buildingcincinnati

From the 3/29/07 Pulse-Journal: Mason seals the deal to buy land for road widening By Denise G. Callahan Staff Writer Thursday, March 29, 2007 Mason agreed to purchase about $800,000 worth of real estate to pave the way for Mason-Montgomery Road widening. City council sealed the deal on five properties after an executive session Friday, and added another property to the list Monday night. Click on link for article. http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/29/pjm032907masonmontgomery.html

Both from the 3/22/07 Pulse-Journal: Glass icon reflects city's growth Proposed downtown glass structure represents Mason becoming a destination. By Denise G. Callahan Staff Writer Thursday, March 22, 2007 A statue of city founder William Mason in the new downtown plaza might seem appropriate, but a local architect has offered an idea that could keep people spellbound. Picture a 20-foot (or higher) glass structure that doubles as a waterfall and light show — one that people can make change with the touch of a foot. This may sound like something that foretells the future of Mason, rather than a tribute to its past. Click on link for article. http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/22/pjm032207downtownA1.html Mason leaders consider proposed downtown icon Major downtown construction phase could begin in June. By Denise Callhan Staff Writer Thursday, March 22, 2007 To take care of the historical aspect of the icon the committee wanted, Mason architect Larry Tokarsky integrated a time capsule element within the sculpture where families, businesses and organizations can immortalize their memories. If the city approves the glass sculpture, Tokarsky estimated it might cost $500,000 up to $2 million depending on how elaborate the city wants to go in terms of materials and high-tech elements. Click on link for article. http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/22/pjm032207downtowninside.html

From the 6/28/07 Dispatch: Skybus looking to tropics Thursday, June 28, 2007 3:38 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Get ready for an international flight that might cost less than your passport. Skybus Airlines, which sells at least 10 seats on every flight for $10, has applied to offer flights to Cancun, Mexico, and Nassau in the Bahamas. More at: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/06/28/skybus_international.ART_ART_06-28-07_C10_FR7592T.html?type=rss&cat=7

From the 6/28/07 DDN: Greene developers find new funding Second phase of the project will use special assessment district that would not be using public money. By Christopher Magan Staff Writer Thursday, June 28, 2007 BEAVERCREEK — Some residents' outrage over public funding for roads in the first phase of The Greene forced developers of the shopping complex to find another way to pay for infrastructure. Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2845 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/neighbors/2007/06/28/ddn062807z4greeneroads.html

From the Eastern Hills Journal, 6/22/07: LOCATION UNDER DISCUSSION HYDE PARK - Mt. Washington School may potentially relocate to Hyde Park during its upcoming construction. "We are far from making a final decision on swing space for Mt. Washington," said Janet Walsh, chief officer of public affairs for Cincinnati Public Schools. http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/NEWS01/706220375/1090/Local

