buildingcincinnati

Link contains a photo. From the 5/9/07 Enquirer: I-75's 'economic engine' BY JOHN ECKBERG | [email protected] WEST CHESTER TWP. - This Butler County township's economic growth can be measured by the growing number of cars, curb cuts and businesses that fill brand-new buildings. At the West Chester Chamber Alliance annual luncheon meeting on Tuesday, growth was easy to chart for Joseph A. Hinson, the chamber's president and chief executive: 650 people paying $30 to eat meals prepared by 14 local restaurants, country clubs or caterers. A few years ago, the annual meeting might have drawn 50 people. "Our goal is 1,200 (members)," Hinson said as he surveyed the capacity crowd spread across the floor at Skatetown USA. "The goal is to have quality members, though, not quantity. "What we want is to be the suburban chamber with a regional flavor. A million people live between Interstate 275 and I-675 around Dayton. West Chester has 2,500 businesses and is the economic engine of I-75." Small business owner Michael T. Murray, founder of Murray Multimedia Resources, agreed. Murray, who has won three national Telly Awards for his documentary videos, said the alliance typifies the vitality of the local business community and offers a great place for companies to network. "Probably 90 percent of my business comes from chamber contacts," he said. Today the alliance has 800 members, who live or own businesses from suburban Dayton south to Northern Kentucky. About 200 of those companies had booths at the 2007 West Chester Business Expo, where television personality Rupert Boneham, a former contestant on "Survivor: Pearl Islands" and "Survivor: All-Star" reality shows, encouraged people to mentor and support troubled youth. Growth is something that ripples through a region, said Matt Wheeler, 31, a Glendale resident who owns West Chester's Explosion Fitness Solutions. The company, which offers personal fitness training, opened at one location two years ago. Already it has outgrown that site. "We are now looking at opening two more," he said. "Business is going very well." http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070509/BIZ01/705090342/

From Northeast Suburban Life, 5/9/07: Symmes voters pass levy, approve park plan BY ROB DOWDY | [email protected] SYMMES TWP. - With only one issue on the ballot in Symmes Township, voters went to polls and approved a 0.9-mill 30-year levy that will help the township buy and redevelop the Rozzi's Fireworks property. According to unofficial results, 55.8 percent of those who voted approved the levy, while 44.2 percent voted against it. Sue Ethridge and her father Herb Taube were two of those voting in favor of the levy. Ethridge said she voted for the levy because a new park is exactly what the township needs, and it will increase property values in the surrounding areas. Taube said he voted for it because his grandchildren would benefit from a new park to play in. The levy will generate $7.75 million to purchase the 51-acre property, with a portion of that money to be used for development of the site. Symmes officials plan to turn it into a recreation complex, complete with athletic fields, walking trails and other amenities. MORE: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20070509/NEWS01/705090368/ Oxford commission considers Southpointe zoning, Uptown alleys Oxford Press, 5/9/07 The planning commission considered a number of issues Tuesday, including the zoning for the potential annexation of the Southpointe development on U.S. 27. Southpointe, which includes the completed College Suites complex as well as a proposed tech park and residential area, will be considered for annexation by council this summer. The commission voted unanimously to recommend that council split the development into several different zoning designations based on the development plan, which has already been approved by the Butler County Commissioners. The issue was tabled from the April 10 commission meeting. Since then, city staff and developers have negotiated what zoning would be appropriate for the residential area on the south side of the development. Staff originally suggested zoning the area for single family homes while the developer wanted multi-family zoning for higher density condominium construction, said development architect Scott Webb. Jail of the future debuts Cincinnati Enquirer, 5/9/07 Future visitors to the newly completed $7 million addition to the Campbell County jail won't be as happy as those who were there Tuesday afternoon. Local officials munched on cookies and sipped punch at the grand opening for the facility. The austere metal bunks and concrete walls in one wing of the 256-bed addition were bathed with sunshine from skylights overhead. It will be housing prisoners in two to three weeks. The jail addition will alleviate crowding in the county jail. Bids are sought to build resort at Kincaid Lake Cincinnati Enquirer, 5/9/07 For more than a decade, state and local officials have worked to get a resort built at Kincaid Lake State Park. That might finally become a reality - without a dime of state money. The Kentucky Department of Parks is accepting bids from a private developer to build - and operate - a 48-room lodge and restaurant resort at Kincaid. The developer would finance the infrastructure and construction, then lease the land from the state to operate the resort. The state would receive a percentage of the profits. Although most resorts at other state parks have been built using state funds, the Kincaid public-private arrangement is nothing new - nine marinas have been built at state parks during the past 30 years using the concept.

