buildingcincinnati

Procedural issues delay construction of developments New Albany News, 3/1/06 Internal procedural issues, not soft home sales, are the reason behind one-year extensions tied to five residential developments, the village development director said last week.

Real-estate revival afoot around Mill Run development Columbus Dispatch, 2/27/06 If real estate runs in cycles, it might be time for Mill Run to shift into another gear. After a period of dormancy, it appears the Hilliard-area development is waking up. For example: A CVS is being built, the closed Kmart is being marketed for a new tenant, and it looks like Kroger is taking steps to occupy part of the closed Big Bear in the Market at Mill Run shopping center. Are more changes in store for Mill Run, a 350-acre mixed-use development that's two-thirds in Columbus and a third in Hilliard?

From the 12/17/06 Dispatch: Residents troubled about lake project Plan hasn’t covered all concerns, they say Sunday, December 17, 2006 Kelly Hassett THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A plan for the heavily disputed Buckeye Lake dam project addresses some of the residents’ complaints, but homeowners say they’re still concerned. The first phase, which will cost $8 million, consists of a new dam built about 20 feet farther from the shore than the existing wall and a 4-foot sidewalk to improve public access to the shoreline. Officials from the Department of Natural Resources presented their plan to residents at a meeting Dec. 8. It includes the new dam and sidewalk with a grasscovered reinforcement on either side that would support state vehicles. The original plan had a wider access area. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/17/20061217-C1-03.html

From the 11/28/06 Erlanger Recorder: City wants Towne Center fixes BY AMANDA VAN BENSCHOTEN | COMMUNITY RECORDER STAFF WRITER CRESCENT SPRINGS - City officials have asked Bear Creek Capital to make about 10 improvements to the Buttermilk Towne Center, per the development agreement signed a year and a half ago. "It's minor things, it's all stuff that's gotten lost in the shuffle," said Mayor Claire Moriconi. "It's not hurting the project. It's just part of the agreement. All in all, we work very well with them." The city's concerns range from excess trash to a new sidewalk to cracked asphalt, according to a memo presented at a November 27 caucus meeting of council. http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/NEWS01/611280334/1080/Local

From the 12/14/06 Dispatch: Lending law gets a late review Lawmakers tweak consumer protections Thursday, December 14, 2006 Jim Siegel THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH When enacted in May, Ohio’s anti-predatory-lending law was hailed by lawmakers and consumer advocates for its toughness in curbing greed in the mortgage-lending industry. But now, two weeks before the law takes effect, advocates and the Ohio attorney general’s office say many of those same lawmakers are weakening the law and a wide range of other consumer protections. With heavy lobbying from business groups, Republicans turned a noncontroversial civil-court bill into a businessprotection measure, critics lamented. ... More at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/14/20061214-D1-02.html

From the 12/12/06 Dispatch: Committee approves new rules on predatory lending Tuesday, December 12, 2006 Jim Siegel The legislative Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review yesterday approved attorney general rules designed to implement a law cracking down on predatory lending. Bill Faith, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio and a key advocate for the new law, said that for him, only one major concern remained. He said it’s unclear that the rules require lenders to consider a borrower’s ability to pay the higher rate when completing a loan that starts with a low interest rate but rises sharply after two years. ... More at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/12/20061212-D4-02.html

From the 11/28/06 Blade: Law to protect borrowers may be upset By MARK REITER BLADE STAFF WRITER Lawyers in the Toledo law department are crossing their fingers that the city's law banning predatory lending won't receive the same fate of a Cleveland ordinance on such practices. An Ohio Supreme Court opinion last week declared unconstitutional Cleveland's ordinance that was passed in 2002 to regulate predatory lending in that city. The state's highest court has yet to rule on the Toledo law that was upheld last year by the state 6th District Court of Appeals. ... More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/NEWS02/611280403/-1/NEWS

