buildingcincinnati

I just realized that the local media never updated this story. The financing packages for both the TIF and for the tax credits mentioned were both passed unanimously at the May 9 Council meeting. So this baby's funded.

Much, much better! I just registered. I thought the old setup could be kind of intimidating, especially to people who don't frequent message boards. This interface looks much better for all levels of users. I hope it takes off.

^ My stories need to be fluffed up with more quotes!

^ Thanks!

Yeah, way too many topics! Good luck with it. I'll try to stop in from time to time!

From the 5/12/07 Plain Dealer: Arkansas firm will redevelop Cedar Center Company offers $17M, S. Euclid mayor says Saturday, May 12, 2007 Thomas Ott Plain Dealer Reporter South Euclid - The city has selected an Arkansas company to buy and redevelop the site of the aging Cedar Center shopping plaza. A deal signed this week gives Orion Capital Partners 45 days to negotiate with the city to buy the land. Mayor Georgine Welo said Orion has offered $17 million for the property... http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/117895900537401.xml&coll=2

From the 5/10/07 Sun Messenger: Ruling allows Cedar Center work to start Thursday, May 10, 2007 By Jeff Piorkowski SOUTH EUCLID The last remaining legal entanglement to the city proceeding with Cedar Center redevelopment plans is no more. "This should be the end (of the land acquisition/legal phase), subject to someone appealing, and so now what we need to do next is find a developer," said Law Director Michael Lograsso... http://www.cleveland.com/sun/sunmessenger/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1178815983244420.xml&coll=3

From the 4/28/07 Plain Dealer: S. Euclid wins right to buy portion of Cedar Center, begin makeover Saturday, April 28, 2007 Thomas Ott Plain Dealer Reporter South Euclid -- A judge has cleared the way for the city to buy its portion of the aging Cedar Center shopping plaza and give the landmark a makeover. Cuyahoga County Probate Judge John Donnelly ruled Wednesday against four tenants who said the city had no right to take the property by eminent domain. The tenants -- Beacon Hill Mortgage Corp., Jacob's Judaic Book and Gift Center, a Penn Station sandwich shop and Precision Title Agency Inc. -- were allowed to fight on after owners of the half-century-old plaza decided to sell... http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/117775002741450.xml&coll=2

From the 5/30/07 ABJ: Brown gets lot of input from vets U.S. senator learns of information needs By Bill Lilley Beacon Journal staff writer CANTON - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown came to the Walter S. Auer VFW Post 3747 Tuesday afternoon looking for information on how he, as the first senator from Ohio to serve on the Veterans Committee in 35 years, can better serve veterans. For 90 minutes, he was bombarded in a session with responses from nearly 50 men and women who have served the country in conflicts ranging from World War II to Iraq. "There was a lot of great information,'' said Brown, who earlier Tuesday had commenced his three-day, six-city tour in New Philadelphia. "A lot of these people who are exiting the military aren't screened well enough and they aren't tested well enough. Read More...

From the 4/1/07 Mansfield News Journal: Sherrod Brown returns home to thank Dems By Angel N. Ross News Journal ONTARIO -- Old high school classmates, admirers and local politicians surrounded U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown for autographs and pictures as he greeted Democrats on Saturday night. Born and raised in Mansfield, Brown was the guest speaker at the 40th annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and awards ceremony. Bill Hartnett, legislative director for Gov. Ted Strickland, introduced Brown and joked about how it was a wonderful time to be a Democrat. Read More...

From the 3/30/07 Lorain Morning Journal: Oops, Brown mistakenly votes wrong Morning Journal Staff 03/30/2007 Oh, the whirlwind life of a U.S. senator. It's apparently enough to dizzy an ardent foe of the Iraq War like our Sen. Sherrod Brown into mistakenly voting opposite to what he'd intended. That's exactly what happened when Brown cast his vote Tuesday on a measure involving a deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. Brown favors the deadline but somehow goofed and voted against it, according to an item in The Washington Post. For one amazingly un-Brown moment, our senator had blundered into the Bush camp on Iraq. Lucky for him, staffers caught Brown's gaffe in time and he was able to correct his vote and help Democrats get their way, much to the dismay of Bush. Read More...

From the 2/27/07 ABJ: Senator absorbs business concerns Sherrod Brown meets with Akron-area leaders in his latest round table By Rick Armon Beacon Journal staff writer COPLEY TWP. - As new U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown travels around the state holding economic round tables with local business and community leaders, he hears the same thing. Ohio must emphasize education more. Young, educated Ohioans keep moving away. Cities are hurting. And the federal government needs to partner more with businesses to spark the innovation and creativity that will spawn the next generation of companies. Not exactly fresh concerns or unique to one region of the state, Brown said Monday after the fifth of six discussions -- this one held in a crowded conference room at the Thomarios plant on Jacoby Road. Read More...

