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Sunset Motel emergency shelter project in Athens is moving forward after securing a contractor this week
By: Amanda Pirani
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB/Report for America) — The Sunset Motel shelter project is expected to break ground this week after three rounds of unsuccessful bids delayed its original timeline.
“We are reaching this next step through a shared commitment to ensuring our neighbors have access to safe, stable shelter,” said HAPCAP Executive Director Kelly Hatas in a press release.
The shelter will include 27 units that can house up to 48 people. It was originally expected to be completed this summer, but difficulties securing a contractor delayed construction.
The project was first put out to bid October 2025 after lead abatement on the motel property was completed in early fall, resulting in two over budget bids. Subsequent rounds similarly saw bids as much as $1 million over budget.
In order to move forward, HAPCAP Chief Development Officer Valerie Stillson said the project was reorganized under a design-build model.
This merged both the design and construction of the shelter under a single contract with RVC Architects and 740 Construction Inc.
“Due to the dynamic nature of retrofitting and renovating older pre-existing structures, this approach allows HAPCAP and the Design-Build team to work closely together throughout the entire project to assure the project stays within budget,” Stillson wrote in an email.
The project now moves forward as planned, with the exception of utilizing solar power. Stillson said HAPCAP is still considering additional funding opportunities to pursue solar for the shelter.
The shelter’s security system and network wiring will also be secured independent of the contract with 740 Construction.
No additional funding was secured to move forward with construction. Stillson said new donation funds, including $200,000 gifted anonymously, will help support other aspects of the renovation.
The Sunset Motel would mark the first emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Athens County.
Most counties in the region do not have a homeless shelter that can provide low-barrier housing.
At the same time, local leaders say they’ve seen increased need since the COVID-19 pandemic though hard data on the issue can be difficult to track.
The shelter’s construction deadline is currently May 31, 2027. HAPCAP hopes to have an updated timeline for the public by the end of this fall.
Stillson said additional updates will be shared via the project’s newsletter.
Amanda Pirani is WOUB’s Report for America Journalist covering Economic Livelihood. For more information about Report for America, you can click here.