Resident urges citywide upzoning to preserve older housing and unlock financing

At the start of public comment, Whitman (Wittman) Sullivan of Ohioan Square urged council to adopt zoning reforms to prevent older houses from being left in disrepair and to make them financeable.

Sullivan said many older duplexes and smaller homes are treated as illegal nonconforming uses under current zoning, resulting in banks declining mortgages or home‑improvement loans: "Banks will withhold mortgages, home loans, and home improvement financing because your home does not conform to the current zoning code." He asked the council to consider eliminating lot‑size minimums, upzoning to allow duplexes and triplexes citywide, and changing the rule that strips nonconforming status after two years of vacancy.

Sullivan framed the proposal as preserving neighborhood character while adding housing supply, noting that duplexes blend in in neighborhoods such as Highland Square and North Hill. He urged council to support the upzoning reforms to preserve housing stock, lower costs, and increase neighbors. The council did not take up a formal vote on these zoning reforms at this meeting; the comment was presented as input for future planning work.