At last week’s Athens Affordable Housing Commission meeting, Praxia Partners CEO Joe Recchie shared good news: We are one step closer to providing affordable housing in Athens. The state controlling board approved the property transfer of The Ridges to Ohio University laying the groundwork for it’s development by The Ridges New Community Authority.
The property transfer occurred on June 16, and marks a great accomplishment of public/private sector partnership. Recchie said in the meeting: “That process was eye-opening, but it was really well conducted by all the parties.”
The Ridges is a historic site in Athens, previously Athens Lunatic Asylum and now serving as various research labs and classrooms for the university. Many of the historic buildings are vacant or in need of repair.
The new development plan will provide something for everyone in the Athens region. Three of the larger units will be turned into 100,000+ square feet of affordable senior housing. Some pieces will be zoned for artist live-work spaces and graduate student affordable housing, to encourage university students to stay in Athens when they’ve finished their degrees.
Recchie explained, “when they have affordable housing that meets their needs… that encourages a certain critical mass of creative folks that might want to live in the community. We think that is a way to enliven the sight and encourage intergenerational connection.”
Lively spaces could also attract commercial interest in the large rooms that structurally lend themselves to dining and community space. Many units will continue to be occupied by Ohio University programs. Also incorporated in the plan are areas designated for environmental conservation and historic preservation, with the intention to reactivating parts of the campus that have been recently underutilized.
In partnership with the City of Athens, the Community Building Partners team is also working on several affordable housing developments a short jump away from the Ridges. These affordable homes will be prefabricated and highly efficient, with up to three bedrooms, two baths, and a full basement.
The process is not linear, although Recchie is planning for some of the construction to begin early 2026. Affordable housing programs like these are already succeeding around Ohio. He says, “The good news is that Welcome Home is a state funded program…The city of Athens got in early on it and got a grant.” The city received $2 million, and Community Building Partner’s cost-efficient plan will recycle funds to deliver up to double the units thought possible.
“It’s a long term project… So you hope for a virtuous cycle, one that is supported economically and also aesthetically”
