buildingcincinnati

From the 2/16/07 Toledo Free Press: PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 TRANSPORTATION Boyer could be headed for scrap yard By Justin R. Kalmes Toledo Free Press Metro Editor [email protected] She was the “Queen of the Lakes” when she launched, but what was once the world's largest bulk freighter is destined for the scrap yard if she doesn't soon receive some needed support. The S.S. Willis B. Boyer Museum Ship, which has graced the eastern banks of the Maumee River for nearly 20 years, is in jeopardy of deteriorating to an irreparable state due to a lack of funding from the City of Toledo, which purchased the ship in 1986, said Paul LaMarre, the Boyer's executive director. For the second consecutive year, he said, the ship has had to operate without an operating budget because of the city's fiscal constraints. “With our current funding situation, we can only do so much to fight the deterioration that's taking place,” LaMarre said. “In all reality, on her current course, the ship could survive one or two more years before being destined for the scrap yard.” ... http://toledofreepress.com/?id=4935

Story from the 2/16/07 Blade. Demolition photos from the 2/17/07 Blade: PHOTO: Housing Director Kattie Bond and Housing Commissioner Michael Badik watch the demolition yesterday of the Ira Apartments, built in 1928, at the corner of Dorr Street and Parkside Boulevard. ( THE BLADE/LORI KING ) PHOTO: City of Toledo Law Director John Madigan saves a brick from the building, which was on the mayor’s list of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ properties that are deemed the most dangerous or the most unsightly in the city. The city’s Department of Neighborhoods worked for years to find a developer to submit a development plan. After several transfers of ownership, the current owner elected to demolish the structure. 1928 apartment building being razed Demolition is scheduled to begin today on the once-stately Ira Apartments building at Dorr Street and Parkside Boulevard. A spokesman for Mayor Carty Finkbeiner announced the planned razing yesterday. The 1928 structure, vacant for about 15 years, is on the mayor's "Dirty Dozen" list of dangerous and unsightly structures. In October, Judge C. Allen McConnell of Municipal Housing Court granted the owners a stay on a city demolition order for one last attempt at finding a developer, but it was not successful. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070216/NEWS16/702160363/-1/RSS10 http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070217/NEWS16/70217012/-1/RSS10

From the 5/20/07 Newark Advocate: Pataskala debate about November tax issue heats up By CHAD KLIMACK Advocate Reporter PATASKALA -- Pataskala residents might vote on a new tax issue in November. Some Pataskala City Council members appear to support placing a funding issue on the November ballot, while at least one other does not. The debate likely will play out in the coming weeks, because the deadline for placing issues on the November ballot is Aug. 23. The council's next meeting is June 4. Full story at http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070520/NEWS01/705200308/1002/rss01

Link contains a photo. From the 5/20/07 News-Herald: Federal crackdown rattles community Families gather in Painesville, protest door-to-door search for illegal immigrants Justin Maynor 05/20/2007 Painesville's Hispanic immigrant community was stirring Saturday amidst a crackdown on illegal aliens by federal agents. The door-to-door raids started early Friday morning, with armed officers of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency targeting individuals who had not complied with deportation orders. Painesville City Police Sgt. Eric Miller said local officers accompanied the agents, who were looking for 15 to 18 specific individuals who had already been through deportation hearings but had not left the country. Carl Rusnok, communications director for the central region of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, said the operation was part of a nationwide effort to round up fugitives. "The operation is called 'Return to Sender,' and it is operated by our Fugitive Operations Team," he said. "The Fugitive Operations Teams are specifically trained and dedicated to target aliens who have received final orders of deportation from a federal immigration judge but have refused to comply with those orders." MORE: http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18364328&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6

From the 5/20/07 DDN: Work begins on Southview expansion By Anthony Gottschlich Staff Writer Sunday, May 20, 2007 WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County — Grandview Medical Center broke ground last week on an $18 million expansion of its Southview Hospital campus at Ohio 725 and Yankee Street. Hospital leaders said the 80,000-square-foot Yankee Medical Arts Center will house doctors offices, a cardiac rehabilitation center and a medical imaging area. "This new building, along with the new access from Yankee Street, will give Southview Hospital a more noticeable presence and easier access," said Roy Chew, president of Grandview Medical Center, which includes Grandview and Southview hospitals. "We will have a large, attractive new building that will expand our services to meet the needs of the citizens in the surrounding communities we serve," Chew said. Completion of the two-story building, Southview's first major expansion in a decade, is projected for this fall, the same time a similar expansion should be completed for Sycamore Hospital in Miamisburg. Sycamore, Grandview and Southview are all part of the Kettering Medical Center Network. MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/20/ddn052007southview.html