Link contains a photo. From the 2/25/07 Sandusky Register: Brown vows focus on economy, jobs By TOM JACKSON | Sunday February 25 2007, 1:49am SANDUSKY U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown says he blames NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and trade policies with China for much of the problems being experienced by Erie County’s Delphi and Automotive Components Holdings plants. “The domestic car industry was hurt by NAFTA as much as any other industry,” Brown said. Brown, a Democrat elected to the Senate in November, met for about 40 minutes Thursday with Sandusky Register reporters and editors, and spent much of his time discussing pocketbook issues. Read More...

Link contains a photo. From the 5/27/07 DDN: Jehovah's Witness meeting hall tagged for relocation Miamisburg-Springboro Pike site will be demolished to make way for $41M Austin Pike interchange. By Lawrence Budd Staff Writer Sunday, May 27, 2007 MIAMI TWP. — — After 30 years, the meeting hall for about 250 Jehovah's Witnesses must move to make way for the $41 million Austin Pike interchange. By June, state transportation officials are expected to finish up right of way and other construction plans. This will bring a step closer completion of construction on the interchange expected to open in late 2010 or early 2011. ... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/27/ddn052707austin.html

From the 5/24/07 DDN: Children's Med Center buys city land By Lawrence Budd Staff Writer Thursday, May 24, 2007 SPRINGBORO — Add Children's Medical Center of Dayton to the list of businesses lining up for spots in the city's new industrial park near the yet-to-be-constructed Austin Pike interchange. Last Thursday, Springboro City Council approved a contract to sell to the hospital 11 acres in the South Tech Industrial Park for $770,000. "We're very interested in Springboro," spokeswoman Arundi Venkayya-Cox said. ... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/neighbors/2007/05/24/ddn052407z3childrens.html

From the 5/16/07 DDN: Developer buying 100 more acres near Austin Pike Surrounding communities gearing up for construction of proposed Interstate 75 interchange construction. By Lisa A. Bernard Staff Writer Wednesday, May 16, 2007 MIAMISBURG — — A deal is expected to be finalized today that will provide RG Properties Inc. the option to buy more than 100 acres of land near Austin Pike. The deal is contingent upon RG developing a master plan for the 121-acre site, which sits at the northwest corner of Interstate 75 and Austin Pike. The property was purchased in 2003 by the Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District to make way for an anticipated $44.6 million interchange. ... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/05/16/ddn051607tid.html

From the 4/30/07 DDN: MAP: Planned reroute FAA rule may lead to Austin Pike relocation By John Nolan Staff Writer Monday, April 30, 2007 MIAMI TWP., Montgomery County — The county is proposing to relocate a section of Austin Pike adjacent to Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport in order to meet a federal requirement to increase safety buffers between roads and airport runways. The key is whether the Federal Aviation Administration will be willing to cover the estimated $3 million that it will cost to loop part of the one-mile Austin Pike section as much as 500 feet north of where it now lies, said Joe Litvin, the Montgomery County engineer. "If they don't supply the funding, we can't afford to move the road on our own," Litvin said. ... http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/29/ddn043007airportroad.html

From the 6/5/07 Xenia Daily Gazette: Illegal Mexican pleads guilty to drug felonies Alvarado second of alleged gang to agree to prison, three more cases pending AARON KEITH HARRIS Staff Writer XENIA -- An illegal immigrant from Mexico, Monday, became the second of five men indicted for running a drug ring in Greene and Clark counties to plead guilty to felony charges in Greene County Common Pleas Court. Manuel Barajas Alvarado, 31, agreed to a 12-year prison sentence as part of his guilty plea to all eight charges in his November indictment, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, conspiracy, trafficking in cocaine, and possession of cocaine and criminal tools. Alvarado, who was in the United States illegally at the time of his arrest, also agreed to major drug offender and firearms specifications, said Greene County First Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Hunt. MORE: http://www.xeniagazette.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=155410&TM=46990.81

