buildingcincinnati

From ThisWeek Worthington, 3/15/07: CVS plans get final approval from ARB, MPC Thursday, March 15, 2007 By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Staff Writer After five months of scrutiny and public debate, CVS representatives last week received the approvals needed to build a new drug store on one of Worthington's most visible corners The new CVS, plus two brick buildings which will be first-floor retail with apartments above, will be built on the southeast corner of High and North streets, where the abandoned Jubilee Foods stands. The Worthington Architectural Review Board and Municipal Planning Commission worked out final details before granting approvals at the meeting last Thursday. http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/031507/Worthington/News/031507-News-321424.html

From ThisWeek Worthington, 2/15/07: * RENDERING: An artist's sketch of the proposed CVS plans. CVS takes one more step toward approval with revised plans Thursday, February 15, 2007 By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Staff Writer If the city and CVS can see through the window issues, the proposed reconstruction of the old Jubilee site could soon be approved. Looking at a new drawing of plans incorporating some of their past recommendations, members of the Municipal Planning Commission and Architectural Review Board last week complimented the progress being made, but tabled the CVS plans. http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/021507/Worthington/News/021507-News-306821.html

From ThisWeek Worthington, 2/1/07: CVS to return with project changes Thursday, February 1, 2007 By MARK MAJOR ThisWeek Staff Writer Representatives of CVS and members of Worthington's Architectural Review Board and Municipal Planning Commission say they are getting closer to an agreement. Though last week's meeting between MPC/ARB members and representatives of project developer Skilken ended without approval of the pharmacy's site development plan, both sides said they were optimistic an agreement can be reached within weeks. "I don't think we're more than a couple of meetings away from coming to an agreement," said ARB member Dave Foust after the meeting. "Conceptually, we're 95 percent of the way there." The project will be constructed on property at 900 High St., site of the former Jubilee Foods at the corner of High and North streets. Plans are to demolish the old store and build a new 13,013-square-foot CVS on the corner. http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/020107/Worthington/News/020107-News-299428.html

From the 4/23/07 Athens News: Despite concerns over cost, OU Trustees OK Porter building, road project By Nick Claussen Athens NEWS Associate Editor Monday, April 23rd, 2007 The Ohio University Board of Trustees Friday approved plans for an addition to Porter Hall and a new road to be built connecting Richland Avenue and the new Baker Center. The trustees also discusses other issues such as enrollment projections and granting honorary doctoral degrees to five individuals, including Hocking College President John Light. In February, the Trustees tabled a proposal to add 26,000 square feet of space onto Porter Hall and build the new road. On Friday, several of the trustees indicated they were concerned that the proposal was back before them so soon. The proposal calls for tearing down Anderson Hall (which is located next to Porter Hall), adding onto Porter Hall, and constructing a new road that would run next to Porter Hall and connect Richland Avenue with the new Baker Center. Read more at http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27968

From the 4/19/07 Athens News: * PHOTO: Construction of the new dorm on South Green starts to come to completion. The university hopes to move students into the dorm by the Fall of 2007. Brittany Bott / Staff Photographer / [email protected] South Green’s new dorm slated to open Fall Quarter Jessica Holbrook / For The Post / [email protected] Ohio University officials are guaranteeing the new residence hall on South Green will be open Fall Quarter, but some students could find themselves temporarily in nearby Cady House if construction delays part of the building’s completion. The $24 million, 350-bed hall is divided into a larger A side and a smaller B side. The building will have the A side available for residents, and if construction falls behind, it will delay opening the B side, said Beverly Wyatt, director of housing. Students scheduled to live in the B side of the new building will be temporarily housed in the 96-bed Cady House on South Green, Wyatt said. Cady House will be available for students Fall Quarter only in the case of a delay and then will be taken offline to house student-athletes during Winter Intercession and host large conference groups later in the year. In the past, student-athletes that needed to remain on campus during Winter Intercession were housed in off-campus locations. Full article at http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/04/19/news/19295.html

