September 26, 200618 yr I was torn about where to post this...I believe that this is the best place for it instead of transportation and the crime thread (reguarding cameras on Glenway). City loan to fix up Glenway Avenue Price Hill portion would be upgraded BY DAN KLEPAL | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER September 26, 2006 CINCINNATI - The city of Cincinnati is about to loan $500,000 to the Gateway to the West - Price Hill, not St. Louis. Council's Finance Committee passed a motion Monday that, if approved by the full council, would direct city administrators to loan the West Side neighborhood $500,000 to spruce up busy Glenway Avenue. The cash would be used to create a streetscape to start at Guerley Road and continue west as far as the money will take it. The streetscape isn't yet designed, but is likely to include wider brick sidewalks, gas street lamps and other features that would make it a safer and more attractive place to walk. Council member John Cranley, a Price Hill resident who is running against Steve Chabot for Congress, championed the idea. The city would loan the money out of its Anthem Insurance account - a $50 million windfall the city received in 2003 by selling stocks of the insurance company when it transitioned to a for-profit company. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060926/NEWS01/609260376/1056
September 26, 200618 yr What they need to do is not allow cars to be parked on Glenway Avenue. It's entirely too busy for that (in my opinion).
September 26, 200618 yr City loan to fix up Glenway Avenue Council member John Cranley, a Price Hill resident who is running against Steve Chabot for Congress, championed the idea. The city would loan the money out of its Anthem Insurance account - a $50 million windfall the city received in 2003 by selling stocks of the insurance company when it transitioned to a for-profit company. Most of that Anthem cash is gone, but there's still about $3 million left in the bank. Council wants to loan that money to neighborhoods and allow them to pay it back with Tax Increment Financing - a strategy by which taxing districts can borrow money based on future tax revenue that would result from improvements. Price Hill's TIF district along Glenway is 300 acres. E-mail [email protected] http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060926/NEWS01/609260376/1056 The bit about the Anthem windfall is what I find the most interesting. So it looks like the city has spent $47 million. Where did it all go? I sent an email to writer asking if he could do an accounting of these monies. I have a feeling it won't be pretty. If it went to places like the West End Counsel, it pretty much got pissed away. I hope I'm wrong.
September 26, 200618 yr Pa What they need to do is not allow cars to be parked on Glenway Avenue. It's entirely too busy for that (in my opinion). Parking cars on a busy street calms traffic and provides an important physical and psychological barrier for pedestrians.
September 27, 200618 yr ^Very true....their main point of this project is to make the area more pedestrian friendly. IMO, they should have on-street parking from Guerly all the way to Bridgetown Rd. (not all in Cincy proper). I get tired of the unnecessary importance placed on the small scale freeways going through established neighborhoods (Colerain, Glenway, Beechmont, etc). I find it very encouraging that the city is taking a step towards improving this thoroughfare and taking the road less traveled (no pun intended) when looking at solutions for this roadway! :clap:
September 28, 200618 yr How did the parks board dedicate a 323 acre park without anyone noticing? Has anyone been there yet?
September 28, 200618 yr Er...we did notice. You see The Cincinnati Kid's post at the top of this page (page 19)? And obviously the paper did as well...so who exactly didn't notice? Haven't been there yet...looking forward to the 1.9 miles of trails, though...
September 28, 200618 yr The "new park opens today" article was the first I had heard of the project. I hadn't heard anything about the planning or construction was all I meant.
September 28, 200618 yr Pa What they need to do is not allow cars to be parked on Glenway Avenue. It's entirely too busy for that (in my opinion). Parking cars on a busy street calms traffic and provides an important physical and psychological barrier for pedestrians. I didn't think about it that way but I see your point.
September 29, 200618 yr Author SuperTarget posts moved here, in case you're wondering: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3755.0
September 29, 200618 yr Author From the 9/26/06 Hamilton JournalNews: Fort Hamilton expanding its cardiac care By Chris Dumond Staff Writer Tuesday, September 26, 2006 HAMILTON — As early as December, patients with serious heart trouble may not have to leave town to get help. The Fort Hamilton Hospital has embarked on a nearly $10 million cardiology services expansion. The full project is expected to be completed by late summer 2007, but some procedures will be available in three or four months, Senior Vice President Lynn Oswald said. Cardiologists will no longer be limited to diagnosis at the hospital. Although they won't be performing open-heart surgery, Oswald said, doctors will be able to perform angioplasty and stent placements. The goal of the expansion is focused more on retention than drawing new patients, she said. MORE: http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/09/25/hjn092606cardiac.html
