Buckeye House is a housing credit development which substantially rehabilitated an existing 27-unit, USDA Rural Development (RD) 515 financed property for seniors in Uhrichsville, Tuscarawas County. The building was originally constructed in the early 1900s as a hotel and was converted to apartments in 1990. In 2010, the property was foreclosed on and RD purchased the property from a U.S. Marshall sale.
Buckeye House was selected for Creative Design in the Exceptional Development category because of its alternative sources of energy, healthy housing features and on-site renewable energy components. Features of the creative design include installation of a solar panel array and energy star-rated appliances and fixtures.
Exterior rehab included windows, doors and hardware, painting, gutters and downspouts. Work to the interior of the building included updated HVAC systems, new plumbing fixtures, kitchen appliances, counters and cabinets, floor coverings, doors and hardware, and energy efficient components. Further accessibility and universal design elements were also incorporated.
The development is in proximity to shops and businesses with services for the residents. Two units are affordable to and occupied by households at or below 30% of the AMGI, eight units are affordable to and occupied by households at or below 50% of the AMGI, and the remaining 17 units are at 60% of the AMGI. In addition, RD is providing rental assistance to 23 of the 27 units.