http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2007/05/parker-flats-city-approves-nearly-1m-in.html Cincinnati City Council has approved of grants and loans that will help close a $1.7 million funding gap in the Parker Flats project. Last month, Council authorized a $450,000 loan to Middle Earth Developers from capital improvement funds. The loan, which would be subordinate to the agreement the developers have with LaSalle Bank, would be repaid from the sale of units. In a seperate ordinance, Council authorized a $500,000 grant. Councilmembers Ghiz and Monzel voted against the grant. The developers are working with LaSalle Bank to close the remaining gap. Background Parker Flats partner Jay Voss has stated that the higher cost of the project is due to a prevailing-wage lawsuit filed last June by Joseph Zimmer, the executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Building Trades Council, on behalf of the taxpayers. The lawsuit alleged that the Parker Flats project was subject to prevailing-wage provisions because the parking garage had been awarded a $839,000 subsidy. Voss had argued that the condos above the garage were a private development and therefore not subject to the provisions. Judge Richard Niehaus, in a September 5, 2006 hearing, called the garage and the condos "intricately related". In early January 2007, Voss, realizing where this was going, asked Niehaus to dismiss the case in exchange for a promise to pay the prevailing wage.

From the 5/9/07 Elyria Chronicle Telegram: Elyria Chronicle Telegram: Yes to EHS (5/9/07) Elyria Chronicle Telegram: Rigda: “I couldn’t be more proud” (5/9/07) A new school … in half a decade After levy triumph, now comes hard work of planning, building new EHS Shawn Foucher | The Chronicle-Telegram SHEFFIELD TWP. — Something that for decades in Elyria has seemed unreachable — a new high school — became a reality Tuesday when more than 60 percent of the city’s voters said it was time to build... Contact Shawn Foucher at 329-7197 or Email This Post http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/05/09/a-new-school-in-half-a-decade/ From the 5/9/07 News-Herald: Auburn Career Center expansion is denied Voters approve renewal levies in Kirtland and Willoughby-Eastlake Justin Maynor [email protected] 05/09/2007 Voters in Lake and Geauga counties said no to a bigger Auburn Career Center on Tuesday, denying a 26-year, $41.9 million bond issue for expansion... http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18317041&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6 Jefferson school construction can get started Ashtabula Star Beacon, 5/8/07 The call came in from Columbus that the Jefferson Local School District will be considered for funding in July...

From the 5/8/07 DDN: Troy City Council approves loan to developer for building By Staff Reports Tuesday, May 08, 2007 TROY — The Troy City Council on Monday approved a $380,000 loan to a developer for the purchase of the historic Dye Building on the Public Square. Medallion Investment Group, in exchange for the 30-year, 2-percent loan, committed to renovating the building's second and third floors and leasing the first floor for restaurant or retail. Medallion will make interest payments only the first year and is paying $440,000 for the building. The closing is set for May 15. Money for the loans comes from the city's Downtown Building Repair Loan Fund. Repayments will go back to the fund for projects. MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/08/ddn050807dyebuilding.html Three cities offer sites for dispatch center Dayton Daily News, 5/9/07 The cities of Dayton, Miamisburg and Kettering have submitted proposals to house a consolidated dispatch center, according to Michael Ratcliff, executive director of the Greater Dayton Mayors and Managers Association. Ratcliff, who Montgomery County Commissioners hired Tuesday to oversee dispatch center project management, said a 20,000- to 22,000-square-foot building would be needed to house the countywide 911 center. All three communities are considering joining the center, although it has become hugely controversial in Kettering. Ratcliff said the policy committee considering the plan already has decided it will not be placed in a community that does not participate in the consolidated dispatch center. The proposals are: • Dayton wants to build a facility on the grounds of the former Dayton Rehabilitation Center, 1613 Gettysburg Ave. • Miamisburg is offering two existing buildings on the site of the former Mound plant. • Kettering's proposal would reuse an old DESC finance facility.