From the 11/26/06 Dispatch: GRAPHIC: Foreclosure rates PHOTO: Bidding was fast and furious at the October property auction conducted by Texas firm Hudson & Marshall. Eighteen properties were disposed of in 45 minutes. PHOTO: Bret Richards presided at the October auction. PHOTO: Auctioneer Dave Webb signals to Melissa Fife, of Grove City, that her bid of $12,500 is the winning bid for a home in Zanesville. The auction was held last month by Hudson & Marshall at Ford Rapids Indoor Waterpark and Resort. PHOTO: Real-estate agent Paul Patton places a bid on a property at an auction by Hudson & Marshall. Patton went to last month’s auction looking for some investment properties. ‘What am I bid?’ Ohio’s high home-foreclosure rates turn some ordinary people into real-estate speculators Sunday, November 26, 2006 Mike Pramik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH When fast-talking Texan Bret Richards lowered his gavel, Melissa Fife became the somewhat surprised owner of a Hilltop fixer-upper. "I got it!" the Grove City resident said as an organist played a cheesy tune, lending a roller-rink ambience to this auction house. "Ladies and gentlemen, it’s as easy as that if you want to buy a piece of property," said Richards, an auctioneer with Hudson & Marshall of Dallas. ... More at: http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/26/20061126-F1-00.html From the 11/26/06 DDN: Foreclosures hitting record highs across Miami Valley Officials are worried the problem is worsening, thanks to predatory lending, rising mortgage rates and other factors. By James Cummings Staff Writer Sunday, November 26, 2006 DAYTON — When Dan Foley walks through certain Dayton neighborhoods, he can trace the devastation left by home foreclosures in the form of boarded-up, neglected, deteriorating houses. "Santa Clara has really been hurt by foreclosures. Five Oaks as well," said Foley, the Montgomery County clerk of courts and county commissioner-elect. "And the problem seems to be growing." As of earlier this month, 4,355 foreclosure actions had been filed in Montgomery County this year, already surpassing the previous record year of 4,281 foreclosures in 2003, Foley said. ... More at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/11/25/ddn112606foreclosures.html

From the 11/21/06 Dispatch: City’s lending law goes too far Ohio law prevails, state’s high court rules in Cleveland case Tuesday, November 21, 2006 James Nash THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ohio cities may not adopt rules against predatory lending that are tougher than the state law, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled yesterday. The court’s 5-2 ruling also could discourage cities from passing more restrictive local rules on matters such as assault rifles and environmental regulations. The majority of justices said Ohio’s "home rule" doctrine doesn’t allow cities to pass strong laws in areas where state law holds sway. Justices struck down Cleveland’s anti-predatory lending law as too strict, saying Ohioans are better served by a statewide standard on lending. Cleveland’s standards went further than state law in capping interest rates and fees and in requiring "balloon" payments. Cleveland also required lenders to counsel borrowers on the terms of a loan. ... More at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/21/20061121-D1-02.html

From the 11/17/06 Dispatch: Predatory-lending law rules debated Industry and consumer representatives debate how to implement the law on Jan. 1 Friday, November 17, 2006 Jim Siegel THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Five months after a bill designed to crack down on predatory lending was signed into state law, consumer advocates and the home-mortgage industry continue to wrestle with its provisions. With Senate Bill 185 to take effect Jan. 1, the debate has turned to the administrative rules that help implement it. The law will place brokers and nonbank lenders under the Consumer Sales Practices Act, giving borrowers and the attorney general more power to sue deceptive brokers and lenders. ... More at: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/17/20061117-B3-00.html

From the 11/27/06 ABJ: Ohio tax reaps more than expected Businesses believe reduction may be appropriate. Local governments, schools beg to differ By Dennis J. Willard Beacon Journal Columbus Bureau COLUMBUS - The new state tax on gross receipts, known as the Commercial Activity Tax, is bringing in about 20 percent more money than expected, and those unanticipated millions will automatically prompt a review by lawmakers and the governor's tax commissioner next year. Competing interests are following the developments. Businesses that pay the tax are suggesting that if the trend continues, then a reduction may be appropriate.... Dennis J. Willard can be reached at 614-224-1613 or [email protected]. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/state/16106239.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news

