test of time and to live within a cooperative community where members participate by working together to make a better community…the objective of a cooperative “mutual” housing development.
You can read more about the history of our community below.
History of Greenmont Village & Greenmont Mutual Housing Corporation
Greenmont Village, located in Kettering, Ohio, was one of eight residential communities built by the Mutual Ownership Defense Housing Division, Federal Works Agency, in 1941-1942. The concept of these residential communities was facilitated by President Roosevelt’s New Deal program and administration officials responding to the defense housing emergency in 1940; as well as the sell back to residents on a cooperative or “mutual” basis under the Mutual Home Ownership Plan (Mutual Plan) created by Lawrence Westbrook of the Federal Works Agency.
In 1940, Lawrence Westbrook, who had a history in establishing and working with cooperatives since 1933, started working with the Congress of Industrial Organizations’ (CIO) unions to test the practicality of the Mutual Plan. It was the CIO that helped persuade Congress to address the critical shortage of housing in centers of defense production by passing a housing and community facilities bill known as the Lanham Act. Each project featured modern architecture and planning features designed by leading architects of the era. The housing units were grouped together in clusters serviced by cul-de-sac roads. Most front doors of the units faced other units’ front doors or large interior park that served as an extended living room and fostered resident interaction. There were pedestrian walkways that linked houses to a community center, an elementary school, and a shopping center; if the area was large enough to accommodate such amenities. Greenmont Village was fortunate to have the area to accommodate all the planned features to create a unique and self-sustaining community.
In 1942, selected residents supporting the defense efforts started moving into Greenmont Village. The community is comprised of 300 buildings housing 500 easy-to-maintain units: one bedroom double units, two and three bedroom double units and two bedroom single units. It is supported by safe street design with play areas and green spaces including a park with garden plots; an elementary school; a community center that provides space for an office; a large hall to hold community meetings and gatherings or events, and meeting rooms for use by various clubs and activities; and a retail center close to the community center. All the features are within easy walking distance.
In 1945, after WWII, the mutual housing program entered a second phase when federal housing officials faced a congressional mandate to dispose of defense housing built with federal funds. Residents of such defense housing units sought an opportunity to buy the government-owned dwellings under a modified version of the Mutual Home Ownership Plan (Mutual Plan). Under the terms of the Mutual Plan, residents bought equal shares in a non-profit corporation, called a mutual ownership housing association, which leased and later, with the shareholders’ consent, purchased the entire community from the federal government.
In July 1947, the Public Housing Authority reported to Congress that Greenmont Village was identified as having been sold to a “non-profit corporation” known as Greenmont Mutual Housing Corporation. Once the sale was complete, the mutual ownership housing corporation held the land title. In exchange for the purchase of shares in the association, residents held occupancy agreements for their dwelling units. They paid a monthly fee to cover amortization of the mortgage, mortgage interest, depreciation, repairs, insurance, vacancy losses, operating expenses, taxes, and a reserve account.
Get In Touch
Contact us online or by telephone to begin the application process. We are excited to meet with you and to grow the community.