Developer outlines 50‑unit affordable, 55+ project for West Spring Street at Lima City Council hearing

At a public hearing, Sean McMickle, vice president of development for Spire Development, described a proposal to rezone the 700 block of West Spring Street from Class 2 to Class 3 residential to allow an age‑restricted (55 and up) affordable housing development of about 50 units. McMickle said the three‑story, elevator‑served building would include a fitness center, community room and an on‑site supportive‑services office and would preserve an existing community garden operated by Mercy.

McMickle said rents would be targeted to households earning up to roughly 60–80% of the county’s median income and that the project would remain affordable for 45 years via a deed restriction. He said Spire typically uses third‑party property managers, intends to be the long‑term owner, and that general contractors working on the project typically hire local subcontractors.

Councilors pressed McMickle on several points. A councilor asked whether the 55+ restriction could later be changed to family housing; McMickle said the restrictive covenant would prevent conversion to family units during the compliance period. Another councilor asked why the design includes a single elevator; McMickle said the developer judged one elevator appropriate for the size of a 50‑unit, three‑story building, noting multiple stairwells and code‑required egress. He said the team would seek two points of ingress/egress, one off Elm and one off Spring, for safety and circulation.

Local resident Timothy Salem raised a safety and accessibility concern about residents who use electric wheelchairs, pointing out elevators are not used during fire emergencies and asking how an immobile resident would evacuate upper floors. McMickle responded that the project will be built to code, will include multiple stairwells on opposite ends of the building, and that residents with significant mobility needs could be placed in first‑floor units; he also said the developer would coordinate with fire authorities on evacuation planning.

McMickle said the team completed a market study that showed sufficient demand and that only one of the recently proposed senior projects in the area is likely to be funded in the near term, limiting the risk of multiple projects opening simultaneously. He added that Spire commits to operating projects during the compliance period and that the firm typically remains the long‑term owner-operator.

The public hearing was closed after the applicant’s presentation and questions. The council later advanced a separate ordinance (Ordinance 52‑26) amending the zoning map to Class 3 residential on first reading by recorded vote.