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From the 2/12/07 ABJ: UA envisions Greek Village Neighborhood on eastern edge of campus; fraternity and sorority use is one option By Carol Biliczky Beacon Journal staff writer The University of Akron is in the very early stages of carving out three blocks near state Route 8 for a possible Greek Village. Eventually, all of UA's 22 fraternities and sororities could have their homes on the eastern edge of campus, just east of the proposed football stadium. Ted Curtis, vice president for capital planning and facilities management, envisions brick piers and iron fences to bound Greek Village and give it a sense of community unlike anything else on the campus... more at: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16679999.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news

Both from the 2/16/07 News-Herald: Airport expansion lands in council's hands WH councilman wonders how study could find 'no significant impact' By: Mark Tuscano [email protected] 02/16/2007 Willoughby Hills City Council members were extremely interested Thursday night in hearing Cuyahoga County Airport Administrator Kevin Delaney and C&S Engineers representatives Mark Petranchek and Matt Werham of the company working with Cuyahoga County on the proposed airport expansion plan. The presentation in the Willoughby Hills Community Center also drew Mayor Kenneth Lorenz, state Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chester Township, and more than two dozen city residents. Delaney and Werham gave city council an executive summary of their report, which included what they presented as a comprehensive study and analysis of the Cuyahoga County Airport's short-, medium- and long-range plans for development to meet expected demands. Read More... Will airport buy fly? Residents voice concerns as Mentor hosts meeting over possible county purchase of Lost Nation Airport By: Jenny May [email protected] 02/16/2007 More than 200 concerned area residents and Lost Nation Airport pilots packed the Mentor Senior Center on Thursday to voice concerns over Lake County's desire to take over the 40-acre airport. Mentor officials called the meeting so residents could get more information about the county's proposal to buy the airport if federal funds become available. Mentor city officials moderated the meeting, which included Lake County Commissioners Robert E. Aufuldish and Ray Sines and Willoughby Mayor David E. Anderson. Read More...

From the 2/12/07 News-Herald: Mentor residents invited to discuss airport plans Lake County has plans to take control of Lost Nation By: Jenny May [email protected] 02/12/2007 Mentor residents interested in hearing about potential plans for Lost Nation Airport in Willoughby are invited to a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mentor Senior Center. The meeting, to discuss a plan for the county to take over the airport, will be hosted by Mentor city officials. Lake County commissioners are expected to attend as well. Read More...

Deal shields Ohio's biggest private tract of forest land ODNR will operate Vinton County's Raccoon Ecological Management Area and provide recreational access. By Steve Bennish Monday, February 12, 2007 The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has finalized agreements that will permanently protect from development 15,896 acres of forest land in Vinton County. The landscape-size tract will remain a working forest where timber is harvested and the public will be given access for fishing, hunting and other recreation, ODNR said. The deal, which was more than a year in the making, is the upshot of an ODNR-led effort that also involved The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit environmental organization, and The Forestland Group, a North Carolina-based timberland investment management company that manages 2.1 million acres in 17 states. Read full article here: http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/02/12/ddn021207rema.html

Lakota Schools plan forums on new school Toledo Blade, 5/3/07 Lakota Local Schools plan to hold two more public forums to hear what people think about a proposal to use state dollars to help build a school for prekindergarten through high school. The 1,116-student district, which is in parts of Wood, Sandusky, and Seneca counties, could be on the ballot as soon as November to ask voters for the local share of the new school, which would be paid for in part by the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

Sylvania Township to get firehouse study Toledo Blade, 5/2/07 Sylvania Township trustees yesterday agreed to accept a proposal from an architectural firm for a feasibility study on possibly replacing three of the township's four fire stations. Cost estimates for the new stations and possible renovations to the township's fourth station would provide officials with a budget for a possible bond issue to pay for the improvements. A funding request could go on the ballot this November, Hugh Thomas, the township's administrator, said. Mr. Thomas offered the proposal for architectural and engineering services from Cole + Russell Architects of Cincinnati for the trustees' consideration. Plans call for the firm to provide professional services for a needs assessment including programming and options analysis to replace fire stations No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 on existing sites, and for additions or renovations to existing station No. 4.

