The Alrosa Villa in Columbus, OH operated as a music venue for 45 years, but perhaps is best known outside the immediate area as the site of Dimebag Darrel’s murder. December 8, 2004 is one of those “where were you when you found out?” moments, metalheads’ version of the JFK assassination; everyone’s got a story. Four other people died that night including the gunman, Nathan Gale.
The now-defunct venue, which was listed for sale at a price of $1.295 million in December of 2019, now has a future of which Dimebag would approve: affordable housing.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, the City Council is expected to vote Monday on using $2.175 million from the city’s Affordable Housing Bond Fund for the apartments to be built on the two-lot, 7.2 acre property. The project will total $3.3 million and will be called Sinclair Family Apartments, consisting of three separate four-story buildings with one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments suitable for both small and larger families, the latter a rarity in the area.
The Dispatch reports that residents earning 30% to 60% of the area median income would be eligible to live in Sinclair Family Apartments. For 30%, that would be $17,600 for one person, and $26,500 for a four-member family. For 60%, that would be $35,220 for a one-person household and $50,520 for a family of four. 45 of the units will have federal housing vouchers attached to them to help pay rent for the poorest residents.
While the loss of a beloved music venue is never cause for celebration, that the space it occupied is being used for affordable housing is a bright silver lining.
You can read more over at the Dispatch.