buildingcincinnati

Both from the 4/2/07 Enquirer: Bridge attack suspect to stand trial BY SHARON COOLIDGE | [email protected] The man accused of ending a three-day crime spree with the abduction and rape of a woman at the Purple People Bridge last November understands the court process and can go to trial, three experts have agreed. Based on those findings, Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Fred Nelson today found Fernando Lee North competent. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070402/NEWS01/304020019/-1/rss Canine unit adds two new dogs THE ENQUIRER When Toyota gives $5,000 to buy a police dog, the dog gets the name of a Toyota product. So meet Tundra, one of Cincinnatis newest police dogs. He started training today. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070402/NEWS01/304020057/

From the 4/1/07 Newark Advocate: * PHOTO: Several new housing developments, including this one (foreground) are being built in Johnstown. The village, which has grown just less than 25 percent in the past seven years, is expected to be one of the fastest-growing communities in Licking County. Morgan Wonorski, The Advocate Photo Galleries: Columbus Express Aerials - Spring 2007 Licking County experiencing growing pains Area officials are trying to manage surge By KENT MALLETT Advocate Reporter NEWARK -- For years, Licking County residents have heard about the inevitable explosion of growth headed this way from Columbus. This sudden increase in residential, commercial and industrial development has been viewed as everything from Santa Claus bearing gifts to a monster bent on destroying the local lifestyle. Licking County has been growing for years, with its 2006 population estimated at 152,866 and 2010 population projected to be 161,279. The county's 7.4 percent population surge from 2000 to 2006 ranks ninth of the state's 88 counties. But the big fear is the example just north of Columbus. Delaware County has grown 42.5 percent from 2000 to 2006. The effect of having more people, homes, businesses and motorists will be felt by everyone in their neighborhoods, on the roads, at school, on farmland. People will feel the impact while seeking a job, visiting a park, starting a business or finding affordable health care. Full story at http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070401/NEWS01/704010303/1002/rss01

From the 3/31/07 Blade: COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S FINDINGS Perrysburg's use of city zoning in township 'illegal' By JOE VARDON BLADE STAFF WRITER Perrysburg's practice of enforcing its zoning code along U.S. 20 in Perrysburg Township in exchange for water and sewer services is illegal, according to the Wood County prosecutor. But rather than fight Perrysburg in court over the matter, Prosecutor Ray Fischer said it is in everyone's best interest to compromise. Government officials from Perrysburg and the township as well as Mr. Fischer and Wood County Assistant Prosecutor Linda Holmes met in the township trustees' hall yesterday to discuss the two communities' imposition of zoning rules on development in the township. The dispute involves an area covered by an agreement between the city and township that states Perrysburg will not require annexation for development north of U.S. 20 and east of I-75 in exchange for water and sewer services, but will be the exclusive provider of those services. The township alleges that Perrysburg has violated the agreement by requiring developers to adhere to the city's zoning code and pay permit fees in addition to fulfilling the township's zoning requirements. More at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070331/NEWS18/703310399/-1/RSS09

Dunn is on pace to hit 324 homers this year and drive in nearly 500. I'm pretty sure he'll fall short of that, though.

City to demolish Longfellow School Lima News, 3/10/07 Marlene Smith’s daughter attended kindergarten in the school directly behind her East High Street home the last year it was open. Then, in 1978, Lima schools Superintendent Earl McGovern closed Longfellow School. Since then for nearly 30 years, Smith and neighbors of the school at North Shawnee East Market streets have watched it fall apart, brick by shingle by broken window. The haven to pigeons and all manner of other critters is finally coming down, and Smith couldn’t be happier. “I’m glad it’s finally coming down,” Smith said. “It’s long overdue. It should have been done years ago.” City Council is expected to approve at its meeting Monday a contract with Ben’s Construction $64,800 to demolish the building.

From the 3/29/07 Dispatch: * See a full listing of Columbus Public Schools' unspent Title I money (PDF) Leaving 'No Child' money behind Schools fail to use millions in aid Funds intended for Columbus' poor schools Thursday, March 29, 2007 5:46 AM By Bill Bush The Columbus Dispatch The federal government offers extra money for low-income students each year — funds that their schools can use for more teachers, tutors and other services to help them learn. But Columbus Public Schools left millions of these dollars unspent during the 2005-06 school year, meaning the individual schools — and the targeted students — essentially lost the money. In all, the district distributed $19.5 million Title I dollars to its schools last academic year, but the schools left $3.4 million of it — 18 percent — unspent, according to a state audit. Title I money has existed for decades but is more commonly known today as No Child Left Behind grants. "Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/03/29/titleI.html

