Controversial building projects seem to be the flavor of the month, or even of the year, in Athens. The proposed retirement center is taking center stage right now, with both city and campus officials trying to get the project approved amid cries that it is environmentally unsound, unimportant to the city overall and a potential eyesore along the Hocking River and the bike path. But, before the retirement community, there was the Campus Edge project. Originally proposed in August 2003, the scaled-down version of the project would nonetheless constitute a misstep.
The original proposal was discarded after the 900-bedroom apartment complex was deemed too large and too damaging to the environment. The plan was scaled down to 600 rooms, but the site remained the same: a ridge-top location between Richland Avenue and Dairy Lane and across Richland from the University Courtyard complex. The Southside Community Association, representing residents from the surrounding area, gave a lukewarm approval to the revised plan last week, agreeing that it addressed its concerns, but continuing to express disenchantment with the project. Athens City Council will soon hear the proposal, provided it is approved by the planning commission.
Despite the decreased size of the project, the same issues with its massive redevelopment on a ridge area, seepage issues and potential transportation mishaps -all remain. After the Dairy Barn Arts Center criticized the project, saying it would cause havoc on Dairy Lane, the developers decided to propose building an entrance to the facility on Richland. But such an entrance would cause the same congestion on the already busy avenue, and Dairy Barn's concerns about how the company could guarantee that Dairy Lane would only be used by emergency vehicles highlight the fact that such an assurance would be nearly impossible to enforce. The city's engineering firm also claimed that the developers have not given them enough information.
The need for a facility like Campus Edge is questionable. Logically, it could be inferred that such a complex would put pressure on landlords to shape up their dilapidated houses, but students nonetheless flock to houses because of their location. Housing leases are commonly snatched in the fall while the outlying apartment and town house complexes are searching for residents throughout the year. And while the Mill Street Apartments are being demolished, expansion near the Riverpark Towers should more than make up for the housing being lost. In light of both concerns from various entities and its questionable usefulness for both students and normal residents, the Campus Edge project should be scrapped.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board. Send comments to posteditorial@ohiou.edu.
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