Work was finally begun over the summer on the unique development project taking place on E. College St. on the south side of Oberlin. When completed, the development will contain 40 units of mixed-income housing for rent and sale as well as commercial space for local businesses.

Sustainable Communities Associates, a project conceived by recent Oberlin almuni Josh Rosen, Naomi Sable and Ben Enzinga, is currently overseeing the process of brownfield, remediation, which involves removing chemicals and toxins from the soil so that fresh construction can begin.

They have contracted Integrated Architecture, a firm specializing in green architecture to design the development with energy efficiency in mind.

Eric Nord, a local philanthropist, loaned SCA the money for brownfield remediation and to purchase 49 East College.

Among the innovations, which the development may include are geothermal power and cogeneration, which involves taking excess generated by machinery within the building and using it to heat the space.

The developers have also been talking with the College art department about possible uses for the space.

“The art department approached us about adding on space for a public gallery and studio space,” Rosen said. “We are out trying to find donors for that. This is exciting because we’ve seen other small towns successfully use the arts as a major economic development tool and we think this would accompish mutual goals of both the College and the town.”

Rosen said that they were in talks with health food stores as well as restaurants about using the commercial space but stressed that any businesses in the developments would be in keeping with the project’s values.

We’re not talking with any chains,” he said. “We are only looking for independant, family owned businesses.

The group recently purchased the Rax Restaurant property which they plan to shut down soon.

Through it all, the developers say that their main support has come from their mentor and colleague Richard Baron, a fellow Oberlin graduate and specialist in urban development from St. Louis.

“This project has taken longer and been more complicated then anyone ever expected,” Sabel said. “For Richard Baron to have persevered with us and continue to donate his time and expertise so generously in order to help make this project a reality really shows what Oberlin graduates should be doing for each other.”

Queers and allies hold bonfireBy Milena Evitmova

The Monday evening bonfire organized by the Queer and Allies Union had an incredible turnout. The Lambda Union, or just the U, formerly known as LGBTU, managed to attract many students around the fire on Tappan Square. The main purpose of the event was to welcome everyone back and to present to the queer and allied community on campus the new members of Lambda as well as to announce some upcoming events and to encourage students to participate.

“This is one of the best turnouts we’ve had,” said Andy Monk, co-chair of the Union.

Monk shared that since the budget of the Union is really good this year they are planning on many activities and lectures during the year. Among them are the softball tournament in October and the annual Drag Ball. There is also a lecture planned in October; Patric Guillero, the head of the Log Cabin Republicans, will come to campus.
Aside from that the plans of the U for this year haven’t changed much.

“We’ll continue to bring people to campus, fund other unchartered queer organizations, participate in other queer stuff going on around campus and try to be awesomer than ever before,” Monk said.