Buckingham & Onyx+East Expand Build-to-Rent Living
COLUMBUS, OHIO (March 6, 2025) — The joint venture between Buckingham, a national vertically integrated real estate investment company, and Onyx+East, a full-service homebuilder, has broken ground on the first single-family build-to-rent (BTR) community in the highly sought-after Columbus suburb of Orange Township in Lewis Center, Ohio. The new development, part of Buckingham’s Mural Collection, will feature 120 detached, maintenance-free single-family homes available for rent at Mural Lewis Center.
Phase I of Mural’s development is underway on the north side of Columbus at Lewis Center and North Roads, in what will be the future extension of Green Meadows Drive. The 2- to 4-bedroom homes will range from 902 to 2,685 square feet and include 2–2.5 bathrooms, attached two-car garages and private outdoor spaces. Residents can expect to see the stylish, well-designed homes Onyx+East is known for, bringing an urban experience to suburban living in the prestigious Olentangy Local Schools District. Under Buckingham’s management, all Mural home and yard maintenance is included, and residents can enjoy a playground, pavilion, dog park, community garden, fire pit and walking trails.
“The growing build-to-rent space represents the perfect blend of rental-home convenience and single-family home ownership,” said Buckingham Senior Vice President of Investments Justin Brown. “We’re looking forward to bringing our 40+ years of investment strength and expertise to this burgeoning sector in real estate development together with Onyx+East to offer a new purpose-built single-family rental product nationwide.”
Mural will be ideal for residents who want the space and privacy of single-family living without the high cost, commitment and maintenance of home ownership.
“Onyx+East is excited to expand our footprint in the Columbus market with Mural Lewis Center – one of our largest builds to date,” said Jake Dietrich, Vice President of Acquisitions and Development for Onyx+East. “Buckingham’s track record of performance spans decades, and they are exactly the partner with which we want to develop this community.”
Mural comes on the heels of Onyx+East and Buckingham’s first build-to-rent project, Mural Brownsburg, located in suburban Indianapolis. Onyx+East’s expertise in for-sale single-family and townhome construction and Buckingham’s long-term multifamily management experience are uniquely suited for the build-to-rent space.
The first Mural units will be available for rent beginning in December 2025 with the leasing center and a model home available to tour starting this fall. To stay updated on Mural’s development, please visit www.MuralLewisCenter.com. To learn more about Buckingham and Onyx+East, visit www.buckingham.com and www.onyxandeast.com.
About Buckingham Companies
Founded in 1984, Buckingham Companies is a fully integrated real estate investment firm specializing in the development, acquisition, management and construction of multifamily, mixed-use, commercial and hospitality projects across the United States. Buckingham has managed over $4 billion of real estate assets comprising over 125 properties, more than 28 million square feet, and over 25,000 rental units nationwide. The Indianapolis-based company has nearly 400 employees. Additionally, the affiliated Buckingham Foundation annually supports more than 50 nonprofit and civic organizations through philanthropic outreach in the areas of affordable housing, community and economic development, and arts and culture. For more information, visit www.buckingham.com.
About Onyx+East
Onyx+East is a full-service homebuilder executing development, construction, marketing, design and sales with four offices across the Midwest and Florida. Founded in 2015 to deliver urban builds in the most desirable locations with an exceptional customer experience, Onyx+East creates homes designed for modern living that are connected within growing cities and suburbs. Everything Onyx+East builds is the outcome of a mindful process that considers value, lifestyle and best practices, focusing on the needs of homebuyers. Through creativity, innovation and sustainability, Onyx+East creates communities that change the way people live, work and “do life.” For more information, visit onyxandeast.com.
Media ContactAlex Leix, alex.leix@dittoepr.com, (317) 447-4254