From the 3/12/07 Athens News: New access point available to south campus, though mum's the word By Nick Claussen Athens NEWS Associate Editor Monday, March 12th, 2007 For several years, Ohio University officials talked about building a road that would connect campus with Stimson Avenue and provide a new front door for the university. In 2003, the plan was put on hold because of funding problems. Since that time, the road has not been discussed much publicly, but now, in a sense, it's actually open. It's not an official front door to campus or anything like that, but for most people it's a new road that seems to have just quietly appeared and opened. At the beginning of the school year, the managers of Mill Street Apartments decided to open the gate in their parking lot, basically creating another road from Stimson Avenue to Mill Street, effectively providing easier access to the South Green and apartment complexes near the South and East greens. Previously, the gate was closed at most times, cutting off access to the parking lot from Stimson Avenue. Residents had to drive from Mill Street down an access road/driveway to get to the parking lot. With the gate open now, though, drivers can take the access road past the parking lot to travel to and from Stimson Avenue. Full article at http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27611

From the 3/8/07 Athens News: OU Housing office plans ahead for expected enrollment increases By Garrett Downing Athens News Campus Reporter Thursday, March 8th, 2007 In future years, the administration plans to increase the number of students attending Ohio University, which could cramp space in residence halls. As OU hopes to improve enrollment goals, the rooms in residence halls available to junior and senior students could take a hit. To plan ahead for increased enrollment, Director of Housing Beverley Wyatt worked with a committee to develop the "most fair" process to control the number of juniors and seniors living in the dorms. Members of Student Senate and tRAC (the Resident Action Council) also worked on the committee to decide on the plan, which has been developed over the course of a year. Currently, freshman and sophomore non-commuters are required to live in the dorms, while upperclassmen have the option of living either on- or off-campus. Most choose the latter, though a significant number every year choose to remain in the residence hall system. Full article at http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27569

Link contains a photo. From the 3/5/07 Athens News: Uptown eateries report varied effects of new Baker Center By Nick Claussen Athens NEWS Associate Editor Monday, March 5th, 2007 When Ohio University designed the new Baker University Center, it was done to create a building where students would want to go and spend time during the day studying, meeting with friends, eating or just relaxing. It also, however, created a facility that competes with uptown Athens restaurants, and is cutting into the customer base for some of them. Not every uptown business owner says his or her business has been impacted, but several say their sales are down significantly since Baker Center opened. And while the common conception in Athens is that uptown businesses have a built-in advantage because of all of captive customers from OU, another fast-food restaurant is planning to move off Court Street and onto East State Street. The Athens Taco Bell used to proclaim that it was the world's largest Taco Bell because of all of the space inside, and general manager Jodi Flinn said Friday that the restaurant may still be the world's largest, even though the upstairs portion closed a few years ago. Most Taco Bells do not have as much seating or kitchen space, she said. Full article at http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/03/05/news/17984.html

From the 2/22/07 Post: New venue needed at OU Susan Tebben / For The Post / [email protected] Authorities and students from the School of Music say funding is needed for a more efficient performance space. According to the budget summary for academic programs for the 2006-07 fiscal year, the entire College of Fine Arts was allotted $15.7 million, or 10.6 percent, of the Ohio University Athens Campus General Funds Budget. The school also receives about $100,000 in donations, said Charles McWeeny, dean of the college. The College of Fine Arts allotted the School of Music approximately $3.2 million, or 21 percent of the college’s budget, McWeeny said. It was mentioned at the Jan. 26 Town Hall Meeting that the School of Music pays approximately $995 for a week of space in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. These costs go toward maintenance, equipment rental and the student payroll, said Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director at MemAud. More at http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/02/22/news/17821.html

