buildingcincinnati

From the 2/19/07 PD: Brook Park: Changing face of economy Monday, February 19, 2007 Grant Segall Plain Dealer Reporter Brook Park -- Mike Theus signed up for a buyout this summer, after 30 years with Ford. But he's not sure he will stick with the deal. "This is home," Theus, 48, says about the vast Ford Motor Co. complex that has virtually defined Brook Park since 1951. "I love it here. Working for Ford has been a blessing." Still, the millwright says it might be safer to take the buyout than to risk the boot. "I can't be complacent," says Theus, who was once laid off for three years, then exiled to Kansas City for 10. "Ford's going to do what they have to do to get lean. . . . All I can do is be prepared." A mile away, Jim Nesbitt feels blessed, too... To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4187 http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/11718785884610.xml&coll=2

From the 2/4/07 Lima News: Fixing Ford needs union’s help Tim Rausch | [email protected] - 02.04.2007 LIMA — Joel Goins is sure the United Auto Workers will make concessions to Ford Motor Co. in the national master contract that will be negotiated this summer. There are 890 union workers at the Lima Ford Engine Plant who will be affected by the outcome of the talks. Goins expects to be affected too, though he hasn’t worked for Ford since 1991... http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=34878

From the AP, 2/2/07: Ford sales plunged 19 percent in January Friday, February 02, 2007 Tom Krisher ASSOCIATED PRESS DETROIT - Ford?s U.S. sales dropped 19 percent in January, allowing Toyota again to pass it as the nation?s No. 2 automaker. But Ford?s numbers were so bad that it was also passed by DaimlerChrysler, knocking the troubled automaker into fourth place for the month. Times are tough for Ford Motor Co., which attributed its sales decline to a long-term strategy of returning to profitability by cutting low-profit rental-car sales and reducing its reliance on incentives... http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/02/20070202-F2-04.html

From the AP, 1/26/07: $12.7 BILLION IN THE RED Ford ends 2006 with historic net loss Automaker warns bleeding could continue into 2008 Friday, January 26, 2007 Tom Krisher ASSOCIATED PRESS DEARBORN, Mich. - With big red numbers on its balance sheet that amount to $1,925 for every car and truck it sold last year, experts wonder whether Ford Motor Co. has the money to keep the doors open long enough for its restructuring plan to take hold. Yesterday, the 103-year-old industrial icon reported a staggering $12.7 billion loss for 2006, and it warned that losses will continue this year and next. The loss was the largest in Ford history, driven by slumping North American sales and $9.9 billion in special items, including restructuring costs tied to the planned closing of 16 plants. Chief Executive Alan Mulally, who is leading the massive remaking of the storied automaker, is confident in its plan to return to profitability by sometime in 2009. But some industry analysts are skeptical that its new product lineup can carry the company that invented the assembly line back into the black. "We know where we are. We are dealing with it and we?re on plan," Mulally said... http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/01/26/20070126-G1-03.html

I don't think anyone has posted this, but here's the project website: http://www.lindenpointe.net/indexflash.html There is an interactive site plan on there where you can click on each ugly building and find out what it is and how much space it will have. As you've seen, Phase I is coming along nicely. Still, no tenants have been announced for either the retail or the office components. (One anonymous blogger speculated that Jungle Jim's might want to move there after announcing that the Millworks deal was off. Take it for what it's worth.)

Sorry...I got a little carried away there.

Shoutbox keeps trying to load itself on my computer, even when I'm logged out of UO. The status bar reads as follows: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/Sources/sboxDB.php?ts=11766... The end number always changes, meaning it's probably a message number or has something to do with the time of the post. EDIT: Please disable shoutbox. It is f**king with my computer! EDIT #2: It only goes away if I close out the tab and open a new tab, which is a pain in the ass. So I opened up a new tab, logged into UO, and here we go again.... (Oh...if I open new tabs and leave the f**ked up one, open, it doesn't do it on the other tabs.)

