Oberlin Council talks affordable housing

OBERLIN — Six years since a housing study highlighted Oberlin’s need for affordable housing, a project to provide some could be moving forward.

City Council held a work session Monday evening to discuss a proposal by Revitalization Strategies Group to build eight homes on city-owned property.

The homes would be on in-fill lots, each costing about $225,000 to build.

Federal housing subsidies would bring the cost for homeowners down to about $125,000 to $150,000, Councilman Ray English said. Homeowners would first rent the properties for up to five years while receiving financial counseling to be able to take out mortgages to purchase the properties, he said.

The proposed homes are two- or three-bedroom units, with one-and-a-half or two bathrooms, according to the submitted design plans by LDA Architects.

The proposed properties for the in-fill units include 225 Sumner St., 878 Kimberly Circle, 69 S. Park St., a Prospect Street lot, two lots on South Pleasant Street, a lot on Grafton Street and a lot on Smith Street.

The city has been in talks with Michael Bowen of Re- vitalization Strategies since November 2021, Councilwoman Eboni Johnson said. Late last year, Bowen toured several sites around the city, including the infill lots part of Monday’s proposal.

English said the entire project is expected to cost $2.3 million to $2.4 million. It will be up to Bowen to secure financing, from private investment, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits or other subsidies for the project to move forward. It is unlikely to receive a tax abatement, English said.

The city will provide $20,000 per home in American Rescue Plan Act funds, and complete a Phase I environmental review of each lot before construction moves forward. If anything is found during that environmental review, it will be up to the city to remediate those issues before the property can transfer to Revitalization Strategies.

The city has until 2024 to allocate ARPA funds, and until 2026 to spend them.

Councilwoman Kristin Peterson expressed concern about what would happen if Congress imposed clawback measures on unexpended funds — questioning if the city would have to make up the difference. That answer remains unclear.

Once the eight plots transfer, construction can begin — estimated to start in the first half of 2024 if the development stays on its projected schedule.

Residents of the singlefamily homes will be chosen based in part on income and creditworthiness, with preference given to those currently living in, or looking to move back to, Oberlin, English said. Families would have up to five years to rent the homes and receive financial counseling to be able to purchase the home for a long-term mortgage.

English noted the rents and subsequent mortgage rates would be affordable for low-income families. Revitalization Strategies still needs to develop a selection plan fully, English said.

If, after five years, tenants were unable to purchase the home, a new family would be selected for the house, English said. A family’s rent would not count toward their mortgage or down payment.

Former councilman Ronnie Rimbert was disappointed Bowen wasn’t at Monday’s meeting, but Council clarified Bowen wasn’t invited. The work session was meant to give Council a chance to hear the project in full, and listen to residents’ concerns.

About two dozen residents came out Monday, many expressing support for the project.

Ralph Thompson, a member of the city’s Social Equity Work Group’s Housing subgroup, said the opportunity for homeownership is one that generates wealth for families and was satisfied with the commit- ment to equity Bowen has had as the project has been in the works. No ordinance was introduced for the proposal and further work sessions were requested by residents.

PROVIDED | Oberlin City Council Packet Floor plans for two and three bedroom affordable infill housing proposed on city-owned properties in southeast Oberlin.

The city’s 2017 housing study, completed by Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, recommended at the time the city address maintenance and rehabilitation needs in its current housing stock, and provide smaller, affordable homes for sale.

Freedom Garden on the north end of the property.

Grants from Lorain County Public Health and the Ross Foundation funded the $20,000 boardwalk project.

The boardwalk will even- tually tie into a planned stretch of woodland trails coming from the open prairie through the woods. The Western Reserve Land Conservancy hopes to have the trails open by next summer, McDowell said, depending on funding. The proposed trail is a roughly $150,000 project, and the nonprofit will know later this year if its grant request was successful.

North Pointe Ballet

North Pointe Ballet will host its original production of “Beauty and the Beast” at the Lorain Palace Theatre, 617 Broadway, April 21-23.

A special sensory-friendly matinee is Saturday, with participants from Murray Ridge School and NPB’s A Chance to Dance program joining the cast on stage. Showtimes are 7 p.m. April 21 and 22, 2 p.m. April 23. The Sensoryfriendly show is at 2 p.m. April 22.

Tickets are $22 to $26. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Lorain Palace Theatre box office at (440) 245-2323 or online at northpointeballet.org/ beauty-and-the-beast.

Another, abbreviated production will be at Lakeview Park, 1800 West Erie Ave., at 7 p.m. May 12. The Lakeview Park performance is free, with lawn seating available. Attendees should bring a chair or blanket to sit on.