Link contains photos. From the 5/20/07 Enquirer: Cops explain shooting Drug sting nets fake, real weapons BY JAMES MCNAIR | [email protected] A Cincinnati police officer shot a Mount Auburn man twice - critically injuring him - after the man ran toward officers with a handgun and ignored orders to stop, police officials said Saturday. A drug deal, a gun sale and a fight in an Over-the-Rhine park Friday night preceded the shooting of the 19-year-old man. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070520/NEWS01/705200355/

SUBDIVISION IN SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP Toledo Blade, 5/20/07 Electricians Jake Overcashier, foreground, and Tom Denniston wire a house under construction in Springfield Township in the Plum Grove subdivision, off Dorr Street a half-mile west of McCord Raod. Developer Eagle Creek Builder plans 75 houses priced between $180,000 and $272,000. Thirteen houses are either completed or under construction.

From Cincinnati.com, 5/18/07: Deerfield Zoning Commission: No zoning change for developer Contributed By Carrie Whitaker | The Enquirer The Deerfield Township Zoning Commission voted unanimously at its May 14 meeting not to allow a zoning change for construction of single-family homes, condominiums and businesses on a plot of land north of Fields Ertel Road and west of Wilkens Boulevard. The land is currently zoned for single-family homes and the proposed change would allow a mix of single- and multi-family housing and three acres of business on nearly 80 acres. Prior to the Zoning Commission’s decision, the Warren County Regional Planning Commission approved the change, as long as the developer addressed traffic concerns. http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100227&sid=112855

Link contains other photos. From the 5/20/07 Blade: PHOTO: The four-story facility is across Cherry Street from the main hospital. An open house is today from 2 to 4:30 p.m. ( THE BLADE/LORI KING ) $59 MILLION FACILITY St. Vincent putting final touches on new heart center Patient move-in begins June 2 By JULIE M. McKINNON BLADE STAFF WRITER With fresh calla lilies under the skylight, cozy upholstered furniture by fireplaces, and a Brioche Dore cafe, the lobby for the new $59 million, four-story building across Cherry Street from St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center resembles a hotel. Yet just beyond the potted palms and other tropical plants in the Regional Heart & Vascular Center's lobby is an array of medical equipment to perform tests and procedures for adult cardiac care. Three operating rooms are upstairs, as are 72 private patient rooms with pull-out couches for relatives so they can stay around the clock. Providing hotel-like comfort and privacy for patients and their families was the goal for the building, the centerpiece of a $90 million project to upgrade St. Vincent, which was founded 152 years ago. Renovations in the main hospital, including converting most rooms to private, are expected to be completed in 2010. More at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070520/NEWS32/705200306/-1/NEWS

From the 5/19/07 Springfield News-Sun: Smoking ban enforcement fires up Private clubs must comply with law, rules judge, and that means no more smoking at Moose Lodge. By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Saturday, May 19, 2007 Based on the way in which the Ohio smoking ban was presented to voters who approved the measure in November, many people thought private clubs would be exempt from the law, a local club administrator said Friday. But after a judge ruled this week that private clubs must comply with the smoking ban, Moose Lodge administrator John Hayes said his more than 1,000 members have little choice but to comply. Read more: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/18/sns051907smokingban.html From the 5/19/07 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Veterans snuff out cigarettes, and they‘re not happy Bette Pearce | The Chronicle-Telegram ELYRIA — Even nonsmoking members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1079 in Elyria are burning mad about a Franklin County judge’s recent ruling that private clubs can’t allow smoking. The veterans and relatives of veterans who were gathered at the hall Friday afternoon for conversation and beverages left their cigarettes in purses and pockets. “It’s a real kick in the butt,” 72-year-old Korean War veteran Henry Wilson, a smoker, said laughing. Read more: http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/05/19/veterans-snuff-out-cigarettes-and-theyre-not-happy/ From the 5/19/07 Dispatch: Mulch, cigarette butts a bad mix Half a dozen fires reported recently Saturday, May 19, 2007 3:35 AM By Gavin Off THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The fire started as Kathy Meadows sat down to eat a plate of spaghetti. Within minutes, the flames climbed up the shrubs outside her kitchen window and spread to her apartment's vinyl siding. "It was a horrible, frightening thing," said Meadows, 61. "It looked like it was coming in." Read more: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/05/19/mulch.ART_ART_05-19-07_B1_946OV7E.html?type=rss&cat=21