Link contains a photo. From the 2/18/07 Athens Messenger: The Baker effect Merchants: New student center seems to affect business ELIZABETH GOUSSETIS Messenger staff writer Location, location, location. They say it's the No. 1 rule in real estate, but uptown moms and pops know it's just as true for business. After a month and a half of competing with the new Baker Center, some are still wondering how the new student center will affect their businesses. "In the first two weeks we really noticed a difference. We looked at our sales, and we were pretty discouraged," said Donkey Coffee and Espresso owner Chris Pyle. "But gradually we went up to about what we were making this time last year." Pyle said Donkey has made it five years without a plateau in sales, each quarter doing better than the one before, until now. For Pyle, competing with Baker Center's Front Room - always a popular hangout for coffee drinkers - was not new. But the Front Room at the old Baker Center, like Donkey, had a limited seating capacity and brewed its own drinks. More at http://athensmessenger.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&ArticleID=2626

From the 2/16/07 Post: JUST IN: Trustees delay Porter addition David Hendricks / Staff Writer / [email protected] Ohio University’s Board of Trustees unanimously tabled a $5.7 million dollar expansion to Porter Hall and the demolition of Anderson Laboratory to make way for improved access to the new Baker University Center because of budget concerns. Approximately $3.7 million from the state of Ohio and $3.6 million of university funding were earmarked for the $7.2 million project. The university is not sure how the money from the project will be reshuffled, if at all, but the decision will be made in time for the next board meeting in April, said George Mauzy, OU media specialist. University Funding of the Porter/Anderson Project Total: $3,523,716 College of Arts and Sciences: $2,002,443 Baker University Center: $700,000 Office of the Provost: $571,273 Department of Psychology: $250,000 Full article at http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/02/16/news/17760.html

Link contains photos. From the 2/12/07 Post: Grand opening celebrates student center's purpose Bethany Furkin / Staff Writer / [email protected] At 11:30 Saturday morning, the atrium of Baker University Center was filled with the sounds of cheers, claps and the snipping of scores of scissors. For the grand opening of the center, students from every Ohio county, every state and every country represented on campus were given the opportunity to cut the green ribbon that circled the third-, fourth- and fifth-floor atrium. Ohio University President Roderick McDavis dedicated the center to the memory of John Calhoun Baker, the university’s 14th president who is considered to be the father of the modern OU. Baker understood the importance of a central student center, McDavis said, adding that the new Baker Center will serve a similar purpose. “It was created with the most deliberate of intentions — to bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni and Athens community members,” he said. “This is the heart of our vibrant, spirited community.” Full article at http://athensmessenger.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&ArticleID=2573

From Ohio University Outlook, 2/7/07: * RENDERING: One of the conceptual drawings presented by The Collaborative Inc. of what the former Baker Center could look like. New communication building a mix of renovation, new construction Scripps College to retain portion of former Baker Center ATHENS, Ohio (Feb. 7, 2007) -- Scripps College of Communication Dean Greg Shepherd met with faculty and staff Tuesday evening to unveil a plan to house the college in one facility that combines the former Baker Center and the Radio-Television Building. The preliminary concept, which Toledo-based architectural firm The Collaborative Inc. finalized this week, involves renovating a portion of the former Baker Center, renovating the Radio-Television Building, and removing a part of Baker to construct a new section that will connect the two buildings. Full article at http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/02/07/news/17528.html

From the 2/6/07 Post: Baker Center dining options affect uptown businesses Andrea Golby / Staff Writer / [email protected] After a month of serving customers at its food court, a new Front Room Coffee Shop and the upscale Latitude 39 restaurant, Baker University Center has doled out a hit to some Uptown businesses, owners say. My Favorite Muffin and Bagel Café at 5 N. Court St. took a major hit, with sales down 53 percent in January from the same month last year, co-owner Lawarence Fetty said. The new Baker University Center opening was a “double whammy” for My Favorite Muffin because the store used to supply muffins to the old Front Room. When it moved to the new Baker Center, Baker officials decided to make everything in-house. That decision cost My Favorite Muffin $90 a day. Jodi Flinn, a manager at Taco Bell on Court Street, said she thinks business was down about 25 percent during that time compared to 2006. “Especially the first week it opened; it was slower,” she said. More at http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/02/06/news/17486.html

