buildingcincinnati

Link contains photos. From the 6/6/07 Newark Advocate: GRAPHIC: This map depicts the proposed soccer complex Newark would build if it is selected to be home to the Columbus Crew's practice facility. The site would be located between Goosepond Road on the north, North 21st Street to the east and Sharon Valley Road to the south. Submitted map Proposed site for Crew practice facility revealed By MARK SZAKONYI Advocate Reporter NEWARK -- It's mostly just open fields now, but Newark city officials envision a day when the more-than-100-acre site on the North End is filled with sights of diving headers and miraculous saves. Newark won't find out until at least early August whether it will be a finalist for a Columbus Crew soccer training facility at the proposed site west of North 21st Street and partially split by Baker Boulevard. "We can provide everything the Crew needs -- and then some," said Stephen Fowler, the city's economic development manager. The Major League Soccer facility, tentatively named Alford-Reese Community Sports Park, would cost an estimated $27 million, according to the application. The majority of the construction costs will be for the creation of the 171,000-square-foot building with a full-size indoor field. The building would feature locker rooms, a weight room, a training room, a lounge and an exam/massage room for the team, according to the application. The site plan also calls for a 25- to 75-room hospitality building that would house visiting coaches and players, Fowler said. Read more at http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070606/NEWS01/706060302/1002/rss01

From the 6/2/07 Newark Advocate: City sweetens deal in Crew application Newark offers more land than what team is seeking By MARK SZAKONYI Advocate Reporter NEWARK -- Newark came one step closer to possibly getting a Major League Soccer training facility Friday by submitting an application the mayor calls "nothing short of amazing." The Columbus Crew facility would bring $52 million in sales, more than $18 million in wages and more than 1,100 jobs to the region if Newark is selected. "I think we have a real good shot at making the top final three," said Stephen Fowler, the city's economic development manager. The team is expected to pick its final contenders within two weeks at the soonest and is expected to make a final decision in either September or October, he said. About five or six other communities are expected to apply, Fowler estimated. Read more at http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070602/NEWS01/706020304/1002/rss01

From ThisWeek Big Walnut, 4/29/07: Sunbury to be among sites proposed for Crew facility Sunday, April 29, 2007 By MARK MAJOR ThisWeek Staff Writer According to Sunbury council member Bob Bishop it's all but official -- the village should end up as one of two proposed sites Delaware County will present to the Columbus Crew in a bid to become home to the professional soccer team's new practice facility. After a meeting April 23 among representatives of project developer Pizzuti and representatives of the county and village, things look good for Sunbury, Bishop said. "It seemed like they were receptive to our plans," he said. Delaware County Economic Development Director John Barron had said the outcome of a meeting with Pizzuti representatives could help the county decide whether Sunbury's proposal would be presented to developers. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/042907/Sunbury/News/042907-News-345779.html

From ThisWeek Big Walnut, 4/22/07: Sunbury still in running for Crew practice facility Sunday, April 22, 2007 By MARK MAJOR ThisWeek Staff Writer In the race to host the Columbus Crew's proposed new practice facility, things might be breaking Sunbury's way. Thanks to the Crew's recent decision to move the deadline for applications from April 30 to June 1, Delaware County's economic development director, John Barron, said Sunbury should have the time it needs to put together the best package it can. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/042207/Sunbury/News/042207-News-341535.html

From ThisWeek Big Walnut, 4/8/07: Sunbury makes bid to host Crew facility Sunday, April 8, 2007 By MARK MAJOR ThisWeek Staff Writer Though Sunbury came to the game late, the village now has as much chance as anybody of snagging a proposed Columbus Crew practice facility, village and county officials said after a meeting last week. Until Tuesday morning, just one site in Delaware County looked like it might make a good home for the Crew's proposed 97-acre practice facility, said John Barron, Delaware County's director of economic development. The Crew's search for a new home for its practice facility began in earnest last month when Columbus developer Pizzuti Solutions LLC sent a "request for development partner" to leaders of communities throughout central Ohio. The facility proposed by Pizzuti Solutions includes 19 playing fields, including 16 regulation playing fields, as well as a 170,000-square-foot office building/training facility featuring a synthetic indoor field. Developers have said the facility will probably be made available to amateur teams when complete. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/040807/Sunbury/News/040807-News-333348.html