From the 6/27/07 Enquirer: Board OKs sale of school SHARONVILLE - The Princeton school board voted Monday night to sell its Robert E. Lucas Intermediate School property to Fischer Homes for $3.2 million. The regional home builder plans to build condos, villas and townhomes on the site. One proposal calls for 421 units on the 65 acres. The intermediate school, at 3900 Cottingham Drive, has been closed for a couple of years but is being used as temporary classroom space for Princeton's elementary schools as those buildings are torn down and rebuilt. Princeton is almost finished building seven new elementary schools and is renovating an eighth. The project is supposed to be complete next year, with Fischer taking over the building in August 2008. Earlier this year, Princeton sold its Lincoln Heights Elementary building to Volunteers of America, which is expected to convert it into an apartment building. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070627/NEWS0102/706270358/ From the 6/28/07 Kenton Community Recorder: PHOTO: Independence residents worry that traffic could become even worse along Turkeyfoot Road and Industrial Road if the city approves a zone change request for 30 acres east of Turkeyfoot Road. A proposed office and retail development is planned for the area, included the wooded area pictured in the background. Jason Feldmann/Staff Residents prepare for Turkeyfoot Road plan BY JASON FELDMANN | [email protected] INDEPENDENCE - Turkeyfoot Road has seen its fair share of construction in recent years, but more could follow if Independence city council approves plans to rezone a 30-acre site across from Industrial Road. A proposed plan by the civil engineering firm Viox and Viox, on behalf of Eagle Development, calls for rezoning the primarily wooded, residential area to a neighborhood commerical zone to allow for an office and retail development. The Kenton County Planning Commission reviewed the plan on June 7 and recommneded that Independence officials rezone the 30 acres as suggested. As in all zoning matters, the city has the final say in the matter. According to Independence Mayor Chris Moriconi, the city is expected to take up the issue by late July or sometime in August. The city has 90 days from June 7 to vote on the zone change request. MORE: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/NEWS01/706280326/1002/RSS01 Thomas More breaks ground on field Erlanger Recorder, 6/28/07 At noon today, Thursday, June 28, Thomas More College will hold groundbreaking ceremonies for renovation and expansion of the school's athletic field. School officials point to the many benefits of the multiphase project, including new grandstands to allow for a larger capacity at sporting events. Nearby residents, however, are concerned about the increased noise from a new sound system and light glare from above, as well as the increased traffic expected from a large facility. Phase One of the project includes the installation of a synthetic turf field and track, along with the relocation of utilities and infrastructure development for future phases. The new grandstands will be built during Phase Two, along with a new press box and locker and weight rooms underneath for the football and soccer teams. Hyde Park: 3798 Broadview Drive * Building Cincinnati, 6/28/07 Medallion Properties has completed this single-family home at 3798 Broadview Drive. The home has four bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths. When it was first listed last year it was priced at $788,000. It has since been upped to $819,900. Two homes in the area recently sold for $685,000 and $798,000. This neighborhood is adjacent to Seven Hills Properties' Lofts@4120 project and the Hyde Park Country Club. Pieces for new high school coming together Oxford Press, 6/27/07 With November election deadline nearing, the Talawanda Board of Education is diligently working to get a bond issue on the ballot for a new high school. The district superintendent says it's on schedule for the Aug. 23 deadline set by the board of elections. The board of education slated a closed-door work session Wednesday to discuss purchasing property for a site. During Monday's regular board meeting, Superintendent Phil Cagwin said they received appraisals on a number of district-owned properties and the Ohio School Facilities Commission recently completed an assessment of current facilities. While the OSFC data is still being compiled, one of the preliminary figures that has tentatively emerged is the cost of renovating district buildings versus building new. The OSFC guidelines call for building replacement if the renovation pricetag is more than 66 percent of the cost to rebuild, Cagwin said. Under the recent assessment, Kramer Elementary is at 84 percent, the middle school is at 50 percent, Marshall Elementary is at 67 percent and Talawanda High School is at 65 percent. Cagwin said these figures are subject to change because the final report has not yet been compiled. Columbia Tusculum: Alms Gate * Building Cincinnati, 6/27/07 Here is a sketch of 708 Alms Gate, which could be yours for a cool $1.35 million. The home will contain 5 bedrooms and 3 full/3 half baths. There's also a three-car garage, but at least it will be on the side instead of the front. The exterior is brick with cedar shingles. Three other homes are currently listed. An affordfable housing unit is even available for $995,000! Alms Gate is a gated subdivision being built off of Tusculum Avenue, adjacent to Alms Park. * photo/image

City sells land to Uptown Consortium for $1 Building Cincinnati, 6/25/07 The City voted unanimously to sell land it owns in the Burnet Avenue plan area for $1. The buyer, Uptown Consortium (through its development arm NTP Development, LLC), has been assembling land in the area as part of the Burnet Avenue Urban Renewal Plan. The appraised value of the land is $1.3 million, but it is vacant and not is generating any revenue. It is estimated that the developer will make $5 million in infrastructure improvements to the site, including roads and utilities. The emergency ordinance also allows for a quick transfer of the property that will allow NTP Development to receive New Market Tax Credits, which are targeted to development projects in low-income communities. The land is part of a $52 million mixed-use project phase which will include two office buildings along Burnet Avenue, condominiums along Harvey Avenue and a 1,450-space parking garage. Building Cincinnati: City rezoning advances Burnet project (6/20/07) Building Cincinnati: Avondale: Burnet Avenue Zoning Study (5/1/07) http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/06/city-sells-land-to-uptown-consortium.html

From the 6/28/07 Blade: Wood County official to meet with panel about lawsuit BOWLING GREEN — Assistant Wood County Prosecutor Linda Holmes is scheduled to meet with the county planning commission next week to invite the commission to be part of litigation she plans to file against the city of Perrsyburg for enforcing its zoning regulations outside the city limits. Early in the month, Ms. Holmes and Perrysburg Township Trustee Craig LaHote told county commissioners the dispute between the city and township was headed to court. Ms. Holmes said she wants a judge to determine whether the city can legally require a developer to meet the city’s more extensive zoning requirements to get water and sewer services to a site in the township. She said both the county engineer, who regulates road and storm sewer construction, and the county planning commission, which enforces standards for subdivisions in unincorporated areas, could be parties to the litigation. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/NEWS17/70628012/-1/RSS08