St. Mary's Schools: No land deals in sight St. Mary's Evening Leader, 5/8/07 No one at the St. Marys School District has looked at any land or put an option on any land, but the facilities planning committee does have a solid plan and a list of locally funded initiatives to recommend to the board of education Wednesday night. Last Thursday, the school got word from the Ohio School Facilities Commission that they would receive state money for a new school. Monday night the FPC met for the last time to work out the final details of their recommendations to the board on Wednesday. The school has one fiscal year, starting in July, to garner local support, which requires the community to fund 39 percent of the building project while the OSFC funds 61 percent. The issue will be put before the public via a levy on the ballot in November. The building plan that the FPC adopted includes the decommission of both McBroom and Memorial, renovation of East, renovation of and addition to West and renovation to and addition to Dennings and build a new high/middle school complex for grades 6 to 12. Basic cost: state share: $28.02 million; local share: $17.91 million; total $45.93 million, which includes demolition costs for the old buildings. But there’s more to building a new complex than the basic box, there are also items that will have to be funded with local dollars—the local funding initiatives.

From ThisWeek Big Walnut, 5/6/07: Community center site deal OK'd Sunday, May 6, 2007 By MARK MAJOR ThisWeek Staff Writer Sunbury Village Council voted Wednesday to give 10 acres to the Eastern Delaware County Joint Recreational District so it can build a community center -- but only if voters Tuesday approve a $12-million issue to build it. The decision was greeted with applause from the roughly 20 levy supporters who turned out to witness the vote. Dave Martin, chair of the JRD's board, said council's approval of the agreement will help motivate levy supporters as they campaign before the May 8 vote. "You can say you know something's going to happen, but when it finally does, it gives you a real sense of excitement," said Martin. "This is the start of something ... that's going to be a benefit to the community," said an enthusiastic Mitch Potterf, Sunbury's representative on the JRD board. Council members agreed and said they looked forward to a victory at the polls. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/050607/Sunbury/News/050607-News-349690.html

From the 5/8/07 Dispatch: LIMITED DATA For-profit charters can hide finances Governor wants to end companies' education business Tuesday, May 8, 2007 3:31 AM By Jennifer Smith Richards THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Most say they're not turning a huge profit from the millions in state and federal funds they manage, but they hope to see solid returns someday. These companies don't have to tell the state how much money they make, although those that charge more than 20 percent in management fees must tell the state auditor something about how much they put back into the schools. The state doesn't track how many schools use management companies. The lack of data is one reason that Gov. Ted Strickland says he wants to outlaw for-profit education companies. "The legitimate goal of a for-profit company is to look out for the financial interests of their investors," he said in an interview last month. "I believe many of those schools are not producing results that are results we would hope for." There's little research on whether schools with for-profit or nonprofit management companies do better or worse than those without outside operators. Legislators are debating the issue now. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/05/08/forprofit.ART_ART_05-08-07_A1_KR6KE2J.html

Both from the 5/8/07 Enquirer: Cincy PD cop in court BY JENNIFER BAKER | [email protected] A veteran Cincinnati police officer accused of raping a woman he was supposed to help after she reported an assault is scheduled to appear in court this morning. A trial will be scheduled for William Simpson, 46, or he could enter a plea at 9 a.m. before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ethna M. Cooper, court records show. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070508/NEWS01/305080011/ Officer faces felony charges BY SHARON COOLIDGE | [email protected] A Cincinnati police officer accused of purposely losing an acquaintance's drunken driving citation and returning that person's driver's license now faces felony charges. A Hamilton County grand jury indicted Clayton Neel on charges of theft in office, tampering with records and tampering with evidence. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070508/NEWS01/705080402/

