Michael L. Redmond

But was that what they did? It may have been open to anyone but it struck me that the event in Washington Park was the central point for all volunteers from all over the city to come at the end of the clean up as a thank you to them. (just like KCB does at the end of the Great Amer. Clean Up) This was not just an OTR thing as only a hundred or so of the couple thousand were even stationed here to clean up. "The areas touched by the massive campaign ranged from Hamilton, Ohio to Burlington, Ky., as well as Batavia and Colerain Township, Ohio.Even ice cream truck drivers chipped in with free treats. After all that mulching, painting, cleaning, rebuilding, planting and repairing local chefs came together to throw a block part in Over-The-Rhine". This just doesn't seem like a "get out and feed the homeless day" event to me.

I have searched for that discussion and I am coming up blank. Could you refresh my memory about the specifics? I am all for volunteers. I personally have led hundreds of people from GE and various other organizations on clean ups over the years so I don't see that as a change of heart. Now if it is only a group of people who are coming to OTR, feeding people out of the back of a car or dumping clothes in the park then that is not productive. What this particular group did outside of weeding, cleaning out dump sites, and picking up litter I don't know (don't really care) as it means we have a cleaner neighborhood. Thousands Volunteer During 'Go Cincinnati' Philanthropy Event Cleans Up Hundreds Of Tri-State Locales CINCINNATI -- It was called Cincinnati’s largest service project, and it left the city looking a lot cleaner. Thousands of volunteers turned out for the Go Cincinnati philanthropy day where more than 300 areas were cleaned up. "[it’s] just really showing what's possible when we get that many people together around such an incredible effort in our city," Boca chef David Falk said. More than 100 of the 6,5000 volunteers attacked the Vine Street hill to clean up trash, cut down brush and trim trees. ... http://www.wlwt.com/news/19482432/detail.html ^I have a hard time finding any fault in this, and I don't think I would have found fault in this at any point in my time in OTR.

They canvassed a large area of OTR picking up garbage, weeding, cleaning out lots that had been both overgrown and some dumped on. That is very welcomed help, regardless of how often it is. I, and many others on here participate twice a year in the Great American Clean Up and we turn in literally tons of garbage, not a waste of time, not a wasted effort. If anyone wants to help clean up OTR, I thank them because that means it is that much less garbage that you and I will eventually have to pick up. As for the permanent fix, leave that to 3CDC, not Crossroads.

The effort is called Go Cincinnati. "Each year, an army of volunteers impact Cincinnati through various service projects in a one-day, citywide blitz of compassion. Working alongside other churches, we love on hundreds of community-based organizations throughout our city. Last year, over 4,000 people from Crossroads and other partner churches went out into the city to serve the homeless, pray with the broken, paint schools, clean camps and help make a difference in our city. This year we're upping our impact: 5,000 volunteers at over 200 projects around the city." http://www.gocincinnati.net/ I was happy to see it, they did a good job. Regardless of what the underlying goal may be, the result was still the same.

Over-the-Rhine is far from a forgotten local neighborhood The Associated Press article "Emptied and Forgotten" (May 5) focused on deterioration in some of America's rustbelt cities. A better story would have been the rebirth that's under way in urban neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090517/EDIT02/905170413/

I think you are exactly right. The motivation of each group is different yet I do not believe that any one is driven purely to help the homeless. I, more than most, can appreciate 3CDC's seeking a change for the area and identifying the current location of the Drop Inn as problematic and therefor providing funding that does not eliminate the service, but relocates it. The motivation of the Drop Inn however is not pure either in that they are only seeking funding and is not, nor have they ever, sought to break the homeless cycle. That stepped up enforcement will come with the redevelopment of the Park. Keep in mind that the park will be more than just a beautification effort, but will resemble the Fountain Square Project that brings event after event. There will always be something going on in Wash. Park and the status quo will not remain.

That may be true on a national level however I believe that a report came out a year or two ago (McMicken will probably remember this) that showed a much lower percentage of people who found permanent housing relative to those "served" by the Drop Inn. They chose that location originally because of its proximity to City Hall so they could have the homeless "in the face" of the city and squatted in their current location. They continue to use the negative behavior of users of the shelter as leverage against 3CDC and the City to get funding. They are extortionist and if the rest of the city would see how they are exploiting these people for the sake of funding, then perhaps fewer and fewer would donate to this revolving door of a shelter. More and more funding, fewer and fewer results, now throw in enabling and you have yourself a scam.