September 30, 200618 yr Author From the 9/27/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: Madisonville Community Council President Prencis Wilson (left) and Dan Dermody, community housing chairman, with the Madison Building behind them. Local leaders are working on a plan to revitalize the area. The Enquirer / Carrie Cochran PHOTO: The Madison Building has been mostly vacant for 20 years, with empty storefronts and broken or boarded-up windows. THE ENQUIRER / CARRIE COCHRAN Madisonville eyesore could be focus of change BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER MADISONVILLE - With its balconies and stone cornices, the massive red-brick building was once a proud architectural landmark of Madisonville. But its glory days are long past. Today this 79-year-old building is an eyesore. The dilapidated building's windows are boarded up, and it's been mostly vacant for 20 years. Yet, because it's at the southeast corner of Madison Road and Whetsel Avenue - the neighborhood business district's prime intersection - the Madison Building remains one of the most visible structures to the thousands of motorists passing through each day. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS01/609270378/1056/rss02 From Suburban Life, 9/27/06: PHOTO: The Hosbrook and Muchmore Houses on Miami Avenue near the railroad tracks may be moved as part of a revised plan for the Madeira business district. The homes could potentially be relocated based on economic considerations. FORREST SELLERS/COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF Relocation of historic homes considered Madeira historians unhappy with talk BY FORREST SELLERS | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER MADEIRA - The Hosbrook and Muchmore Houses may be moved as part a revised plan for the business district. City officials say nothing specific has been discussed, but the option to move the historic homes has been considered. "We recognize Miami Avenue is a prime corridor, and the value of the real estate is pretty high," said council member Rick Brasington, who is also vice chair of the city's planning committee. The city owns both pieces of property. Members of the Madeira Historical Society have expressed concerns about potential relocation of the homes. MORE: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS01/609270709/1084/Local
October 1, 200618 yr Lakefront homes coming to Blue Ash Prices start at $900K and go up BY JEFF MCKINNEY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER BLUE ASH - Five custom-built lakefront homes on one-acre lots, starting at about $900,000, will be the cornerstones of a high-end project planned in the heart of this city. Kenridge Cove is being developed along Kenridge Lake - a 10-acre lake nestled between Kenridge Drive and Myers Lane in a wooded area in this suburban community. The project has been approved by city council as a large-scale residential development, said Dan Johnson, Blue Ash's assistant community development director. "It will be different from other developments because the homes will be built on a lakefront peninsula, something rare in suburban areas that have already been developed," he said. The homes at Kenridge Cove will list as high as $1.7 million and range from 3,500 to more than 5,000 square feet, said Dave Wittekind, president of In-Line Development in Fairfield Township. The lots will be sold separately and will run from $400,000 to $550,000. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061001/BIZ01/610010385/1076/BIZ
October 2, 200618 yr Author Lower Price Hill: New State Avenue residences Model Property Development is looking to build five new single-family homes at 1657, 1659, 1663, 1665 and 1667 State Ave. To do so, they required a zoning change from MG Manufacturing General to RM Residential Multi-family. Model currently has a purchase option on these properties and needed the zoning change to construct homes on them. A little background on the properties, all of which a currently vacant, without structures: * 1657 State: Vacant since (at least) 1922 * 1659 State: Vacant since (at least) 1922 * 1663 State: Cinderblock garage demolished around 2001 * 1665-1667 State: 1870s apartment building demolished around 2001 This zoning change was consistent with the 1978 Price Hill Community Plan, which recommended this area for housing, not industry. New industrial development was to take place east of State Ave and north of Lehman Rd. (This property is on the west side of State Ave and south of Lehman Rd.) The Lower Price Hill Community Council and Santa Maria Services were in favor of the plan. There was no known opposition. This is the final phase in Model's projects in the area. These include: * 81 rehabbed low-income housing units * Renovation of Radel Hall into 25,000-square-foot business center * A community park on a vacant lot * $59,000 development account administered by the Home Ownership Center to help residents with down payments I assume that the houses are still in design and probably won't be starting until early to mid 2007. I also do not know if they will be attached (I hope), or detached. WINDOWS LIVE LOCAL BIRDS-EYE VIEW City seeking transfer of funds for building demolition The City is seeking a $250,000 transfer from the General Fund to the “Hazard Abatement/Demolition Program ‘06” fund, which would allow the city to demolish 22 condemned buildings. On August 2, 2006, the city approved a motion to apply unused property tax appraisal funds for said demolitions. B&I mapped public nuisance buildings awaiting demolition and came up with five targeted neighborhoods: * East Price Hill * Madisonville * Northside * West Price Hill * Westwood Based on calls for service, potential for development, community input, and/or visibility, the following 22 buildings have been targeted: * East Price Hill: 908 Grand Ave * Madisonville: 5727 Bramble Ave, 4538 Lucerne Ave, 5629 Madison Ave, 5901 Madison Ave, 6324 Madison Rd, 6616 Madison Rd, 4832 Stewart Ave * Northside: 4760 Hamilton Ave, 4125 Lakeman St, 4126 Lakeman St, 4127 Lakeman St, 4131 Lakeman St, 4133 Lakeman St, 4136 Lakeman St, 4139 Witler St * West Price Hill: 1243 Dewey Ave, 1270 Dewey Ave, 1632 Dewey Ave * Westwood: 2208 Champlain Ave, 2195 Harrison Ave, 2468 Harrison Ave Current city funds for hazard abatement/demolition are pretty much gone. This ordinance is currently in Finance Committee with no timetable for return to Council. Springfield Twp: Brentwood Village Cincinnati Commercial Contracting and the Kroger Limited Partnership are proposing 60 units for the property behind the vacant Kroger at 8685 Winton Rd. The 7-acre land is currently vacant. The proposal would allow for 5 buildings, with 12 units each, to be constructed on the site. Each building would be three-stories tall, with free-standing garage buildings. Access would be via the parking lot and the development would be "connected" to Winton Rd via a walking path, even though Winton Rd is entirely unwalkable. The rest of the site would be