While it wasn't unanimous, a Cincinnati City Council approved adivisive plan for an apartment complex on the West Sidedespite pushback from some council members who wanted to delay the vote.
On Sept. 16, council voted 6-3 to change the zoning of the former Western Hills Sports Mall for an apartment complex known as Westline Flats.
Prior to the vote, Mayor Aftab Pureval urged council to support it.
“This is an affordable housing development that we consistently say we need across the board,” Pureval said. “The residents that live in this actual neighborhood where this going to happen want it.”
While it passed, debate on council took amore contentious turn than one day earlier, when council’s housing and growth committee passed the ordinance 6-0.
‘We really need to make a stand for the West Side now’
Three council members who were not at the earlier committee meeting voted against the zone change on Sept. 16 −Seth Walsh, Scotty Johnson and Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney.
The projectis in Westwood but sits on the border with West Price Hill. The three dissenting council members said they felt the city hasn’t given enough attention to the concerns of the latter neighborhood.
“This is by no means an indictment on the devleopers,” Walsh said. “I just think we need to really make a stand for the West Side right now.”
Two neighborhoods disagree
What the West Side wants depends on who you ask.
Westwood has supported the development, with residents saying they want more housing to support its growing business district.
The West Price Hill Community Council has opposed the project, citing concerns over the density of the housing development and safety issues associated with a 167-unit apartment complex. Residents have said they feel income-restricted housing has already saturated the neighborhood.
What is Westline Flats?
Louisville-based LDG Development has plans to demolish the former sports mall and build 167 apartments in a development called Westline Flats. LDG Development also plans to apply for low-income housing tax credits from the state this summer in order to cap rents at an average of 60% of the area median income.
Why council supported it
The mayor, who doesn’t get a vote on council measures and doesn’t always weigh in, spoke in support of the project.
In the end, a majority of council members voted in favor of Westline Flats. Those who voted for it said the developer has worked with both neighborhoods to address concerns over traffic and safety.
“This council, I think everyone of us, campaigned on more affordable housing,” said Councilwoman Anna Albi. “This is an opportunity to add more affordable housing in a currently vacant building.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati approves plan to turn vacant sports mall into apartments