From the 3/21/07 St. Mary's Evening Leader: St. Mary's Evening Leader: City eyes next target (2/12/07) Big plans for cotton mill site By KAY LOUTH Staff Writer ST. MARYS From old and abandoned to new and shining, the old Cotton Mill building on High Street may become a major piece of the new heart of downtown. Under the auspices of the Community Improvement Corporation, the city of St. Marys released its proposal for the building and surroundings Tuesday at the organizations annual meeting at the Eagles. There are obvious changes in the landscape around the building. Half or more of the original building has been demolished, Lock 13, a significant piece of canal history, has been uncovered and the old parking garage at the tax office is gone. Already a bank has announced it is building a bright, shining new building next to lock and the city has plans to turn the lock into a sweet little park a retreat in the heart of the city. Its creation will eventually complete a connection that starts at K.C. Geiger Park to Memorial Park to north side of the city. In addition, the High Street bridge will be replaced in 2010 or 2011 and the old cotton mill power plant is tapped for demolition making room for a parking lot. MORE: http://www.theeveningleader.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4021

Link includes a photo. From the 4/15/07 Blade: Businesses say state ban just blowing smoke Charges mount as venues defy law with no bite By JIM PROVANCE BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU COLUMBUS - The Ohio Department of Health has received some 17,000 complaints about bars, restaurants, and private clubs ignoring the state's new smoking ban, but the most it has been able to do is send the alleged violators letters informing them of the law. That could change at the end of this month, depending on what a legislative panel decides tomorrow on proposed rules designed to put teeth into what so far has been a law without bite. The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review has moved its 1:30 p.m. meeting from its usual small Statehouse hearing room to the larger Senate Finance Hearing Room. Read more: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070415/NEWS24/704150342/-1/RSS

Link includes a photo. From the 4/15/07 Dispatch: STRICKLAND'S FIRST 100 DAYS It's too early to call him "Teflon Ted," but few find fault Sunday, April 15, 2007 Joe Hallett and Mark Niquette THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Republicans don?t quite know how to handle this new Democratic governor. During his first three months in office ? the 100-day benchmark is Tuesday ? Ted Strickland has defied the stereotypes that so often render Democrats vulnerable to GOP attacks. "So far, it?s been a very good run," said Brian K. Hicks, a lobbyist and former chief of staff for GOP Gov. Bob Taft. "I?d like to be more critical, because I am a Republican." ... [email protected] [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/04/15/20070415-A1-04.html Link includes a photo. From the 4/15/07 Portsmouth Daily Times: Lessons, issues and goals Governor's proposal prioritizes problems facing state of Ohio By JEFF BARRON PDT Staff Writer Saturday, April 14, 2007 11:28 PM EDT COLUMBUS - Gov. Ted Strickland already has learned an important lesson as Ohio's top elected official. “It's impossible to please everyone, as I'm finding out,” he said. “But I do my job as best as I can.” The Lucasville native defeated Kenneth Blackwell in November to replace former governor Bob Taft, who could not run again because of term limits. Strickland previously served as the U.S. 6th Congressional representative. ... JEFF BARRON can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236. http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/articles/2007/04/15/news/local_news/1news_strickland.txt

