LOCAL

Area leaders gather for official opening of Pearl House Zanesville

Brandon Hannahs
Zanesville Times Recorder
Area leaders and other people on hand for the ribbon cutting gather outside of Pearl House Zanesville on Thursday. State, county and city officials were among the people on hand, as Pearl House Zanesville held its official opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday in downtown Zanesville.

ZANESVILLE − A nearly decade-long project officially came to an end on Thursday.

State, county and city officials were among those on hand as Pearl House Zanesville held its official opening and ribbon cutting in downtown Zanesville.

Officials speaking at the event included Mayor Don Mason, State Senator Tim Shaffer and US House Representative Troy Balderson, while Kelli Johnson represented US Senator Rob Portman.

A view of Pearl House Zanesville from Third Street in downtown. The 34-unit apartment building at the corner of South and Third streets in Zanesville will provide housing for people in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.

Jennifer Gorsuch Walters, president and CEO of Fairfield Homes/Gorsuch Construction, was also on hand, as her company was a crucial part in constructing the project, which cost around $9 million.

The 34-unit residence is located on South Street and offers housing for people in recovery from addiction, as several people moved in to the building in September.

Steve Carrel, the retired former CEO of Muskingum Behavioral Health, was one of the people behind the project. He spoke to the crowd and welcomed people to take a tour of the new facility. He commended everyone involved in making the idea become a reality.

There is a playground located on the east side of Pearl House Zanesville. The Pearl House is project-based Section 8 housing. Those that qualify to live in Pearl House will sign a yearly lease to live there. As they develop the life skills and work on their recovery, many will move out to find their own housing.

"There's a lot of support for the people living here, and it offers a sense of community. They want to be able to give back after taking away from the local community," he said. "We had to fight for this project, at times. The collaboration and contributions of so many made this a reality, and the community will be able to see miracles from this place."

bhannahs@gannett.com; @brandonhannahs