NEWCOMERSTOWN, Ohio — In 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank on Lake Superior, the Vietnam War ended and Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates.
It was also the last time a housing development was built in Tuscarawas County.
More than 50 years later, the village that has about 4,000 residents is on track to build a new housing development on the site of a former industrial plant on Heller Drive.
Much of the village's housing stock dates back nearly or more than a century.
Kristy Biggs, a 45-year resident, said the village is overdue for new housing.
"It just seems like at a certain point, there was a standstill— just like nothing was happening," Biggs said.
Last October, News 5 reported on a study that stressed the need for new housing in Tuscarawas County, in part, because of a manufacturing plant under construction in Dover that will eventually bring about 450 jobs.
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A month later, Newcomerstown Mayor Pat Cadle revealed he was pushing a plan to build new housing on 15 acres of the former Simonds Industries plant. The land is now owned by the village.
RELATED: Newcomerstown looking to get first new housing development in 50 years
Since then, four developers have submitted their plans and renderings that include various options, including apartments, single-family homes, townhouses, and senior living. Three of the proposals appear to be in the running at this time.
It's not clear if the village will select one developer or some sort of combination.
"You could viably use a piece of each one of the properties if it could be worked out that way," Cadle said. "There are things I like in each of the proposals."
Just like developers, Newscomerstown residents have different ideas on what should be built.
"I think it could definitely use a couple more apartments and another thing for senior living," said Elean Norman.
"I think it could be a combination— would be nice," Biggs suggested.
Cadle feels whatever goes up is a step towards addressing the county's housing shortage and making Newcomerstown a more attractive option for businesses and families.
"When we lost that factory that we tore down— where this housing is going— we lost a big portion of our middle class," he said.
Developers will present their proposals one at a time during public meetings that will start in late March. The village hopes to make decisions by the summer.
After the developers are selected, there is a lot of site prep work that needs to be done to get the land ready for construction. The hope is to start building next year.
