buildingcincinnati

From the 2/21/07 Lima News: Kibby Corners development group reorganizes Heather Rutz | [email protected] - 02.21.2007 LIMA — A group instrumental to reviving the South Main Street corridor took its first steps reorganizing Tuesday. Kibby Corners Neighborhood Revitalization held its first meeting in six years and first public meeting in 10 years. The group formed a board of directors and changed some bylaws. Full story at http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=35447

From the 2/9/07 Lima News: Plan for South Main Street corridor laid out Heather Rutz | [email protected] - 02.09.2007 LIMA — Improving the city’s South Main Street corridor requires strengthening the commercial district along that artery, revitalizing neighborhoods and increasing local organizations’ capacity, according to an early draft of an enhancement plan for the area. A group working on the plan, created by a consultant, heard details of the draft Thursday and prepared to fine-tune it before a Weed & Seed steering group approves and presents it to the public, expected to happen before the end of the month. Full story at http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=35061

From the 2/8/07 Lima News: Dormant Kibby Corners group reorganizing Heather Rutz | [email protected] - 02.08.2007 LIMA — Like the area it represents, the Kibby Corners Neighborhood Revitalization group has faded with time. And like that neighborhood, the group is rebounding. While Kibby Corners Neighborhood Revitalization has existed for 30 years, it hasn’t had a public meeting in a decade, said group board member John Schneider. That is changing. The group will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at Grace United Methodist Church, 125 W. Kibby St., to elect officers, report on progress and hear ideas from the public, Schneider said. “We want to build on the success there, with the development of Global Energy and the South Main Street corridor planning, and we want to be an agent of change to improve the economic and quality of life in the Kibby Corners area,” Schneider said. Full story at http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=35023

From the 2/8/07 Blade: Ohio justices won't review lower court's arena ruling The Ohio Supreme Court yesterday declined to review a decision by the 6th District Court of Appeals to reinstate two defendants in a lawsuit filed by Perrysburg Township. The defendants were accused of aiding Rossford in a scheme to get the township to lend $5 million for the failed arena amphitheater project. The appeals court ruled in September that Wood County Common Pleas Court should not have granted summary judgment in favor of Recreational Development & Consulting Inc. of Perrysburg and Richard E. Kavanaugh & Associates of Elkhart, Indiana. The township claimed the two entities acted as financial consultants and advisers to Rossford officials, helping them "devise a scheme to sell the township a security" in the project. The township in 1999 loaned the Rossford Arena Amphitheater Authority $5 million, but the money was not repaid after the RAAA was unable to secure long-term financing and the project failed. Attorneys involved in the litigation could not be reached for comment yesterday. FULL ARTICLE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070208/NEWS02/702080379/-1/NEWS

From the 5/3/07 Lima News: Apartment complex getting stripped to walls Heather Rutz | [email protected] - 05.03.2007 LIMA — Right now, it’s a place not many would want to call home. When the Levin Group finishes with the Northwood Maplewood apartment complex on Brower Road, the 196 apartments will have been gutted, at a cost of about $50,000 each, with everything except the walls replaced. Work on the apartments will begin in July, with exterior work, such as replacing the roofing, windows and siding and adding balconies and security lighting, happening first, Levin Vice President Linda McConnell said Wednesday. The project is expected to take about 18 months. Complex managers have been accumulating vacancies so that when crews move indoors residents will move to another apartment. No one will have to leave the complex, McConnell said. More at http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=38038

From the 2/8/07 Sandusky Register: Cedar Fair ends 2006 in fair shape By BRANDI BARHITE | Thursday February 08 2007, 10:44am SANDUSKY Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. finished 2006 in good financial shape. But the companys northern parks, including Cedar Point, continued to struggle because of the soft economy and high gas prices, according to Dick Kinzel, chairman, president and CEO... http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2007/02/09/front/doc45cc4fbd461bd822009428.txt

From the 4/11/07 DDN: * GRAPHIC: Road improvements planned near Dayton Mall Dayton Mall roadways will soon see several upgrades By Lisa A. Bernard Staff Writer Wednesday, April 11, 2007 MIAMI TWP., Montgomery County — Road construction near the Dayton Mall could begin as early as July, according to local transportation officials. The work is expected to be the first step in a host of upgrades planned for the business district around the mall, said Steve Stanley, executive director of the Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District. "(The mall) is this county's largest retail base. It's the primary source of sales tax revenue, so it's vitally important in a competitive world that we update and maintain the public infrastructure to meet today's demands in the vicinity of the mall," Stanley said. ... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/04/10/ddn041107tid.html