I have fewer questions about the concept than I do the overall motive and agenda of shelters such as the Drop Inn. Dry shelters, Wet shelters, has any of this helped the homeless get out of homelessness? If that were indeed the goal, it would not be located where it is for one, and second, would not enable the behavior that in many cases is directly associated with the problem to begin with. This is nothing more than the Drop Inn exploiting the homeless by using them as leverage to extort "$800,000 - and possibly $1.3 million more".

he sells them to support a drug habit. He is outside of Findlay Mrkt with the plants at his feet. (To be clear, he is not a vendor of Findlay Mrkt) Findlay has been very proactive in contacting us for the picture and is trying to stop him as well.

I agree, and to a point they are saying we are giving up on trying to help the people break their problems that have contributed to their chronic homelessness and chronic unemployment. Help the people-move them into an area that is conducive to recovery and help them break the destructive behavior that has led them to the homelessness in the first place. This is taking the problem, moving it a couple blocks, and finally accepting its inevitability. This is just another example of a social service not truly being interested in the solution, only the acceptance and the funding that perpetuates it. They call the development side gentrification, I call the social service side exploitative and extortionist.

I had half of Dist.1 at my house when I confronted him in my yard. I would like to see restrictions on Pendleton and the hillside in his probation. We are going to hit him with a simple trespass and at least propose it. Hopefully he can be picked up outside of Findlay Market this weekend.

I haven't heard anyone talk about it. You may be thinking about Duveneck. Office Furniture at Duncanson. Ha!!!!! scooped UrbanCincy! :evil: The rest are yours Randy but at least wait until the leases are signed.

How about I give you 24 hours, then I will break it? :wink:

WLWT contacted 3CDC about this and I think they got wind of it because of a conversation going back and forth with the Vine St. Merchants. I had just taken a picture (the picture in the lead up to the story) of this guy as he walked into my backyard in the middle of the day and are now trying to get out the most recent pics of him as he looks very different from the 2006 photo everyone has seen. If anyone wants the picture, email me at [email protected]. The solution is not to get him on just a petty theft or trespassing charge, but rather drug possesion. He is a known crack addict and is sure to have something on him when he is caught.

Even Prospect Hill may bridge the gap for you. Views, redeveloped, great little neighborhood just outside of OTR and there is plenty of rental.

I would say that most of OTR is far from "hardcore urban living" and each street has its own feel that is vastly different from the next. From Mulberry to Central and Pendleton to City West, I am sure you can find a place down here that you feel comfortable at.

Also you can contact Jim Moll at [email protected] or call 623-2001. He reps Vernon's Corner, the Emery, he is still connected with the Q and all of the developers there plus more I am probably not aware of. He has been a staple of OTR for years and years. For lease/purchase's within the Q, contact Holly Redmond at [email protected] or call 479-0413.

Almost all of phase 4 is rental. There are more pending contracts within the Quarter in that price range now (and up to 300,000) than any other price point.

Gateway Quarter Expansion Tour Saturday, May 30th 12-4:00 Food, Music and Tours Mottainai Lackman Lofts Falling Wall Goodfellows Hall 14th and Vine at Trinity Flats City Home For more information, call Holly Redmond at 479-0413

I believe those plans have changed.

From product quality and mix to the competence and enthusiasm of the sales team, it is no surprise things are going as well as they are. What is also encouraging are the comments on Cincinnati.com's site (that was posted above by BDRUF) from existing residence and their first hand accounts of their experience in the Q and their perceptions of OTR today and continued optimism for the future.

Models units are now being constructed in Falling Wall and Belmain. Bathroom finishes are now going into Mottainai. Cocktail Party tonight at Good Fellows Hall on Main at 7:00

Don't hold me to this but it should be 1408. The building next door to Dan McDonald's if that helps. It will be a music theme due to its proximity to Music Hall. I would appreciate it if you would. Bad press is bad enough when it is deserving but there are some serious factual errors all throughout that article that were crafted more to push an agenda vs accurate reporting of news. And don't forget Gateway Quarter Final Friday Cocktail Party Friday, April 24, 2009 Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Good Fellows Hall Street: Main Street

Inspections are happening right now on 14th and Vine and the steel is going up for the new portion of Trinity Flats across the street. B2B is set to begin work on their newest building on Elm Street (still awaiting a name).

For those of you are not on the Gateway Quarter Facebook Group Site yet and were not one of the lucky 600 or so to receive your invitation from Holly or Stacy to the Gateway Final Friday Cocktail Party, here it is. Gateway Quarter Cocktail Party Friday, April 24, 2009 Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Good Fellows Hall Street: Main Street Phone:5136214283 Email:[email protected]