The Athens Board of Zoning Appeals turned down GoodWorks Inc.'s request to expand the Timothy House, a homeless shelter, to the duplex next door.
Keith Wasserman, the director and founder of GoodWorks, proposed to expand Timothy House's floor area by connecting the duplex at 93-95 Central Ave. with a corridor and adding parking spaces.
The building would aid families in need of privacy, Wasserman said. We are concerned about maintaining the same (presence) in our area as we have now.
Zoning rules for the area allow one family per residence
but the new expansion would accommodate four families Wasserman said. The Timothy House homeless shelter was established before the zoning rules in the area changed to one-family residential properties.
Connecting the duplex to the original Timothy House shelter would require different zoning approval engineering surveys on the safety of the connecting corridor and extra parking.
We have put so much into that property, Wasserman said. We would like to stay in the area.
GoodWorks can appeal the decision in court
said Board of Zoning Appeals Chair Muriel Frederick.
Two members of the Athens West Side Community Association spoke against such an expansion in an area that is
