Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Affordable Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adds discussion on receiving Red Cross parcel to support Welcome Home Ohio housing effort
Summary
Council amended the Finance & Personnel committee agenda to consider receiving a small American Red Cross parcel south of Hudson Street so developers using Welcome Home Ohio funds can build up to eight affordable homes; staff said the Red Cross agreed to a $40,000 price but no ordinance or sale was finalized.
During committee sessions Monday, Athens City Council added discussion of a potential city receipt of a small parcel owned by the American Red Cross to support the Welcome Home Ohio program, which uses state and local funds to subsidize owner‑occupied housing for qualifying buyers.
Director Stone described the program and said the Red Cross parcel immediately south of an existing city‑owned Hudson Street site could accommodate roughly eight homes if lots are creatively configured. "The Red Cross has agreed to a $40,000 price which is a good price," Stone said, adding that a developer is expected to purchase and build using Welcome Home Ohio funds and the city would need to accept title when the transaction is ready.
Mayor Sweyn and other council members highlighted the program’s goals: producing homes in the $200,000–$240,000 range that will sell below market with deed restrictions to prevent immediate rental conversion. Council and audience members asked whether title would create liability for the city and whether flood‑plain or fill costs would fall to the city; Stone said city liability would be similar to other city‑owned parcels and that flood‑damage prevention requirements would be followed, with some fill potentially needed but stockpiled material available from other projects to reduce costs.
Why it matters: The proposal would create a small cluster of subsidized owner‑occupied homes in an established neighborhood and represents use of state program funds and creative local land use to increase homeownership. Council amended the agenda to include the item and received information from administration, but no formal ordinance authorizing the city to accept title was adopted at this meeting.
Council members and members of the public suggested future collaboration with Habitat for Humanity and university partners; staff said they have informed the university about the program and will explore partnerships going forward.