From the 2/5/07 Post: Vision Ohio session draws brief crowd David Hendricks / Staff Writer / [email protected] A presentation on Vision Ohio progress was interrupted briefly Friday by a swarm of protestors but was otherwise sparsely attended. Students for a Democratic Society flooded into the poster session and stayed for less than a half hour before leaving en masse. Will Klatt, a SDS organizer, estimated 80 students marched from College Green to Baker University Center, where they hoped to find OU President Roderick McDavis. All team recommendations will be reviewed by executive implementation teams and then discussed with the university president, provost and deans, according to the Vision Ohio Web site. Full article at http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/02/05/news/17464.html

From the 2/1/07 Athens News: While OU cuts sports, it retains ambitious athletic facilities plan By Nick Claussen Athens NEWS Associate Editor Thursday, February 1st, 2007 At the same time that Ohio University is cutting four varsity sports, the athletics department is also making plans to improve its facilities, which would be paid for with private funds. No money is available yet, but the university is putting together an athletics master plan that calls for improvements to Peden Stadium, construction of an indoor practice facility, and improvements to the softball and soccer stadiums. Kirby Hocutt, director of athletics at OU, confirmed Tuesday that the university is moving forward on raising money to fund these improvements. He addressed several issues related to the budget cuts, including the following: * How can these improvements be happening at a time when the athletics department is facing a $4 million budget deficit and just announced that it is cutting four sports? * If the university is raising private money for these improvements, why can't it just raise private money to pay to keep the four sports? * Does the football team make money or lose money for the university? * What happened to the extra $1.5 million the university pledged to give the athletics department two years ago? Full article at http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27229

From the 3/22/07 News Sun: NASA maps its future Research center submits 20-year development plan Thursday, March 22, 2007 By Jaime Anton The News Sun BROOK PARK NASA Glenn Research Center wants to modernize its appearance to ensure smoother operation, better collaboration and increased visibility. Glenn officials have submitted a master plan to NASA headquarters that proposes a $200 million redevelopment spanning a 20-year period. If approved in its entirety, the plan would consolidate the main, central campus adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins Airport that is currently scattered among several buildings, grow the center's western campus that borders Brook Park and increase visibility in the northern campus that straddles Brookpark Road in Fairview Park. Buildings would take shape in the next couple of years and be complete in 20 years... http://www.cleveland.com/sun/newssun/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1174585103218680.xml&coll=3

From the 3/16/07 PD: Glenn lands one more lunar contract Friday, March 16, 2007 Patrick O'Donnell Plain Dealer Reporter The NASA Glenn Research Center has landed another piece of creating the new spacecraft for missions to the moon, this one worth $63 million. NASA Glenn Director Woodrow Whitlow learned Thursday that it will test the vibrations of the engines for the new Orion spacecraft at its 6,400-acre Plum Brook testing facility near Sandusky... To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4818 http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1174034466292580.xml&coll=2

From the 3/1/07 Sun Herald: NASA excites Redevelopment good for Fairview Park Thursday, March 01, 2007 By Ken Prendergast FAIRVIEW PARK Mayor Eileen Patton said she is excited about NASA's plan to redevelop the north side of Brookpark Road with a new education center and offices. But since a full build-out of NASA's redevelopment plan could take 20 years to complete, she said city officials need to keep their enthusiasm up. "We're very excited obviously that we're going to move forward with development of the north side of Brookpark Road," said Patton, referring to the only portion of the NASA Glenn Research Center that's in Fairview Park... http://www.cleveland.com/sun/sunherald/index.ssf?/base/news-0/11727707193390.xml&coll=3