From the 5/18/07 Greenville Daily Advocate: Charitable giving hurt by ban Bob Robinson Managing Editor GREENVILLE - Five out of six charitable organizations have said their business is down due to the smoking ban. And less business means less money for their charities. Glenna Despinette of the American Legion said their income is definitely down since they had to drop smoking. Read more: http://www.dailyadvocate.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=123931&TM=835.078

From the 5/20/07 Middletown Journal: School funding could change Amendments, expanded exemptions and tax freezes for seniors on the minds of lawmakers. By Megan Gildow Staff Writer Sunday, May 20, 2007 MIDDLETOWN — Property owners who "can't get no satisfaction" with Ohio's school funding system may have reason to sing with a proposed amendment that would alleviate the burden of funding schools from local homeowners and provide some relief for senior citizens and others on fixed incomes. Middletown voters rejected a proposed tax levy May 8 that would increase taxes $120 for the owner of a $100,000 home — and many residents have said that the increase would be too much for those on a fixed income, such as retirees or people with disabilities. In addition to the Getting it Right! for Ohio's Future amendment, two other proposals to relieve the burden of property taxes for those on fixed incomes are on the horizon. http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/19/mj052007taxrelief.html

From the 5/18/07 Defiance Crescent-News: Education funding issue gains momentum Petitions being circulated in six-county area By JACK PALMER palmer@crescent-news A proposed constitutional amendment which would establish a new process for determining how to fund Ohio's public schools appears to be gaining momentum around the area. "If the legislature can fund it, I think it has promise," said Defiance City Schools superintendent Mike Struble, whose board of education will discuss the issue at Monday's meeting. "At the very least it needs to get on the November ballot so people can discuss and debate it." The proposed amendment is supported by 12 education advocate organizations including the Ohio Parent Teacher Association, Buckeye Association of School Administrators, Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, Ohio Education Association and Ohio School Boards Association. http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/2020721

Agreed. The best advice is to poke around through some of the topics. You'll catch on to what it's all about and get a sense of who some of the regular personalities are. Welcome aboard!

Link contains photos. From the 5/19/07 Blade: GM REFUELING LOCAL PLANTS Toledo Powertrain to get $332M, Defiance site $61M By MARK REITER BLADE BUSINESS WRITER Nearly 15 months after learning they were getting production of a new rear-wheel drive transmission, General Motors Corp. employees at a Toledo factory were told yesterday that another multimillion-dollar investment is being made in the Alexis Road plant. Sharing the stage with Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and United Auto Workers leaders, GM executive John Buttermore announced to hundreds of cheering Toledo Powertrain employees that they will get production of the front-wheel drive version of the six-speed transmission. The $332 million investment is being made on top of $540 million the company is spending in the factory to assemble the more fuel-efficient transmissions. The six-speed, rear-wheel drive units are to go into production in October, 2008. ... Contact Mark Reiter at:[email protected] 419-724-6096. GM BY THE NUMBERS $332 million in Toledo - New investment for tooling, other costs for new front-wheeldrive transmissions $540 million in Toledo - Money spent for plant addition, tooling for rearwheel- drive transmissions $61 million in Defiance - Pays for new technology for engine blocks 720 jobs - Investments to preserve 600 jobs in Toledo, 120 in Defiance http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070519/BUSINESS02/70519001/-1/RSS04

