Athens City Council discusses a new community reinvestment area and the funds designated to support the project

On Monday night, Athens City Council discussed a previous ordinance that was passed and resolved on June 15, establishing The Ridges as a new project for reinvestment. The committee appointed to oversee the reinvestment met for the first time last week to map out the next steps to begin the process.

Not only will some of the original structures at The Ridges be renovated, but approximately 700 housing units will also be built, including senior housing and an art workspace.

When asked about a predicted time frame for the reinvestment construction, Council President Christine Kinsley responded, “overall it is going to be a 10-year plan for the area.”

Part of the funding for this project will come from tax increment financing, a state program where tax exemption is granted. Instead, the property owner is required to make payments that will be repurposed into the development of The Ridges.

The construction on East State Street, a similarly funded project that is currently underway, was also discussed in comparison to the reinvestment of The Ridges.

This project was passed in 2002, with a 30-year timeframe, and monitors the re-pavement and re-striping of the East State Street highway while also mending parts of the bike path in the process.

On the financial committee, $80,000 was approved to go to WWTP (Waste Water Treatment Plant) for electricity generation due to increased interest rates, although “hopefully that much money isn’t needed,” stated Councilmember Sam Crowl.

Approval for a purchase of a new leafer truck was also passed, as the old one, a model from 1977, was reportedly catching on fire during the busy fall season. A vendor has come along with a “pretty good deal,” said Councilmember Jeff Risner. Expenditure for a new truck will cost 260,000, including disposing of the last model, although some parts will be traded in to minimize expenditure.

In other news:

-        New staffing was added in the code department because there is a “need for additional hands in the code department,” according to Councilmember Crowl.

-        An additional $100,000 will be transferred from the Street Fund to the Capital Improvements Fund for the West State Street bus garage.