By a 5-1 vote, Oxford City Council turned down a request from the YWCA to collaborate to create housing for families fleeing abusive households. Instead, the council approved an existing resolution that would pave the way for affordable housing for Oxford residents on the same Chestnut Street lot on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
The resolution approved by council will request proposals from firms to create plans for higher-density apartments for people who work in Oxford but cannot afford to live in the city. The lots are at 601, 603 and 607 W. Chestnut St.
Before council voted, two speakers from the Hamilton YWCA floated a plan for the city to designate the land for families fleeing from abusive households instead. YWCA officials said that with a commitment from the city, the organization could apply for grants to fund their project.
“We are asking today that you change the RFP (request for proposals) and agree to work with YWCA so that we can provide the safe, affordable housing that families need,” said Dawn Anderson-Thurmond, director of the Hamilton YWCA’s domestic violence center. “We are under time constraints, and if we’re unable to do that, we’d likely not be able to continue this project.”
She said the YWCA facility would have 37 units with two or three bedrooms each.
Jason Bracken said he supported the YWCA’s plan because he “wants to help as many people as possible” and “cares less about where they live.” He voted against the RFP.
Assistant City Manager Jessica Greene said that the YWCA asked for a decision by December, not enough time for the city’s RFP process to unfold.
Council members Amber Franklin and Alex French both worried the initiative could be moving too fast and be too uncertain.
“We have been through this before,” Mayor William Snavely said. “We had a plan for an Episcopal retirement development with independent living units … great idea, but they didn’t get the grant.”
Snavely also said that sticking with the existing affordable housing plan prioritized the people of Oxford.
“A number of us, myself included, have been making a pledge to the people of Oxford that we’re moving forward on affordable housing for the people who are here and who need it,” he said.
Greene said that of the three houses on the land slated for redevelopment, two are vacant and the third is occupied by a family that wants to move out.
In other news, city council approved measures to pave the way for construction of a new Marriott hotel near Millett Hall, with the caveat that developers take steps to minimize impact of the property’s illuminated sign on adjacent properties.
Council member David Prytherch raised concerns about the impact of the planned four-story hotel’s signage. He said that since the building will be 500 feet from the road, but only 250 from the nearest residence, its sign will likely do more to disrupt nearby residents than help with wayfinding,
“Does it need to be mounted at the top of the building, which would be visible to all adjacent neighbors, or could a sign like that be mounted on the canopy over the front door to equal effect for the visiting guests?” Prytherch asked.
Council unanimously agreed to include an amendment specifying that “the wall-mounted signage on the western facade be designed to minimize visual impact to adjacent properties,” that was proposed by Prytherch.
Before the amendment was accepted, Oxford Hotel Group representative Neil Burnett told council the change could easily be made.