A release from the OSU Extension, 5/17/07: Ohio's lagging ethanol production on the rise Published on 05/17/2007 By Candace Pollock, OSU Extension COLUMBUS -- Ohio is lagging behind other major corn-producing states in the ethanol production race, but being in that position could be more lucrative for Ohio in the long term, says an Ohio State University Extension agricultural economist. Matt Roberts, an assistant professor with the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economists, said that the factors that are holding Ohio back in ethanol plant construction are the same ones that could create an industry boom. More at: http://www.ofbf.org/page/STER-73AJXX/?OpenDocument

From the 5/19/07 DDN: Work on bridges will slow down motorists Reconstruction project on Ohio 4 beginning Monday could be 'a big pain in the neck,' city engineer says. By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Saturday, May 19, 2007 DAYTON — Tired of orange barrels yet? Brace yourself. On Monday, the city of Dayton begins a $6.3 million bridge reconstruction project on Ohio 4 that won't be completed until December 2008. "It will be a big pain in the neck," said Cory Kinnison, chief engineer for the city's construction bureau. Two side-by-side bridges will be reconstructed, starting with the southbound one. Lanes in-bound to Dayton will shift to the right and outbound ones will cross the median, go over the north bridge and back onto the southbound roadway, Kinnison said. Ohio 4 will remain open throughout the project but periodic lane closures coinciding with nonpeak traffic hours will occur over the next few weeks. Keowee Street also will close at various times as existing bridges are demolished and new bridge beams are installed. The ramp from northbound Ohio 4 to southbound Keowee Street will close Monday for two days. The detour will be on Troy and Valley streets. MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/19/ddn051907route4bridge.html Cedar Bog to break ground on center Springfield News-Sun, 5/18/07 For 20 years Cedar Bog enthusiasts have talked about building an indoor education center. At 1 p.m. Sunday, a shovel full of dirt will make their dreams come true. After a year of rallying state and local support, the Cedar Bog Association and the Ohio Historical Society will have a groundbreaking ceremony to start the center's 18-month long construction process with a tentative opening set for spring 2008. The Bog, a 427-acre fen, is the southernmost example of a subarctic ecosystem that was formed 20,000 years ago after the glaciers drifted into central Ohio and melted. The Bog is at 980 Woodburn Road in Urbana Twp. The state legislature earmarked $800,000 in 1999 for the education center, an accomplishment by former Bog manager Terry Jaworski, who died in 2005 from natural causes. Plan aims to poise city for prosperous future Dayton Daily News, 5/10/07 In 2027, this Great Miami River city could be a bustling hub of high-tech jobs, verdant open spaces and well-maintained homes. Or it could be just another rusted-out former industrial river town. The goals of a proposed city Comprehensive Plan — unanimously endorsed last week by the City Commission and Planning Commission — is to ensure the former rather than the latter. Such a plan looks 20 years into the future to help shape the growth and priorities of the city. The Plan It Piqua group — citizens appointed by the City Commission — will unveil strategies for making the goals a reality at a 7 p.m. Community Choices Public Meeting on May 22 in City Commission chambers.

Link contains photos. From the 5/19/07 Enquirer: Five shot in separate incidents BY QUAN TRUONG | [email protected] A Cincinnati Vortex officer shot and critically wounded an armed man in Over-the-Rhine about 9:15 p.m. Friday. Minutes earlier, at about 9 p.m., four people in a Winton Hills parking lot were shot, one critically, by an unknown assailant. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070519/NEWS01/305190011/

From the 5/17/07 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Elyria Schools begin land buys District acquires first three parcels for new EHS Shawn Foucher | The Chronicle-Telegram ELYRIA — Elyria school officials are wasting no time snatching up property for the new high school, which will use the existing footprint plus expand at least a block to the south. Just eight days after Elyria voters approved a 3.37-mill bond issue to build a new Elyria High School, the school board voted Wednesday to purchase three parcels of land that make up a chunk of property at the corner of Middle Avenue and Sixth Street... Contact Shawn Foucher at 329-7197 or [email protected]. http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/05/17/elyria-schools-begin-land-buys/