From the 12/12/06 Zanesville Times Recorder: Property sale for Potter's Alley delayed a week By BRIAN GADD Staff Writer ZANESVILLE - The Zanesville Community Improvement Corp. will sell six properties to BAW Services of Cincinnati for the initial development of Potter's Alley to the north and west of Secrest Auditorium. But the purchase agreement for $900,000 - $180,000 up front and the remainder by the end of March - was delayed a week so corrections and revisions can be made to the document. The CIC met Monday and agreed to meet again at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18 to finalize the details of the agreement. http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061212/NEWS01/612120324/1002/rss01

From the 11/28/06 Zanesville Times Recorder: CIC authorized to sell Secrest area properties - but not yet By BRIAN GADD Staff Writer ZANESVILLE - The new Zanesville Community Improvement Corporation has been formed, and city council gave its approval Monday night for the CIC to sell six lots in the Secrest Auditorium area for the proposed Potter's Alley development. http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/NEWS01/611280314/1002/rss01

^ Here's the link to the story about which that first letter was referring (I think). It appeared in the 12/6/06 Blade. Also, here's the link to the op-ed piece "The bus stops in Perrysburg" from December 11: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061211/OPINION02/612110318 Perrysburg seeks change in law to aid TARTA pullout Perrysburg City Council last night approved a resolution that could bring the city a step closer to removing itself from the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority. Council approved a resolution that asks Mayor Nelson Evans' administration to seek a change to the Ohio Revised Code so that a political subdivision could remove itself from a regional transportation authority through a vote of its own electorate and without the consent of any other authority members. ......... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061206/NEWS11/612060456/-1/NEWS

Wow. What a bunch of nerds. (Posts: +1)

Here are a couple I recently ran across: 215 Palace, Elsmere, KY: The house isn't so weird. In fact, I like it. But check out the kids' play area in front! 155 Warner:

From the 12/7/06 Athens News: GRAPHIC: OU master plan contains boatload of proposals for campus. File Photo/Athens News OU master plan booklet chock full of details on future of campus By Jim Phillips Athens NEWS Senior Writer Thursday, December 7th, 2006 A lavishly illustrated, 150-page booklet unveiled at the recent Ohio University Board of Trustees meeting pulls together the various strands of OU's "master plan" for the future of the Athens campus. Among its more notable features is a proposal to rely more heavily on debt in the form of bond issues to fund needed improvements to student housing facilities -- though a top OU financial official said this week that he doesn't believe OU will adopt this approach. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=26811

From the 12/5/06 Dispatch: Faber favored to replace Jordan in Ohio Senate Tuesday, December 05, 2006 J.S. A Senate Republican screening committee yesterday recommended that state Rep. Keith L. Faber of Celina be appointed to the 12th Senate District to replace outgoing Sen. Jim Jordan of Urbana. Faber, a conservative threeterm lawmaker, must still be approved by the full caucus. Senate President Bill M. Harris, R-Ashland, praised Faber for his "strong record of service to his constituents." Read More...

From the 12/3/06 Youngstown Vindicator: New senators unlikely to get prime seats All three want to serve on the same committee. By DAVID SKOLNICK VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER As many people do this time of the year, the three incoming state senators from the Mahoning Valley are making wish lists. The lists for the three don't include a PlayStation 3, a Fur Real Friends Butterscotch Pony or a new red Lamborghini. Instead they want choice committee assignments in the upcoming Ohio Senate session. Read More... From same: Cafaro, Wilson aim to prove their worth The two say they'll earn respect by doing their new jobs well. By DAVID SKOLNICK VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER Incoming state Sens. Capri Cafaro and Jason Wilson say they are well-aware of what some people think about their appointments to the Legislature. The two were recently selected by the incoming 10-member Ohio Senate Democratic caucus to fill vacancies. For Cafaro, of Liberty, her detractors say her family's political contributions and influence got her the 32nd Ohio Senate District seat after she failed twice to get elected to the U.S. House. Read More... From the 12/2/06 Ashtabula Star Beacon: Ashtabula County looms large in Cafaro's plans By MARK TODD Staff Writer [email protected] Health care and aging issues in Ashtabula County will be a priority when Capri Cafaro, the area's state senator-to-be, heads to Columbus in January. "There are very few health-care facilities in Ashtabula County," Cafaro said Wednesday. "We can't drop the ball when it comes to providing care." Cafaro, 29, will succeed Marc Dann in the 32nd Senate District, the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus announced Tuesday. Dann was elected Ohio's attorney general on Nov. 7. Read More...

