Land at The Ridges might be transitioning from educational use to residential development.
According to Athens City Council member Alan Swank, D-4th Ward, the 317 Board is interested in adding housing to an area currently designated as E1, which is for educational use. For the land to qualify as residential, it must be reclassified to R3, indicating multi-family housing.
At the Feb. 2 Council meeting, the Planning and Development Committee discussed land transfers, during which Swank said the “proposal has changed dramatically in the last 12 hours.”
The change occurred because the initial proposal was presented to the Council as a communication. However, with a deadline of March 12 for the Council and the 317 Board to submit their application for the $2 million grant, it became necessary to expedite the process.
Before the meeting, the project developers informed the 317 Board the grant paperwork could not be completed in time for the deadline.
The main project developer is Joe Recchie, the CEO of Praxia Partners. He is one of the main shareholders in the project, along with Ohio University and New Community Authority, which was created to manage the redevelopment of The Ridges, according to Athens City planner Meghan Jennings.
The process is continuing to move forward, just not at the originally intended expedited pace.
The rezoning issue will be read for the first time at the March 2 Council meeting, followed by a second reading and public hearing March 16, with a vote to take place April 6.
Nearly 27 acres of land at The Ridges have been approved for building a community development. The new development centers primarily around creating housing for the elderly out of the unused buildings at The Ridges and aims to be affordable.
“These ongoing collaborative efforts have continued to focus on further progressing various mixed-use and community-identified needs, including age-friendly (seniors) and affordable housing; a final condominiums survey, a site requirement necessary for moving the overall development strategy forward, was recently completed,” Samantha Pelham, a university spokesperson, wrote in an email.
The city of Athens is involved in the project, just not as a property owner or developer.
“The only official involvement with the project that the City of Athens will have is when they rezone the property and proceed with major subdivision applications,” Jennings wrote in an email. “We have had initial discussions with Joe Recchie about zoning, but we have not moved forward in any official capacity.”
On June 16, 2025, the State of Ohio Controlling Board approved the 27 acres to be transferred to the Ridges Community Development, LLC for “rehabilitation and development,” according to a press release updated Jan. 30 from OU.
“The university has started the process of sharing a final version of the condominium survey and documents with its partners in Athens County for review and approval,” Pelham wrote in an email. “Once all condominium documents are approved and recorded by the county, we will be able to update the deeds and proceed with the transfer process.”
Pelham said appropriate approvals must be made by stakeholders, including final review and approval considerations from the Ohio Governor’s Office. Then, the university will schedule the closing with the Ridges Community Development.
The land at The Ridges was formerly a part of OU, so the university remains involved with the planning and development.
According to the press release, 750 dwellings and housing for 1,700 to 2,000 people is expected to be developed at The Ridges over the next several years.
The new housing developments center on affordable homes, townhouses and loft-style apartments.
A condominium association, similar to a homeowners' association, will also be formed once the property is fully developed. Since The Ridges is a historic part of Athens, proper precautions will be taken to ensure the preservation and maintenance of the space.
“This project will reutilize an important historic structure within our community, preserving its existence and significance,” Jennings wrote in an email. “At the same time, it is expected to bring around 700 new housing units onto the market, as well as create economic development opportunities by incorporating small commercial uses.”
At this time, an official expected cost was not stated, but Pelham said the university has invested over $28 million into The Ridges since 2015, including the transformation of the eastern wing of the Kirkbride building into the Ohio University Police Department and offices for OU departments and employees.