redeveloped as follows: * The existing Kroger will be converted into retail/office space. * Two retail buildings will be built in the outlots. This project is still in the design phase. (Kroger is in the center of the photo.) GOOGLE AERIAL MAP UPDATE Corryville: Townhomes on Rochelle St The site is cleared. Trees have been removed and the site is graded. There have been construction materials on site, though these may have been for Stetson Square. Last update: 7/9/06 UPDATE Madeira: 7116 Miami Ave The Madeira City Planning Commission approved the variance allowing a three-story mixed-use building to be built at 7116 Miami Ave. The building, which is currently being designed, will include retail/office with third-floor residential. The variance allows for the building to be built at 42' in height. Current Central Business District Regulations allow a maximum height of 35'. Soon, Madeira City Council will be adopting new regulations for the business district allowing for a maximum height of 45'. These regulations will also allow for more flexibility for mixed uses. Last update: 9/18/06 Round-up: City of Cincinnati CARTHAGE After 9 months, 17 E 69th ST has been purchased for $24,900 by what looks like an investor. This home was vacant for probably 3 years. So far, no work appears to have started. CORRYVILLE 2658 Bellevue Ave has been renovated and converted from a two-family to a single-family. (on left) EVANSTON The rehab of 1519 Ruth Ave is now complete. Parts of this house have had to be rebuilt due to theft, mostly of its copper piping. The home was purchased for $25,000 and is now being marketed for about $90K. EVANSTON The rehab of 3327 Evanston Ave has been completed and it looks fantastic. $112,000. HYDE PARK First mentioned in my November 17, 2005 post, it appears that there may be some action now on 1135 Rookwood Dr. This is a teardown project by DeStefano Custom Builders. MT AIRY VOLUNTEERS TO BUILD NATURE TRAIL Cincinnati Enquirer, 9/26/06 Almost 300 volunteers will dig into a wooded area off Kirby Road in Mount Airy, near Mount Airy Forest, to construct a 3.7-mile nature trail on land that has been unused for 50 years. The project is part of Hands on Network, a national nonprofit initiative designed to mobilize volunteers across the country to work on community projects. The 300 volunteers will come from Home Depot, Cincinnati parks and Hands on Network to build the nature trail. "Right now, the land is not being used by anybody," said Rosemary Weathers, communication officer for the Cincinnati Park Board. She said the park board recently acquired the land, which is just north of Mount Airy Forest. "The bulk of the work Wednesday will be building the nature trail," Weathers said. MT LOOKOUT A new single-family home is being built at 1089 Tuscany Pl. Expect it to be pricey. (The land itself was $300,000.) OAKLEY 3750 Andrew Ave has been remodeled and freshened up. The owner is trying to get nearly 2/3 of her investment back over a 3 month time period. Ballsy. SOUTH FAIRMOUNT After 7 months of being lender-owned, 2460 Saturn St has been purchased by an investor for $6,200. The city ordered this house vacant in September 2005. There is currently work going on site to get it ready for tenants. WESTWOOD After 7 months, the three-family at 2322 Harrison Ave sold to investors for $46,500. It has spent a lot of time recently in disrepair, but is now tenant-ready. WESTWOOD The rehab of 3249 Boudinot Ave is complete. Yes, there was a house in there. Round-up: Metro ANDERSON TWP 1327 Shirmer Ave has been rehabbed. BATAVIA TWP Proposed Gulf War monument outlined Clermont Sun, 9/27/06 The new Batavia Township Park could soon be the permanent home of a memorial for veterans of the Gulf War. Linda Fraley, Clermont County Auditor, presented a rough plan to the trustees on Sept. 20 that outlined what her group would like to do in the construction and placement of a memorial. "There's not too much happening yet, but I didn't want you as trustees to hear about this somewhere else," said Fraley. "I was approached by Dave Warman, who is a Vietnam vet. He's talked to some people, and the gist is he'd like to put up some memorial to Gulf War vets. He wanted to know why we wait 20 or 25 years to do something. He would like to do something soon." According to a letter presented by Fraley, the memorial will be for all veterans of the Gulf War, which includes Desert Storm and the present war on terror. The idea is to create a timely and lasting memorial that symbolizes the conflict and recognizes the soldiers who are fighting in it. To this end, the hope is to use a humvee in a similar fashion to the helicopter used to memorialize Vietnam in Veteran's Park in Union Township. "He called me and asked if I would be willing to spearhead it," said Fraley. "He knows that, in my position, I know a lot of people. He specifically mentioned Batavia Township, and I thought the first place to start would be getting the trustees onboard. We're not asking for a decision tonight, we just want you to know the idea. He'd like to do something with a humvee." COLERAIN TWP 3000 Cranbrook Dr is complete and I believe this finishes out a subdivision that was built in the mid 1990s. It's a custom-built home by Tribecca Homes. The asking price is $269,900. COVINGTON 332 E 18th St has been rehabbed. (after only) COVINGTON 1809 Euclid Ave has been rehabbed. (after only) ERLANGER A new home is being built on a vacant lot at 205 Division St. The asking price is $152,500. FAIRFAX Boulder Construction has purchased the vacant lot at 6313 Bancroft St. Expect construction. GLENDALE Warm welcome gets chilly reception Cincinnati Enquirer, 9/24/06 When a place gets to be 151 years old, it's important people know it. So officials of this village were happy when the Glendale Heritage Preservation group decided to donate new signs to welcome people to the national historic landmark. Problem is, the wrong signs went up. The signs - in five places around the village - weren't incorrect. They just weren't the ones approved by the village planning commission and council. The correct signs were supposed to be bigger and have "Glendale" on a green background so it stands out better. So when the first one was unveiled in Tollgate Park last month, those who