From the 4/18/07 Hilltop Press: City closes on Kmart, adjoining site BY ROB DOWDY | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER FOREST PARK - The city continues to be proactive in redevelopment issues by buying a 12-acre property for $1.5 million with plans to create a new gateway into Forest Park. The former Kmart property on Hamilton Avenue, an eight-acre site vacant for several years, was purchased at a sheriff's sale Nov. 30 by the city for $806,000. Since that purchase, Economic Development Director Paul Brehm said the city had been working to buy the four-acre adjoining shopping center, a feat recently accomplished for $725,000. "That is now totally owned by the city," said City Manager Ray Hodges, adding that the property is just another piece of the city's long-term redevelopment puzzle. MORE: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070418/NEWS01/704180408/1093/Local From the 4/25/07 Fairfield Echo: Fairfeld offers to buy 11 flood houses By Michael D. Pitman Staff Writer Tuesday, April 24, 2007 FAIRFIELD — There were a number reasons Harry Deaton didn't accept the city's offer to buy out his flood-prone home. Deaton's 5495 Bandelier Court home — along with 22 other homes along the valley that follows Pleasant Run Creek near Banker Drive and Crystal Court — flooded in June 2003. Four year's ago this Father's Day, Deaton found four feet of water in his basement. In 28 years, Deaton's home has flooded three times. Fairfield applied to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency for the $2.58 million Federal Emergency Management Agency voluntary buyout grant program. Twenty-one of the Pleasant Run Creek homes were bought and razed. The city's offer to buy the homes was on the table until spring 2006 when the grant expired. MORE: http://www.fairfield-echo.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/24/hjn042507ffcouncil.html Demonstrators criticize senior housing plan Cincinnati Enquirer, 4/24/07 Opponents of a plan that would create a four-way intersection at Montgomery Road and Forestglen Drive have taken to the streets to air their protests. For three weeks, sign-toting demonstrators have been standing at the intersection during the weekday afternoon rush hour, waving at the cars passing by. Occasionally, a motorist honks to express sympathy for their cause. But the Forestglen residents think that the demonstrations are necessary to rally support and persuade Montgomery City Council to refuse an easement to build the driveway for planned senior living quarters on the east side of Montgomery Road. Landen Lake restoration on schedule Cincinnati.com, 4/23/07 According to an update from the Landen Community Services Association, work on Landen Lake is ahead of schedule. However the update also informed residents that the company hired to measure the amount of sediment in the lake – causing the water level to drop over the last 10 years – was a low estimate. The Lake Committee has asked Otte Enterprise to re-evaluate the sediment thickness and volume in order to proceed with work. The project began in February. Landen CSA has said it should take five months before the restoration project is complete. To read all the update details, visit www.landencsa.com. While the project is being completed the lake is closed, this includes the pathway around the construction area, Landen CSA staff said. The construction zone is not safe for pedestrians. Board to debate putting zoning issue on ballot Cincinnati Enquirer, 4/22/07 The Hamilton County Board of Elections will hold a hearing at 1:30 p.m. May 14 at their offices at 824 Broadway to determine whether to place a Sycamore Township zoning issue on the November general election ballot. Those who submitted petitions for a referendum want to reverse the township's zoning decision that would allow a 10-space parking lot to be built next to the Ohio Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine's planned medical development on Kugler Road near Montgomery Road. The Board of Elections has ruled that there are more than enough valid signatures to place the issue on the ballot. But Ohio Valley has challenged the legality of the petitions. The company says the petitions were not in the correct legal form. Residents say the parking lot isn't appropriate for a residential area. A reversal of the zoning decision would affect the parking lot only, not the planned medical building. Beverly Hills memorial built Cincinnati Enquirer, 4/22/07 At the top of the hill, inside a canopy of overgrown brush, pieces of twisted, rusted metal lie scattered on the rocky ground. But to Wayne Dammert, it's the Cabaret Room. And that piece of metal over there - that's a table. It's been nearly 30 years since Dammert was the banquet captain at the Beverly Hills Supper Club on the night it burned, killing 165 people. But Dammert remembers. That's why the 70-year-old, with the help of five others, lugged a 25-foot, fluorescent-green cross to the top of the hill Saturday. TMC shares athletic complex plans Cincinnati Enquirer, 4/20/07 Thomas More College is hosting a meeting Tuesday to explain a planned $5 million to $6 million upgrade of its athletic complex. Groundbreaking for the initial phase, which would include synthetic turf on the football field, could happen by early June, said Kelly Marsh, Thomas More's director of communications. "Our goal is to let residents in the community see what our plans are, explain the timeline and just answer any questions," Marsh said. Backers hope to have the new football field finished in time for Thomas More's Sept. 29 homecoming, Marsh said. "Nothing has been confirmed yet in terms of individual or corporate giving, but we feel pretty confident we can raise the money," she said.