From the 12/15/06 PD: Checking out Cleveland Friday, December 15, 2006 Peter Krouse Plain Dealer Reporter If the Chinese didn't know much about Northeast Ohio before last week, they do now. They know Cleveland is home to a world-class art museum. And to top-flight theater. They know that LeBron James plays basketball here - OK, maybe they already knew that - and that the city has a monument to rock 'n' roll. They know that medical care in this town is second to none. After all, home base for a Chinese delegation that came through town last week was the Cleveland Clinic's InterContinental Hotel & Conference Center. They even know about the Amish. It seems the delegation leaders knew about the Amish community in Pennsylvania that forgave a man who killed several of its children, and they were intrigued. So a tour was arranged, and the leaders witnessed a cheese-making operation and other aspects of Amish life in Geauga County. But perhaps most important of all, the Chinese now know that Northeast Ohio - and all of Ohio, for that matter - is open for business. MORE: http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business/116617582772570.xml&coll=2

From the 12/11/06 ABJ: China looking to invest in Ohio Delegation informed about opportunities in Akron-Cleveland By Marilyn Miller Beacon Journal business writer Northeast Ohio welcomed a delegation of Chinese officials and investors as executives and economic development leaders encouraged them to bring business to the region. The 51-member group from China spent several days in the Akron-Cleveland area listening to the pitches of Ohio leaders and touring manufacturing sites looking for investment opportunities. The bottom line: China is expanding its economy and Ohio needs jobs. MORE: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/business/16202033.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_business WHY DO THEY COME HERE? A look at what Ohio offers Chinese businesses looking to expand and invest in the United States: Ohio is within 600 miles of: • 80 percent of U.S. corporate headquarters • 70 percent of North America manufacturers • 63 percent of U.S. manufacturers • 61 percent of the U.S. population • 50 percent of the Canadian population Source: Ohio Business Development Coalition Ohio is ranked fifth in the nation as the home of Fortune 500 companies, which are: • Procter & Gamble of Cincinnati, the largest U.S. maker of household products • Cardinal Health of Dublin, the second ranked U.S. distributor of pharmaceuticals • Kroger Co. of Cincinnati, the top ranked grocery chain in the nation • Nationwide Insurance of Columbus, a leading U.S. property and casualty insurer • Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. of Akron, one of the world's largest tire companies • Timken Co. of Canton, a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered bearings, alloy steels and related products http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/business/16201961.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_business

From ThisWeek Northland, 12/14/06: New developer changes plans for condos Thursday, December 14, 2006 By RANDY NAVAROLI ThisWeek Staff Writer Northland Community Council's development committee has given its approval to a local developer's plan to build a 101-unit condominium complex at the southeast intersection of Central College and Ulry roads, said committee chairman Jeff Murray. Planner Shannon Pine in the Columbus Department of Development said Dominion Homes had initially sought to develop the property but dropped out for unspecified reasons. Groveport-based M.H. Murphy Development Co. is now seeking permission to develop the 33-acre site where the proposed condominium development will be built. "The site is already zoned properly for the condos, but Murphy Development wants to build them in a little different configuration than Dominion was looking at," Pine said. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=northland&story=sites/thisweeknews/121406/Northland/News/121406-News-277954.html

Student Union plans don't include media Roxane Hasselbeck Issue date: 11/29/06 While other supervised student-run organizations and departments will move to the new Student Union building when it opens, Student Media will not have a home there. A limited amount of money and space forced the planning group to prioritize, according to Mark Shanley, vice president of Student Affairs. The organizations included in the move are a part of the Office of Student Life, such as the Student Government Association, Activities Programming Board, Greek coordinating councils, Northern Kentucky Leadership Institute, and the Latino, African American, and International Student Affairs. Read full article here: http://www.thenortherner.com/media/storage/paper527/news/2006/11/29/News/Student.Union.Plans.Dont.Include.Media-2511110.shtml?norewrite200612180253&sourcedomain=www.thenortherner.com

