Post by Okwes on Jul 24, 2007 10:11:58 GMT -5
Ohio Developer Wants to Build over Ancient Burial Mounds
Athens, Ohio
Council balks at developer's push for quick vote on big south-side project
by Nick Claussen
Athens News Associate Editor
The developer of a proposed Richland Avenue apartment complex asked Athens
City Council members on Tuesday to schedule a vote quickly on his project, but
they said they need more information and would not schedule a vote.
To say the project is controversial is an understatement, as a wide variety
of opinions were offered about the proposal at an Athens City Council
committee meeting Tuesday evening.
On one hand, the developers said the project will provide much-needed new
student housing, will not change the view much, and will benefit the city.
On the other hand, some city residents said the project will desecrate
Native-American burial grounds, will cause safety hazards, will destroy another
hilltop, is too large and will cause storm-water drainage problems. In
addition, one resident claimed that one of the developers was not truthful with her
about the project, and warned the councilmembers to not trust the developers.
The project is the Summit Coates Run student-housing complex, and it's
planned for the hillside on Richland Avenue just across the street from the
University Courtyard complex and between the Ohio University Inn, Dairy Barn
Cultural Arts Center and Carriage Hill Apartments.
The project has been discussed for several years and has had several
different names and development companies attached to it during that time.
The latest developer is Edwards Communities out of Columbus. Rich Kirk of
Edwards Communities discussed the project on Tuesday and asked Council to move
ahead with voting on the development.
The proposed student-housing project would have 257 apartment units, with a
total of 878 beds, and a clubhouse building, Kirk said.
Ryan Pearson, land use planner for the Edwards Community, said that the
developers also hope to eventually use part of the land for an undetermined use
such as a motel, retail business, health-care facility or private club.
Kirk said he hopes to open the apartment complex in the fall of 2008, and
said it will take 14 months to build the development. He asked City Council to
schedule a vote soon on his project so he can know if it will go forward or
if it will have to be changed.
Debbie Phillips, who represents the Fourth Ward on Council, said that she
has several questions on the issue before she could vote on it. She said she
wants to know if the development is complying with the wishes of the Athens
Tree Commission and the Disabilities Commission, and she also wants City Law
Director Gary Hunter to answer if the project is meeting certain city
regulations. Phillips also asked developers to provide more information on the extra
space they want to develop for commercial use.
Other council members echoed her concerns. At-large representative Jim Sands
said that if Kirk wants council to vote quickly so Kirk's company doesn't
have to spend any more money until it knows the city's intentions, that would
be a rash vote.
"It really isn't a fair request," Sands said.
Second Ward representative Paul Wiehl said he has heard from many city
residents who are concerned about the size of the project.
"It's just too big. That's what I usually hear, period," Wiehl said.
Pearson of the development company said that if people think the project is
too big, he does not see how removing one apartment building will really make
a difference for them. The project has been designed so that it will not
change the view of the hill significantly, he added.
Kirk added that the developers have no plans to scale back the size of the
project.
"We want you to vote on the proposal we have, period," Kirk said. He noted
that the developers can answer the questions that council has about the
project, but he needs a vote to be held soon.
"We are eager to move forward here," Kirk said.
Council, however, was not as eager, and did not schedule a vote on the
issue. The development will be discussed at the March 12 committee meetings, but
no promise was made about bringing the proposal up for a council vote.
SEVERAL CITY RESIDENTS spoke out against the project during the meeting,
including Chris Knisely of the Southside Community Association. The association
has completed a survey on the project, she said, and all 24 people who
responded to the survey expressed concerns about the size of the project. The
respondents were also concerned about the project's impact on the environment,
traffic and safety on the south side, Knisely said.
She has concerns about the developers' plan to move more than 300,000 cubic
yards of dirt as part of the project.
Knisely also asked if the proposal calls for placing one building on top of
a Native-American burial ground.
Pearson confirmed that the plans do call for this, though he said it's the
"remnants of a burial mound" that was excavated years ago.
City resident Greg Broadhurst said he is very upset that the proposal calls
for placing a building on "sacred ground." He said that the city has been
trying to market its heritage and history to tourists, and it makes no sense to
build on top of a burial mound and "desecrate" the site, especially when so
many burial grounds have been destroyed in the Athens area over the years.
Tom McGuire, attorney for Milestone Development, one of the minority
partners in the development proposal, argued that the mound is a not a historical
site. The mound was excavated more than 30 years ago and has trees growing on
it, McGuire said.
While the city's comprehensive plan calls for preserving historic places in
the city, it also calls for striking a balance between history, growth and
economic development, McGuire said.
This project is needed to provide the housing that will be in demand when OU
increases its enrollment, and it will help stop the conversion of
single-family homes to student rentals in the city, McGuire said.
Delia Rapp, president of the Southside Community Association, said that she
does not want to see another hilltop removed in the city just so more
apartments can be built.
She also said that she asked Kirk previously if the plans included any
commercial development, and he told her they did not. She was surprised to hear
about the commercial development plans now, and warned council to be careful
trusting Kirk and the promises he makes about the development.
