Commission hears timeline, senior-housing plans for The Ridges development

The Athens City Affordable Housing Commission heard an update that The Ridges development is expected to receive final approvals this summer and could begin construction later this year, commission members said.

Commission member Amy said the development’s total buildout was described as roughly 700 units and that about 120–130 units were described in the presentation as "senior friendly," though the transcript phrasing was unclear on the exact figure. She said some of those units would include age-friendly features and that a group meeting monthly is focusing on the senior component with developer participation and coordination by Age Friendly Athens County and the Athens County Foundation.

Commission member Solveig and others raised zoning questions for the site’s main structures. Solveig said staff and members had discussed applying a B1 mixed-use designation for the main building to allow restaurants, artist lofts and residential uses on ground floors; members noted the city’s bulk controls and height limits could require adjustments or variances.

Members also debated housing type for certain parcels along Dairy Lane, where the developer had described some senior housing plans as townhouses; some commissioners said they wanted to explore whether condominiums or for-sale options would better serve the market and neighborhood character.

There was no formal vote on zoning language during the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to contact the developer for a timeline and to return to the commission with additional details on proposed zone changes and building types.

The commission discussed how the project’s mix of market-rate, mixed-income and subsidized units would phase over time but did not adopt policy changes or make binding approvals at the meeting.