The home tour is long over, but here's the story. PHOTO: Dustin Sommers from Cleaning Connection shines the hardwood floors in a condominium to be shown in the Vertical Parade of Homes. Bob DeMay / Akron Beacon Journal Home tour touts luxury, scenic views City living looks up, out Sophistication, comfort found in lofts with brick, steel and new attitude By Mary Beth Breckenridge Beacon Journal staff writer Developer Joel Testa stood on the roof of the new Northside Lofts and looked toward Main Street in the distance. "It really gives you a whole different feeling for the city,'' he said, gesturing across Martin Luther King Boulevard toward an urban canyon lined with a mix of century-old buildings and newer construction and dotted with landscaped traffic islands. That whole different feeling is what Testa's company is trying to create with its Northside Lofts, a residential and retail development on the northern fringe of downtown Akron. Seven condominium units in the development's first building open today for public tours in what's being called the Vertical Parade of Homes, the first of its kind in the country. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16095576.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news

UPDATE Gov. Taft urges $2.1M for business park here Business digest ENQUIRER STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS Ohio Gov. Bob Taft recommended $2.1 million in funding Friday for the City of Cincinnati to prepare a 25-acre development site in Bond Hill adjacent to the TechSolve Business Park. If approved by the state controlling board, the money would pay for demolishing the former Millcreek Juvenile Psychiatric Hospital on Paddock Road and building roads and utilities. The funds are part of the state's Job Ready program intended to create an inventory of ready-to-develop properties to attract desirable businesses and jobs. The site would be suitable for a 300,000-square-foot technical-research campus to complement TechSolve, the city said. Cincinnati's is the largest urban site in the first round of funding. The Bond Hill property is near the recently improved Paddock Road interchange on Interstate 75. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061216/BIZ01/612160329/1076/BIZ Downtown: 123 W Ninth St The owner/developer of 123 W Ninth st is looking to make some major changes to his place. 123 W Ninth St consists of a four-story (main) building with ground floor retail fronting Ninth and an adjoning two-story building that fronts on Weaver Alley. Most of the work would occur on the two-story building. This work would consist of a wooden deck atop this building and an overhead garage door to replace the window and two doors. A metal bridge would connect the deck to the third floor of the main building. The windows on the back of the larger building would be converted to doors. A secondary point of egress for the first-floor commercial space of the main building would be via this metal bridge (somehow), since the doors of the two-story building would be replaced and the building would become a garage. Since this building is part of the Ninth Street Historic District, the Historic Conservation Board has been reviewing this request. They support the building of the deck, but still have issues with garage opening and the metal bridge/fire escape. The developer is currently working this stuff out. UPDATE Corryville: New townhomes on Rochelle, Eden and Vaughn The new townhomes adjacent to Stetson Square are now on the market. Each will be three stories with 3 BR/3 BA and built-in two car garages. Prices are in the $299,900-$315,000 range. Is there demand? LAST UPDATE (11/13/06) UPDATE College Hill: Savannah Gardens Apartments City Council has approved unanimously (Cole was absent) a Rental Rehabilitation Loan in the amount of $768,000 for the repair of the Savannah Gardens Apartments on the 1900 block of Savannah Ave. This HOME fund loan will cover 40 years at 1% interest. The total project cost is expected to be $5,642,645. Other sources of funding include Low Income Housing Tax Credits and tax-exempt bonds. This project will provide 120 units of affordable rental housing. LAST UPDATE (11/13/06) Round-up: City of Cincinnati AVONDALE 3588 Eden Ave has been rehabbed as affordable housing. AVONDALE 334 Rockdale Ave is currently undergoing a rehab. This building was condemend in 2004 after a fire. Now Ca-Josh Development is restoring it. The house was once a three-family, but I'm not sure whether or not it will remain that way. COLUMBIA TUSCULUM 3518 Handman Ave has been rehabbed. EAST END The City has passed an ordinance allowing it to sell surplus CRC property on the SW corner of Eastern Ave and St. Peters St. The fair market value has been assessed at $275,000, which is the minimum bid they will accept. KENNEDY HEIGHTS 3635 Solar Vista Pl has been rehabbed. MADISONVILLE Damaged areas of 5343 Chapman St are currently being repaired. A fire on August 3, 2006 caused this damage, which was estimated at $15,000. MADISONVILLE 