3CDC may no longer be involved in the Kaufmann Building rehab project. In October 2006, the City passed an ordinance allowing them to enter into a contract with Over-the-Rhine Development, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3CDC. The City would provide a $450,000 grant from capital improvement project funds to 3CDC. 3CDC would supervise the general contractor work of Otis Taylor (O.W. Taylor, LLC), who was looking to buy the building at 1721-1727 Vine St from Abandoned Buildings Corporation. The money would be spent to stabilize the structure and to study the feasibility of its future use. Within the past couple of months, the Kaufmann Building has come up again in the Economic Development Committee and in City council. On April 11, 2007, council voted 6-3 to repeal the prior ordinance involving 3CDC. (Ghiz, Monzel and Berding voted against it.) The old ordinance will be replaced by a new agreement to be made directly with Taylor. 3CDC is no longer mentioned in any of the documents. The $450,000 will come from the same project account in the form of a forgivable loan.

Both from ODOD, 3/28/07: FISHER ANNOUNCES $26 MILLION IN ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT GRANTS Six Regions to Receive Third Frontier Project Funds FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 28, 2007 Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced that $26 million from the Third Frontier Project's Entrepreneurial Signature Program (ESP) has been awarded to entities in six regions of the state to spur innovation and new product development. The ESP is a three-year, $85 million program that was created to significantly increase technology-based entrepreneurial commercialization outcomes in six defined geographic regions and to focus on technology-based sectors offering important economic development prospects for each region. "Each region of our state holds unique opportunities for technological innovation and commercialization," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "By better utilizing our resources and encouraging regional collaboration, Ohio is positioning itself to get a better return on its investment in terms of jobs created, investments leveraged and products created." The Third Frontier Commission approved the following funding today. Northeast The Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition (NorTech) was awarded $2.6 million. NorTech collaborators include: JumpStart, BioEnterprise Corporation, GLIDE Incubator & Innovation Fund, Akron Global Business Accelerator, Youngstown Business Incubator, Brain Tree Partners, MAGNET Innovation Center, Northcoast Angel Fund, Glengary LLC, The Fund for Our Economic Future, Cleveland Foundation, Greater Cleveland Partnership and Cuyahoga County. Northwest Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) was awarded $3.2 million. Regional Growth Partnership collaborators include: Bostleman Corp, Brooks Insurance Agency Inc., Carson Associates, Center for Innovative Food Technology, Fifth Third Bank, Hylant Group, KeyBank, Lucas County Improvement Corp., National City, National Electrical Contractors Association, Sky Bank, University of Toledo and White Family Investment Company. Central TechColumbus was awarded more than $6.1 million. TechColumbus collaborators include: Ohio TechAngel Fund II Members, Greif, NCT Ventures, Nationwide, OhioHealth, Village of New Albany, Village of Dublin, The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business, Fisher College Center for Entrepreneurship, Huntington Bancshares, Columbus Children's Research Institute, City of Columbus, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, DCB Financial Corp., TechColumbus, City of Upper Arlington, Franklin County and Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio. West Central Dayton Development Coalition - Development Projects, Inc. was awarded $3.7 million. Collaborators include: The Entrepreneurs Center, National Composite Center, University of Dayton Research Institute, BusinessFirst!, Springfield Community Improvement Corporation, Wright State University Foundation, Four Seasons Advisors, Mayfield and Robinson, University of Dayton, The Turner Foundation, Sinclair Community College Foundation, Premier