In conjunction with a May 18 Athens City Council work session, council held a public hearing last night regarding the controversial continuing-care retirement center for the city of Athens, with Athens residents speaking both for and against the proposed construction.
The Planning Commission voted in April to pass the plans for the retirement center onto City Council. The plans were submitted by the National Church Residences and Berardi & Partners Architects for a complex to be located on Ohio University property north of Stimson Avenue and next to the Hocking River.
At last week's council work session, Jim Sands, D-at-large, said council members had compiled a three-page list of concerns with the plans for the retirement center.
George Berardi, of Berardi & Partners Architects, explained that the retirement center will be situated on roughly 16 acres of land, 12 of which will actually be accessible for the center. He said that water runoff can be diverted to the river and they will have other water detention to prevent flooding, an issue many residents are concerned about.
Elaine Goetz, an Athens resident, said, it is unacceptable to displace flood water into our neighborhoods.
The city should be protecting our homes
she said.
Athens resident Matthew White raised many questions that he said, need to have clear answers. He said that the developers should go around the neighborhoods and talk to residents about the plans for this project.
Among his concerns were traffic issues, flooding, noise with construction and how the building will look in comparison with the rest of neighborhood.
The consensus of many of the residents was that they want a facility for the elderly. Ronald Black, an Athens resident, said he was sad to see so many senior citizens leave the city because they have no where to go.
This is the right place and the right time for a facility like this, he said.
The other main issue, beside flooding, was the preservation of green space.
John Kotowski, assistant vice president for Facilities Planning, said that if this land is not used for the retirement center it will be used by the university.
Loraine McCosker, member of the Sierra Club and a resident of Athens, said that while many cities are clamoring to find green space, Athens is looking for ways to destroy it. She urged the people to consider how this will affect future generations.
In opposition to McCosker, Dorothy Scarmack, an Athens resident for more than 35 years, said she did not want to hear the cry that we need more green space. She told council that this area has an abundance of green space with its state parks, bike path and other area parks, and she saw no reason for not building the retirement facility in Athens.
We will be good neighbors as we have been for years said Jack Ellis, a resident of Athens for 40 years.
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Meghan Nicholson
