Construction at Nelsonville School Commons is one-third complete to adapt the historic Nelsonville High School Complex into 33 one- and two-bedroom modern and affordable apartment homes. The new development is the result of excellent collaboration between area nonprofits the Nelsonville High School Restoration Foundation and the Hocking Athens Perry Community Action Program; and The Woda Group, Inc, a leading affordable housing development, construction and management firm based here, with support from many others including the Athens County Commissioners.
Nelsonville, surrounded by the Wayne National Forest, has a quaint downtown with 200 structures of historic interest including Stuart Opera House and the school complex, which is the largest structure in the historic district. In addition to the historic buildings, the community features many attractions for tourists, including a Hocking Valley scenic rail excursion line and several art galleries, shops and cafes. There are many other valuable services for local residents, and the community is home to Hocking College and only 13 miles from Ohio University in Athens. Outdoor footwear and apparel company Rocky Brands, based in Nelsonville, is one of the area’s largest local employers.
Despite its strengths, Nelsonville has suffered financial decline over the years. Student housing demands have created a competitive rental market, often marked by above-average rents for substandard living spaces. “Employers told us they’ve struggled to bring new entry level talent due to a shortage of affordable workforce housing,” says Joseph M. McCabe, Vice President of Development with Woda and leader for the Nelsonville School Commons development.
Nelsonville School Commons will offer a new high quality workforce housing option largely geared toward small families and other single-tenant residents that earn 60% of the area median income, says McCabe. The $9.6 million development is partly funded through highly competitive Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency; Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives through the National Park Service; and competitive housing tax credits made available through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA). The Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (Columbus) serves as investor in the project, providing equity in exchange for tax credits. A bridge loan was made available through OHFA’s Home Development Loan Program. Construction and permanent financing was obtained through Summit Community Bank (Moorefield, West Virginia).