Health Partners, CYMI Ltd., Soin International and the Dayton Angel Network. Southwest Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber was awarded $3.8 million. Collaborators include: BIO/START, Hamilton County Business Center, The University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, TechSolve, Castellini Foundation, Fort Washington Capital Partners, City of Blue Ash, National City, Thompson Hine, The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati College of Business and The Circuit. Southeast Ohio University - Voinovich Center was awarded $6.5 million. Collaborators include: Ohio University Edison Biotechnology Institute, the Innovation Center, Adena Ventures, OSU South Centers, and East Central Tech Angel Fund. The Entrepreneurial Signature Program is a comprehensive, coordinated network of high value services that is visible and easily accessible to technology-based entrepreneurs and small tech-based companies throughout its region as defined in O.R.C. 184.01(B)(2). Each ESP represents an approach that tightly integrates sources of deal flow, entrepreneurial support, and capital to effectively grow the technology-based entrepreneurial commercialization outcomes throughout its region. http://www.odod.state.oh.us/newsroom/2007PR/releases/1727.asp $2.5 MILLION AWARDED TO HIGH TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES Third Frontier Commission Offers Incentives for Expansion and Job Creation FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 28, 2007 Columbus, OH -- The Third Frontier Commission today awarded $2.5 million from the Targeted Industry Attraction Program (TIA) to two high tech companies. The awards are intended to assist the firms in advancing Ohio's manufacturing presence in the fuel cell industry and further development and commercialization in the biopharmaceutical industry. The TIA program is designed to attract and generate growth in Ohio’s high tech industries. Funds awarded are subject to final approval by the State Controlling Board. UltraCell Corporation, located in Dayton (Montgomery County) has been awarded a $1 million TIA grant to expand its research and development operation to a full scale manufacturing operation. UltraCell develops and manufactures complete micro fuel cell systems for portable devices. The company plans to initially lease 33,000 square feet of an existing 100,000 square-foot facility at the Dayton International Airport and purchase machinery and equipment to establish a manufacturing operation. UltraCell expects to expand in a phased manner to accommodate increasing sales demands. The new facility will be a manufacturing operation, but also will house administration, research and development, a training center, field service, a product repair service center, test and measurement and distribution and field sales. The company’s goal is to grow rapidly to manufacture millions of fuel cells per year from the Ohio facility. The $79.5 million project is expected to result in the creation of 235 full-time, high paying jobs within three years, with the possibility of a total 360 new jobs over a four-year period. The new jobs will be managerial, engineering, administrative and technical in nature. The Third Frontier Commission has committed a $1.5 million TIA Program grant to Amylin Ohio LLC, should it choose to expand its West Chester Township (Butler County) facility. Amylin Ohio is a 100 percent-owned subsidiary of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines to improve the lives of people with diabetes and obesity. Amylin has developed and gained approval for two first-in-class medicines to treat diabetes, BYETTA® (exenatide) injection and SYMLIN® (pramlintide acetate) injection, both of which were commercially launched in the United States during the second quarter of 2005. Amylin's manufacturing facility in West Chester is under construction and it is expected to produce and package a long-acting version of BYETTA® that is currently in development. The State of Ohio and Amylin are currently exploring expansion opportunities and the TIA Program funds could be accepted if the company elects to increase its investment in Ohio in the near future. http://www.odod.state.oh.us/newsroom/2007PR/releases/1729.asp