6616 Madison Rd has been razed by the City. This neighborhood eyesore has been vacant for a very long time. It appeared that it was abandoned and a threat to public safety. MT LOOKOUT 3555 Kroger Ave has been restored. Purchased for $90,000, on the market for $309,000. NORTHSIDE 4136 Jerome Ave has been rehabbed. NORTHSIDE 4558 Hamilton Ave is getting a full rehab. The two-family has been vacant by City request. I can't find a good photo, but it's one of those houses up on steep front yards near the Comet. Round-up: Metro ANDERSON TWP The city will be selling 3.629 acres of property at 2821 Little Dry Run Rd. This is vacant property left over from the construction of a water tower. The minimum bid (assessed market value) will be $175,000. (Left of street, around area of clearing) GOOGLE MAP ANDERSON TWP ANOTHER 80 HOMES TO GO INTO IVY TRAILS Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/17/06 Another 80 homes geared to affluent individuals will be built at the Ivy Trails subdivision in Anderson and Union townships. Peter McGarey, president of Ivy Trails LLC, the project's developer, is trying to sell land for the remaining 80 homes, to be built at the 150-house subdivision at Eight Mile Road and Stoney Bridge Drive. He said the lots that range from a quarter acre up to nearly 2 acres are being sold to a select group of local builders. McGarey expects the entire subdivision to be completed by 2009. He said the homes will run from $500,000 to $3 million and from 2,500 to 11,000 square feet. The subdivision, which already includes 70 upscale homes, also features 2 ½ miles of wooded walking trails, 54 acres of private green space and wooded walkout lots. Ivy Trails also includes a homeowner's association fee of $900 annually. CAMPBELL COUNTY Lincoln signs going up in Campbell County Campbell County Recorder, 12/11/06 The new "Welcome to Kentucky - Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln" signs are going up in Campbell County. They are part of an effort to promote Kentucky's ties to Abraham Lincoln during the Lincoln Bicentennial commemorations, which begin in 2008. The national celebration of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth will begin Feb. 12, 2009 with festivities in Hodgenville and will continue through February 2010. In Campbell County, the signs will be located at I-275 westbound from Ohio and I-471 southbound from Ohio. HILLSBORO Brown County thoroughfare meeting set for Dec. 13 Hillsboro Times-Gazette, 12/11/06 Officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation will host a public meeting next week to present the findings of the recently completed Brown County Thoroughfare Plan. The Brown County Thoroughfare Plan is a study of the existing transportation network and the potential future needs of the area, and the purpose of the meeting is to share the results of the study. The meeting will be held Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 5-7 p.m. in the Gaslight Theater in Georgetown, 301 S. Main St. "We encourage the general public to join us and area representatives for this important meeting," said Todd Long, ODOT District 9 planning administrator. "Although the study does not denote any specific highway projects slated as a result, it is an assessment of Brown County's long term transportation needs." Initiated in March of this year, the Brown County Thoroughfare Plan is an analysis of safety and congestion issues on the state and federal highway system, as well as land use and growth in the county and regional connectivity with the city of Cincinnati and the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The public meeting scheduled next week will be an open house format, with brief presentations at approximately 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. INDEPENDENCE Ace to anchor Independence shopping center Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/15/06 A new shopping center that will feature an Ace Hardware superstore as its anchor tenant will be built at Declaration Drive and Ky. 17 in this Kenton County city. Plans for the project that is being called Independence Towne Center will include about 26,000 square feet of space for up to six tenants, said Kathy Groob, spokesperson at Paul Hemmer Cos., the Fort Mitchell-based developer of the project. She said the project is a separate development from the existing shopping center but is a continuation of the city's master plan for the area that includes shopping and city services along Ky. 17. The existing center includes some city government buildings, a Kroger, McDonald's and other retailers. The new $4 million project will have smaller storefronts that could accommodate tenants such as a dry cleaner, gift shop or hair salon, Groob said. Hemmer hopes other tenants sign by spring. LOVELAND Building YMCA pool debated Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/12/06 Even before the first public hearing tonight, the debate is growing over building an $8 million pool with the YMCA and asking residents