From ThisWeek Upper Arlington, 6/28/07: Francisco Glen Development readies for tenants Thursday, June 28, 2007 By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Staff Writer Francisco Glen will welcome its first residents in 60 days, roughly two years after the 48-unit housing development was approved by Columbus City Council. Ground was quietly broken last year on the single-family project, with the construction on the first house beginning this past April. The remainder of the houses and infrastructure will continue to be built throughout the rest of the year. Developer Marty Savko, managing partner of Savko Bros. Properties, an extension of Savko Construction, said the 1,800- to 1,900- square-foot, single-story homes are geared toward senior citizens. Association fees pay for lawn-cutting, maintenance of landscape and shoveling snow. Savko said Francisco Glen fills a niche for people who want to leave the suburbs and their higher tax burdens. Houses with stucco and stone facades start in the $340,000 range. Each unit is equipped with attached, two-car garages. More at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/062807/UpperArlington/News/062807-News-379169.html

From the 6/28/07 Youngstown Vindicator: The smoking ban has businesses rethinking smoking areas By ANDREW GAUG VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER It's been almost two months since the statewide smoking ban went into effect in Ohio, and some businesses are looking for a way to keep employees and patrons who smoke happy. The Lordstown General Motors plant is changing its previously strict smoking policy out of concerns for employee safety. Because the company doesn't allow smoking on the premises, many employees went to the roads outside the plant to smoke during their breaks, said Michael Rhodes, an employee assistant at GM. But a growing concern for its employees' safety along the roads has prompted GM to install smoking shelters where people can light up. Read more: http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/327480099924472.php

From the 6/28/07 Enquirer: Voucher program rests with Strickland BY DENISE SMITH AMOS | [email protected] One of the biggest questions in the state budget before Gov. Ted Strickland is whether he will use a line-item veto to reject a new voucher program for students with disabilities. The voucher program would give students with learning-related disabilities up to $20,000 a year for public or private school tuition, depending on the disability. About 8,000 vouchers would become available in the 2008-09 school year, meaning the program could potentially transfer up to $160 million from public school coffers to private schools each year. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/NEWS0102/706280333/1058/NEWS01

From ThisWeek Clintonville, 6/28/07: Noodles & Co. gets variance approval from Columbus BZA Thursday, June 28, 2007 GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Staff Writer Carb-loading Clintonville residents soon will have cause for celebration. The Columbus Board of Zoning Adjustments voted 4-0 Tuesday night on a variance that will allow Noodles & Co. to occupy the vacant Pier I site at 5030 N. High St. The site is being developed with 54,000-square-foot retail shopping space across from Graceland Shopping Center. http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/062807/Clintonville/News/062807-News-379570.html

From the 6/28/07 Blade: Sylvania merger panel is proposed Petition seeks to let city, township voters decide on commission Voters in the city of Sylvania and Sylvania Township could be asked in November whether they want to form a commission to draw up conditions of a merger of the two political subdivisions. One Sylvania, a group of community residents interested in further study of a possible merger, yesterday began circulating petitions in an effort to get the issue on the ballot. Among the first residents to sign petitions were the 10 candidates who, with voter approval, would serve on a merger commission. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/NEWS18/706280369/-1/RSS09

Link contains a photo. From ThisWeek Pickerington, 6/28/07: Diley lauded as path to development Thursday, June 28, 2007 ROBERT PASCHEN ThisWeek Staff Writer Development was the word of the day during a June 22 ribbon-cutting for the recently completed $5.3-million Diley Road reconstruction project. Canal Winchester Mayor Jeff Miller said the expanded roadway leads to the future, which he described as one of cooperation involving municipalities, regional economic growth and new village standards for stop lights and street lighting. Violet Township trustee Gary Weltlich said he was "pleased as punch" that the village and the township could work together to complete the 1.2-mile reconstruction of Diley Road. Canal Winchester and Violet Township contributed a combined total of $475,000 in cash for the project, which widened Diley Road from Busey Road south to U.S. Route 33 from two lanes into a five-lane boulevard. The village also sold $2.5-million worth of bonds to cover remaining costs of the project. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/062807/Pickerington/News/062807-News-379444.html