From the 3/8/07 (UC) News Record: University makes push for arts fund Mike McQueary Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: News For the past three years, the University of Cincinnati has been the largest contributor to Cincinnati's Fine Arts Fund. During this time, the university has also met and exceeded its goals. The fund is responsible for providing financial support for 18 fine arts organizations in our region such as the opera, Taft Museum, ballet and symphony. Click on link for more information. www.newsrecord.org/media/storage/paper693/news/2007/03/08/News/University.Makes.Push.For.Arts.Fund-2764429.shtml]http://media.www.newsrecord.org/media/storage/paper693/news/2007/03/08/News/University.Makes.Push.For.Arts.Fund-2764429.shtml

Clifton Heights: 315-316 Warner St The rezoning of 315-316 Warner St from SF-2 Single Family to RMX Residential Mix will go before the Economic Development Committee on April 10. The rezoning would allow for the rehab of 315 Warner St as a multi-family, which is not allowed under the current zoning. Neighbors have objected because of the lack of adequate neighborhood parking and the abundance of multi-family properties near the site. The City Planning Commission already approved the zoning change last November. After the Economic Development Committee hearings, it typically goes to City Council at either the next scheduled meeting or the one after. (In this case, probably April 11 or 18.) LAST UPDATE (1/2/07) From the 4/1/07 Enquirer: Hearing on converting golf course to housing THE ENQUIRER Plans to turn the Hillview Golf Course into a residential complex of 290 units are moving ahead. The next step takes place during the 1 p.m. April 5 public hearing of the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission in Room 805B of the Hamilton County Administration Building, 138 E. Court St. Green Township trustees have already voted to recommend that the township land-use plan be amended to allow housing to take the place of the golf course. The land-use plan and the application for the amendment may be reviewed at the offices of the planning commission and the Green Township Administration Building, 6303 Harrison Ave. Information: 513-574-4848. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070401/NEWS01/704010380/ Twin Lakes still under fire; residents pressure council Northeast Suburban Life, 3/28/07 Residents of Forestglen are pressuring city councilmembers again to block a housing development. The neighborhood group opposes a planned roadway across from Forestglen Drive. Twin Lakes, a senior-living organization, has presented plans to develop the road and 13 homes between Hopewell and Schoolhouse roads. During rush hours this week, hundreds of drivers will see "No 4-Way Road Here!" signs near Montgomery Road and Forestglen. It's the Forestglen group's protest. "We don't know how long it will last. We'll see what kind of reaction we get," said Sue Crittenden, who lives on Forestglen Drive. Public agencies asked to fund 'linear park' Cincinnati Enquirer, 3/28/07 Northern Kentucky's Vision 2015 effort asked Sanitation District No. 1 on Tuesday for $25,000 toward building a "linear park" along the Licking River, and hopes for another $10,000 from the Northern Kentucky Water District. The sanitation district's board of directors took the matter under consideration after hearing the request from Mike Phillips, a retired editorial director for the newspaper division of E.W. Scripps Co. He said the Water District hadn't told him yet whether it would contribute. "This is one of the key projects that came out of the visioning process," Phillips said. A park along the Licking River, which officials have said could include a 5-mile-plus path for biking and walking along the waterway, would help the sanitation district, Phillips told the board. "Northern Kentucky doesn't have much of a relationship with the Licking River," he said, adding a greenway could make people more attuned to such issues as ecology and water pollution. Residents want plans for future to protect county's bucolic setting Cincinnati Enquirer, 3/28/07 Plenty of green space mixed with some light residential and retail is what many southern Campbell County residents envision for the future. About 20 residents voiced their opinions Tuesday night at Campbell County High School. It was the first of two public meetings this week to gather input to update the county's five-year comprehensive plan. The next meeting is 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Southgate Community Center. The plan will guide zoning decisions in Campbell's unincorporated areas and in five cities. Some residents who participated Tuesday had farms. Some lived near farms. All wanted to keep the bucolic setting. "We have got a beautiful county," said George Koopman of Melbourne. "We don't have to take every road and make them into superhighways." Cincinnati Enquirer: Planners ask for your help (3/27/07) Board OKs bidding for stadium turf Hamilton JournalNews, 3/28/07 Hamilton City School District Board of Education members on Tuesday night approved authorization to advertise for bids for an artificial turf field at Hamilton High School's Schwarm Stadium. A public opening of bids is scheduled at 2 p.m. April 18. The total cost is approximately $500,000 to $550,000. The stadium now has a grass surface. Artificial turf can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a minimal amount of maintenance required, Board Member George Jonson said on Monday. A private committee was formed last spring to raise funds for the new field. To date, $300,000 has been collected in pledges and cash. They hope to raise the remaining $200,000 to $250,000 through private donations also. Anderson Veterans Park ceremony in time for sun Forest Hills Journal, 3/28/07 The winter was a good time to finish improvements at Anderson's Veterans Park, but spring is a better time to celebrate. The Anderson Hills Kiwanis will rededicate the park at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 9. Veterans Park, 8531 Forest Road, was first opened in 1986. The park was among the first to be designed with disabled children in mind, according to the Anderson Park District Executive Director Molly McClure. "We built Veterans Park before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was in effect," McClure said. "We try and transcend the minimum requirements." Features of this and the inclusive park at Beech Acres, currently under construction, include a specialized manufactured wood flooring, strategically placed handholds and transfer platforms designed for wheelchairs and those with partial mobility in mind. The ability of disabled parents and grandparents to interact with their children is also a consideration.