From the 6/5/07 Enquirer: Smoking ban faces challenge Group: Bar sales down since enforcement began BY JON NEWBERRY | [email protected] A Cincinnati-based trade group that represents hundreds of bar owners is proposing to roll back Ohio's smoking ban and allow smoking in certain bars and other establishments. Representatives of the Buckeye Liquor Permit Holders Association submitted a proposed constitutional amendment along with 1,417 signatures to the state's attorney general Monday, said Patrick Carroll, the group's president. The attorney general's office is expected to take about 10 days to review the language, he said. Once that happens, the group intends to circulate petitions in bars across the state to gather the 140,000 signatures needed to have the proposal introduced in the legislature before the current session ends this month, Carroll said. Read more: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070605/NEWS01/706050409/

From the 6/5/07 Dispatch: School-funding plan may wait Backers consider '08 ballot for state amendment Tuesday, June 5, 2007 3:32 AM By Catherine Candisky THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A constitutional amendment promising to fix Ohio's school-funding system might not be on the November ballot as planned. Two months before the filing deadline, the education groups pushing the proposal will meet this week to assess the status of their petition drive and fundraising efforts. Publicly, backers say the plan to put the issue before Ohio voters this fall is unchanged. But privately, many say they might need to wait until November 2008 to give the campaign more time to collect signatures, raise campaign money and build support. http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/06/05/ballot05.ART_ART_06-05-07_B1_GS6U04A.html?type=rss&cat=21

From Business First of Columbus, 6/4/07: Skilken poised to put up offices, stores on Hilliard connector road Business First of Columbus - June 1, 2007 by Brian R. Ball Business First Skilken Development LLC plans to annex 125 acres in Norwich Township into Hilliard for a deal that's also expected to expand soccer fields at the neighboring Hilliard Municipal Park. The Columbus developer has filed a petition to annex the Jerman family property at 6287 Scioto Darby Creek Road, which it has in contract to buy. Hilliard Development Director David Meeks said the proposed annexation would clear the way for a retail and office park of about 85 acres along a planned connector street between Cosgray and Alton Darby Creek roads. Meeks said the plan also calls for the city to swap 30 acres where the Hilliard Ohio Soccer Association operates 30 fields for 60 acres of the Jerman property abutting Hilliard Municipal Park. More at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/06/04/story7.html

From the 6/5/07 News-Herald: Geauga hospital plans growth Medical center eyes $4.5-million expansion of wing By: Diane Ryder [email protected] 06/05/2007 University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center is growing again, this time with a 6,600-square-foot, $4.5 million expansion of the Richard J. Frenchie Surgery Pavilion... http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18426211&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6 Jefferson schools: The next chapter Ashtabula Star Beacon, 6/4/07 Jefferson school officials, faculty, students and area residents stood in the place between dirt and mud Sunday afternoon as more than 100 people begged off the rain for a school groundbreaking... New LCCC center caters to small businesses Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/2/07 Lorain County Community College on Thursday opened its $8 million Entrepreneurship Innovation Center, which brings together a number of services already aimed at helping local businesses... Old city hall may boost potential new businesses Ashtabula Star Beacon, 6/2/07 With a price tag of $80,000 to remove asbestos and $175,000 to demolish, the city can't afford to bring down the old municipal building. And the city isn't using it, either... Overhaul is ahead for Highland Apartments Ashtabula Star Beacon, 5/31/07 A multi-million dollar face lift is ahead for the Highland Place Apartments on West Main Road, City Council learned at Tuesday's regular meeting...

From the 6/5/07 Massillon Independent: Land rezoning approved for Northwood homes By MATTHEW RINK [email protected] A housing development unique to Massillon jumped one hurdle Monday, as City Council approved rezoning land in the city’s downtown for its construction. Rick Hall and Sharon Hodgson of Northwood Development want to build a dozen two- and three-story townhouse homes on a 0.76-acre tract bound by Federal and North avenues to the north and south and by Third and Fourth streets Northeast to the east and west. The homes will be built in the brownstone-style architecture popularized in cities like Boston... http://www.indeonline.com/index.php?ID=17150&r=2&Category=3