From the 3/26/07 Dayton Business Journal: Seafood restaurant to open in May at Dayton Mall Dayton Business Journal - March 26, 2007 A Bonefish Grill restaurant will open May 7 at the Dayton Mall, one of four tenants expected to launch there in the near future. A seafood concept, Bonefish Grill will be in The Village, a $20 million open-air shopping area on the mall's north face. It will occupy 7,200 square feet, including space for outdoor seating, said Dave Casper, the mall's marketing manager. Bonefish is owned by OSI Restaurant Partners Inc., (NYSE: OSI) a Tampa, Fla.-based company that owns and operates Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Lee Roy Selmon's and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. ... http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/03/26/daily6.html?from_rss=1

From the 2/7/07 DDN: New eatery opens at Village at Dayton Mall Cena Brazilian/Mediterranean offers a variety of 'feasts' choices on the menu. By Mark Fisher Staff Writer Wednesday, February 07, 2007 MIAMI TWP. — Cena Brazilian/Mediterranean Steak House, the second restaurant of Cafe Boulevard owner Eva Christian, has opened in the Village at Dayton Mall. Construction delays postponed the opening of the restaurant, which had been scheduled to open in October. But the restaurant held an unadvertised "soft opening" Saturday night and will be open for both lunch and dinner today, said Denise Leibold, Cena's office manager. ... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/02/06/ddn020707restaurantopen.html

From the 2/7/07 Ironton Tribune: The Point gets $1M funding Wednesday, February 7, 2007 9:48 AM CST Staff report/The Ironton Tribune COLUMBUS — Republican State Senators Tom Niehaus and John Carey, both representatives of Lawrence County, announced Monday that the state legislature has approved $1 million in funding for more construction at The Point. The Lawrence Economic Development Corporation will receive $500,000 from a Rural Industrial Park loan and $500,000 from a Rural Development Initiative Fund grant. Both the loan and the grant will reportedly be used to construct multiple job sites to house offices and warehouses for prospective companies, according to a press release from Carey. Full article: http://www.irontontribune.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/news678.txt

I don't know because I haven't seen a revised site plan. PRidgeFlyer might be better able to answer that, since he saw some recent documents. The very old site plan had Tudor Ave coming off of Losantiville Ave (at a 90 degree angle) around the area of 2905 Losantiville. In other words, the street would be just opposite of Bona Vista. Tudor would then make a 90 degree turn and meet up with the existing Burkhart, making a rectangular block.

^ That doesn't work on a Mac? I didn't know that. Name a quality program that works on Macs and I'll include that too.

80-unit senior housing plans get initial OK from city council Sunday, April 29, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer Plans for a campus-style, "affordable" housing development for senior citizens in Delaware last week received initial approvals. Some 80 apartments for people aged 55 and older soon could be constructed along South Houk Road, pending approval of final development plans. Delaware City Council last Monday voted 5-1 to support initial plans for the apartments, which would range in price from $423 to $700 per month. As proposed, Columbus-based Buckeye Community Housing Foundation would build the apartments on 10 acres within the Willowbrook development on South Houk Road. They would consist of one- and two-bedroom units. "It's below-market rent, but a very nice project," said Roy Lowenstein, BCHF vice president. According to its Web site, the BCHF was chartered in 1991 as a nonprofit corporation with a mission of developing and facilitating affordable housing for low-income families. The group's local project is contingent upon receiving state and federal tax credits, which would allow it to develop and offer the apartments at lower monthly rates. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/042907/Delaware/News/042907-News-345693.html

From the 5/2/07 Cincinnati Post: Smoke out Ohio's smoking ban could be bonanza for Kentucky's bars By Kerry Duke Post staff reporter Like many other owners of restaurants, bars and other establishments in Northern Kentucky, Jerry Blaschke figures Ohio's ban on smoking in public and workplaces will send residents there across the river to light up. "We have noticed it already," said Blaschke, owner of Cosmo's Grille Pub in Covington's MainStrasse. "One of my regulars - he lives in Ohio - he tells me he's selling his house and moving over here. He's a smoker. He's quite angry. That's the extreme."... http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070502/NEWS01/705020361

From the 5/2/07 Enquirer: County gets high marks Survey finds residents satisfied, worried BY BRENNA R. KELLY | [email protected] People who live in Boone County are pretty pleased with the county government, but they aren't as happy with the county's growth. That, among other things, is what the more than 1,100 people who responded to a mail survey told county officials. Boone County Administrator Jeff Earlywine asked Northern Kentucky University students to conduct the survey in hopes of improving customer service. Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070502/NEWS0103/705020409/