From the 4/1/07 Enquirer: Boone Co. facing cash crunch As county grows, expenses closing in on its tax intake BY BRENNA R. KELLY | [email protected] BURLINGTON - Boone County officials are looking for ways to cut costs and raise revenue to avoid a budget shortfall by 2009. Although the county has experienced phenomenal growth and has an almost $40 million budget, it isn't swimming in money, County Administrator Jeff Earlywine said. Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070401/NEWS0103/704010405/

From the 2/21/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: ThisWeek Canal Winchester: Village to pay Pickerington $103,000 (2/8/07) ThisWeek Pickerington: City to pursue eminent domain for Diley project (2/1/07) ODOT almost ready to take over Diley Road project By ALAINA FAHY The Eagle-Gazette Staff PICKERINGTON - Pickerington city officials are almost ready to hand off the widening of Diley Road to the Ohio Department of Transportation. Diley Road will be widened from two to five lanes between U.S. 33 and Hill Road North. The goal of the nearly $14 million project is to decrease congestion on Diley Road. Diley Road, which cuts through fast-growing Violet Township, is one of several heavily traveled streets in Fairfield County. Project engineers have to determine right of way, said Brenda Vancleave, staff engineer with the City of Pickerington. Then private utilities, such as electric and cable, must be moved before ODOT can take over. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/020107/CanalWinchester/News/020107-News-297793.html

From the 2/8/07 Lakewood Sun Post: Bond issue is on May ballot Thursday, February 08, 2007 By David George Lakewood Sun Post Lakewood school board members Monday unanimously endorsed placing a 2.4 mill bond issue on the May 8 ballot. If approved by voters, the $32 million the issue will raise will finance the second phase of the district's facilities program. Scheduled for the second phase are the conversion of Horace Mann and Emerson middle schools to elementary facilities and the first half of an overall remodeling effort at Lakewood High School... http://www.cleveland.com/sun/lakewoodsunpost/index.ssf?/base/news-0/117095666065260.xml&coll=3 From the 1/30/07 PD: Residents don't want condos behind church Tuesday, January 30, 2007 John Horton Plain Dealer Reporter Chardon -- The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland may sell unused land behind a Geauga County church for development, infuriating nearby homeowners, who characterize the deal as a simple money grab. Chardon officials are reviewing a builder's plan to construct 20 condominiums on diocese property behind St. Mary Church on North Street. The church's attorney, David Eardley, said sale of the property hinges on the project gaining city approval... To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 1-800-962-1167 http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/geauga/1170150789119120.xml&coll=2 From the 2/2/07 News-Herald: Hotel may spur growth Developers believe Comfort Suites could attract more business to stretch of Route 528 By: David W. Jones [email protected] 02/02/2007 The next growth spot on Interstate 90 in Lake County will be at the undeveloped Route 528 exit into Madison Village. It is on that one-mile stretch that the $3.5 million Comfort Suites hotel will open in August... http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17798853&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6 WORK MAY START ON NEW BRIDGE Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 2/10/07 City Council will consider on Monday the last step to get work moving on the Jackson Street bridge project. With the four ordinances, which call for spending more than $485,000, Mayor David Taylor said he will have the last bit of money needed to start over on the long-awaited project... 2-mill bond issue would build school News Sun, 2/8/07 The Olmsted Falls school board will ask its district residents to approve a 2-mill bond issue at the May 8 election. The $17 bond issue would build a new school that would handle the district's fourth- and fifth-graders. About $1 million of those funds would go toward repairs and renovations at the district's four buildings... Chardon traffic upgrades coming News-Herald, 1/30/07 Motorists who travel through Chardon can look forward to improved traffic flow in some key areas this year and next. Tri-City raises stakes News Sun, 1/25/07 After coming up short and then scrambling to gather additional signatures for its initiative petition, the Tri-City Senior Center is confident it now has enough for a May election in Berea and Brook Park. Skatepark grinds to a halt Sun Star, 1/25/07 The Dew Action Sports Tour will bring national attention to the Cleveland area next summer and focus attention on the popularity of skateboarding and other high-flying types of outdoor activities, but this city still won't have its long-promised skateboard park.

