“This project construction began in 2018 and the foundations and elevator shafts are completed. The framing is also underway,” said Oakwood Director of Personnel and Properties Jennifer Wilder. “We anticipate pre-leasing to start on-site in March and anticipate moving in residents early this fall.”
The property is located at 310 Old River Trail Road across from the Old River Sports Complex. The development calls for two four-story buildings with 42 units in each building. One- and two-bedroom units would occupy the top three floors, while the ground level would house indoor parking. A clubhouse with a fitness center, full kitchen and rooftop deck would be built between the buildings and an outdoor saltwater pool built behind it.
Getting the project completed this summer is a major accomplishment for the city after a myriad of hurdles had caused it to stumble since it was first introduced in a proposal from property owner Oakwood Investment Group (OIG) and Cincinnati area-based Hills Developers Inc.
Originally, Hills Developers proposed building The Pointe, a 32-unit condo complex on the corner of Far Hills and West Schantz avenues and The Trails, an 84-unit condo development, at Pointe Oakwood.
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Some residents who spoke against the proposals said they were concerned about the proposed size of The Trails and the traffic that would come with it, but much of the discussion focused on allowing changes to the Pointe Oakwood master plan which was approved in 2007.
A dispute arose between residents, the city and the developer, resulting in lawsuits over the project.
In March 2017, a settlement agreement was reached which abandoned the proposed 32-unit complex at the corner of Far Hills and Schantz Avenues called “The Pointe,” and approved 84 units along Old River Trail called “The Trails.” The development now has the name Element Oakwood.
Under terms of the settlement, OIG had to amend its master plan to allow for the construction of a three-story office building on five acres of land in the southwest corner of Pointe Oakwood. The building also complements the existing Sugar Camp campus near the development.
Oakwood residents said that construction of two, high-density developments would cause major traffic concerns. They filed a lawsuit against the city to stop construction of The Pointe. Hills Developers filed a lawsuit to appeal the rejection of The Trails.
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Oakwood Mayor Bill Duncan explained following the settlement agreement being reached, that there were concessions made by each party in order to resolve the conflict.
“We wanted a consensus agreement; we weren’t trying to ram anything down anybody’s throat,” he said.
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