From the 4/15/07 Enquirer: Tourist/cyclist depot may be in '20s gas station City applied for grant to move it BY SCOTT WARTMAN | [email protected] NEWPORT - An old gas station building in Newport where Model T's used to fill up in the 1920s could be moved to become a depot for cyclists and tourists. The city of Newport has applied for a state transportation grant of $336,000 to move the small building with a Spanish tile roof and canopy from its current location at the corner of Fifth and York streets to city-owned property at the corner of Saratoga and 10th streets. If the grant is approved, the city will turn the building into a tourist office and starting point for a bike trail marked on Newport roads. The city will learn whether it gets the grant in July. If it does, the building could open by spring 2008, said Bob Yoder, Newport's Main Street coordinator. The owner of the Fifth and York streets property, Dwight Broeman, is donating the building to the city so it can be saved from development, according to city officials. Among the amenities proposed for the tourist center: bike racks, air pumps, a water fountain, tourist information and a transportation museum detailing the area's railroads and other landmarks. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070415/NEWS0103/704150386/1059/rss13 Park moves ahead as township looks back Northeast Suburban Life, 4/13/07 Work continues on Blong Road Park, eight years after a devastating tornado swept through Symmes Township and destroyed property as well as lives. Township officials and members of the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department gathered at the park site April 9, exactly eight years after the tornado came through, to remember the tragedies associated with the disaster and look forward to a memorial park on the corner of Blong and Montgomery roads. Township Trustee Eric Minamyer spoke during the brief event, stating his pride in the fire and police departments for their hard work during and after the tornado. He said the fact that the apartments off of Montgomery Road near Blong and the nearby Don Pablo's Restaurant were rebuilt so quickly is a testament to the people of Symmes. Jack Bresnen, vice president of the Jeffrey Allen Corp., is one of the people charged with creating the memorial park. He said the work is about 50 percent completed, and workers are preparing Blong Park for a May 30 completion date. Feds to pay for NKY veteran cemetery Cincinnati Enquirer, 4/13/07 The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is allocating $6.9 million to pay most of the costs of the Northern Kentucky State Veterans Cemetery under construction in Williamstown. The grant was announced Friday by Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. Construction of the 99-acre cemetery began in January and is expected to be completed early next year. “Our veterans have honorably served our country, and they deserve the utmost respect long after their service is over,” McConnell said in a statement. “This funding will be used to honor them.” Senior housing project invalid without funding Wilmington News Journal, 4/13/07 Some Pansy Pike residents are opposed to a zoning change for property located at 344 Pansy Pike, from R2 to PD (planned development), for the purpose of building senior housing. A public hearing on the zoning change was held at the Thursday night meeting of Blanchester Village Council. Dean Knapp, director of the Clinton County Community Action, said if zoning is changed for the property and the project is approved, 40 two-bedroom units with attached garages would be built. At a previous meeting, Wayne West, chairman of the zoning board, said the Planning Commission recommended the zoning change. West told council at the hearing, "if the zoning is changed to Planned Development now and the financing is not approved, the property would go back to R2 zoning," he said. Firms contend for Loveland Y Loveland Herald, 4/13/07 Jon Bennett is hoping to take charge of developing the Loveland YMCA. The engineer's firm, KZF Design, could know by April 19 if it's qualified to do it. City personnel is selecting "a short-list" of firms that want pitch their ideas for Loveland's proposed recreation center. A city document dated March 30 shows that 20 firms are interested in the project. "We have worked with the YMCA on other projects and we enjoyed that experience," Bennett said from his office in Cincinnati. "When our work is fun and enjoyable, we like doing that." Brandstetter-Carroll Inc., an architectural firm in Lexington, has planned the YMCA with the city's recreation and aquatic center committee since August. Hiking trails proposed for Bender Mountain Delhi Press, 4/12/07 An ambitious trek up the recently-dubbed Bender Mountain is being proposed by the Western Wildlife Corridor. Tim Sisson, corridor president, presented proposals to Delhi Township trustees detailing three future plans for new walking trails looping along Bender Road. Some of the property currently is owned by Hamilton County and some is in the process of being deeded to the township from the Hamilton County Park District. "This site offers some of the best hiking opportunities in the area," Sisson said. "It would provide spectacular Ohio River views and the rare opportunity to walk through old growth forest that remains much as the pioneers probably found it." Sisson's first proposal is for a modest, but strenuous trail beginning on Hillside Road. It would ascend the slope and switch back to descend the other side of the ridge toward Bender Road.

From the 3/19/07 Dayton Business Journal: Miami Twp. lands $40M development Dayton Business Journal - March 16, 2007 by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter Developers soon will begin a $40 million housing development aimed at empty nesters in Miami Township. Miami Township-based Zengel Construction Co. will build the 88-unit development, called Rivendell, at the southern end of the company's 360-acre Vienna Park, in the vicinity of the Dayton Mall. Earlier this month, the property was re-zoned from residential to planned development, which allows for smaller lot spaces on the 30-acre tract. The small lots are conducive to the product Zengel is building: Maintenance-free homes geared toward the baby boomer generation in their 40s, 50s and 60s, said Jim Zengel, president of the company. Rivendell will offer an average home size of 2,500 square feet and prices ranging from $350,000 to $600,000. The standard home will be a ranch, but there will be the option for two-story homes and added basements. MORE: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/03/19/story3.html

I could post pictures of Cleveland from Family Guy.