From the 3/30/07 Enquirer: Mason: Economic 'powerhouse' City officials devote budget to economic growth BY KATIE WEDELL | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR MASON - City officials cited rapid growth as a major advantage for bringing in tax revenue and attracting development at the State of the City presentation Thursday at Great Wolf Lodge. With the city's population doubling in the past decade and the number of residents now topping 30,000, officials touted economic development as the key to the city's success. According to the presentation, the city experienced a 15 percent revenue increase in 2006. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070330/NEWS01/703300401/ From the 3/31/07 Enquirer: Warren Co. jail deal is struck New lockup won't be built THE ENQUIRER LEBANON - Warren County plans to address its jail space shortage with several renovations that would allow double-bunking, even triple-bunking some inmates. The plan, announced Friday, was reached informally this week among officials who have been arguing for more than a year over how to expand a 200-bed jail for Ohio's second-fastest-growing county. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070331/NEWS01/703310354/

From Business First of Columbus, 3/5/07: Pace of retail projects in Dayton continues to build momentum Business First of Columbus - March 2, 2007 by Tim Tresslar For Business First The Dayton area's appetite for new places to shop and eat is driving a boom in retail projects for commercial developers - and changing the local retail landscape. While hospitals and schools have accounted for many of the region's multimillion dollar construction projects, the pace of retail development has gained steam, developers say, with new projects under way in Kettering, Beavercreek, Huber Heights and elsewhere. "I think it's probably the strongest sector in terms of commercial real estate in Dayton right now," said Tim Albro, vice president of the Beerman Realty Co. Earlier this month, for example, Beerman Realty announced plans to build Shoppes at 725, a $7.5 million retail center, just down the road from the Dayton Mall. The project, on state Route 725 near Kingsridge Drive, will bring another 33,500 square feet of retail space to the area near the mall. Albro said he expects that because the mall and surrounding retail properties were built in the 1970s, and other nearby properties will undergo changes of their own. South Towne Center has been renovated and is adding new tenants, such as Jo-Ann Stores Inc.'s superstore concept. "I think you're going to see continued redevelopment of the Dayton Mall area," Albro said. New construction The areas around the Dayton Mall - Huber Heights near Interstate 70, the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek and Wilmington Pike near Interstate 675 - continue to attract new retail development, said Paul Howe, a local retail developer. Bustling spots like these also quickly absorb any smaller-store retail space that comes open, said Howe, also a senior sales and leasing agent for Oberer Realty Services. "There's still high demand for new construction," he said. "When you find restaurants and retailers that want to open new facilities, the best opportunity for them is to specifically identify a trade area and build new." Class B retail space, particularly when it's located off the beaten path, is a harder sell because there are so many choices in better locations, Howe said. Howe and partner Patrick Kelly plan to redevelop the former Frank's Nursery and Crafts Inc. in Huber Heights into retail space. They will put a 30,000-square-foot multitenant center comprised of retail, restaurant and financial-services tenants on the 5-acre tract located on Old Troy Pike, he said. Though he declined to name them, Howe said he has signed enough tenants to move ahead with the project. Retail changes The Greene, a $186 million lifestyle center, and the Village at Dayton Mall both have opened, adding hundreds of thousands of square feet to the retail market. The Village at Dayton Mall, a $20 million expansion of the mall, added more than 100,000 square feet of stores and restaurants to the Miami Township shopping center. Also in the township, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. expects to open a superstore on nearby Kingsridge Drive. But builders also are jumping on secondary projects - creating new or renovated shopping areas near these major malls. In Kettering, Town & Country Shopping Center at Stroop Road and state Route 48 is expected to undergo such an overhaul for the second time in its history. When the 251,000-square-foot shopping plaza opened during the 1950s, individual stores were accessible from the parking lot. That changed in the 1980s when consumer trends led the company to enclose the shopping center. The property will be reconfigured so that the stores are directly accessible from the parking lot. In addition, it will have pedestrian walkways, benches and more landscaping. A 4,500-square-foot building expected to house a restaurant, with an exterior that matches the rest of Town & Country, will be poised on an outside pad at the corner of Stroop and Shroyer roads. Kristin Mack, a spokeswoman for Columbus-based Casto, co-owner of Town and Country, said the changes were driven by national trends, rather than by the introduction of the Greene into the market. "All retail is going that way," she said. "To keep up with the times and to keep up with where retail is going, we felt like we had to give the center a facelift." Tim Tresslar is a reporter with the Dayton Business Journal, an affiliated newspaper. 937-222-6900 | [email protected] http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/03/05/focus4.html