From ThisWeek Westerville, 6/28/07: Townships want to get out of JRD Thursday, June 28, 2007 By MARK MAJOR ThisWeek Staff Writer Still suffering from a decisive defeat at the polls last month, the Eastern Delaware County Joint Recreational District now finds itself facing a mutiny. Trustees of Harlem, Trenton and Berkshire townships this month unanimously passed resolutions asking the Big Walnut Board of Education to remove itself from the JRD; Genoa Township trustees have called a special meeting to discuss the matter. Also in the JRD are Porter and Kingston townships. The hope is that the move would release the JRD's six member townships from the agreement, trustees and JRD opponents said. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/062807/Westerville/News/062807-News-379022.html

From the 6/28/07 Hamilton JournalNews: Offer to Hamilton meant to end dispute over 186-acre property By Eric Schwartzberg Staff Writer Thursday, June 28, 2007 FAIRFIELD TWP. — Fairfield Twp. officials offered a settlement Wednesday to Hamilton in a bid to end a dispute that has left the specter of annexation looming over the township for more than a year. The proposed agreement, which was hand delivered to Hamilton officials, has three major requests. The proposal stipulates that Hamilton will not accept annexation petitions for any property located in Fairfield Twp. "We're asking them to renew their promise of 11 years ago," said Jack Grove, the township's law director. In April 2006, Graceworks Lutheran Services filed a lawsuit against Hamilton and Fairfield Twp., stating it should have the ability to seek annexation of its 186-acre Fairfield Twp. property on the northwest corner on the Ohio 4 Bypass and Hamilton-Mason Road. The agreement also stipulates that Hamilton and Fairfield Twp. will expand a joint economic development district to include the commercial portion of the Graceworks property, as well as the Butler County Engineer's Office, the Butler County Fairgrounds and a commercial property across from Bridgewater Falls. Hamilton City Council was slated to discuss the proposal in executive session Wednesday night. City Manager Mark Brandenburger said he expects to have a response delivered to Fairfield Twp. trustees within a week. Revenue from the existing JEDD north of Ohio 129 along the Bypass Ohio 4 would be redistributed 50-50, as opposed to the split of 75-25 in favor of Hamilton for one portion and 75-25 in favor of Fairfield Twp. for the remainder. "We're trying to make the best of a bad situation but we're going to try to make it work somehow," said Trustee Steve Morgan. The anti-annexation covenants would remain in effect as long as the JEDD contracts remain in effect, Grove said. The proposed agreement would require Hamilton to pay a share of the Ohio 4 Bypass or Hamilton-Mason roads improvement project. Should Hamilton violate the agreement and annex a property in the township, the net revenue for all the JEDD territory would be adjusted 75-25 in Fairfield Twp.'s favor. "I think we've compromised quite a bit," said Trustee President Mark Sutton, "and I think it's a shame that we're renegotiating something we thought we already had in the original JEDD agreement." Township officials offered a deal to Hamilton in December that would have realigned JEDD revenues and also required Hamilton to not annex township property. The council voted to accept the deal, but passed no legislation to that effect. Now-retired Butler County Common Pleas Judge Matthew Crehan ruled Jan. 4 that Graceworks is able to file an annexation petition. So far Graceworks has not done so. The township's appeal is scheduled for Aug. 13 in the 12th District Court of Appeals in Middletown. http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/06/28/hjn062807settlement.html

From the 6/28/07 Yellow Springs News: The college and the university— Financial complexities link schools By Lauren Heaton The recent decision the Antioch University Board of Trustees made to close Antioch College next year has raised questions concerning the college’s relationship to the six-campus nexus that is Antioch University. As the flagship school whose budget is nearly twice as large as each of the other university schools and whose campus is the only residential campus, the college supports and is supported by the system it belongs to. But the structure of semi-autonomous campuses that was established in the late 1980s has given some members of the college faculty and community concern last week as they grappled with the news of the closing. In particular, questions have been raised about how the loan for Antioch University McGregor’s new building on the northwest edge of Yellow Springs affected the university’s borrowing capacity. Some have also asked how the college could be broke with a $32 million endowment, and others have wondered if dues from each campus to the central administration and employee compensation within the university system are equitable. More at http://www.ysnews.com/stories/2007/06/062807_finances.html

