Ohio University officials met with city, county and township officials Monday night to discuss the creation of an advisory committee that could help President Roderick McDavis on further Ridges development.
McDavis, Wiehl, County Commissioner Charlie Adkins and other officials were in attendance.
McDavis acknowledged the university’s responsibility to develop The Ridges as a university and city asset.
“Our dialogue today was a great example of how we’ll move forward. As we begin defining a Ridges master plan, we will continue in this spirit of collaboration with our community partners,” he said.
Monday’s meeting followed Athens City Council members unanimously approved an ordinance to create a historical preservation board for the city at the March 18 meeting.
The creation of this board will not only help preserve buildings like The Ridges, but will also make Athens a “certified local government” recognized by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The Historical Preservation Board will be made up of 5 members and 2 alternatives appointed by Mayor Paul Wiehl and confirmed by members of City Council.
“We are looking for anyone interested in the history of Athens,” said Councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward.
Papai said they would like to get started as soon as possible, hopefully within the next couple of months.
As a certified local government, Athens will be able to apply for a share of $80,000 for historical preservation in the city and receive a tax credit of 25 percent of the total costs associated with historical preservation from the state and federal government.
Gallipolis, Lancaster and Zanesville are several nearby cities that are certified and there are more than 50 cities in Ohio that are certified as well.
Members of the board will have several responsibilities, including making recommendations on properties for historic designation, surveying the cultural resources of Athens and permitting or denying changes to historical properties.
Those with extensive knowledge, interest, or professional experience in history, historical preservation and architecture are ideal candidates for a position on the board.
“I’m really glad to see this moving forward,” Councilman Steve Patterson, D-At-Large, said. “This is a great move in the right direction in preserving the history of this great city.”
Athens has wanted this board for a very long time, said Athens City Planner Paul Logue. The city has been attempting to create one since the early 1980s. It was never formally agreed upon, so it never moved forward.
“We should have more awareness of the historic nature of our community,” Logue said.
ck813711@ohiou.edu