From the 2/6/07 Dayton Business Journal: Economic forum speakers positive on Dayton's future Dayton Business Journal - February 6, 2007 Speakers at Fifth Third Bank's Economic and Investment Outlook Tuesday morning predicted a positive outlook for investments, economic growth and the Dayton region's role in the global economy for 2007. "What we have to look at from an investment standpoint, overall, is that the country is doing very well," said John Augustine, chief investment strategist for Fifth Third Bank's Investment Advisors Group. More than 100 local and regional officials and Fifth Third Bancorp (Nasdaq: FITB) clients attended the event at The Mandalay Banquet Center in Dayton. Augustine told the audience that it has paid off for stock investors the past three years to be diversified in areas including technology, that the global economy is growing and the U.S. is entering 2007 on a good note. For example, stock returns -- including the three-year average annual return for S&P 500 at 10.44 percent -- have been above average in the period ending Dec. 31, 2006, Augustine said. Christina Howard of the Dayton Development Coalition said the Dayton region still is challenged by many factors, including population stagnation, over-reliance on older industry, corporate consolidation and off-shoring, and slow job growth. "But the biggest problem is the negative psychology about where we're going and how we're going to do it," Howard said. Key to succeeding, Howard said, is focusing on meeting these challenges. Regional collaboration is a priority. "Think of Dayton not as a microcosm, but as a city within a 60-minute commute of several other major metropolitan areas," she said. E-mail [email protected]. Call 222-6900. http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/02/05/daily9.html?surround=lfn