From the 5/2/07 Enquirer: Cameras enlisted to fight crime BY KIMBALL PERRY | [email protected] Criminals in Walnut Hills next month may want to start smiling, because candid images of their crimes may be recorded on camera. A failed program that would have allowed the city of Cincinnati to use video cameras to watch high-crime areas is being resurrected in two neighborhoods and will rely on high-speed Internet connections. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070502/NEWS01/705020416/

From the 5/2/07 Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune: No update, but old study discussed By Zachary Petit, [email protected] Even though an update from the company studying possible futures for the Seneca County Courthouse didn’t happen as planned Tuesday, the building found its way onto the commissioners’ agenda when citizens toting 2003 restoration plans addressed the board. While representatives from Mansfield firm MKC Associates were absent because of an illness, local residents Kenneth Davison and Lenora Livingston showed the Seneca County commissioners 2003 plans drafted by van Dijk Westlake Reed Leskosky for officials at an estimated cost of about $190,000. “The general public doesn’t have any knowledge of this, that we have pretty complete drawings by one of the top firms in the state of Ohio,” Davison said. The materials — ordered by a former board of commissioners — place the cost of a restoration project at $6 million in construction, comprising a total of about $8 million. Davison said figures for the three-phase project would need to be adjusted for inflation and noted the longer officials wait, the more the effort would cost. Full story: http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/articles.asp?articleID=7936

From the 5/2/07 Blade: * PHOTO: Freshly poured cement is smoothed for a new floor inside the part of the factory undergoing renovation. ( BLADE PHOTOS/LORI KING ) * PHOTO: Old walls come down inside the plant on West Alexis Road. Toledo Powertrain ahead of schedule Plant readied for new transmission By MARK REITER BLADE BUSINESS WRITER A multimillion-dollar expansion of the Toledo GM Powertrain Plant for production of a better-performing six-speed transmission is ahead of schedule. Wanda Montion, a plant spokesman, said yesterday that GM officials are shooting for the project to be finished in October, 2008, with production on the new transmission line to begin immediately thereafter. Construction on the 400,000-square-foot addition began nearly a year ago and is part of a $600 million investment at the West Alexis Road facility. .... Contact Mark Reiter at: [email protected] or 419-724-6096. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070502/BUSINESS03/705020400/-1/RSS04 From the 5/2/07 ABJ: Lordstown GM talks suspended Analyst says automaker could close Ohio plant From Beacon Journal wire services LORDSTOWN - The suspension of contract talks at General Motors' Lordstown car plant might confirm an industry analyst's projection that the plant's future is in jeopardy. Erich Merkle, an analyst with IRN in Grand Rapids, Mich., said Lordstown is No. 2 on his list of GM plants that are most likely to close. He expects GM to announce two or three plants that will close within about five years. Merkle studies automakers' plans for assembly plants to prepare market research reports that are bought by suppliers and manufacturing firms. ... http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/business/17166130.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_business