Link contains photos. From the 4/5/07 Chillicothe Gazette: Farmers: Tide of shrinking farmland must be stopped Senator in town getting input on new Farm Bill By LOREN GENSON Gazette Staff Writer Fairfield County farmer Bryan Black said Ohio's farmland is shrinking because of the federally funded Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Black would like to see that issue addressed in the 2007 Farm Bill, and said so Wednesday when Sen. Sherrod Brown visited Chillicothe. The CREP was one of many topics local farmers discussed with Brown when he met with the region's farmers Wednesday at Hirsch's Fruit Farm to discuss the upcoming Farm Bill which he, along with other members of the Senate Agriculture committee, will discuss. ..... http://www.chillicothegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070405/NEWS01/704050301/1002/rss01

From the 3/31/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Property tax will increase for local farmers By ALAINA FAHY The Eagle-Gazette Staff [email protected] FAIRFIELD COUNTY - Some Fairfield County farmers will have to pay up to 65 percent more in property taxes this year because Ohio changed its current agricultural use valuation. "None of the farmers like it because no one wants their taxes to go up," said Fairfield County Auditor Barbara Curtiss. Curtiss hosted a public meeting recently to help inform and prepare farmers for the change. She shared with farmers what she learned at the February meeting with the Ohio Department of Taxation Division of Tax Equalization. ......... http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070331/NEWS01/703310320/1002/rss01

From the 3/6/07 DDN: Land trust surpasses fundraising goal Tuesday, March 06, 2007 SPRINGFIELD — The Tecumseh Land Trust surpassed its $180,000 goal for a three-year capital campaign just three months after it began. More than $194,000 has been donated and pledged, executive director Krista Magaw said. The land trust is based in Yellow Springs and helps preserve land in Clark and Greene counties. The money will be used to add staff, do more public policy work and improve record-keeping, Magaw said. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/05/ddn030607localheadlines.html

From the 2/9/07 Times-Reporter: Tuscarawas County limits development on 572 acres By ZACH LINT, T-R Staff Writer Tuscarawas County commissioners approved the county’s first agricultural security area Thursday, providing a 10-year security designation to 572 acres of farmland in Dover Township owned Herbert Bambeck, Shirley Johnson and John M. Foust. The protected land runs along Rt. 39 east from Pyle Rd. in Dover, including parcels off Red Hill and Steel Hill Rds. “What this designation does is prevents any development – be it sewers, roads, etc. – on that acreage for the next 10 years,” Commissioner Chris Abbuhl said. He said Tuscarawas County is only one of about six counties in the state to have land designated as an agricultural security zone. Commissioners also recognized their clerk, Jane Clay, for all of the work she did in coordinating with landowners and preparing needed documentation for the designation. ... http://www.timesreporter.com/index.php?ID=64051&r=3&Category=5

Link contains a photo. From the 2/3/07 Wooster Daily Record: Peter and Leanna Dunn's 80-acre farm in existence for future February 3, 2007 By PAUL LOCHER Staff Writer How do you save for the future a beautiful, pristine farm that has been in your family for eight generations? It's a question Peter and Leanna Dunn have been grappling with for some time, and resolved as 2006 drew to a close. The Dunns, who live along Zuercher Road just southwest of Dalton in Sugar Creek Township, have had a lifelong love affair with their 80-acre farm with a spectacular view of Sonnenberg Valley. The farm was started by Leanna Dunn's forebearers, Swiss Mennonites who escaped religious persecution in the Jura Mountains along the French border. They made their way into Wayne County, helping settle an area that in the 19th century was known as the Sonnenberg Community. Today that area is Kidron. ...... http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/1557601

From the 1/31/07 Springfield News-Sun: Saving farmland is goal of plan Clark County leads Ohio in the number of acres protected from development through easements By Diane Erwin Staff Writer Wednesday, January 31, 2007 Farming is an important industry in Clark County, but it could be even more so, Krista Magaw said. Magaw, an advisory member of the Clark County Farmland Preservation Workgroup, presented an updated Farmland Preservation Plan to Clark County commissioners on Tuesday. Its recommendations include researching local sources of funding to purchase agriculture easements to protect land from development and finding ways to keep local farming viable. ..... http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/30/sns013107countycom.html From the 1/31/07 Record-Courier: Hiram village, township and college team up to preserve agricultural land base January 31, 2007 By Mike Sever Record-Courier staff writer HIRAM Tucked away in northern Portage County, this small village sits amid cornfields and pastures of farms that have been cultivated for generations. In the center of the village is Hiram College, a small liberal arts college that draws students from around the country. The township, village and college have joined together to take an innovative step toward protecting the small town, rural atmosphere that residents cherish. In 2003, the village, township and college worked together to create the Hiram 2020 Comprehensive Plan. Among its goals are the preservation of a majority of the agricultural land base in the township and the encouragement of sustainable growth in the village. One way of achieving that goal is establishment of a Transfer of Development Rights program that will limit development of agricultural land by trading it for higher development limits in the village. ........ http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/1544532