From the 1/29/07 Dayton Business Journal: Eye on the future Pianalto, keynote speaker at Economic Forum Dayton Business Journal - January 26, 2007 by Anna Guido DBJ Staff Reporter What does the future hold for Dayton's economy? This question was on the mind of the more than 170 attendees at the Dayton Business Journal's 2007 Economic Forecast Forum, held Jan. 18 at Sinclair Community College. Sandra Pianalto, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, along with a panel of local experts, offered insight into that very question. Pianalto discussed how Ohio's economy, and specifically the Dayton area, has been hit by downturns in the manufacturing sector. But she said boosting the educated class and focusing on innovation can help turn the tide. The local panel said other sectors, namely business services and health care, continue to grow locally. And despite the blow to many local firms, even manufacturing is experiencing a resurgence. Local manufacturer Dave Dysinger Sr. said firms that shift to new technologies will be the ones that thrive, while the others will not. As the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's top official began speaking about national and regional economic conditions, a standing room only crowd grew silent. Sandra Pianalto, president and chief executive officer of the Cleveland Fed, was keynote speaker for the first Economic Forecast Forum Jan. 18 at Sinclair Community College. Pianalto talked about how the nation is transitioning to a "slower, but more sustainable, pace of economic growth" than was seen in 2003 through the first half of 2006, and risks she sees to this outlook. In particular, she spoke about the challenges facing the Dayton region, such as the decline of manufacturing. Regarding the national economy, she said two of the most important factors that affect longer-term growth are the number of people working and their productivity. "When the workforce grows, so too does our economic output," Pianalto told the audience. "Likewise, when we're more productive, we can generate more goods and services." Although she expects productivity to continue to remain high, Pianalto said growth in the workforce has slowed. Aging Baby Boomers are one cause, she said, since they are increasingly heading toward retirement, while younger adults are waiting longer to join the workforce. And if the workforce slows and productivity growth remains unchanged, a slower baseline of economic growth can be expected, she said. "This would not mean that the economy is performing poorly," Pianalto explained. "It just means that there are structural limitations to how rapidly it can expand." The Economic Forecast Forum, which was hosted by the Dayton Business Journal, drew more than 170 local and regional community and business leaders. Former Cleveland and Cincinnati Federal Reserve Bank board member Steve Wilson -- who also is president and chief executive officer of Lebanon Citizens National Bank in Lebanon -- was among them. "Even though Sandy indicated the economy will slow, we're optimistic about the economy in Montgomery County," Wilson said, referring to LCNB's expansion this spring into Montgomery County with a new branch in Oakwood. "We still will be looking at growth in our economy in 2007." The Oakwood branch will be LCNB's first branch in the Dayton area, but 22nd for the company. David Schmitz, vice president of commercial banking for Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bank, said after Pianalto's speech that she had him "spellbound." "She has the ability to lay out a lot of issues simply -- a lot of very difficult issues," Schmitz said. Pianalto also delved into local concerns with comments on the regional economy. Starting off, she said that throughout the current economic recovery, job creation in Ohio has been the worst nationally. "As difficult as Ohio's situation is, Dayton has faced even greater challenges," she added. Both Ohio and the Dayton area have fewer jobs today than they did during the last recession six years ago, partly because of manufacturing trends that shift production outside the United States, "But that's not the whole story," she said. Changes in production technology have made manufacturing more efficient, requiring fewer workers to create the same amount of output, according to Pianalto. New sources of comparative advantage must be created and cultivated in order to restore the region's economic vigor, she said. "The obvious investment to make ... is to invest in our human capital." Studies from Harvard University, the National Bureau of Economic Research, as well economists at the Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland all conclude that having skilled, educated workers appear to be a key factor in determining whether declining urban areas can achieve prosperity. In fact, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's Mark Schweitzer, who moderated the Economic Forecast Forum, co-wrote a study that found that knowledge stock -- the amount of educated workers and the number of patents an area has -- has been the best predictor of a state's ranking in terms of per capita income levels since at least the 1940s. "These studies send a clear message confirming what most of us already suspect -- namely, that education and innovation matter," Pianalto said. "Our region can have an economic future that is as enriching as our past, but only if we increase our investment in innovation and education -- the two key factors in promoting economic success." E-mail [email protected]. Call 222-6900, ext. 120. http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/01/29/focus2.html

From the 1/29/07 Dayton Business Journal: Panelists forecast area economy for 2007 Dayton Business Journal - January 26, 2007 by Tim Tresslar DBJ Senior Reporter Some big manufacturers may face choppy waters, but select segments of the economy will continue to grow and add jobs this year, local business leaders said. Thomas Traynor, an economist with Wright State University, said he looks for the region to continue to lose manufacturing jobs in 2007, but other sectors will gain some. He spoke as part of a local panel at the Dayton Business Journal's 2007 Economic Forecast Forum, held Jan. 18. Last year, the business services sector added 2,000 jobs in the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area, thanks largely to efforts by these companies to grow by entering new markets, Traynor said. The Dayton MSA includes Greene, Preble, Miami and Montgomery counties. Though he didn't have specific projections, Traynor said he expects business-services employers to continue adding jobs this year. He also looks for continued growth in health care employment, a sector that has shown steady growth in jobs, he said. Construction employment will remain stable, he said. Full article at http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/01/29/focus1.html

From the 1/18/07 Dayton Business Journal: Growth expected in local, regional economy in '07 Dayton Business Journal - January 18, 2007 by Tim Tresslar, DBJ Senior Reporter The national and state economies will continue to grow this year, albeit at a slower pace than in recent years, but the best safeguards against long-term economic decline remains education and innovation. Those were the assessments offered Thursday by Sandra Pianalto, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Pianalto was the keynote speaker for the Dayton Business Journal's Economic Forecast Forum, held at Sinclair Community College. Pianalto said changes that flat productivity levels and the amount of available labor could cause long-term economic growth to slow. Retirements by baby boomers and younger workers getting jobs later have cut into the labor pool, which puts a drag on the economy compared with past years, she said. Full article at http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/01/15/daily19.html?surround=lfn

From the 1/15/07 Dayton Business Journal: Industrial real estate remained flat in 2006 Local report shows vacancy rate of 18% Dayton Business Journal - January 12, 2007 by Tim Tresslar, DBJ Senior Reporter Despite a rocky year for some area manufacturers, the market for industrial-warehouse space held its own in 2006, with vacancy rates barely budging, according to a new study. About 18.5 percent of the industrial-warehouse space in the Dayton area was vacant, versus 18.7 percent the previous year, according to Gem Real Estate Group's annual industrial market survey. David Dickerson, president of Gem Real Estate, said the survey, which encompasses data from 258 buildings, indicates that the market remains stable with some pockets of growth seen throughout the region. The survey found that, of the 16 million square feet of commercial space surveyed, 3 million square feet went unfilled. A similar survey in 2005 indicated that, of 16.4 million square feet of space, 3.1 million square feet was empty. Full article at http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/01/15/story7.html

1 game up on the Cards!