From the 5/2/07 Hamilton JournalNews: Liberty rezones along Ohio 747 Commission plans to use 330 acres for business and residential unit development By Eric Schwartzberg Staff Writer Wednesday, May 02, 2007 LIBERTY TWP. — The zoning commission of this fast-growing Butler County suburb took the first official step Tuesday evening in transforming usage for its largest privately owned plot of land by voting to rezone it. Under consideration was 330 acres along Ohio 747 just north of Princeton Road. Most of the property is zoned for agricultural use, but the commission moved to change its use for business and residential planned unit development. Marc Terry, whose family owns the land, told zoning commission members of the challenges he's faced during the past two years in developing a master plan and finding the right developer for the site. "It's difficult to find one developer who has the ability to do (not only) residential, but also retail and commercial," he said. "There are a few. We had some good meetings this week." A conceptual design divides the property into varying levels of residential use, including 241 empty-nester homes, 125 single family attached or detached units, 114 estate lots, 86 family lots and seven manor-sized lots. The plan also includes 90 acres of mixed use that would include a yet-to-be-determined combination of retail, residential, office and community facilities. Liberty Twp. resident Gerry Stoker said he was in favor of the development. But Stoker and several other residents posed questions related to minimum lot size, buffering, building height, building materials and open space. Stoker, who is director of building, zoning and development for the city of Loveland, cautioned against setting a precedent by ignoring the comprehensive land use plan. "The next developer who comes in is going to ask for 15 percent open space," Stoker said. "If the law says 30 (percent open space), then we need to adhere to the law." Zoning Commission Chairman Tom Farrell said the case marked the first time the panel needed to address a zoning change before nailing down the particulars of a preliminary development plan. "At preliminary we will go over those issues with a fine tooth comb, as we do with all (cases)," he said. With the property rezoned, a developer could then provide the plans, the density and "the true open space,' Farrell said. Zoning commission members voted unanimously to rezone 98 acres to business planned unit development and the remaining 233 acres to residential planned unit development. Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5126 or [email protected]. http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/01/hjn050207libzoning.html From the 5/2/07 Middletown Journal: City, county officials discuss development plans Project to expand Ohio 63 key point of emphasis in commissioners' visit to Trenton. By Meagan Engle Staff Writer Wednesday, May 02, 2007 TRENTON — Butler County Commissioners visited the city of Trenton Tuesday night, holding a brief meeting in the city building. Trenton officials used the meeting to tell commissioners of their plans for the city's development. "We recognize how critical state Route 63 is to our success, our quality of life and (the) controlled and responsible growth in our part of the county," said Megan Statt, the city's community development assistant. Statt said six residential incentive districts will raise $33 million "toward making this roadway a reality." She also spoke of the 2006 purchase of Fisher Farm, a 183-acre property off Wayne-Madison Road, which will be used in the expansion of Ohio 63. The roadway will be extended in two phases over 20 years, Statt said. The first phase will bring it from Ohio 4 to Wayne-Madison Road and the second will extend it further to Ohio 127. Commissioners lauded Statt, Mayor Rhonda Freeze and acting city manager Rob Leichman for their foresight in the project. "You're definitely to be commended on your forward thinking of the purchase of the (farm) property," said Commissioner Charles Furmon. Commission President Gregory Jolivette thanked the city for hosting the Animal Friends Humane Society for more than 50 years. The Trenton Road shelter soon will be relocated to Fairfield Twp. "We thank you for many years of protecting our pets," he said. In regular business, the commissioners accepted a contract from a Pennsylvania company to make renovations to the old county jail, at 123 Court St. in Hamilton. Kimball Associates, of Ebensburg, will make renovations to the jail, including heating, ventilation and plumbing. The contract will not exceed a $45,000 lump sum fee plus $1,750 per trip as requested by Butler County during the construction phase of the project. The commissioners also approved a 3 percent across the board increase for Butler County Child Support Enforcement Agency's 85 employees. Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or [email protected]. http://www.middletownjournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/02/mj050207trentoncommissioners.html

From the 5/2/07 Fairborn Daily Herald: Residents oppose new housing development RAINEY HOWARTH Staff Writer BATH TWP. - Residents of Terry Acres met Tuesday evening to organize opposition to a student housing development proposed for a property at the end of Warner Drive. Resident Clarinda Smith has lived in Terry Acres since 1985, in a home her parents moved into when it was built in the 1970s. "I have some strong family roots here," she said. "...I feel very strongly that any development in this area should be consistent with the surrounding area and the City of Fairborn and Bath Township trustees should be respectful of the residents here in Terry Acres." Smith and other residents are worried about Place Properties' proposal to build a 512-bed housing complex geared toward area university students near what is now a quiet, family-centered community. The site of the proposed development is now zoned R-2 and would need to be rezoned R-4 by the Fairborn Board of Zoning Appeals before the project could be built. The 18 acres where the complex is planned are between the Terry Acres subdivision and I-675. New residents would have to traverse the busy and sometimes dangerous intersection of Old Yellow Springs Road, Colonel Glenn Highway and Warner Drive to get on Warner Drive and back to the development. MORE: http://www.fairborndailyherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=124924&TM=47924.83 From the 5/2/07 Springfield News-Sun: Developer asks appeals court to overturn county's decision not to annex tract of land By Diane Erwin Staff Writer Tuesday, May 01, 2007 Owners of a Springfield Township tract land that the Clark County Commission denied to annex into the city of Springfield earlier this year are now asking a court to step in. Attorney Jim Peifer on Tuesday filed a writ of mandamus — an action to ask a court to force an office into compliance —with the Clark County Court of Appeals. Overholser Builders want to build condominiums and single-family homes on land at Possum and Old Clifton roads. The plan included annexing a 6-inch wide strip of land more than 12,000 feet long to connect the property to the city. At issue is the definition of the word "contiguous." Opponents to the annexation said the string isn't enough to make the land contiguous to the city. Peifer — who represents landowners Overholser Builders, James and Nancy Davis, Gary and Linda Durst and Dawn Annette Foreman Mishler — says otherwise. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/01/sns050207annexation.html