noticed the difference were a little confused. GEORGETOWN, OH Skate park ready to roll Georgetown News Democrat The new skate park to be located at Kathryn Hanlon Park will have a name. The park will be dedicated to the Wilson brothers, Corey and Austin, who drowned in an accident at Whiteoak Creek this past summer. Michael Hart, owner of Mycles Cycles in Georgetown, was at the council meeting to report that the necessary money had been raised to make good on the pledge to build a park for skateboarders, bicyclists and skaters. "The Wilsons came to me about a month ago and said they would like to give the insurance money to the park fund," said Hart. "I get choked up every time I talk about this. They are a very brave family." Hart said the family had requested the park be named in the memory of the two boys. He asked council for approval of this dedication. INDIAN HILL Less-than-grand opening Indian Hill Journal, 9/28/06 The village is planning to open its multi-million dollar nature preservation site Oct. 7, although construction won't be completed for the foreseeable future. Grand Valley, purchased in 2002 for $7.5 million, has been open on a limited basis for about a year for fishing. City Manager Mike Burns said with some of the planned construction completed, now is the time to hold a fairly "low-key" event, with no extravagant dedications or entertainment planned. "We would like to let people come in and walk around," said George Kipp, project manager. Kipp said entrance into Grand Valley is allowed to residents by unlocking a gate with a key. After the "not-so-grand opening," residents and those hooked up to the village's water supply will be allowed onto the site with a special pass visible from inside their vehicles. He said the park will remain open, like the village's other parks, from dawn until dusk. Before Indian Hill bought the 305-acre property, Grand Valley was little more than a gravel pit. When developers threatened to transform it into a dense residential area, the village bought the land and created a master plan to preserve it. INDIAN HILL OHIO 126 TO BE REPAVED Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/1/06 Indian Hill is working on plans to repave 2.5 miles of Ohio 126 from the Montgomery corporate line to Loveland-Madeira Road. The city will spilt the estimated $270,000 cost with the Ohio Department of Transportation. Work is expected to start early to late spring of 2007, Indian Hill City Manager Mike Burns said. LOVELAND Skate park bids come in high Cincinnati Enquirer, 8/26/06 Bids for the proposed Lever Park skate park - which a consultant expected would cost about $95,000 - came in significantly higher. The four bids ranged from $153,000 to $187,000. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources kicked in a $65,000 grant toward the project. The city can let the park out for bids again, but that could mean it won't be finished this year. City officials will work with their planning firm, Brandstetter Carroll, to see whether bid specifications can be changed. LUDLOW Skate park coming soon Cincinnati Enquirer, 9/30/06 A regional skate park serving Ludlow and nearby cities is expected to open in a riverfront park next spring, thanks largely to a $50,000 grant. The skate park is among 14 Kentucky recreational projects receiving funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Gov. Ernie Fletcher's office announced Friday. The grants are made by the National Park Service and administered by the Governor's Office for Local Development. Construction will start next spring in Ludlow Park on Elm Street across from Ludlow High School and should be finished within weeks, City Administrator Brian Dehner said. All of the sections will be trucked in and set on a concrete pad. The various pieces can be reconfigured every few years to keep skaters' interest, he said. MADISON TWP Madison school board hears plans for construction of new elementary school Middletown Journal, 9/27/06 Madison Local Schools is in the early stages of preparing to build a new elementary school. Superintendent Chris Cline on Monday introduced educational consultant Steve Miller to the Board of Education. Miller, who has had considerable experience working with the Ohio School Facilities Commission, explained the OSFC's planning, design and construction process to the school board. "There are eight steps in the planning process," Miller said. "Right now, Madison is in steps one and two. Step one is the pre-planning process and step two is planning, approval and funding stages." Cline said the district could potentially receive a credit of $12.8 million from the OSFC to build a new elementary school, which is estimated to be completed by the start of the 2010-11 school year. NORWOOD 1923 Delaware Ave has been rehabbed and converted from a two-family to a single-family. (after only) RIPLEY Front Street will be wider Georgetown News Democrat The question as to whether driving will be allowed on Front Street in Ripley, following the completion of the River Walk project has triggered concerns for many Ripley residents. Although Ripley Administrator Charles Ashmore has expressed on numerous occasions, "there will still be through traffic on Front Street", some residents have appeared before Ripley Village Council and contacted village officials over the past few months to voice their opinions regarding Front Street remaining open to traffic. During the Sept. 12 council meeting it was Front Street resident, Betty Steward, who appeared before council after hearing rumors that there will be no driving or parking on Front Street after the River Walk project is complete. Ashmore was able to address Steward's concerns, but there are many other residents who have caught word there will be no through traffic allowed on Front Street and have not attended council meetings in search of further details. "There will be two way traffic (on Front Street) when the River Walk project is complete," Ashmore said on Tuesday. "Actually, Front Street will be much wider than it was before." Ashmore was clueless as to where the rumor of "no traffic on Front Street" may have started, but he assured The Ripley Bee the street will be 20-feet-wide, approximately five-feet wider than it was before. SOUTHGATE