From the 3/31/07 Enquirer: Carroll bell tower to be fixed BY CINDY SCHROEDER | [email protected] COVINGTON - Nearly three years after the Pied Piper of Hamelin figures in the Carroll Chimes Bell Tower quit working, city officials are taking steps to fix them. On Tuesday, Covington City Commission agreed to spend $245,610 in federal Community Development Block Grant money to replace the bell tower's roof and restore and repair its mechanical components. Commissioner Jerry Bamberger did not vote on the issue because he also serves as executive director of the MainStrasse Village Association. By late June, the 28-year-old landmark in Goebel Park should be fully operational. Jim Eckstein, president of C.A. Eckstein Inc., said the roof should be replaced by June 1. Once the Verdin Co. is officially notified it has the job, the mechanical repairs and restoration should take two to three months, said sales manager Bob Verdin. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070331/NEWS0103/703310395/ From the 3/30/07 Wilmington News Journal: Condo project planned Units to sell in $150,000 to $200,000 range Gary Huffenberger Staff Writer Plans have been unveiled for a 72-unit residential condominium project - The Villas at Prairie Road - on 16.5 acres on the north end of Wilmington. Representatives from Long & Wilcox, a residential development company based in Upper Arlington, addressed the Wilmington City Planning Commission this week about the plans. Long & Wilcox President Bob Long said the development will be built around a clubhouse, ponds and a swimming pool. "The idea is to have a place for people to come together. People are looking for a lifestyle. They're not just looking for a place to live," said Long. The concept drawing shows two ponds at the entrance as well as a larger third pond, a pool and a clubhouse within the development. The 1,250- to almost 1,900-square feet units will sell in the $150,000 to $200,000 price range, according to Long. MORE: http://www.wnewsj.com/main.asp?SectionID=49&SubSectionID=156&ArticleID=154060 Hamilton school board to discuss synthetic turf Hamilton JournalNews, 3/26/07 Hamilton High School's Schwarm Stadium may soon be sporting a new artificial turf field. Hamilton City School board members tonight will be asked to approve authorization to advertise for bids for the all-weather turf. The total cost is approximately $500,000 to $550,000. "Most of the high schools have it," said Board Member George Jonson. "You can use it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no mud, no ruts and there is a minimal amount of maintenance required." A private committee was formed last spring to raise funds for the new field. To date, $300,000 has been collected in pledges and cash. Bill Wilks, along with Jonson, is heading the fund-raising committee. They hope to raise the remaining $200,000 to $250,000 through private donations also. The school board is only being asked tonight to advertise for bids. One of eight new elementary schools will be built on the soccer field across the street from Garfield Middle School so soccer games will have to be moved over to the high school football field, Jonson said. First wall up on Habitat home Community Journal Clermont, 3/27/07 "I just about started crying," said Andrea Higgins. Higgins, her husband, Jeremy, and their children Sierra, 3, and Logan, 9 months, will move into the Habitat for Humanity home later this summer. The build is the result of cooperation between Thrivent Builds and the Clermont County Habitat for Humanity and is funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, the Spirit of America Bank, Thrivent Builds and the Clermont County Habitat for Humanity. Thrivent Build Chapter Specialist Jan Witkowski wrote the grant for the project and was thrilled at the construction's progress. "We will have closed on this house in less than a year since I called (Regional Thrivent Builds Specialist Kelsey Peterson) and said 'I want this in my county!' It's just a miracle." With the house, the Higgins will live across the street from longtime friends Adam Matthews and his family, also recipients of Habitat homes. "We'll be able to watch our children together ... We'll be able to show them the meaning of home," Higgins said. Cobblestone Church breaking ground on Sunday Oxford Press, 3/27/07 Oxford's Cobblestone Community Church will break ground for a projected $2.9 million facility at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 1, on their 50-acre campus in South Farm subdivision, off Kehr Road in Oxford. The building, dubbed "The Loft," is planned not only to host the church's weekend worship services (they currently meet on Saturday evenings in Tollgate Plaza and Sunday mornings at Talawanda Middle School), but also to provide a valuable resource for the community for many years to come. The groundbreaking ceremony will be followed by refreshments and fellowship at "The Corner," the church's ministry center in Oxford's Tollgate Mall. The church heartily invites members of the community to come and share in the joyful occasion. The planning for this facility started when the church's leadership saw an opportunity to retire a vision campaign called "Walk This Way," in which the church's members and attenders had pledged funds to acquire the South Farm campus. The campaign, launched in late 2004 and projected to take three years, was fully funded in just two years. That opened the door for Cobblestone's leadership to begin preparations for the next phase in the church's long-range plans. County proceeds with school sale Cincinnati Enquirer, 3/26/07 Hamilton County plans to sell a now-shuttered school for students with mental retardation or developmental disabilities. After 30 years in operation, the Frederick Breyer School in Colerain Township closed at the end of the 2005-06 school year – one of several painful cuts made by the Hamilton County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. The decision to close Breyer was met with some resistance. “At times I know my computer has been lit up by e-mails of parents with students at Breyer about the wisdom, or lack thereof, of the decision to close Breyer,” said Commissioner Todd Portune. Because of steadily declining enrollment at MRDD schools, reopening the building is not an option, Craig Landers, MRDD’s director of business services, told county commissioners on Monday. Mount Healthy has open house on future plan Hilltop Press, 3/22/07 Residents will have another chance to peek into their possible future during a 7 p.m. open house Tuesday, April 3. The open house will be part of the regular City Council meeting at City Hall, 7700 Perry St. Safety/Service Director Bill Kocher said the comprehensive land use plan committee will submit its plan to council following the open house. Council then will review and likely vote to accept it at a future meeting, Kocher said. The plan, which residents were able to see and comment on at a January open house, takes a long-range look at the city, particularly the business district.

