The Ridges

The former Athens Asylum, under ownership and control of Ohio University and now known as The Ridges, includes 730 acres of land and over 700,000 gross square feet of buildings.  It is currently host to important University and community functions, but the potential of this asset is not yet fully realized.  There have been many studies and efforts put forth to provide a path forward for the University to use the buildings and land to further the academic mission of the University.  The University has indicated it has made use of such property that it wishes to use for its academic purposes, and there is now a tremendous opportunity to utilize the Ridges for community and economic development purposes.  The Buckeye Hills Foundation, Buckeye Hills Regional Council, and Community Building partners worked together as The Ridges Development Advisors, with support from the Appalachian Regional Commission, to develop a master plan inclusive of generating resources from the land and buildings to preserve the iconic Kirkbride campus. 

In January 2023, the Ohio University Board of Trustees approved the strategy put forward by The Ridges Development Advisors to develop an economically viable plan to reactivate the Ridges. The Ridges Development Advisors– a partnership between Community Building Partners and The Buckeye Hills Regional Council –have worked for 20 months to develop a plan that meets the objectives identified in the Ridges Framework Plan while responding to the unique needs of Ohio University and the Athens community. Specifically, this plan:

  • Maintains conserved land for recreation and public use,

  • Leverages vacant space and developable land to meet market housing needs,

  • Creates opportunities for flexible commercial space,

  • Compliments Ohio University’s presence as an anchor, and

  • Leverages Ohio University’s significant investment over the years.

Ohio University trustees also approved the establishment of a New Community Authority that would work to preserve the historic complex.

The development of the Ridges is an enormous economic development effort and aligns with the goal of Asset Utilization highlighted in the BHRC Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and the charge to work collaboratively with communities to enhance development opportunities surrounding unique regional assets and expand local ownership of development assets. To move the needle in Appalachia, it is critical that the plan and the execution occur with maximum local economic benefit in construction, permanent job creation, job training, and advancing entrepreneurial interests. The surrounding region has historically been burdened by an extractive economy. The Ridges present an opportunity to counteract that history by delivering the economic development promise evident in this large-scale investment.

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