From the 6/28/07 Urbana Daily Citizen: Decision on wind power cases will be July 6 BREANNE PARCELS Staff Writer Judge Roger Wilson said he will issue a decision no later than Friday, July 6, in two appeals cases filed against the Union Township Board of Zoning Appeals, two property owners and two wind power companies in Champaign County Common Pleas Court. Attorney Lauren Ross, representing Robert McConnell, Diane McConnell and Julie Ann Johnson, argued in an oral hearing Wednesday afternoon that the conditional use permits the BZA granted to install wind test towers were "unlawful." "This whole effort by Invenergy and Everpower has been under the radar," she alleged. The BZA granted a conditional use permit to Everpower on May 14 and a conditional use permit to Invenergy on June 12. Full article at http://www.urbanacitizen.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=144345&TM=62416.7

From the 6/28/07 DDN: UAW workers at Delphi's Needmore plant vote to accept wage cut deal By Thomas Gnau Staff Writer Thursday, June 28, 2007 DAYTON — Members of United Auto Workers Local 696 voted Thursday to accept an agreement that keeps jobs at the Needmore Road plant or another location. The tally was 428-98 in support of a pact signed last week between Delphi and the UAW. Though the agreement lasts four years, Joe Buckley, Local 696 president, said it "guarantees" 750 local jobs through 2015. ... Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/06/28/ddn062807delphiweb.html

Link contains a photo. From the 6/28/07 Blade: ONE GROUP OF GROWERS WILL BENEFIT FROM ANOTHER Fremont ethanol plant has twist By HOMER BRICKEY BLADE SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER FREMONT - A $109 million ethanol plant planned on the site of a former sugar-beet processing factory in Fremont is unusual in that the owner of a big chunk of the plant will be a cooperative of sugar-beet growers who are, in effect, financing a facility that will benefit corn farmers. The proposed Ohio Renewable Fuels LLC plant, scheduled to begin production in 2009, is designed to pump out 50 million gallons of the alternative fuel annually, using corn as the raw material. Although some ethanol is produced from sugar beets, industry experts and the U.S. Department of Agriculture say corn ethanol is more profitable.- http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/BUSINESS01/706280360/-1/RSS04

From the 6/20/07 Lima News: RTA dealing with result of cuts Bart Mills | [email protected] - 06.20.2007 LIMA — The RTA is already feeling the results of cuts they made earlier this year. Less than two months after cutting almost 30 percent of service to the county, the bus agency has seen a 19 percent decline in ridership. And while some of that can be attributed to typical summer lull, there’s little doubt the cuts have taken a toll, said Regional Transit Authority Director Scott Stephenson. ... http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=39769

From the 4/19/07 Lima News: RTA board approves cuts, saves Zone 2 routes Bart Mills | [email protected] - 04.19.2007 LIMA — After more than two months of discussion, the RTA has finalized cuts to the county’s bus service. The Allen County Regional Transit Authority board approved cuts to the county’s bus service during its Wednesday meeting. Board members voted unanimously to accept most of the cuts recommended in February by RTA Director Scott Stephenson, but managed to preserve service to disabled riders living outside the agency’s main service area. ... http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=37530

From the 4/13/07 Lima News: RTA’s hears final word on cuts Bart Mills | [email protected] - 04.13.2007 LIMA — The public had a last chance at commenting before proposed bus service cuts become real. Just four people showed up to take advantage of the opportunity. The Allen County Regional Transit Authority board hosted its second and final public hearing Thursday, outlining the proposed service cuts for city and county riders. The single public comment came from Marie Niece, whose muscular dystrophy forces her to use a wheelchair. She told the board members present that the cuts would rob her and people like her of their independence. ... http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=37291

From the 4/4/07 Lima News: Riders upset about bus cuts Heather Rutz | [email protected] - 04.04.2007 LIMA — People who depend on the bus criticized on Tuesday changes the Allen County Regional Transit Authority plans to balance its budget. The two biggest changes — eliminating Saturday service and eliminating a portion of its curb-to-curb service for people with disabilities — received the most criticism during a public hearing on the changes. ... http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=36974

Link contains photos. From the 3/22/07 Lima News: RTA close to approving cuts Bart Mills | [email protected] - 03.22.2007 LIMA — Most people expected the Allen County Regional Transit Authority board to approve cuts to the county’s bus service during its Wednesday meeting. It didn’t, but came as close as possible. Board members voted unanimously to accept the cuts recommended last month by RTA Director Scott Stephenson. But the board stopped short of making the cuts final. Instead, it will wait until two public hearings have been held. Then, it will very likely approve the cuts at its April meeting. ... http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=36537