THE PLAINS, Ohio — Construction of two low-income housing developments in The Plains will continue after archaeological surveys determined that the properties are not archaeologically significant.
Woda Cooper and Fairfield Homes are each developing land along East First Street in The Plains that is adjacent to two prehistoric earthworks, Dorr Mounds 1 and 2. Local groups, including the Friends of The Plains Mounds and the First Street Neighborhood Association, raised concerns about the projects’ impact on the mounds last summer.
After residents contacted the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, the agency required both projects to undergo an archaeological review before they could continue.
“We felt it important as a new community member to delay the start of construction and address the archaeological concerns,” Jeff Wickham, the director of development for Fairfield Homes, told the Independent in an email.
The environmental review involved ground scanning, aerial photography, limited excavation and magnetic ground testing by engineering firms. The firms submitted reports to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, which concluded that the properties in question — Cornerstone at Eclipse Run by Fairfield Homes and The Lofts on First by Woda Cooper — didn’t contain any archaeologically significant artifacts.
The finding offers some relief to Lawerence Greene, a founding member of the Friends of the Plains Mound Group. Greene works with local mound sites as part of his job with Rising Appalachia, giving guided tours about the cultural and historical significance of the mounds.
“In a certain sense, it’s good to hear that the reports were done, we just have to trust that they didn’t find anything,” Greene said.
Greene told the Independent that the review provides some insight into past activity on the properties, primarily from when the land was used as a farming field. The review also noted the presence and location of more modern features, such as utility lines and other forms of infrastructure.
The fact that the contractors were hired by the developers and not the State Historic Preservation Office or another independent body made Greene slightly skeptical about some of the results.
“I wish there was more help trying to keep the preservation of the mounds in these conversations,” Greene said. “And not just like, ‘Oh, OK, we can wash our hands of this and keep on with the construction and everybody gets their money.’”
Greene said he wants to preserve and protect as much of the space around the mounds as possible. At the same time, he wants action to address the county’s housing crisis.
“It’s kind of conflicting, because these are both two things that I want,” Greene said. “I want people to have affordable housing because it’s an absolute necessity in our culture right now. But I definitely don’t want to overlook these native cultures that were here before.”
As the construction moves forward. Greene said he would like to work with the private landowners for Dorr Mounds 1 and 2 to erect signs to educate potential apartment residents about the importance of the mounds and why they shouldn’t stand or climb on them.
Woda Cooper nor the Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority responded to the Independent’s requests for comment at publication time.
The mounds weren’t the only issues. Members of the First Street Neighborhood Association expressed concerns to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency about emissions and noise from the Athens City School District bus garage next to the Cornerstone at Eclipse Run.
The agency required Fairfield Homes to complete an environmental assessment of air quality and noise pollution from the garage. August Mack Environmental Inc. concluded that emissions and backup alarms from school buses wouldn’t negatively impact residents of Cornerstone at Eclipse Run. That report also was submitted to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, which gave permission to proceed with construction.
Fairfield Homes’ Wickham said construction on Eclipse Run began last November 2025 and that the project was expected to open in spring 2027.
