Grand opening of 12 affordable housing units for older adults celebrated at 200 Ohio St.
The grand opening of Ritter's Run Apartments on Wednesday at 200 Ohio St. attracted a large crowd of community leaders.
The Ohio Area Agency on Aging District 5 celebrated the opening of Ritter’s Run Apartments in collaboration with stakeholders, including the Richland County Land Bank, Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority, City of Mansfield, Mechanics Bank, Richland County Foundation, Appleseed Builders, and Praxia Partners; the Area Agency on Aging District 5 was the developer of 12 affordable housing units, called Ritter’s Run, for older adults.
Duana Patton, executive director of the Area Agency on Aging in Ontario, said the property will be managed by Accord Management.
She said 12 individuals ages 55 and older have qualified to become residents at the apartments across from Ritter Park and they could be moving in by July 1.
"They've not signed leases yet," Patton said following the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce-Economic Development and community members.
Patton thanked many partners on the project, which began in 2017, a property the Area Agency on Aging acquired through the Richland County Land Bank.
Three apartment buildings on Ohio Street started coming down in 2017. The Richland County Land Bank voted to take ownership of the three apartment buildings at 200, 210 and 220 Ohio Street in 2017, and demolish them after the property was forfeited to the state. According to Richland County property records, the buildings were constructed in 1957.
Patton talked about the many delays on the project including rain, a pandemic and chain supply issues. The new housing project was built on top of a landfill.
"This is a place that will be home for 12 individuals or couples and we are so grateful that many of you have been with us every step of the way," Patton said.
Patton said when the project was started there were three main pillars the agency wanted to focus on, including safety, affordability and sustainability.
"Safety for us really focused on security systems, internally and externally," she said, adding Schmidt Security installed some amazing high-tech things made possible with a grant from Richland County Foundation.
She said affordability was maintained through many partners and foundations.
She said extra steps were taken to make sure Ritter's Run will be here for many years to come.
State Sen. Mark Romanchuk, R-Ontario, was among the politicians attending the event.
He thanked all the partners involved too.
"We have an aging population in Ohio," he said.
Also, there is somewhat of a housing crisis, and something the state is working on to pass policies for better housing for all the needs out there.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: New affordable apartments for those age 55 and older opened Wednesday
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