From the AP, 5/8/07: Asian immigrants say visa backlogs hurting families CLEVELAND (AP) — Asians, Ohio’s largest immigrant population in recent years, say visa backlogs are keeping families split up and that the problem isn’t getting enough attention in the national immigration debate. “They’re worried a new law will not consider people like them,” said Margaret Wong, an immigration lawyer with many Asian clients. “They’re worried it will only cover Latinos and not Asians.” Marcela Gallardo was 52 in 1995, a newly sworn-in American citizen, when she applied to have her children join her from the Philippines. Twelve years later, she’s still waiting for visas for them. “It’s very hard,” said Gallardo, who has been filling out forms, paying filing fees and praying. “I want to be with my kids, too. I’m getting old now, and I need them here.” As a naturalized U.S. citizen, Gallardo is entitled to bring over her children. But her family must wait in line for visas that are especially scarce for the Philippines, India and China. While Mexicans can walk across the border into America, Ohio immigrants arrive increasingly from India, China and the Pacific Rim. MORE: http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=353029

From the 5/8/07 Warren Tribune Chronicle: Volt talk has sparks flying at Lordstown By LARRY RINGLER Tribune Chronicle LORDSTOWN — Is the General Motors Corp. Lordstown Complex in line to create some sparks with a Volt? The complex is said to be the leading contender to build GM’s futuristic Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid car, according to a report Monday in industry publication Automotive News. The story said GM wants to build the small car in the United States, according to a source close to the project. ... [email protected] http://tribune-chronicle.com/articles.asp?articleID=17820

From the 5/8/07 Hamilton JournalNews: Edgewood seeks input on how to handle growth School district will host community forum tonight. By Megan Gildow Staff Writer Tuesday, May 08, 2007 TRENTON — Edgewood school officials want to start planning for the district's rapid growth, but to get the community's help, they'll throw in free dinner and child care. District officials will host a community forum tonight, beginning with a spaghetti dinner at 5 p.m. The purpose of the forum is to get community input on the future of the district, said spokesman John Thomas. "We're going to talk about growth and just get some input from the community as to what their thoughts are and what direction they think we ought to take," he said. Over the last decade, the district has seen one of the largest enrollment increases in the area at about 30 percent, according to the Ohio Department of Education. Since 2002, 700 new students have enrolled in the district, said Thomas. "We want everyone to come out," he said. "Really it is an information gathering, feedback kind of meeting." The district currently has five buildings — three elementary schools, a middle school and the high school. The elementary schools have reached capacity, and the district has taken steps such as converting areas like stages into classrooms and building an outside unit for art and music at Seven Mile Elementary, said Thomas. The district likely has not seen the end of the growth with more development planned in the Trenton area, he said. The district asked residents to register for the forum by April 20 in order to plan. The spaghetti dinner begins at 5 p.m. in the high school cafeteria and the forum will begin at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. Teachers and high school students have volunteered to provide child care services, said Thomas. Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2805 or [email protected]. http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/07/mj050807edgegrowth.html

Both from the 5/8/07 Enquirer: Hej! Ikea breaks ground BY MIKE BOYER | [email protected] WEST CHESTER TWP. – With a hearty, Hej! (Swedish for hello) Ikea, the one-of-a-kind home furnishings retailer, broke ground today for its first Ohio store. Local officials and a handful of native-costumed members of the Scandinavian Society of Cincinnati were on hand to mark the start of construction of the 339,000- square-foot store. The store will employ 400 and carry about 10,000 items designed by the 64-year-old company, which has 250 stores in 35 countries. The store, at Muhlhauser and Allen Roads, just west of Interstate 75, is expected to become a retail destination for Ikea fans across the Midwest. Site preparation is underway on the 56-acre site, which will have parking for 1,400 cars. Michael Maier, Ikea real estate manager, said steel for the building should be on site in six weeks and the distinctive blue and gold building enclosed by winter. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070508/BIZ01/305080029/1076/rss01 Scandinavian Society will welcome Ikea BY MIKE BOYER | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER A delegation from the Scandinavian Society of Cincinnati will be on hand at 11 a.m. today to welcome Swedish home furnishings icon Ikea, as the company and local leaders break ground on a 339,000-square-foot store at Allen and Muhlhauser roads, West Chester Township. "We love it. We're so excited,'' said Eva Forsgren of Landon, one of about two dozen members of the society planning to attend the groundbreaking. The new store, expected to employ about 400, is slated to open next spring. The store, Ikea's first in Ohio, will feature almost 10,000 exclusively designed items, three model homes, 50 room settings, a supervised children's area and a 300-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries. The bright blue and yellow store, expected to become a regional attraction for advocates of Ikea's mix of style and economy, will have parking for 1,400 vehicles. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070508/BIZ01/705080345/1076/rss01