to pass a levy to pay for it. The future of recreation in the city has been discussed at several public meetings before and since City Council passed the recreation master plan almost a year ago. But tonight's will be the first time residents get to weigh in on the proposal for the city to join with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati. The topic already is prompting rumors and questions on an e-mail listserve circulating among residents, with Councilman Paul Elliott forwarding a list of questions to his council colleagues. Among them: Whether lower-income Loveland residents could afford to join the pool; whether the streets around the pool would be able to handle the traffic; and what the best location would be. City Manager Tom Carroll posted his 11-page response on the city's Web site, www.lovelandoh.com. He said he doesn't mind the questions, but that he wants people's opinions to be informed ones. Many specifics are still being worked out, including exactly what the fee would be. It's currently $76 a month for a Y membership. The city plans to offer substantial discounts to residents because they'll already be paying for the facility through their taxes, and Carroll said anyone earning less than $25,000 would be eligible for a scholarship that would make the membership almost free. MADEIRA Madeira raising stadium funds Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/12/06 Madeira Schools Foundation is leading a $1.5 million fundraising campaign to renovate the school stadium with artificial turf and other changes. The Madeira Stadium "Field of Dreams" Project will have two phases. The initial phase would replace the existing grass field with a synthetic surface. Installation is expected to begin this spring in time for the 2007 football and soccer season. Of the $1.5 million, the turf is estimated to cost about $700,000. The second phase, to be completed by the spring of 2009, includes renovating the 50-year-old stadium with a new entrance, ticket booths, restrooms, scoreboard and locker rooms, and redesigned concession stands. The stadium has no restrooms or locker rooms. Fans and players must use restrooms inside the school. Gym floors covered with rubber mats serve as locker rooms. No district taxpayer money will be used, said Mike Hummel, who is co-chairing the project with Terry Jacobs. School booster groups also are helping with the fundraising. MARIEMONT This new construction at 3718 Petoskey Ave has recently been completed. 4 BR/4 BA, on the market for $565,000. This is in an established neighborhood of homes in the $200,000-$350,000 range. MIAMI TWP (Clermont County) New features coming to township's parks Milford-Miami Advertiser, 12/11/06 When residents head out to the township's parks next spring, they will find a couple of new things waiting for them. The Bark Park, Miami Township's first dog park, which is in Miami Meadows Park on Ohio 131, was completed in October, said Service Director Walt Fischer. It has two fenced-off areas - a larger one for more active dogs and a smaller one for less active dogs - as well as a secured area where owners can safely unleash their dogs before bringing them into the park, said Recreation Director Krystin Thibodeau. Park guidelines will be posted, and dogs must have a current license and be up-to-date on their shots to play in the park, said Thibodeau. "We will be spot-checking the park." The park also will feature "doggie fire hydrants and water fountains," she said. MT ORAB Land to be donated to Mt. Orab Fire Department Georgetown News Democrat, 12/17/06 At a regular meeting of the Mt. Orab Council held on Tuesday, Dec. 12, Tim Hale, who owns approximately 70 acres of land located between Eastwood Road and the south side of state Route 32 in Mt. Orab, suggested that he donate some of that land to the Mt. Orab Fire Department as a future site for another fire house. "Sterling Township has been good to us," said Hale, speaking of himself and his fiancee, Angie Graham. "I would like to see the land put to good use, and I feel the Fire Department is doing an excellent job." WALTON City purchases Abner Gaines tavern Boone County Recorder, 12/14/06 The city of Walton purchased the historic Abner Gaines Tavern and seven acres of surrounding property for $300,000 the morning of Dec. 13. The city obtained the option to buy the property in March and received a grant for its purchase from the Kentucky Department of Transportation in July. The c. 1814 building and property on Old Nicholson Road will eventually be developed into a public museum, but the project will take years of time and effort. To oversee the project, the Walton City Council and mayor appointed seven people to the Abner Gaines Advisory Board. The board will make recommendations to Walton city council about the development of the Walton Gaines Tavern History Center. The board's first meeting, held on the evening of Dec. 12, lasted a full two hours. Several members attended, along with Mayor Phillip Trzop and some city council members.