Developer looks to create new subdivision in Louisville
LOUISVILLE – A new residential subdivision that will contain more than 200 homes appears on the horizon for the west side of the city.
The 62.3-acre site, to be called Orchard Park, sits in the northeast corner of the Broadway Avenue and Peach Street intersection. Under a proposal before city officials, K Hovnanian Homes would create a development of 110 single-family houses and 99 town homes.
Prior to the subdivision being created, City Council has to rezone the site to medium density urban residential. Currently, the land is zoned for general retail, office and motorist services. The zoning hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 6.
"I don't anticipate any opposition to this," Councilman Corey Street said. "We understand the population of Ohio, Northeast Ohio and Louisville is aging. The only way you are going to thrive into the future is by attracting new residents through new home construction."
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For the time being, the property is owned by Louisville Baptist Temple, according to records with the Stark County Auditor's Office. Plans call for Anthony Giuliani, operator Maxsam Investments of Columbus, to purchase the land.
"I am in contract to buy the land," Giuliani said. "We would start working on the final plan early next year. There are a lot of things that have to fall into place. There will probably be two phases."
Maxsam Investments would sell the property to K Hovnanian Homes.
Once K Hovnanian Homes acquires the land, "they would build the infrastructure, sell the individual lots, and then build the unit for the property owner," said Vince Marion, city director of planning and development. "I believe the plan is to construct it in phases."
Attempts to contact officials with K Hovnanian Homes were not successful. But it was revealed at a recent city Planning Commission meeting that the price for a town home would be in the mid-$200,000 range. Prices for the single-family houses would range from $270,000 to $300,000.
Orchard Park would be just south of existing apartment complex
The site for the new subdivision is just south of a new apartment complex called Covington Ridge, which was developed by Redwood Homes of the Cleveland area. That apartment complex is being built in three phases.
"They are beginning to start the final phase," Marion said.
The K Hovnanian Homes project is not the only new housing complex being proposed for the Louisville area. About a fourth of a mile south of where Orchard Park is being proposed is a new housing project by K&K 230 Enterprises.
The 7.98-acre site is in Nimishillen Township on the north side of Daisy Street NE and east of Broadway Avenue. As with the K Hovnanian Homes project, the project requires a zone change. The developer is asking to have the site rezoned for one- and two-family residential use.
The land currently is zoned for single-family residential use. The applicant is Christopher Herzan of K&K 230 Enterprises. Efforts to contact Herzan about his development plans were not successful. But according to Stark County Regional Planning Commission records, the plan calls for two-family residential structures. Currently, the property is vacant.
The property is close to the municipal corporate line of Louisville. This means the land could be subject to being annexed into the city.
"They could ask for the city to annex them," Nimishillen Township Trustee Donald Keefe said. "As a township, would we be wise to let that happen? We have not talked about that whatsoever. I have nothing against Louisville. But it would be nice to keep that tax base. That is something we have to look into."
However, an attempt to annex the site hasn't been discussed by the city.
"We have not really talked about that," Mayor Patricia Fallot said. "I don't know if we do it like that, or if we would do some kind of joint economic (agreement) where we would agree to who is going to get the real estate tax and who is going to get the income tax."
The proposed housing developments, such as Orchard Park, could suggest the Louisville area is being viewed as an attractive residential area.
"Look at what Louisville has," said Joe Race, executive director of the Building Industry Association of Stark County. "It has a lot of land. If it is done properly, we would certainly be supportive. There is a shortage of good housing all over the country. In this part of the nation, the housing stock is older than it should be."
Reach Malcolm at 330-580-8305
or malcolm.hall@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: mhallREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Developer plans 210-unit housing complex for Louisville
