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Council advances negotiations with Empower Me Living for neuro‑inclusive housing project on city land
Summary
Oxford City Council authorized staff to begin negotiations with Empower Me Living and Inclusive Housing Resources to develop a proposed neuro‑inclusive housing project on the city land identified in the RFP process.
Oxford City Council on Tuesday accepted the Housing Advisory Commission’s recommendation to advance negotiations with Empower Me Living and partner Inclusive Housing Resources to develop a proposed neuro‑inclusive housing project on the city‑owned site identified during the staff presentation.
The project concept, as presented by Empower Me Living and Inclusive Housing Resources, would deliver up to 16 modular, universally designed units (roughly 400–800 square feet each) arranged as individual homes or paired townhomes and targeted to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their aging caregivers. The developers described a landominium model with a homeowners association to manage common areas, a potential right of first refusal for Inclusive Housing Resources on resales, and mechanisms to preserve long‑term affordability.
“In our proposal … we would plan to work with Tallawanda’s program and the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities,” a representative of Inclusive Housing Resources said, explaining outreach plans and long‑term monitoring to preserve affordability and supportive occupancy for qualifying residents.
City staff told council the city issued a request for proposals in January 2025 and received four submissions; Empower Me Living and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati were the two finalists. The scoring committee of staff and Housing Advisory Commission members interviewed finalists and recommended Empower Me Living based on experience, initial funding, and supportive programming. The Housing Advisory Commission approved the recommendation on April 17, 2025.
Council members asked detailed questions about long‑term affordability, site density and emergency‑vehicle access, and the city’s future role. A city staff member clarified that the council’s vote authorizes negotiation only: “The vote yes on this today is to begin the negotiations of a development agreement,” and that staff had asked applicants about long‑term affordability during the review process and envisioned affordability covenants of a multi‑year duration tied to other funding sources.
Empower Me Living cofounders presented personal and professional motivation for the project and said the development would be focused on local residents, including mechanisms to reserve “four units” for adults with developmental disabilities and to preserve units through association governance and rights of first refusal. Council members broadly supported moving forward to negotiations while pressing to maximize unit count, preserve affordability “in perpetuity” when possible, and ensure that site planning meets building‑code, accessibility and emergency‑access requirements.
The council adopted the resolution to begin development negotiations by voice vote. Staff will return with negotiated development and purchase agreements for council approval and will include details on affordability covenants, unit count and site plan as part of the planning and development agreement process.
