Retirement project just wants to move dirt
Retirement News : Seniors : Retirement project just wants to move dirt
Date Added: 28-11-2006
City residents of Athens, OH, question possible conflicts of interest held by city officials in development of a retirement housing complex on land owned by Ohio University. Read the excerpt below.
The Athens News - Athens,OH,USA
2006-11-27
By Jonathan Hunt
Athens NEWS Writer
The Columbus developer fighting a protracted battle to construct a retirement housing complex on land owned by Ohio University and the city of Athens wants to build atop fill dirt from on-site "borrow pits," new plans show.
National Church Residences, a non-profit corporation, submitted an exhibit to city officials earlier this month depicting the idea. NCR plans to build the complex, dubbed "Traditions at Ohio University," next to the Hocking River off of Stimson Avenue.
The process to approve the development has been marked by significant opposition from some city residents and questions about possible conflicts of interest held by city officials who also work for OU. Supporters, however, maintain that the Stimson site is the best available, and that its proximity to in-town amenities would persuade local retirees to stay in Athens.
When City Council approved the complex and NCR's use of the Morris Avenue right-of-way in December 2005, plans called for fill dirt from the nearby flood plain to be used to raise the buildings above the 100-year flood level. The new plans show eight possible borrow pits, all of which are on the retirement-center site itself. The two largest proposed pits, which cover a total of 46,370 square feet, are located at the eastern end of the site, near the Athens Public Library.
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