City Council last night approved a plan to build 54 units of affordable senior housing at 1774 East Main Street. The new development, which would require the demolition of four vacant houses, was also approved in November by the Near East Area Commission.
A 1,200 square-foot space at the corner of Main and Fairwood Avenue would be reserved for retail or office uses, with a to-be-determined piece of public art planned for the open space in front.
A timeline for construction is not yet available since the developer, the Woda Group, will be applying for low income housing tax credits to support the project. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency is expected to announce which projects are awarded the credits in June.
A press release from the Woda Group said that Vice President of Development Joseph McCabe, a resident of Bryden Road, championed the project, “after seeing a lack of high-quality housing available to the elderly.”
“Fairwood Commons will provide a safe, comfortable home for seniors with moderate means and limited options,” said Jeff Woda, president of the Woda Group.
James Flannery, President of the Franklin Park Civic Association, said in a letter of support that he is hopeful that the development will “serve as a catalyst for future projects in the Franklin Park neighborhood and the greater Near East Side, and support ongoing efforts already underway to revitalize our neighborhood.”