Evanston NBD rezoning sails through Building Cincinnati, 7/12/07 Evanston's NBD: Click to enlarge City Council unanimously approved two rezonings for Evanton's Five Points business district. These rezonings are in line with the Evanston Five-Point Urban Renewal Plan, which was adopted in 2003 while the City's current zoning codes were being re-written. Commercial development will now be limited to the area extending from Woodburn and Fairfax, north through the Five Points intersection, and ending at Montgomery and Holloway. In an effort to develop a more walkable, storefront-style feel to the district, new auto-oriented uses will not be permitted. Also aiding in the concentration of business nearer the intersection is the rezoning of property along Woodburn Avenue between Gilpin and Fairfax avenues to RMX Residential Mix. Building Cincinnati: Evanston looks to tighten "Five Points" business district (6/19/07) http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/07/evanston-nbd-rezoning-sails-through.html Wrecking Cincinnati, 7/10/07 RIP: 4668 North Edgewood Avenue, Spring Grove Village Single-family DOB: Circa 1900 Died: June 2007 Cause of death: After a prolonged illness of several years, succumbed to a failing foundation and an ill front porch that was home to large animals (possibly raccoons). The owner failed to show up for pre-prosecution hearings on the building. It then became the subject of a lawsuit involving the Winton Place Community Council. In March 2007, the City authorized a transfer of funds to the CDBG Receivership Program account for hazard abatement. RIP: 911 York Street, West End Single-family DOB: Unknown, probably 1860-1880 Died: June 2007 Cause of death: Negligent homicide - CMHA indifference. The roof collapsed, windows were missing, and the building was open to the weather. The CMHA never obtained a Vacant Building Maintenance License despite numerous warnings. They demolished the property to eliminate the(ir) problem. RIP: 221 Stetson Street, Corryville Single-family DOB: 1924 Died: July 2007 Cause of death: Homicide. Sacrificed for the Stetson Square project. http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/07/wrecking-cincinnati-71007.html

Real estate investment in this sense is about pulling all of the money out of a piece of property as quickly as possible and then cashing out. Wildly speculative building isn't good business for anyone else involved, and the corridor is quickly becoming oversaturated with office space. And you wouldn't think they would want to withhold the name of office tenants this long into the construction if they wanted to sell this to companies as a good development. Time will tell...if they land a major company then I'll eat my words and admit that I'm wrong.

New Allen East school full of ‘Mustang’ pride Lima News, 7/1/07 There are still a few boxes to be unpacked and workers roaming the building putting the final touches on the new Allen East school. Yet already, pupils are in the school and enjoying their new surroundings. Pupils and staff will begin next school year in their new 180,000-square-foot building; a place which includes constant reminders that they are “Mustangs” and plenty of the school’s blue and white colors. A large ceramic tile mustang takes up a wall in the commons area. Stain glass in the previous high school was incorporated into the commons area too. Lima News: NEW: New Allen East School looking good (6/29/07)

Lansing men pay $575,000 for Erie St. Triangle Building Article published June 30, 2007 By GARY T. PAKULSKI and MARK REITER BLADE BUSINESS WRITERS Plans to convert downtown Toledo's Triangle Building into loft-style apartments have moved a step closer to reality. The seven-story building at 34 South Erie St. was sold for $575,000 last week to a Lansing developer with experience restoring historic structures. Records at the Lucas County recorder's office show the 107-year-old warehouse was transferred June 20 to Richard M. Karp and Kevin J. Prater. Mr. Prater has a 25 percent interest in the building, with Mr. Karp owning the remainder. It was previously owned by Triangle Building LLC, which purchased it in 2005 from Willis Day Inc. City Council has approved a preliminary measure that would allow Mr. Karp's Karp & Associates to convert the 107,000-square-foot building at South Erie between Lafayette and Washington into as many as 75 rental units. MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20070630/BUSINESS05/706300393

From the 7/17/07 Lima News: Legion post in Wapak gets property rezoned to enable smoker-friendly beer garden Bob Blake | [email protected] - 07.17.2007 WAPAKONETA — Business at area veterans and fraternal groups went up in smoke when the state smoking ban went into effect in December. When enforcement began in earnest, at least one local club decided to do something about it to keep smoking patrons coming. Members of American Legion Post 330 in Wapakoneta decided to take their club’s fate into their own hands. Club members put up a fenced-in patio for smokers. They wanted an outdoor beer garden. Now, they’ll be able to pursue the project. Read more: http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=40705

