Cincinnati-based company proposes $80 million housing development in New Philadelphia

A Cincinnati-based company is proposing to build a housing development at the former Howden-Buffalo property on South Broadway, representing a potential $80 million investment in the city.

Pete Schwiegeraht, senior vice president of development for Pivotal Housing Partners, gave a presentation on the proposal to members of the New Philadelphia Planning Commission April 30.

The development, built on the 17-acre site, would be done in three stages.

The first would be a senior housing building with around 80 units on 2.3 acres. It would include space for gardens.

The second phase would be designed for working residents, with a 129-unit apartment building and two- to three-story townhouses of about 30 units.

The third would be around 30 single family houses on 5.3 acres.

Each phase would have an onsite manager.

Schwiegeraht noted that the developer would be responsible for lawn care and snow removal on the streets. The development would also have space devoted to walking trails and playgrounds.

Potential residents would have to undergo three checks to live in the development — a credit check to determine if a person could afford the rent; an income check, to make sure the person has an income that qualifies that person to live there; and a criminal background check. Anyone convicted of a felony or domestic violence would not be allowed to live there.

According to Marla Akridge, executive director of the Economic Development and Finance Alliance, which owns the property, there are currently five developers interested in the site.

A total of 21 developers has looked at the Howden-Buffalo property in the past five years, she said.

Councilwoman Cheryl Ramos asked if the senior housing development would result in an increase in EMS calls in the city.

“We’re not increasing the number of calls, we’re just bringing them here, versus the house they’re in now or the substandard ADA unit they might be in now,” Schwiegeraht said.

The senior facility would also have staff to link residents to services provided by the community, he said.

Councilman Kris Kreinbihl noted that residents of New Philadelphia are not in favor of low-income housing in the city. “What would you say to that?” he asked Schwiegeraht.

Schwiegeraht responded that what his company would be building is workforce housing. “They call it that for a reason. The whole definition is to house the workforce who might not be at an income level to own a home.”

He said his company’s goal is to provide housing for people earning between $18 an hour and $35 an hour. “That’s thousands and thousands of households in your community.”

Josh Mathias, New Philadelphia’s code administrator, said the county needs a development like this, noting that it will force other landlords to “up their game.”

“A lot of people I deal with every day don’t have options,” Mathias said. “And when those options are available, I think they’re (the development) going to fill up fast, and I think it’s going to have a positive domino effect on other properties in the city, because they’re either going to have to fix things up or sit there empty.”

The Planning Commission took no action following the presentation.

Pivotal Housing Partners also operates developments in Canton, Boardman, Wooster and Medina.

The Howden-Buffalo property has sat empty since the company closed in 2014. The industrial fan manufacturing plant has also been known as the New Philadelphia Fan Co. and Joy/Green Fan. It is best known locally as the former Joy Manufacturing Co.

Before any development can occur at the site, it must be rezoned. Currently, it is zoned a regional business district. It must be changed to Planned Unit Development.

Council's Zoning and Annexation Committee met following the presentation to the Planning Commission. Members voted to direct Law Director Marvin Fete to write legislation to make the zoning change.