From the 5/7/07 Dayton Business Journal: BRAC spurs $7.5M investment in area's first Wingate Inn Dayton Business Journal - May 4, 2007 by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter Cincinnati investors plan to break ground in a month on a $7.5 million hotel in Fairborn. The Wingate Inn, the first Dayton-area location for the national chain, is expected to open in May 2008 with 92 rooms and a 4,000-square-foot conference center on Col. Glenn Highway near Wright State University. The 55,000-square-foot, business-traveler hotel is being built in anticipation of the 2,000 jobs slated to come to the region following the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. Fairborn also is in private talks with two companies looking to move to the area as a result of BRAC, said Keith Brane, city planner. The Wingate will feature a large banquet room that can be split into small meeting rooms. Hotel rooms will include a desk for the working traveler, wireless Internet, a television, a refrigerator, a microwave and a king or two double beds. The hotel also will have an indoor pool, a fitness room and a hot tub. MORE: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/05/07/story3.html From the 5/8/07 Urbana Daily Citizen: Rezoning in St. Paris would allow 30 apartments on 3 acres BREANNE PARCELS Staff Writer ST. PARIS - Village council members chose to send a proposed ordinance to rezone two parcels of land along Walnut Street back to the planning commission due to errors in the legislation during a meeting Monday. "I don't like the way the ordinance is written," said Councilman Randall Newcomer. "It's vague and repetitive." After Ron Riley presented council members with sketches and plans for the two parcels, located across from the intersection of Walnut Street and Bowersock Avenue, Newcomer pointed out that the "Lot 55" designation in the recommendation and proposed ordinance was incorrect. "We're presented with an ordinance that's flawed," Newcomer said. "They need to go back and rewrite it." MORE: http://www.urbanacitizen.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=143767&TM=62121.98 Dayton area's second Hindu temple dedicated Dayton Daily News, 5/7/07 It began with a Hindu family's prayers in the privacy of their Springfield home in the early 1980s. It culminated this weekend in the dedication of the Dayton area's second Hindu temple, off Bellefontaine Road. The first temple, in Beavercreek, was dedicated in 1985. In between was the journey of a lifetime for Chirag Patel, a Hindu believer and Columbus physician. In 1982 the Patel family began what led to this weekend's two-day dedication. By 1984, a dozen reform-sect Hindu families around Dayton were opening their homes for weekly prayer services, he said. Patel was just 5 years old then. From there, the group grew to 125 families willing to transform a former fraternal lodge into a Hindu Mandir, or house of worship.

