The Woda Group creates 33 units for families, seniors in Nelsonville, Ohio.
By Christine Serlin
Two historic school buildings have been revitalized as affordable housing for working families and seniors in the southeast Ohio town of Nelsonville.
Leading affordable housing developer The Woda Group, based in Columbus, teamed with the Nelsonville High School Restoration Foundation and Hocking Athens Perry Community Action to provide the two buildings with a new lease on life.
The partners will celebrate the grand opening of Nelsonville Commons, which will provide 33 homes for residents earning no more than 60% of the area median income, on March 2.
One of the buildings dates back to 1907 and was most recently used as a junior high school before closing in 1992. In 2015, the building was condemned by the town. The adjoining building was constructed in 1924 and used as a high school and then a junior high before being closed in 1997. After closing, it was used as a gymnastics studio and was home to the Nelsonville High School Restoration Foundation archives until falling into disrepair.