Apartment dispute spurs candidates Cincinnati Enquirer, 9/28/06 Controversy surrounding a proposed apartment complex has prompted several Southgate citizens to run for office. They are vying for six council seats and the mayor's chair against four incumbents running for re-election to council and a councilman running for mayor. The incumbents say there are more issues facing the city than the proposed 230-unit complex at the corner of Moock Road and U.S. 27. Concerns about the proposed apartments include traffic, water runoff and that 180 apartments will be rented at slightly reduced rate for tenants making between $22,000 and $44,000 annually so the developer can qualify for Section 42 tax credits. City council challengers Ron Bertsch, Dan Speier, Walter "Bill" Wiefering and Theresa Miller-Sisk and mayoral candidate Chuck Hazel say council didn't get enough public input before approving a zone change for the 13-acre site. SPRINGDALE The Springdale Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on October 6, 2006, at 7 PM at the city building. This hearing is in regard to a proposal for a conditional use permit which would allow for a drive-thru restaurant to be built at 11093 Springfield Pk, near the intersection of Sharon Rd and Springfield Pike. The restaurant is unknown (by me) at this time. TAYLOR MILL Land use plan still viable Kenton Community Recorder, 9/28/06 The city still plans to move forward with their land use plan, just three weeks after the Kenton County Planning Commission voted against adding it to the Kenton County Comprehensive Plan. City administrator Jill Bailey said the commission's decision to vote against the land use plan caught the city by surprise, but it will not affect them as they move forward. She said the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission (NKAPC) staff recommended approval of the plan, leading her to believe the commissioners would feel the same way. She said the city hasn't yet decided if they will appeal the commission's decision. "We're still reviewing our option right now, and trying to gather all of the information before we decide what road to take," said Bailey. "But this isn't holding up any projects, and we're still looking to move forward with the next steps of the plan." Bailey said the next steps for the plan will include adopting the text, and possibly entertaining text amendments within the city to put the plan in line with the city's goals. She also said parts of the plan will need fine-tuning to adjust to the changing needs of the city and its's residents. WILDER Wilder site will be open for business Campbell Community Recorder, 9/28/06 Dump trucks and excavators may soon be replaced by restaurants and boutiques in the northeast corner of I-275 in Wilder. What was once a large hill is currently being flattened by land owners Bray-Arnsperger Excavating, of Alexandria. Managing member Brandon Bray said the company bought the parcel of land off I-275 three years ago with the idea of flattening the area and selling it off to businesses. "We've only owned the land for about three years, but we had been talking about the great development possibilities of that site for the last decade," Bray said. Wilder City Administrator Terry Vance said the city's planning and zoning commission gave Bray-Arnsperger approval to begin excavation a year ago and work began this past spring. WILMINGTON Veterans memorial project ready for design, fund-raising Wilmington News Journal, 9/27/06 Plans for a Clinton County veterans memorial are progressing, with a site selected and a general concept for the memorial taking shape. Clinton County Commissioner Randy Riley, who as a private citizen is part of an effort to make the proposal turn into a reality, said there is a commitment to do something that will recognize all Clinton countians who have worn the uniform of any branch of the U.S. military. "It's going to be very dignified, something that any veteran would be proud of. Our goal is not to celebrate the wars, but rather the soldiers who have served," said Riley. The site chosen for the memorial is the northeast quadrant of courthouse square in downtown Wilmington. The general concept for the memorial is that it not be a big column or headstone, but rather be more like a park setting, said Riley. The hope is visitors will be able to actually sit and think about what the memorial conveys. WYOMING CITY BONDS WITH PROJECTS Tri-County Press, 9/27/06 City officials planned last week to finalize paperwork for a $5 million bond to pay for a new pool and several other projects. The city will use the money to pay for several projects, including: * A $3.4 million new aquatic facility at the Wyoming Recreation Center. * Park and recreation improvements, including work at Crescent Park, fencing and a shelter at Foster Memorial Park, pavement for a walking trail at Oak Park and the city's portion of the planned Hamilton County Hike-Bike Trail, totaling $465,000. * Sidewalk improvements in the northwest part of town, totaling $110,000. * The renovation of the recreation center parking lot, totaling $88,000. * Heating, ventilation and air conditioning system replacement at the Wyoming Municipal Building, totaling $55,000. * A new roof on the Wyoming Civic Center, totaling $40,000. Most of these projects have already been completed or are under way. The city used existing cash reserves to pay for the projects before the bonds were issued, according to City Manager Bob Harrison. An ordinance was passed by City Council earlier this year allowing the city to reimburse itself with the bonds, he said.
October 2, 200618 yr The village is planning to open its multi-million dollar nature preservation site Oct. 7, although construction won't be completed for the foreseeable future. OK, that just sounds funny...the construction of your nature preserve? Of course, once you read the end of the article, it makes sense: Before Indian Hill bought the 305-acre property, Grand Valley was little more than a gravel pit. When developers threatened to transform it into a dense residential area, the village bought the land and created a master plan to preserve it. ...I guess construction will involve fill dirt and such...but still, wouldn't that be "restoration," not "construction"?