From the 6/4/07 Dayton Business Journal: Hospital plots expansion in Beavercreek Dayton Business Journal - June 1, 2007 by Tracy Kershaw-Staley DBJ Staff Reporter The Beavercreek Health Center has run out of space for new doctors, Lavoie said. The network always has planned to expand there, and the need has come quickly with physician demand, he said. Greene County is becoming another battleground for local hospital expansion. Cities such as Beavercreek are among the region's fastest growing in both population and commercial development, and the county stands to gain even more residents as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base gains new operations in coming years. No plans have been filed with the city for the second phase of the Beavercreek Health Center, said Jeff McGrath, city planning director. Kettering Health has other designs on Greene County, joining with Xenia City Schools and the Greene County YMCA to plan a community center in Xenia. The community center, likely to be attached to a new Xenia high school, would include medical offices staffed by Kettering. MORE: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/06/04/story6.html From same: Railway fix aids local businesses Dayton Business Journal - June 1, 2007 by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter A railway expansion project in Greenville will open 175 acres of farmland for the future widening of an industrial park. The more-than $1 million railway project is being used as a tool to boost economic development in Greenville, said Nancy Myers, city auditor and clerk of council. The project will extend the R.J. Corman Railroad Greenville to Ansonia branchline through the Greenville Industrial Park to service new tenants. The 4,600-foot rail line project has helped recruit Andersons Marathon Ethanol and incent Spartech Technologies Corp. to expand in the Greenville Industrial Park. It also will help build out the remaining 25 percent of the 275-acre park and open an opportunity for the city's economic development arm to develop the additional 175 acres of farmland south of the park, Myers said. Construction on the project should start in the coming weeks and be finished by late August or early September, Myers said. MORE: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/06/04/story3.html Residents concerned about rentals in St. Paris Urbana Daily Citizen, 6/5/07 Village council held a second reading on and public hearing for a proposed ordinance to rezone land along Walnut Street on Monday evening. Prior to the regular council session, a public hearing was held on an ordinance to rezone two parcels of land located across from the intersection of Walnut Street and Bowersock Avenue from an R-2 residential designation to an R-3 designation. The property is owned by Estel Ray Shore. Ron Riley is interested in constructing multi-family rental units on the property, which is proposed to include 10 buildings with three units in each building. During the hearing, Walnut Street resident Ed Conley questioned whether the units are designated as low-income. Riley was not present for the public hearing but did answer questions during council's regular session. He said they are not low-income units. Hospital to double size of medical office Dayton Business Journal, 6/4/07 Wilson Memorial Hospital is in the midst of an expansion of its medical office near Fort Laramie. The 1,500-square-foot addition will double the size of the building, which houses the family practice of Dr. Michael Ballas. The project will cost $300,000 and Wilson Memorial expects to complete the construction in July. The office opened in 2000 when Wilson Memorial, a Sidney hospital, decided it needed a family practice in the Fort Laramie area. "It's to better accommodate our patients and allow more room for employees and staff," said Wilson Memorial spokeswoman Margo O'Leary. The project includes an expanded lobby and waiting room area, three new patient exam rooms, a larger laboratory and additional nursing and staff work areas. Hobart nature preserve opens today Dayton Daily News, 6/4/07 The first official look at the Hobart Urban Nature Preserve will come today with a grand opening program and guided tours of the preserve being developed on 80 acres surrounded by residential streets. Development of the preserve on former farm land donated to the Miami County Park District a decade ago by the William and Peter Hobart, William Howell and Robert Bravo families of the Hobart Brothers Co. will take years, but it is far enough along that it's being opened to visitors. Walking tours will follow an 11 a.m. opening ceremony, with a second tour planned for 7 p.m. for those unable to attend the morning events. The park is behind houses along Dorset Road, Ridge Avenue, McKaig Avenue and West Main Street. Jerry Eldred, county park district executive director, said the preserve is a work in progress, with more than $1.3 million spent so far on elements such as a lake, wetlands, prairies and a walking trail. "You won't find benches, playground equipment. You will find birds, wildlife," Eldred said.

Price Hill: Cedar Grove Phase II Building Cincinnati, 6/1/07 1002 Seton Avenue City Council has agreed unanimously to extend a $300,000 conditional loan to Price Hill Will (PHW) for Phase II of their Cedar Grove project. The money will be spent on the Buy-Improve-Sell program to rehab four homes within the boundaries of Glenway, Seton, W Eighth and Sunset. PHW is allowed $75,000 per home for the purchase and rehab work. (Any costs above that are borne by PHW.) The rehabbed homes are then sold to owner-occupiers, who are required to live there for at least three years. If the owner sells before the three years have elapsed, half of any profit from the sale goes back to PHW. Those funds would then be channeled into future projects. Part of the subsidy from the city is meant to help keep prices low enough that the homes will become more attractive to those seeking to own a home. PHW is undertaking this project because of fears of deteriorating housing stock, lowering homeownership rates, blight and crime in the neighborhood. Phase I included the rehab of four homes, two of which have been purchased. Their first house, 1002 Seton Ave, sold for $60,500 last July. The properties for Phase II have not yet been decided. PHW expects that it can rehab and resell 50 homes over the life of this program. WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW GOOGLE AERIAL MAP http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/06/price-hill-cedar-grove-phase-ii-funded.html