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Developer seeks R‑3 rezoning for 111 Hooper St. to build LIHTC-funded multifamily housing
Summary
Hilltide Partners told the Athens Planning Commission it has refiled a rezoning application for eight city parcels at 111 Hooper Street, seeking to change a mix of R‑1 and R‑2 zoning to R‑3 to pursue low‑income housing tax credits and Ohio Housing Trust Fund financing; the commission will consider the formal case April 2.
Hilltide Partners has refiled a rezoning application for 111 Hooper Street, a set of eight parcels inside the Athens corporation limits, asking the Athens City Planning Commission to change their zoning from a mix of R‑1 and R‑2 to R‑3 to allow multifamily construction.
The application matters because the developer intends to pursue low‑income housing tax credits (LIHTC) and Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars to finance a multifamily project whose units would be income‑restricted at or below 80% of area median income. "We would then exchange those for equity that's needed to construct, multifamily units, which would be income restricted to households at or below 80% of the area median income," said Taylor Cook, a development officer with Hilltide Partners.
The project site covers 18.45 acres in total; Cook said 5.13 acres (eight parcels) are inside the city and subject to city zoning, while the remaining 13.32 acres are in Athens Township and are not governed by the city's zoning code. Cook told commissioners that an internal ownership change prompted the resubmittal: "Hilltide Ventures . . . assumed the purchase and sale agreement for the site," and the new filing includes an assignment and assumption to reflect that change.
Cook also said draft guidelines for the Ohio Housing Finance Agency's 4% LIHTC round made the project a better fit and opened access to Ohio Housing Trust Fund resources, which he described as repayable through cash flow. He said the Appalachian set‑aside remains available and is a reason Athens County has attracted LIHTC projects.
City staff and commissioners asked about next steps and technical reviews. Director Riggs (city staff) explained that slope, utilities and other engineering questions raised by the public safety/code office would be addressed in the Title 41 site plan and permitting process that follows any rezoning. "Those details are usually a part of the Title 41 process, which comes after the zone change," Riggs said.
No formal vote was taken on the communication. The commission indicated the rezoning will appear as a formal case on the commission agenda for April 2; if the commission approves it then, the recommendation would be forwarded to Athens City Council.
Why it matters: Rezoning to R‑3 would permit denser multifamily development on parcels now limited to single‑ and two‑family forms. The developer is tying the proposal to specific financing programs that require the higher density and would restrict units by income if built.
Next steps: The commission will consider the formal rezoning application April 2. If approved, the case will move to city council for their review and any public hearings.