From the 5/8/07 Enquirer: * PHOTO: Overgrown grass and weeds line the sidewalk at the old Tri-City YMCA building in Florence. City officials cited the center Monday for the high grass, which is a code violation. The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy * PHOTO: Debris fill the swimming pool at old Tri-City YMCA building on Main Street, Florence. The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy YMCA sale may be near NFL star's property in violation BY BRENNA R. KELLY | [email protected] Two-foot-tall grass surrounds the former Tri-City YMCA on Main Street. Graffiti adorns the walls near the pool. A man who appeared to be homeless slept with his radio plugged into an outside outlet Monday afternoon. More than eight months ago, NFL football star and Florence native Shaun Alexander said he would sell the building that he once planned to turn into a community center for Florence's children. Now, a sale could be close, said Ken Holliday, a real estate agent with Huff Commercial Group, which is listing the center for $2.5 million. Alexander, who has an eight-year, $63 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, bought the center for $1.8 million in 2005 through his company, Main Street LLC. Florence officials cited the center Monday for the high grass, which is a code violation. The citation was issued after officials gave the owners five days to cut the grass, said Bob Townsend, public services director. In addition to a $25 fine, if the owners do not cut the grass, the city will cut the grass and bill them. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070508/NEWS0103/705080385/1059/rss13 Another bond issue for Princeton? Cincinnati Enquirer, 5/8/07 After building seven new grade schools and renovating an eighth, Princeton City Schools this week is trying to predict whether the public is ready for a new bond issue, this time to build high school and a middle school. A recent survey of 400 “likely voters” in the district revealed no clear majority in favor of starting a new school project, and no clear majority against it. The survey revealed 46 percent would likely support new secondary buildings, while 39 percent would be against it. Fifteen percent said they don’t know. Triad Research telephoned 400 likely voters on April 11-16. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. Likely voters are defined as residents who voted in two or more of the last four general elections. Princeton spokeswoman Robyn Carey Allgeyer said Tuesday that district officials are trying to be realistic about public sentiment, considering that Princeton hasn’t yet finished its $85 million school construction project, which replaced all but one of its elementary schools. New JC Penney store will help anchor Governor's Place Cincinnati Enquirer, 5/8/07 JC Penney will open a 119,000-square-foot department store in Governor's Place retail center at Fields-Ertel and Union Cemetery roads, Symmes Township, in a vacant former Wal-Mart store. The new store is expected to open this fall. Casto, the Columbus-based real estate firm that owns Governor's Place, said the new store would join Kohl's, Linens 'N Things and Office Max as anchors of the 339,000-square-foot retail center. Casto, which acquired the property from Duke Realty in 2001, said it is also planning a new façade on stores in the retail center. The new Penney store will feature the retailer's new off-mall format featuring apparel and home merchandise on wide aisles. Feedback on plan requested Cincinnati Enquirer, 5/8/07 Residents are closer to offering input for Independence's downtown study. Council members heard an update on the project Monday from Keith Logsdon, a long-range-planning director for the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission. Since September 2006, the city has been studying ways to better define and plan for its downtown area, commonly defined as the area between Summit View Middle School and Simon Kenton High School. The city is paying $75,000 for the study. Logsdon said that at 4:30 p.m. May 31 at the city building, residents will have their first opportunity to voice their opinions at an open house-style public meeting. Campbell County plan takes shape Kentucky Post, 5/7/07 A plan charting projected growth in Campbell County over the next 20 years should be finished sometime this summer, officials say. In the past year, Campbell County officials have held four public hearings and analyzed pages of citizen input to craft the county's comprehensive plan, a state-required document used to guide growth and development over the next 20 years. State law requires that the plans be updated every five years to account for new growth and development, changing trends and new technologies. "Right now we have about a dozen different land-use alternatives for the county," said Peter Klear, Campbell County planning director. "We need to get that down to one plan." Klear said the comprehensive plan up to now had been divided into two parts. First was the visioning portion, in which residents at two public hearings used interactive displays and photographs to tell county leaders what they wanted the county to look like in 20 years. Dedication is Tuesday for expanded detention center Kentucky Post, 5/7/07 County officials are hosting an open house of the newly remodeled and expanded Campbell County Detention Center from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, with formal dedication ceremonies at 4 p.m. The jail, located on Central Street in Newport, underwent a $9 million improvement this winter, nearly doubling its bed space and adding a new medical unit and passive booking area. Visitors to the open house should enter from Columbia Street between Sixth and Seventh streets.

From the 5/8/07 Dispatch: City OKs rec center addition Whetstone project to cost millions more than planned Tuesday, May 8, 2007 3:33 AM By Mark Ferenchik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH By autumn 2008, Clintonville residents should be able to use their Whetstone Recreation Center again, after the city completes a long-awaited renovation and expansion. But it will cost millions more than Columbus officials discussed just a year ago. The Columbus City Council approved a contract yesterday with Hopewell Constructors of Columbus to do the work for $5.59 million. Work is scheduled to begin June 1 and take 14 months. Last year, the city budgeted $2.25 million for the renovation and a 6,000-square-foot addition to the 50-year-old building off N. High Street. The City Council then approved another $1 million for the project, said Alan McKnight, the recreation and parks director. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/05/08/COUN08.ART_ART_05-08-07_B1_NI6KE8F.html

From the 5/8/07 Enquirer: CPS to evaluate Blackwell early Review set for August; criteria not finalized BY BEN FISCHER | [email protected] A divided Cincinnati Board of Education voted Monday to conduct Superintendent Rosa Blackwell's next performance review in August, just seven months after her last "annual" evaluation concluded. However, the criteria used in the review, which will cover her performance during the entire 2006-07 school year, won't be finalized by the board until later this month. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070508/NEWS0102/705080383/

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