Ohio River Trail: Three alternatives Building Cincinnati The segment of the planned Ohio River Trail that links Theodore M. Berry Park to Lunken Airport has been narrowed down to three alternatives. The City has been meeting with the Ohio River Trail Workgroup, which is composed of representatives of Ohio River Way, Leadership Cincinnati, OKI, the Chamber of Commerce, SORTA, and the Hamilton County Park District. They have also been in close contact with all of the local utilities and local and national transporation concerns who own or have a stake in the property involved in this project. One major consideration has been SORTA's ownership of the Oasis Line and its possible future use for rail transit in the Eastern Corridor project. The last public meeting held for this project was January 26, 2007, at the Mt. Washington Community Center. No further meetings have been scheduled, and no deadline has been set for selecting one of the three alternatives. (In other words, you can still send feedback.) Meanwhile, design is ongoing on the section of trail from Wilmer Road to Carrel Street. Construction on this section should begin later this year. What type of trail is this? While the planning is still in its preliminary stages, the trail is envisioned as a 15-foot wide paved trail which uses federal design standards and is ADA compliant. The trail may narrow at certain points (such as bridges) and will also contains "Share the Road" segments on less-traveled streets. Trail segments adjacent to an active rail line will have a minimum separation of 11 feet from the centerline of the track. A six-foot barrier would separate the trail from the rail line in all instances where the trail comes within 30 feet of the track. North Alignment ($16M-$18M)* This option begins at Carrel Street, shares the road along Dumont Street, and then joins a side path along Eastern Avenue. It then heads north of the SORTA right of way over Delta Avenue. Two more road sharing segments occur at Hoff Street and Gladstone Avenue, before it eventually crosses over to the south side of the tracks, crosses over Riverside Drive on the Rookwood Overpass, and meets up with the existing trail at Berry Park. Major benefits with this alignment are grade separations at major street crossings, great access to neighborhoods to the north, low maintenance and better compatibility with future light rail. Problems are the three railroad crossings, unstable hillside between the trail and Columbia Parkway, poor access to points south of the trail and poor views of the river and Downtown. River Alignment ($18M-$20M)* This option begins at Carrel and extends as a side path along Carrel and Kellogg Avenue to Riverside East Academy. Existing trail there follows the riverbank to Corbin Street and then returns north to Riverside Drive, where it follows a side path to Gotham Street. At this point it returns to the riverbank. Near Lancaster Ave, the trail crosses Riverside Drive and follows the south side of the SORTA right of way, over the Rookwood Overpass, to Berry Park. Benefits are that the trail provides visual interest, has plenty of adjacent places for trailheads and overlooks, uses existing trail investments and is compatible with future rail use. Drawbacks are flooding and the necessary maintenance, unstable riverbank, at-grade street crossings and potential costly property acquisitions. Temporary Alignment ($5.4M-$6M)* Essentially, this alignment will follow the unused north railroad track, which would have to be removed. Access from Carrel would come from a side path. Near Lancaster Avenue, the trail crosses to the south side of the tracks, continues over the Rookwood Overpass and connects to Berry Park. The major benefit is the straight, flat alignment. It would be grade separated at major street crossings and has decent connections to adjacent neighborhoods. Unfortunately, future rail use would kill this section of trail. Even getting all of the agencies and stakeholders involved to agree on terms of this plan could take many, many years. The trail would also be too close to an active rail line (8 feet). There could be points when riders are pinned between hillside and train. Plus the views suck. For more info, contact John Heilman at OKI: (513)621-6300 or [email protected]. * I wouldn't pay any attention to these cost estimates, except how they relate to each other. The alternatives are in their preliminary stages and don't account for the impacts of future rail use on the cost, nor do they account for property acquisition. http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/05/ohio-river-trail-three-alternatives.html

From the 5/18/07 Blade: More wind turbines may sprout in Wood County BOWLING GREEN - Nearly 30 more wind turbines could be in store for Wood County. American Municipal Power-Ohio recently announced a joint partnership with JW Great Lakes Wind LLC for the development of up to 49.9 megawatts of wind-powered electricity on a proposed site northwest of the existing four turbines at the Wood County landfill. Most commercial-sized turbines, including those four in operation, generate up to 1.7 megawatts of electricity. To generate 49.9 megawatts, AMP-Ohio and JW Great Lakes Wind would have to install at least 29 turbines of that capacity. The AMP-Ohio Web site has a press release that states the two parties still have to determine if the project is economically feasible before proceeding. It will spend the next year doing that study. If the study shows the project is viable, construction would occur in 2008 and 2009, the release said. Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070518/NEWS17/705180347/-1/RSS08