From ThisWeek Licking County, 7/15/07: Shai pulls rezoning request for site along U.S. Route 40 Sunday, July 15, 2007 LORI WINCE ThisWeek Staff Writer Park Shai of Shai Commercial Real Estate withdrew an application for a zoning change that was being considered July 10 by Etna Township Trustees. Shai had requested the change from general business 1 to general business 2 for 23.121 acres at the northwest corner of Columbia Road and U.S. Route 40. The change would have allowed for construction of a building up to 130,000 square feet on the site. http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070717/NEWS01/707170311/1002/rss01

From the 7/17/07 Lima News: LCI group wants Strickland meeting Heather Rutz | [email protected] - 07.17.2007 LIMA — Members of the Lima Correctional Institution Task Force have a question they believe only one man can answer, so the group plans to ask him for a face-to-face meeting. The man? Gov. Ted Strickland. The question? Is he outright opposed to reopening LCI as a prison? The group met Monday to consider its next step now that a $50,000 feasibility study for the facility made it through the state budget. The group Monday also agreed to continue funding, in the short term, the lobbying firm it hired to gain the study. The group wants to retain the firm long enough to have a meeting with the governor to gauge if retaining a lobbyist for several months would be a waste of time and money. The Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce and Allen Economic Development Group will split the bill for the lobbyist’s funding, expected to be about $4,000. MORE: http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=40690

From the 7/17/07 Dispatch: Columbus City Council Civilian patrols get more money Tuesday, July 17, 2007 3:34 AM By Robert Vitale THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Columbus will spend an extra $283,000 this year to expand a civilian crime-fighting force that has helped police nab wanted felons, drunken drivers and violators of city codes. But an 80 percent funding increase won't send the Community Crime Patrol into more city neighborhoods. It will add patrols only in the six where they already exist. As City Council members approved the additional money last night, one of them said a program that everyone in Columbus pays for should be available to more city residents. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/07/17/coun17.ART_ART_07-17-07_B2_UG7A6ES.html

From the 7/17/07 PD: School crime up a bit in Cleveland Tougher actions, drop in students fail to cut crimes Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Joseph L. Wagner Plain Dealer Reporter Serious crimes rose a bit in Cleveland schools the past year despite beefed-up security and tough talk from school officials. The number of crimes reported at schools increased from 2,388 to 2,408, according to the district. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1184661624101160.xml&coll=2

From the 7/17/07 Enquirer: South Cumminsville group partners with Litton Loan BY JON NEWBERRY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER Working in Neighborhoods, a South Cumminsville-based nonprofit group that provides homeownership and credit-counseling services in low- and moderate-income communities, has reached an agreement with Houston-based Litton Loan Servicing to promote stable homeownership in Cincinnati. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070717/BIZ01/707170320/

From the 7/17/07 DDN: Residents pack the village council meeting Chancellor, board of trustees president given about 20 minutes to speak, crowd allowed only a few minutes. By Christopher Magan Staff Writer Tuesday, July 17, 2007 YELLOW SPRINGS — Sometimes a democracy just doesn't have enough chairs. Village residents were outraged Monday night that council members weren't ready for the crowd that turned out to to hear Antioch University Chancellor Toni Murdock and Art Zucker, board of trustees president, speak about the decision to close Antioch College in 2008. "I'm appalled they didn't prepare," said Michael Jones, a Yellow Springs resident for 35 years. "I think the whole village is appalled." More than 100 villagers stood against walls, crouched in aisles between seats and spilled into the halls outside the small council chambers struggling to hear Murdock and Zucker tell council about the "difficult" decision to shutter the college until at least 2012. More at http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/07/17/ddn071707yellowsprings.html

From the 7/17/07 Bellefontaine Examiner: Citizens’ wind turbine zoning amendment now law in Rushcreek Township By Joel E. Mast Bellefontaine Examiner Staff Writer 07/17/07 A recommendation to accept a citizen-initiated wind turbine zoning amendment carried Monday with Rushcreek Township Trustee Marlyn Kelly voting contrary to his fellow trustees. Mr. Kelly opposed a motion by Gary Downing to reject the Rushcreek Township Zoning Commission recommendation to adopt the amendment. “Gary’s (Downing) looking for a yes vote?” Mr. Kelly asked. “Well then, I vote no. “We’ve got five people who voted 5-0 in support of the amendment and I respect their vote.” The vote came after two hours of public comment. About 60 people attended the meeting. Mr. Downing said he believed the township’s current height restrictions of nothing more than 50 feet tall would be enough to protect the township until a committee studying the issue could develop zoning guidelines. Mr. Downing and Harold Mobley feel the proposed amendment with its aesthetic and health concerns goes too far and may not stand up in court. Mr. Downing also was concerned about going against the recommendation of the Logan-Union-Champaign Regional Planning Commission and rushing ahead before the township received guidance from Logan County Prosecutor Gerald Heaton. Full article at http://www.examiner.org/news07.17.2.php