October 3, 200618 yr Renovations to preserve downtown courthouse BY DAN HORN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER The Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in Cincinnati will get an extreme makeover next spring, its first in almost 70 years. Renovation of the Depression-era landmark is expected to cost taxpayers $30 million - about 10 times what it cost to build it in 1939 - and will change the appearance of the courthouse inside and out. The building will get new windows, boilers, bathrooms, a new roof and a renovated courtroom that might feature ceramic tile produced by Cincinnati's reopened Rookwood Pottery Co. The most visible update will be to the nine-story building's limestone exterior, which will get a mild chemical scrub to wash away decades of grime. Cincinnati's three U.S. Courthouses First U.S. Courthouse: Location - Southwest corner of Fourth and Vine streets Cost - $394,000 Lifespan - Opened 1857, closed 1885 Second U.S. Courthouse: Location - Fifth Street between Main and Walnut Cost - $5.8 million Lifespan - Opened 1885, closed 1936 Current U.S. Courthouse: Location - Fifth Street between Main and Walnut Cost - $3.2 million Lifespan - Opened 1939, still in use MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061003/NEWS01/610030330/1056
October 3, 200618 yr Monmouth hopes to draw BY SCOTT WARTMAN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER Property owners along Monmouth Street in Newport hope that by next spring, more people will call their buildings home. Work continues on dozens of apartments along Newport's main business corridor with many anticipating fall or spring completions. The largest, a 41-unit apartment complex, will likely open in the spring, said Glenn Kukla, a partner with Middle Earth Developers. Middle Earth has completed about one-third of the work inside the building at the corner of Ninth and Monmouth streets. The 100-year-old building had previously housed a furniture company warehouse, then a strip club, before sitting vacant for years. The apartments will have high ceilings, brick walls and cost $800 to $1,100 a month, Kukla said. The developer plans on renting 14,000 square feet on the first floor for commercial use sometime early next year. This could be retail, restaurant or office space, Kukla said. Off-street parking and a courtyard will also be built. MORE: http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20061003/NEWS0103/610030349
October 5, 200618 yr Author From the 9/29/06 Cincinnati Business Courier: Hilton Garden to be planted in Blue Ash Cincinnati Business Courier - September 29, 2006 by Laura Baverman Staff Reporter Blue Kenwood LLC will close on its third Cincinnati hotel property this week, bringing a second Hilton Garden Inn to the area. The 122-room, mid-priced hotel will be built at 5300 Cornell Road in Blue Ash, on the site of a 13,000-square-foot medical building that will be demolished this fall. The developer, "G2" Patel, owns the Hampton Inn in Blue Ash and Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites on Mitchell Avenue in St. Bernard. Hilton Garden Inn operates an older version of its hotel in Loveland. Patel said the new hotel will be four-star and will cater to traveling business people. MORE: http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/10/02/story7.html From the 10/3/06 Miami Student: PHOTO: Verizon, Great Clips, and a men and women's clothing store will be among the businesses housed in the strip mall. Media Credit: Amanda Baker New Route 27 shopping center hopes to draw Wal-Mart traffic Ashley Doyle, Senior Staff Writer Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: Community The Super Wal-Mart on U.S. Route 27 in Oxford is getting some new neighbors, including a clothing store, a Great Clips and a Verizon Wireless store. Robert Mattingly & Sons, Inc., began building a small strip mall on the land next to Wal-Mart in June 2006 and construction is expected to be completed within the next two weeks. The new strip mall will become home to Maurice's; a men and women's clothing store that has locations across the country; Great Clips; and Moorehead Communications, which will be opening a Verizon Wireless store. Many other businesses have inquired about the three remaining spots in the strip mall, but no decisions have been made at this time. MORE: http://www.miamistudent.net/media/storage/paper776/news/2006/10/03/Community/New-Route.27.Shopping.Center.Hopes.To.Draw.WalMart.Traffic-2327219.shtml?norewrite200610042151&sourcedomain=www.miamistudent.net
October 8, 200618 yr Author From the 10/4/06 Northwest Press: PHOTO: Some of the Colerain Home Depot Store employees who volunteered for the Mt. Airy Forest project were, from left, Chris Himonidis, Ed Cordie and Jay Ball. JENNIE KEY/COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF Project succeeds with volunteers BY JENNIE KEY | COMMUNITY PRESS EDITOR It's tough work to blaze a trail. Just ask more than 300 volunteers who went where few had gone before, clearing brush, laying in steps and edging a 3.7-mile pathway through a nature preserve last week for the Cincinnati Park District. The group was part of the second annual Corporate Month of Service. Employees from local Home Depot stores brought tools, expertise and muscle to the one-day project, working with the Hands On Network. The Corporate Month of Service is a national initiative led by Hands On Network, in alliance with The Home Depot and KaBOOM!, to increase volunteerism. MORE: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061004/NEWS01/610040749/1071/Local From the 9/30/06 Kentucky Post: New site for ACB keeps it in city Post staff report Covington officials were touting their success Friday in keeping an employer from leaving the city. The city reported that ACB American, which employs 69 people and has an annual payroll of more than $1.8 million, plans to move to the Latonia Shopping Center. The company has leased 25,000 square feet in a space formally occupied by Johnny's Toys. Company officials estimate that they will hire 45 new employees within three years, and plan to employ 200 within 10 years. "We're very excited to be staying in the Northern Kentucky area," ACB Operations Manager Dale Norman said. The city plans to help the company defray the cost to relocate from its present site at 823 Scott Blvd., where it's been for about 20 years, Norman said. The company is 44 years old. City and company officials have not yet agreed on the details of that reimbursement, he said. MORE: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060930/NEWS02/609300342/1011/RSS02
October 9, 200618 yr Renovations to preserve downtown courthouse The building initially housed 51 government agencies and was the central processing area for the Post Office. The agencies all have moved to new locations, leaving the courthouse to the U.S. District Courts and the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. I wish the post office was still there. It was cool to go into the big hall with all the teller windows. It felt like you were in a big city.