Oberlin Heritage Center

The Oberlin Heritage Center will host a “paired with history” wine and cheese tasting at 6:30 p.m. May 9. The event is in collaboration with the Black River Wine Shop and Bar in downtown oberlin. Admission is $25 or $20 for OHC members. The event is for those 21-and-older and IDs will be checked at entry. For more information or to register, visit oberlinheritagecenter.com or email tourinfo@oberlinheritage. org

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Black River Audubon Society

The Black River Audubon Society will host Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist Tim Jasinski at 7 p.m. May 2 at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor’s Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange. Jasinski began his involvement with the Lake Erie and Nature Science Center in 2007 first as a volunteer and then seasonal worker, before attaining his current fulltime position in wildlife rehab. He will discuss what wildlife rehab is and give some specifics on what his job entails along with some special success stories. This program is free to the public.

Amherst Historical Society

● Afternoon Tea is 1-3 p.m. May 21 at The Grange Hall in Sandstone Village. Please join us for tea and refreshments, enjoy beautiful wedding dresses on display, and tour the Village gardens maintained by the Amherst Garden Club. Tickets are $20 per person, $15 for members. Please RSVP by May 15 to (440) 988-7255 or office@ amhersthistoricalsociety. org. Payments can be made

THEME: FILL-IN-THEBLANK by cash, check or card.

You can also register and pay by card using https://form.jotform. com/230463915767161

● The Sandstone Village Car and Bike Show will be June 4 with registration from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and the Car Show from 12-4 p.m. There will be a photo area, Village building tours, garage sales, a blessing of the cars and bikes, raffles, DJ, food court, and more! Spectator parking will be at Amherst Junior High School with shuttle service to Sandstone Village.

● The Taste of History Military Living History event is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 17 at The Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Ave. The event will have samples of military food and rations, displays, kids’ activities and more.

League of Women Voters of the Oberlin Area

The League of Women Voters of the Oberlin Area will hold a public informational meeting about Ranked Choice Voting and what it could mean for Lorain County voters. The meeting is in the Dye Auditorium of the Oberlin College Science Center at 6:30 p.m. April 26. Speakers will include Justin Wells, the Co-Executive of Ranked Choice Ohio, and Duncan Buell, Chair Emeritus in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Carolina, a noted researcher in electronic voting, and currently visiting professor at Denison University. The meeting will consider what ranked choice voting has to offer the voters of Lorain County and what difficulties lie in wait before any implementation can happen. Parking will be available in the Woodland Street lot across from the science building.

Amherst Library

● Celebrate spring with a short story contest. Youth of all ages are invited to enter the Amherst Public Library’s short story contest now through April 29. Winners will be chosen by May 5.

● Learn how to make your own cleaning products at the Amherst Library’s program 6:30 p.m. today. with baking soda, vinegar, peroxide, castile soap and essential oils.

● Adapted storytime is 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

● A creative storytime for children is 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The program is designed for ages 2-5 and their caregivers. Dress for a mess.

● The Library’s Japanese Tokusatsu club will meet at 6 p.m. April 25. The group is recommended for ages 15-and-up. The group meets the fourth Tuesday of the month.

To register for events, or for more information, call the library at (440) 9884230 or visit amherstpubliclibrary.org.

PROVIDED | Oberlin Schools

Oberlin High School Orchestra Instructor Ms Audrey John Melzer conducts the students as they perform “Songs of the Ocean Winds” while guest composer Mr. Adrian Gordon virtually listens

Oberlin High School Orchestra works with guest composer

Gordon gave the students a round of applause.

OBERLIN — The Oberlin High School orchestra had the opportunity to virtually perform for guest composer Adrian Gordon.

Gordon is an active performer, composer and music educator from Charlotte, N.C. He has written several acclaimed works for string orchestras including “Songs of the Ocean Winds,” which the Oberlin High School orchestra will perform at its May 8 concert.

Before hearing Gordon’s feedback, Oberlin High School Orchestra Instructor Audrey John Melzer conducted the students as they performed Gordon’s “Songs of the Ocean Winds.”

After the performance

“The total center is pretty good and the ensemble is good,” he said virtually. “Some ideas I have are to slow down the tempo in a few areas and exaggerate the dynamic in another.”

Gordon then explained which areas of his piece he referred to as students took out pencils to make notes on their sheet music.

“It was our honor and pleasure to perform for you today Mr. Gordon,” said Melzer. “We appreciate your time and your feedback. We are looking forward to taking your suggestions when we perform for our families.”

The Oberlin High School Orchestra will perform its Spring Concert at 7:30 p.m. May 8 at the high school auditorium.

Local judge reappointed to Judicial College board

ELYRIA — Lorain County Probate Judge James T. Walther has been reappointed to the Board of Trustees of the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College, according to a news release.

The appointment was made on March 31 by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy for a three-year term ending December 31, 2025.

The Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College provides continuing legal and professional education for judges, magistrates, acting judges and nonjudicial court personnel to ensure the effective administration of justice for all Ohioans. “I have been working on Judicial College planning for many years and have been teaching new judges orientation for Ohio probate judges since 2011. I am especially interested in development of training for Ohio guardians,” said Lorain County Probate Judge James T. Walther. “I am grateful for the trust Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy has placed in me and I am thrilled to continue working with the Judicial College.”