From the 7/17/07 Coshocton Tribune: Ethanol plant permit cuts emissions, EPA says By JOSHUA CHANEY Staff Writer COSHOCTON - With no comments or concerns raised, a session held by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency seeking public comment regarding a new air permit issued to the Coshocton Ethanol plant ended in just over a half hour Monday evening. The mandatory meeting, held at the Coshocton Public Library, was to allow time for public comments, concerns, or questions in regards to a new air permit issued to Coshocton Ethanol, LLC, regarding the replacement of several emission units planned to be used with larger, but fewer units. More at: http://www.coshoctontribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070717/NEWS01/707170303/1002/rss01

^ LOL!!!

From the 6/29/07 Eastern Hills Journal: Ridge, Highland area gets new project BY JEREME SIMMONS | [email protected] COLUMBIA TWP. - Columbia Township officials are pleased that their push to further develop the Ridge and Highland business district has gotten another boost with plans for a new Class A office space development. The Green Ridge office development, located off of Lucille Drive, received the green light from the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission, as of June 21, to proceed with their plans... http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20070629/NEWS01/706290359/

From the 4/24/07 Blade: OC, Saint-Gobain pull merger filing Toledo’s Owens Corning and French glass maker Saint-Gobain said yesterday they are temporarily withdrawing a filing with the European Commission to merge most of the two firms’ fiber-glass production units. ... More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070424/BUSINESS03/70424007/-1/BUSINESS

Link contains photos. From the 4/19/07 Blade: Bankruptcy-tested executive to replace Owens Corning’s retiring boss By JON CHAVEZ BLADE BUSINESS WRITER Having finished his biggest task — steering a $6.5 billion company through and then out of bankruptcy — Owens Corning Chief Executive Dave Brown said yesterday he will retire from the Fortune 500 firm by year’s end. Mr. Brown, 58, will be succeeded as president and CEO by his friend and long-time colleague, Mike Thaman, OC’s chairman of the board and chief financial officer. The choice of Mr. Thaman, 43, to become the seventh CEO in the 69-year history of the building-products manufacturer was approved last week by OC’s board. But all along, Mr. Brown said, “he has been my one and only candidate.” ... More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070419/BUSINESS03/70419018/-1/RSS04

From the 4/13/07 Toledo Free Press: BUSINESS 360 OC moves forward By Kristine Hoffman Special to Toledo Free Press Owens Corning has a payroll of 20,000 employees worldwide, with 1,150 in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Today the company is a global leader in all businesses in which it participates, including building materials and composite solutions, according to Owens Corning President and CEO David Brown. With more than $6 billion in sales and 130 facilities, the company stayed the course throughout a turbulent Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. Now, six months after emerging from bankruptcy, Brown talks candidly about how the process started and how the company was able to sustain operations, grow market share and continue its acquisition strategy during the bankruptcy process. According to Brown, Owens Corning produced a product from 1958 to 1972 that was used for high temperature applications such as insulating steam pipes and boilers in ships. This product was reinforced with asbestos, which proved to be harmful to humans. ... More at: http://toledofreepress.com/?id=5317

Link contains a photo. From the 4/11/07 Blade: Ottawa County, rail officials meeting about blocked crossings Ottawa County officials expect to meet today with Norfolk Southern railroad representatives concerning trains blocking railroad crossings, including routes regularly used by emergency vehicles. Sheriff Bob Bratton said yesterday that while he understands the railroad's occasional need to stop its trains and that many trains are too long to fit between road crossings, Norfolk Southern lately has been violating a handshake agreement struck last fall to avoid blocking certain "high priority" roads. ... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070411/NEWS11/704110401/-1/NEWS

From ThisWeek Olentangy, 4/12/07: County to realign West Orange Road and widen bridge Thursday, April 12, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer The realignment of West Orange Road and upgrades to a historic bridge over the Olentangy River are moving forward after county officials last week put the design team in place. The Delaware County commissioners last Monday voted unanimously to tap Dublin-based firm WE Partners Inc. to design the realignment of West Orange Road with Carriage Road to the west. http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/041207/Powell/News/041207-News-336410.html