Athens, Ohio
Council balks at developer's push for quick vote on big south-side project
by Nick Claussen
Athens News Associate Editor
The developer of a proposed Richland Avenue apartment complex asked Athens
City Council members on Tuesday to schedule a vote quickly on his project, but
they said they need more information and would not schedule a vote.
To say the project is controversial is an understatement, as a wide variety
of opinions were offered about the proposal at an Athens City Council
committee meeting Tuesday evening.
On one hand, the developers said the project will provide much-needed new
student housing, will not change the view much, and will benefit the city.
On the other hand, some city residents said the project will desecrate
Native-American burial grounds, will cause safety hazards, will destroy another
hilltop, is too large and will cause storm-water drainage problems. In
addition, one resident claimed that one of the developers was not truthful with her
about the project, and warned the councilmembers to not trust the developers.
The project is the Summit Coates Run student-housing complex, and it's
planned for the hillside on Richland Avenue just across the street from the
University Courtyard complex and between the Ohio University Inn, Dairy Barn
Cultural Arts Center and Carriage Hill Apartments.
The project has been discussed for several years and has had several
different names and development companies attached to it during that time.
The latest developer is Edwards Communities out of Columbus. Rich Kirk of
Edwards Communities discussed the project on Tuesday and asked Council to move
ahead with voting on the development.
The proposed student-housing project would have 257 apartment units, with a
total of 878 beds, and a clubhouse building, Kirk said.
Ryan Pearson, land use planner for the Edwards Community, said that the
developers also hope to eventually use part of the land for an undetermined use
such as a motel, retail business, health-care facility or private club.
Kirk said he hopes to open the apartment complex in the fall of 2008, and
said it will take 14 months to build the development. He asked City Council to
schedule a vote soon on his project so he can know if it will go forward or
if it will have to be changed.
Debbie Phillips, who represents the Fourth Ward on Council, said that she
has several questions on the issue before she could vote on it. She said she
wants to know if the development is complying with the wishes of the Athens
Tree Commission and the Disabilities Commission, and she also wants City Law
Director Gary Hunter to answer if the project is meeting certain city
regulations. Phillips also asked developers to provide more information on the extra
space they want to develop for commercial use.
Other council members echoed her concerns. At-large representative Jim Sands
said that if Kirk wants council to vote quickly so Kirk's company doesn't
have to spend any more money until it knows the city's intentions, that would
be a rash vote.
"It really isn't a fair request," Sands said.
Second Ward representative Paul Wiehl said he has heard from many city
residents who are concerned about the size of the project.
"It's just too big. That's what I usually hear, period," Wiehl said.
Pearson of the development company said that if people think the project is
too big, he does not see how removing one apartment building will really make
a difference for them. The project has been designed so that it will not
change the view of the hill significantly, he added.
Kirk added that the developers have no plans to scale back the size of the
project.
"We want you to vote on the proposal we have, period," Kirk said. He noted
that the developers can answer the questions that council has about the
project, but he needs a vote to be held soon.
"We are eager to move forward here," Kirk said.
Council, however, was not as eager, and did not schedule a vote on the
issue. The development will be discussed at the March 12 committee meetings, but
no promise was made about bringing the proposal up for a council vote.
SEVERAL CITY RESIDENTS spoke out against the project during the meeting,
including Chris Knisely of the Southside Community Association. The association
has completed a survey on the project, she said, and all 24 people who
responded to the survey expressed concerns about the size of the project. The
respondents were also concerned about the project's impact on the environment,
traffic and safety on the south side, Knisely said.
She has concerns about the developers' plan to move more than 300,000 cubic
yards of dirt as part of the project.
Knisely also asked if the proposal calls for placing one building on top of
a Native-American burial ground.
Pearson confirmed that the plans do call for this, though he said it's the
"remnants of a burial mound" that was excavated years ago.
City resident Greg Broadhurst said he is very upset that the proposal calls
for placing a building on "sacred ground." He said that the city has been
trying to market its heritage and history to tourists, and it makes no sense to
build on top of a burial mound and "desecrate" the site, especially when so
many burial grounds have been destroyed in the Athens area over the years.
Tom McGuire, attorney for Milestone Development, one of the minority
partners in the development proposal, argued that the mound is a not a historical
site. The mound was excavated more than 30 years ago and has trees growing on
it, McGuire said.
While the city's comprehensive plan calls for preserving historic places in
the city, it also calls for striking a balance between history, growth and
economic development, McGuire said.
This project is needed to provide the housing that will be in demand when OU
increases its enrollment, and it will help stop the conversion of
single-family homes to student rentals in the city, McGuire said.
Delia Rapp, president of the Southside Community Association, said that she
does not want to see another hilltop removed in the city just so more
apartments can be built.
She also said that she asked Kirk previously if the plans included any
commercial development, and he told her they did not. She was surprised to hear
about the commercial development plans now, and warned council to be careful
trusting Kirk and the promises he makes about the development.