Two historic and vacant school buildings have been transformed into 33 units of affordable housing in Nelsonville, Ohio, an Appalachian community in southeastern Ohio with about 5,300 residents.
Built in 1907 and 1924, the adjoining buildings had been vacant since the early 1990s with one condemned by the town. However, the Nelsonville High School Restoration Foundation, a group of school alumni, had worked to save the buildings from demolition and sold them to Woda Cooper Cos. for well below the market value, making it feasible to create needed affordable housing for families and individuals in the community.
The Ohio-based developer brought new life to the complex. The exteriors of both buildings were restored; one- and two-bedroom units were created out of existing classrooms and offices, some with original chalkboards, tin ceilings, and decorative millwork; fire sprinkler systems and an elevator between the two buildings were added.
In addition, Nelsonville School Commons has a fully insulated building envelope and other energy-efficient features, such as Energy Star appliances, earning it Enterprise Green Communities certification.
It also is meeting the need for affordable housing in Nelsonville, which has faced tough economic times for many years and is in one of the poorest counties in Ohio. Opening in January 2018, Nelsonville School Commons serves households at 60% of the area median income and was leased up within 38 days. The Hocking Athens Perry Community Action Program helps connect residents with the services they need.
“It’s a win for the community by saving landmark structures and providing housing in a hard-to-develop area,” says Joseph McCabe, vice president of development at Woda Cooper.
The $9.8 million adaptive-reuse was financed with state and federal historic tax credits as well as low-income housing tax credits. Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing served as the equity provider.