October 9, 200618 yr Author This post sucks Yes, this is probably the worst thing I've put out this year. My apologies. I'll try harder next week. Madisonville: Artisan zoning overlay district Don Stephan of Stephan Woodworking has petitioned Madisonville Community Council regarding the relocation of his business from Madeira to 6406 Madison Rd, in Madisonville. However, Madisonville has no artisan zoning to provide. So they are asking the Economic Development Committee (EDC) to conduct a zoning study within the business district to consider the creation of an overlay district. This overlay would allow for the manufacturing of items either by hand or by the use of small-scale equipment. The current zoning of the site is CC-M. This change might spur other artisans to move to the area, would draw new business to the struggling business district, and might be a model for other neighborhoods to emulate. The EDC is currently looking into this. (Note: I'm not sure if the address is correct. On the auditor's site it shows a drive-thru.) Round-up: City of Cincinnati BOND HILL 1315 Ryland Ave will demolished. The single-family home was declared a public nuisance (condemned 2/05) in February 2006. The owner was granted a stay against demolition, and in July the Intent to Raze ruling came down. Right now there are worries about asbestos and about a common wall between this house and 1313 Ryland Ave. The house, built in 1894, became a nuisance due to the death of the man and the bankruptcy of his wife. (1315 Ryland on left) EAST PRICE HILL After being held by Fannie Mae for 14 months, 949 Oakland Ave was purchased by an investor for $26,000. The two-family has been vacant for quite some time and requires a lot of work. So far, no work has begun. EAST PRICE HILL 1917 Grand Ave, which was recently purchased for $4,500, will start to undergo a little bit of rehab activity. In its current state it does not meet city code and has been ordered vacant and barricaded. MT WASHINGTON Mt. Washington Bakery may return Forest Hills Journal, 10/4/06 The Mt. Washington Bakery, which closed its doors early last month, may reopen a store in Mt. Washington. "Moving back is my first priority," owner and operator Maurice Hernandez said. The bakery moved from its former Beechmont Avenue location after a change in ownership of the building it occupied. Hernandez opened a Mt. Washington Bakery in Miami Township three months ago at 1149 Ohio 131. However, he said, he plans to return to the community of Mt. Washington. NORTHSIDE After 10 months, 1301 Chase Ave was purchased from Wells Fargo for $15,000. This appears to be an investment property, and not an easy one at that. The city had ordered this building vacant in August 2005, and there were problems with the building long before that. The rehab may be costly. So far, no building permits have been applied for. NORTHSIDE The rehab at 4423 Ammon Ave is now complete. This home was vacant from mid 2005 to mid 2006. PRICE HILL After being held by Wells Fargo for 11 months, the two-family at 907 Rosemont Ave has been purchased by an investor for $24,000. The home is ready for occupancy. SOUTH FAIRMOUNT After six months on the market, 1722 Queen City Ave has gone to a slumlord for $24,900. This is a two-family property. SOUTH FAIRMOUNT 1386 Ernst St has been razed by the city. The city ordered it vacant in July 2003, but people kept using it (in other words, it was probably a drug house). The rapid decline of the home from 1880 is most likely due to the owner's death. WALNUT HILLS 2331 May St is going to get a basic rehab to bring it up to code. It has been vacated by the city for over two years. WALNUT HILLS Lindner gift a big blessing Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/6/06 Things looked bleak for Phillips Chapel CME church back in the spring, after it was hit twice by burglars. The Rev. Judy Sharpe, the pastor, remembers those dark days after burglars used a crowbar to force open a door at the small church, then knocked a hole in a wall and stole a typewriter, copy machine, electric piano, a cordless telephone and crystal vase. But because of the generosity of Carl Lindner, chairman of American Financial Group, the church is holding a dedication and consecration service this weekend for its completely remodeled building. Not only did Lindner give the church $30,000 to cover the losses and damage from the two burglaries, he later offered "a very, very generous" donation that allowed the church to be remodeled, Sharpe said Thursday. "For us as a small church, for him to reach down and touch us, we're overwhelmed," Sharpe said. "I told him he was God's hand extended. He gave us a very generous love offering." WESTWOOD 2468 Harrison has been razed. It was declared a nuisance in June and the Intent to Raze came in July. This a long-time problem property that has been a high priority for the City. This was a three-family that was built at the turn of the century. Round-up: Metro ALEXANDRIA County hires planner to help with comp plan Alexandria Recorder, 10/5/06 Campbell County has hired another professional planner to help update the county's subdivision regulations and implement its comprehensive plan. Ryan Hutchinson, a planner for the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission for about two and a half years, has been hired as the principal planner, and will work under Director of Planning and Zoning Peter Klear. Hutchinson will oversee regulations and their implementation, Klear said. The move to hire Hutchinson, approved by Campbell County Fiscal Court on Tuesday, Sept. 19, will end up saving the county money because it won't have to rely on contracting with the NKAPC to do project planning work, Klear said. "I want to bring that internal so we can have higher quality developments...with unique features," he said. BETHEL Historians want to save cabins Georgetown News Democrat A number of local historic preservationists were on hand to show support for Ron Shouse as he addressed Bethel Village Council on Monday, Sept. 25. Council members were preparing to vote on a resolution