From the 3/28/07 Boone County Recorder: Burlington retail, office space approved BY PAUL MCKIBBEN | COMMUNITY RECORDER STAFF WRITER BURLINGTON - More retail and office space is coming to Burlington. The Boone County Fiscal Court on March 27 unanimously approved plans and zoning for Kingsgate Square, an office and retail development that will be built near Burlington Pike, Veterans Way and Kingsgate Drive. Commissioner Cathy Flaig said she had reviewed the project enough and quickly made a motion to approve it. No one spoke in opposition against the development. Read more here: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070328/NEWS01/703280383/1102/Local From the 3/30/07 Enquirer: Tech company expands in N. Ky. BY MIKE BOYER | [email protected] Psion Teklogix, a Canadian-based supplier of mobile computing technology, has announced plans to expand its presence in Northern Kentucky. Psion is leasing a new 60,000-square-foot building in Al Neyer Inc.’s Riverview Business Park on Arbor Tech Drive. The new office will serve as the company’s U.S. headquarters with sales, accounting, marketing and U.S. government sales. Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070330/BIZ01/303300031/1076/rss01

Did anyone happen to catch this on the Google page yesterday? Hilarious. http://www.google.com/tisp/

I posted a few exterior pics. It looks great: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=12430.0

From the 3/31/07 Steubenville Herald Star: Bridge demolition eyed for late 2008 By WARREN SCOTT, Staff writer STEUBENVILLE — Officials with the Ohio Department of Transportation expect to begin demolition of the Fort Steuben Bridge in late 2008, while the West Virginia Department of Transportation is negotiating with an engineering consultant considered for a study to determine the best location of a new Ohio River bridge. John Brown, executive director of the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, said Wednesday that officials with ODOT have indicated they hope to name a contractor for the Fort Steuben Bridge’s demolition in October 2008. http://www.heraldstaronline.com/articles.asp?articleID=12242

From ThisWeek Pickerington, 1/25/07: Impact fees to grow despite slowdown Thursday, January 25, 2007 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer Pickerington officials expect growth in the city's impact-fee revenues this year despite a slowdown in residential construction. In 2006, the first full year of its pay-as-you-grow plan, Pickerington collected $952,296.79 in impact fees, which the city charges developers to help fund the additional infrastructure their projects necessitate. Impact-fee revenues also surpassed the 2006 budget estimate of $918,919.60 by 3.6 percent. The city divides this money into four funds which pay for the additional streets, police services, municipal facilities and parkland enhancements needed to support Pickerington's population growth. For 2007, deputy finance director Chris Schornack said he estimates that funding stream will increase by 7 percent to $1.02-million, even though housing starts are likely to decrease by nearly 25 percent within city limits. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/012507/Pickerington/News/012507-News-296888.html