At its April 18 meeting, City Council adopted a motion that could get the Burnet Avenue Urban Renewal Plan moving. The motion, which was first proposed on February 27 by Councilmember Laketa Cole, allows for a zoning study of the area bounded by Erkenbrecker, Burnet, Hickory and Harvey. (The Post office property is not included.) The study, to be done by the Department of Community Development and Planning (DCDP), will assess the zoning of properties within that area with the goal of changing it to a PD (Planned Development) zoning designation. A change to PD zoning would allow work to start on Phase I and Phase IA of the Burnet Plan. In the meantime, both the Uptown Consortium and the City are trying to gain control of all of the property within the boundary area, which is required for a PD rezoning. Four parcels--totalling 9.7 acres--belong to other owners. Only one of these parcels, on Harvey Ave, is needed for the project. Uptown Consortium is currently in contact with the owner and hopes to acquire it soon. The City Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to consider the zoning change on May 18. If the final parcel is not acquired by the Uptown Consortium prior to this meeting, a revision of the PD zoning would be required in the future. It is expected that the Economic Development Committee will hear the City Planning Commission's findings on June 19, and City Council will vote on June 20. WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE (looking east)

From the 5/2/07 Youngstown Vindicator: Planners OK change to business zoning Commission members expressed concern for property owners near the project. By JEANNE STARMACK VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER AUSTINTOWN — A retail developer is a step closer to approval of a zone change for a project near Meridian Road and Mahoning Avenue. Ten properties on Lexington Place, a residentially zoned side street off Mahoning behind the BP service station at the corner of Meridian and Mahoning, are up for the rezoning to B-2, or business. The Mahoning County Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend the change, and now the issue moves to the township zoning commission. http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/337084081894175.php From the 5/2/07 Salem News: Salem council supports housing project By LARRY SHIELDS Salem News staff writer SALEM — The city gave its support to a $7 million, 48-unit low-income housing project on Tuesday. The city was asked for a resolution of support so the Cleveland-based Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) could acquire state assistance and held a first reading on it. Christy Scott, development assistant project manager, said the company uses the Energy Star program under which qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water-heating delivery. http://www.salemnews.net/news/articles.asp?articleID=5875 Schools begin transition Warren Tribune Chronicle, 5/2/07 Although only one of the four new K-8 buildings will be open next school year, district officials say they plan to switch to the new system all at once rather than wait for each new building to open. ‘‘We prefer that everyone go through this disruption only once,’’ Superintendent Kathryn Hellweg said.

From the 5/2/07 News Leader: Developer wants tax break for road by Jeff Saunders Reporter Macedonia -- The city's former mayor, whose company wants to build a $40-million, 40-acre senior residential complex just south of City Hall, is asking for help to build a $3 million access road and utilities to the complex... E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 440-232-4055 ext. 4105 http://www.the-news-leader.com/news/article/1939271 Town hall gets second chance Akron Beacon Journal, 4/28/07 Voters in Richfield Township are being asked for a second time to approve an $875,000 bond issue to build a new town hall... Cleveland Plain Dealer: Richfield Twp. considers new hall (4/27/07) Three West Orange proposals Chagrin Herald Sun, 4/26/07 Mayor Tom Brick now has three proposals from developers for the re-development of West Orange Street...

From the 5/2/07 Pusle-Journal: Deerfield says no to more Fields Ertel development Enacts moratorium for up to one year until comprehensive plan is completed Wednesday, May 02, 2007 By Denise G. Callahan Staff Writer For the first time in its history, Deerfield Twp. has declared a development moratorium on the entire Fields Ertel corridor for up to a year as it completes its comprehensive plan. The trustees on Tuesday passed a resolution adopting a moratorium that prevents any new development or re-development along the corridor — within 1,000 feet of Fields Ertel on the north side from Butler-Warren Road on the west to the Little Miami River on the east. http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/02/pjm050207moratoriumweb.html

From the 2/5/07 Springfield News-Sun: Foreclosures of area homes are taking their toll on property values By Elaine Morris Roberts Staff Writer Wednesday, May 02, 2007 The impact of foreclosures seeps far beyond the homeowner and is beginning to take its toll on local real estate and lending markets. Foreclosures often sit vacant for an extended period, which can lower home prices in an entire neighborhood. Vacant homes can then attract undesirable activity, both human and animal, making the area less desirable and, subsequently harder to sell. Sue Smedley, owner of Real Estate II, said one of the area's biggest problems is the "upside-down" house, meaning owners owe more than the house is worth. She said this happens with almost one out of two homes her agents are called to list. These homeowners have borrowed, often multiple times, against the equity in their homes and now cannot sell. The inability to sell may push an owner toward foreclosure. ... More at: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/01/sns050207foreclosuretoll.html