From the 1/26/07 Wooster Daily Record: Land preservation is meeting topic Monday January 26, 2007 By CHRIS KICK Staff Writer ORRVILLE -- Three area agencies will hold an agricultural protection resource meeting on Monday at Heartland Point Community Center, 200 N. Main St., to discuss two ways landowners can preserve farmland and protect themselves from nuisance complaints. Brian Gwin of Wayne Economic Development Council, Katie Myers of Wayne County Planning Department and Keith Diedrick of OSU-Extension Wayne County will explain Agricultural Security Areas and agricultural districts and tax benefits and enrollment. Myers said the program will begin with facts about Wayne County's land use and will proceed with a presentation of Agricultural Security Areas and districts. According to Myers, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Security Area program is a new tool that will help farmers, county commissioners and township trustees protect blocks of farmland. ...... http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/1523672

From the 4/14/07 East Liverpool Review: Bonnell: Housing proposal would be a win for EL district By JO ANN BOBBY GILBERT/Special to The Review EAST LIVERPOOL — Building new housing in the city, even though it means granting the developer tax abatements, is a “win-win” situation for the school district, according to one school board member. In an unprecedented move, board President Denise Taylor added a third public participation segment to Thursday night’s meeting to allow board member Gary Bonnell the chance to speak as a private citizen. Stepping down from the board table to take the podium, Bonnell said he was speaking as the owner of rental property in the city. Although a school district resident, Bonnell actually lives outside the city in Liverpool Township. http://reviewonline.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=7277 North Pool gets the OK Youngstown Vindicator, 4/14/07 Escalating costs forced the city park and recreation commission to approve a scaled-down new North Side Pool, but after numerous delays construction on the project should start in about two weeks. The commission held a special meeting Friday to sign a contract with A.P. O'Horo to have the Liberty company build the pool on Belmont Avenue.

From the 4/14/07 PD: Schools may seek additional millions Construction estimates outdated, officials say Saturday, April 14, 2007 Joseph L. Wagner Plain Dealer Reporter Cleveland school officials may ask voters to approve an additional $120 million bond issue for the district's construction project amid speculation that schools will be closed or knocked off the drawing board because of falling enrollment. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1176539916101780.xml&coll=2

From the 4/14/07 Blade: 2 court actions filed to bar ban on smoking from taking effect BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU COLUMBUS - Two court actions have been filed to prevent new smoking-ban rules from taking effect even before a legislative panel takes them up on Monday. The Buckeye Liquor Permit Holders Association and the Ohio Licensed Beverage Associations, whose members are largely bars and restaurants, filed actions this week in Hamilton and Franklin County common pleas courts respectively. Both argue the Ohio Department of Health overstepped its authority when it proposed a last-minute exemption for some veterans groups and other private clubs, which bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, and others that serve alcohol or food consider to be their competition. Read more: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070414/NEWS02/704140399/-1/NEWS

From the 4/14/07 News-Herald: State funding for schools wouldn't change much under governor's proposal Few area school districts affected By: Justin Maynor [email protected] 04/14/2007 A revised breakdown of how Gov. Ted Strickland's new budget proposal would fund schools shows only one district between Lake and Geauga counties would see more state money in the coming years. Total state aid would freeze at its current level through fiscal year 2009 for all districts except Painesville City Schools, which would get a 6.7 percent increase in foundation funding next fiscal year and an 8.4 percent increase the following year, according to data released this week by the governor's Office of Budget and Management. This is the second public release of budget projections from the office, the first of which was riddled with errors. The complete report is online at www.obm.ohio.gov. MORE: http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18210343&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6

From the 4/14/07 PD: Aide to Celeste indicted in 1986 is rehired New job is deputy in public safety Saturday, April 14, 2007 Mark Rollenhagen Plain Dealer Bureau Chief Columbus -- A former governor's aide once accused of lying to a grand jury that was investigating state hiring practices is among the new hires of the Strickland administration. Larry J. McCartney, 60, of Columbus, served as a campaign finance director and an aide to former Gov. Dick Celeste before he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of falsification in 1986. He is now a deputy director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. ... To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 1-800-228-8272 http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1176540324101780.xml&coll=2