ATHENS, Ohio — Construction of an affordable housing project near Hooper Road in Athens is suspended while its developers consider alternative sites throughout the state.
Avanelle Crossing, a planned 60-unit development for low-income residents, is a partnership between Columbus-based Sunset Development and Capstone Property Management of Athens. In mid-June, Sunset Development President James Hunley told WOUB the project would break ground by the fall, pending city review.
However, Project Engineer Craig Staggs, confirmed the pause in a July 7 email to Athens County Engineer Jeff Maiden, which the Independent obtained through Athens Township Trustee Steve Pierson.
“After further discussion with the property owner and developer, the project is being put on hold,” Staggs wrote. “We will reach back out to pickup [sic] coordination when/if this project decides to move forward.”
Pierson provided the Independent a July 14 email from Athens City Code Director Tom Pyle to the city planning commission. In that message, Pyle said that Hunley was pausing the project to consider other locations in Ohio.
“If they find a suitable build site and the State of Ohio allows them to change their application they will abandon the project on Avanelle/Donna Lane completely,” Pyle wrote. He added in the email that he expected to hear from the developers within six to eight weeks.
The project proposal includes three buildings, including some multi-bedroom apartments, on a 6-acre site close to downtown Athens. Most units would be reserved for residents earning 60% to 80% of the area’s median income. The developers are using Ohio’s low-income housing tax credit program, which aids construction of affordable rentals.
The proposed location for the development prompted concern from neighbors, including in regard to the distance from services and the need for residents to cross four lanes of traffic to reach the nearest bus stop, WOUB reported in June.
On Aug. 14, Pyle told the Independent he had received no updates from Sunset Development. He directed additional questions to Hunley, who did not respond to emailed requests for comment on Aug. 10 and 13.
Capstone Property Management owner David Funk, who called himself the “minor partner” on the project, also directed inquiries to Hunley.
Staggs did not respond to a request for comment. Pierson said via email he discussed the suspension of construction during the trustees’ July 28 meeting.
