Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Councilwoman Wendy McCain argues for council rescinding its support of a proposed downtown senior living project during Monday night’s meeting of Warren City Council.

Calls to cancel the proposed downtown senior living project were put before Warren City Council on Monday.

The developer has said construction is set to commence in August. A staging agreement to allow the developer, Hudson Companies, to bring equipment to the construction area is in place.

Many objections were raised Monday but perhaps none were more timely than the claim that it isn’t too late to stop the effort.

Dave Winans and Councilwoman Wendy McCain led the charge in opposition to the project.

Winans argued that “our town has changed significantly” since the project was first approved in 2017. “People are coming to town from long distances. (It’s a) different town than it was in 2017.”

“I don’t think this is needed in our community,” he added. “Many of our low-income housing places have vacancies. There is additional capacity right now that is available. (We) don’t need this building.”

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He called the proposed structure a “large, ugly building that does not conform with the rest of downtown.

“I know that we’re well into this project. Hudson has spent money looking at this… maybe another place could be found for them…. I think there are other places that would be more appropriate.”

He said the existing structure is “ugly looking” but called it a “unique building to our community.”

Winans ultimately asked council to rescind the staging area agreement and withdraw its support of the project.

“The deal is not done,” he claimed.

Mayor Dave Wortman made an argument that didn’t directly challenge that assertion but raised concerns about precedent.

“Going back decades, the properties have basically been vacant and blighted,” he said.

Wortman noted that the project was before the RDA six times in 2018 alone in addition to over six council meetings. He called it a “really difficult position, aside from arguing the merits, to come to this body and ask” for council to “pull the plug” on a private entity that legally acquired the property with a project that “conforms” to requirements.

“There are serious precedent … effects to making a decision like that,” he said. “That is a fundamental question in terms of what you’re asking this body to do…. I understand completely where you’re coming from (and) respect the opinion.”

McCain cited a recent non-public Section 106 review meeting regarding historic preservation.

“We’ve not followed the process according to the State Historic Preservation Office,” she said.

Wortman clarified that “we as the City Council… it wasn’t our obligation to host or run the 106 meeting. The obligation lies with the developer.”

“City Council was aware,” McCain said, “that there was supposed to be this meeting.”

“What we’re hearing from the community,” she continued, “everyone around the table wants what’s best for Warren County. We all want the same thing. Were in a… it’s a tough situation…. At the same time we want Warren to be vibrant (and) take advantage of this organic growth that has started. We’re at a turning point.”

“(It’s) not too late to stop this,” Winans said. “(We) can’t sit by and let it happen if it’s going to be a detriment to our community.

McCain asked the withdrawal of support and staging area agreement to be on council’s next agenda.