From the 4/25/07 PD: Developers push for Solon rezoning May 8 ballot issue to determine fate of housing project Wednesday, April 25, 2007 Maggi Martin Plain Dealer Reporter Solon - A plan to build senior housing on 32 undeveloped acres faces stiff opposition from some residents who fear changing the zoning for the project will allow unchecked development in the neighborhood... To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 440-602-4782 http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/117749060213670.xml&coll=2 From the 4/25/07 Aurora Advocate: Clustered housing planned if zoning Issue 10 approved by Brent Hovey Reporter Aurora -- The second of two rezoning issues on the May 8 ballot -- Issue 10 -- involves about 40 acres on the southwest corner of Route 306 and Treat Road... E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3115 http://www.auroraadvocate.com/news/article/1903181 Revised clocktower design better liked by residents, panel Aurora Advocate, 4/25/07 Following a groundswell of support from local residents, the landmark commission April 19 granted a certificate of appropriateness for a revised clocktower design at the City Center point... New owner plans to demolish Pavilion News Leader, 4/25/07 The Pavilion building on Valley View Road may soon be gone, now that it has been sold and its new owner said he is going to have the building demolished... City to acquire 'link' property Aurora Advocate, 4/25/07 The city plans to purchase 22 acres between Sunny Lake Park and the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland's Aurora Sanctuary to preserve as green space... Demolition of the old Harbor High School on hold Ashtabula Star Beacon, 4/22/07 The architectural and restoration review board Tuesday night postponed approving Ashtabula Area City School Board's request to demolish old Harbor High School, pending contact with a Florida contractor interested developing the building... Ashtabula Star Beacon: School demolition takes different turn (4/21/07) KSU reveals floor plans for new building Ashtabula Star Beacon, 4/20/07 Floor plans for the new Health and Science Building at Kent State University were unveiled Tuesday evening...

^^ What I found hilarious (in a sad way) was the editorial in yesterday's Enquirer where the paper's editorial board came down against the list, citing privacy concerns. They said such a list should not be made public. This from the same paper that saw fit to publish the names of the jurors in the Liz Carroll trial.

From the 4/25/07 Salem News: Lisbon school board support school funds ballot initiative By ELIZABETH TABAK Salem News staff writer LISBON — The Lisbon Board of Education has put into writing its support of the “Getting it Right for Ohio’s Future” campaign. The board approved the resolution stating their support for and interest in obtaining signatures to put the initiative on the ballot this November at a special meeting Tuesday night. Superintendent Don Thompson said 400,000 signatures are needed to get the initiative on the ballot, and he encourages Lisbon residents to support such an amendment. The “Getting it Right” amendment pledges to straighten out Ohio’s public school funding system, which has been declared unconstitutional four times since 1991. It lists five steps the amendment will take toward creating a new funding system: guaranteeing accountability with public reports, identifying the cost of quality education, and require the state to pay a higher portion of the bill, reduce the number of new local property tax levies, cut property taxes for senior and disabled homeowners and protect state funding for school facilities, local safety and services and colleges and universities. MORE: http://www.salemnews.net/news/articles.asp?articleID=5765 From Hilliard Northwest News, 4/25/07: Constitutional amendment Sign those petitions, board says By ROSEMARY KUBERA The Hilliard Board of Education is encouraging registered voters to sign petitions that will enable a proposed school-funding amendment to the Ohio Constitution to be placed on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. The board Monday unanimously passed a resolution of support for both placing the issue on the ballot and for passage of the amendment. If adopted, backers say, the amendment would force the state to find funds for schools and reduce the current reliance on property taxes. It would create a reliable source of school district funding, said district Treasurer Brian Wilson. The Hilliard City School District has not had an increase in annual state aid since 2005 despite enrollment growth of about 1,000 students since then, said Wilson. MORE: http://www.snponline.com/NEWS4-25/4-25_hlstateaid.html