Link contains a photo. From the 5/18/07 Blade: TRANSMISSION FACILITIES GM to invest $389 million in Toledo and millions more in Defiance HOMER BRICKEY BLADE SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER General Motors Corp. said today it will invest $332 million in a Toledo factory to add production of more fuel-efficient front-wheel-drive transmissions, and it plans to invest millions more in a Defiance powertrain plant. As part of a program affecting five GM plants and that will help secure the future of the Toledo factory on Alexis Road, the automaker said it will spend $332 million for the equipment and other costs to add the front-wheel-drive six-speed transmissions to the rear-wheel drive variety soon to be made there. A $600 million project is under way to build an addition and buy equipment to build the rear-wheel product. The six-speed powertrains are better performing than the four-speed variety made at the plant now. The latest project, to be under construction in July and be finished by 2010, will retain 600 jobs, GM officials said. The company said it would invest another $57 million for vendor tooling and other purposes to support the transmission plant. ... Contact Homer Brickey at: [email protected] or 419-724-6129. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070518/BUSINESS02/705180360/-1/RSS04 From the AP, 5/18/07: GM CEO reacts to sale of rival Chrysler By COREY WILLIAMS The Associated Press DETROIT — General Motors Corp. has paid close attention to the sale of rival Chrysler to a private equity firm, but doesn’t expect other auto companies to travel a similar path, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said Thursday. ‘‘I don’t see a mad rush to privatize in our sector,’’ Wagoner said following a speech to female business leaders in Detroit. ‘‘I see this as an individual case. Wagoner said new technology, alternative fuel sources and union negotiations are higher on GM’s priority list. ... http://tribune-chronicle.com/articles.asp?articleID=18198

From the 5/18/07 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Ridgeville hires firm to attract business Melissa Linebrink | The Chronicle-Telegram NORTH RIDGEVILLE The city has hired a Cleveland-based company to sell the city to businesses as a place where they should set up shop. Public Sector Solutions, which is associated with Colliers Ostendorf-Morris, was hired to ramp up the citys economic development efforts. Plus, it was cheaper, Mayor Dave Gillock said. If we would have hired a person, wed have had to pay a salary and benefits, but the annual contract with Ostendorf-Morris is $54,000 per year, Gillock said. Contact Melissa Linebrink at 329-7155 or [email protected]. http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/05/18/ridgeville-hires-firm-to-attract-business/

Northside: American Can Factory Square Building Cincinnati From the "I just realized that this was never reported" file... Hamilton Avenue elevation Cincinnati City Council passed an ordinance in April that has kept the $20 million American Can Factory Square mixed-use project very much alive. The ordinance, which changes the zoning of the site from MG Manufacturing General to PD 47 (Planned Development District), passed unanimously. Bloomfield, Schon & Partners purchased the historic factory building in 2005. The project won a $750,000 Clean Ohio Fund grant last August to remediate the property. This should be completed by the end of the summer. Initial estimates in the development plan had Phase I of the project beginning 2Q2007, though this will no doubt be pushed back. Upon completion, the former factory will contain 93 market-rate apartments and 30,000 square feet of commercial space. There will also be a new 20,000 square foot office building, and 13,000 square feet of retail on the adjacent Myron Johnson property. Thirty for-sale townhomes along Langland St would be built in the second phase. The project will be LEED certified. WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW GOOGLE AERIAL MAP http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/05/northside-american-can-factory-square.html

From the 5/17/07 DDN: Sword plans fall through By Lawrence Budd Staff Writer Thursday, May 17, 2007 CLEARCREEK TWP., Warren County — For Sale: 22 acres on Lower Springboro Road previously envisioned as a college campus for Baptist missionaries for the deaf. The Rev. Fred Adams and the Texas-based World Mission Society wanted to build the Sword Deaf College, including a dormitory, classrooms and church on the land east of Ohio 48 in Clearcreek Twp. Problems with neighbors and local government officials, and the absence of adequate utilities, have caused Adams and the mission society to refocus on land in Liberty Twp., where they've "treated Pastor Adams with open arms," said Chad Fine, Realtor for the school's existing eight acres in Mason, as well as the Lower Springboro parcel. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/neighbors/2007/05/17/ddn051707z3sword.html