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Twenty acres in Oxford Twp. may one day fill the void of affordable housing in the area. The people involved say it could happen — if the stars align.

Representatives from Neighborhood Housing Services and developer Miller Valentine Group presented a plan to the Oxford Twp. Trustees last Monday that would build 45 homes on 20 acres south of the Silverleaf subdivision on Kehr Road.

The homes, designed for low-to-moderate income families, hinge on state housing credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, which have yet to be approved.

"The application is extremely competitive," NHS Executive Director Lorie Batdorf said. "We have about a 30 percent chance of getting the (credits). To do this kind of project, all the stars would have to align."

Before OHFA even considers a housing credit application in 2008, the land must be annexed into the city. If funding and annexation are granted, the proposal then faces a slew of Oxford planning commission and city council meetings to approve the development.

Miller Valentine and NHS went to the trustees March 12 to inform them of their plans and the need for an annexation agreement. For now, the trustees have not taken a position on the proposed development and annexation.

During the presentation, Miller Valentine developer Lynn Coleman said the houses would be a mix of two-story and ranch homes valued between $130,000 to $150,000. She estimated each house would measure between 1,300 to 1,500 square feet.

Forty of the homes would be offered to people who meet income criteria on a lease-own option. The houses must be leased for 15 years before they can be purchased at an affordable price.

Federal and state funding make it possible for the homes to be offered at a reasonable price at the end of the 15-year lease term. Families also will accumulate down-payment assistance during the lease term through the program, Coleman explained.

The remaining five homes in the development would be sold outright by NHS using federal and state funds to subsidize the cost of construction. Subsidies would also cover the down payment of the homes.

The proposed development drew some concerns from residents who attended the township meeting. Housing density and traffic flow were two of the issues voiced. Some questioned the proposal's effectiveness in addressing the affordable housing need.

Others were concerned the development would someday grow into the neighboring 20 acres of vacant property. Following the meeting, Batdorf said NHS has no intentions of expanding.

"Neighborhood Housing Services has no interest in ever applying for a second application for the additional contiguous 20 acres," Batdorf said.

A two-year study by the League of Women Voters documented a need for affordable housing in Oxford. The league used census data and visited local employers to complete their study.

"What we heard over and over again is that many employees wanted to live in Oxford and Oxford Twp., but there wasn't any housing they could afford," said Sondra Engel of the League of Women Voters.

Oxford's Housing Advisory Commission has been a strong proponent of affordable housing since its formation in the 1990s, Vice Mayor and HAC member Prue Dana said.

HAC gave their support for the proposal during a February quorum, and members were present during last week's township meeting. Dana explained the development could help young families move into their first home in Oxford.

Referencing the League of Women Voters' study, Dana said the price of a home in Oxford usually starts at $250,000.

"If you look at the number of houses available in the $130,000 to $150,000 range and you see their condition, there are not many homes available," Dana said. "They might involve significant repairs, whereas a new home for a first-time home buyer wouldn't."

Contact this reporter at (513) 523-4139 or jgiordano@coxohio.com.