to dispose of two cabins located in Burke Park and Shouse attended the meeting to ask them not to approve the resolution. "I have been involved in local history," said Shouse, "teaching children the history of our community and it would be a shame if we lose the cabins which are a part of our history." He asked council members for time to get a committee of residents together to find out about renovating the cabins and getting them back in shape. Shouse is a blacksmith and has made hundreds of horseshoes for area children over the years in the blacksmith shop which is one of the buildings slated for removal. Mayor Travis Dotson was on the Parks and Village Property Committee which advised council to find a way to get rid of the cabins. They have fallen into disrepair and the estimates to renovate them were close to $41,000. BLUE ASH Keltin Development LLC has purchased 4930 Myrtle Ave, a tiny 636-square-foot cottage built in 1937. I'm guessing teardown. Most of the houses in this subdivision, known as Arcadia, were built around that same time. BOONE COUNTY Historic church gets repairs Boone County Recorder, 10/5/06 An historic rural Boone County church is receiving some care. The work includes restoration of the church's steeple and new paint on its doors and trim. There are also plans to paint the sanctuary's metal roof. "The sanctuary is over a hundred years old. ... It's a continuous restoration job on an historical structure," said Sandra Cupps, one of the church's members. "You always need to do maintenance to it. That's why it's lasted as long as it has." The first Belleview Baptist Church was built in 1803 near Middle Creek out of logs. It was called Middle Creek Baptist Church. The log building was replaced by a frame building and later a brick structure. A tornado in 1876 destroyed the church and it was relocated to Belleview. The current building was built in 1903. Additions were put on the church in 1948 and 1966. BUTLER COUNTY Voters to decide if Fido gets better digs Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/2/06 Nancy Bender has a rare form of thyroid cancer and faces a second surgery this month. But that’s not what this Fairfield Township resident worries about when she lies awake at 3 a.m. Instead, she worries about the fate of an overcrowded animal shelter in Trenton run by the Animal Friends Humane Society, which euthanized more than 4,000 animals last year. Come Nov. 7, Butler County voters will decide whether to raise property taxes to pump $3.8 million into rebuilding the county’s largest animal shelter. It’s an unusual request. And it was Bender’s idea. DEER PARK 4049 Lansdowne Ave has been remodeled and updated. FELICITY County tries to keep armory open Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/3/06 A community forum will be held on Oct. 28 to discuss the planned closing of the Felicity National Guard Armory, the training ground for the 216th National Guard Engineering Battalion. The forum will begin at 11 a.m. at Felicity-Franklin High School, 415 West Washington St., Felicity. Clermont Commissioner Bob Proud said the closing of the armory has been moved up to Nov. 12, almost a year ahead of the earlier announced closing date. "The 216th has served this area well; their service in Iraq resulted in the first meritorious unit commendation earned by an Ohio National Guard unit since World War II,'' Proud said in a statement. The Felicity armory is the only one remaining in Clermont County. If it is closed, local guardsmen will have to travel over 90 miles to Portsmouth for training, county officials said. GLENDALE Bridge collapses on Sharon Road in Glendale Tri-County Press, 10/4/06 State Route 747 at Sharon Road in Glendale is closed this afternoon after a stone bridge over a creek near Lake Park collapsed. State Route 747 is closed at Sharon Road going northbound and at Coral and Washington avenues going southbound, said Glendale Police Chief Matt Fruchey. The road is expected to re-open somewhere between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Glendale police are working to divert to Springfield Pike and Washington Avenue and Church Street. The bridge started to give way two days ago, according to Glendale Administrator Walter Cordes, and finally collapsed completely Wednesday, Oct. 4. LOVELAND Loveland needs partnerships to fund recreation Loveland Herald, 10/4/06 City officials have a better idea of what residents want in a potential outdoor aquatic center and, if the city can afford it, an indoor recreation center. City Manager Tom Carroll said the centers could be established in Loveland by the summer of 2008 -- that is, if planning, zoning, and financial issues are resolved by then. He said the city can't finance both a state-of-the-art aquatic and a recreation center. A levy for the centers is an option, he said, but if the city does not find a partner to help with funding, the levy could be too high for taxpayers. Carroll said the city officials are now seeking every partnership they can -- possibly with the Loveland City School District, Miami Township and private sources -- before attempting to pass a levy. "The likelihood of a partnership with another government is slim," he said, "but the city will attempt to regardless." LOVELAND Groundbreaking scheduled for Oct. 16 Loveland Herald, 10/4/06 The Rosemary Nisbet Library groundbreaking ceremony will take place 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, on Loveland Historical Society Museum grounds, 201 Riverside Drive. Featured key note speaker U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, members of Loveland City Council and administration, the estate planning committee and museum board members. Musical entertainment, light refreshments and tours of the museum will precede the groundbreaking activities. Members of the committee are Jim Ferguson, chairman, Wayne Dunn and Dave Welsh architects, and Jim Rogers, Harold Eberenz, Norman Neal, Jenny Shives, Nancy Garfinkel and Jan Beller. The new library has been made possible through a generous gift from the late Rosemary Nisbet. Her father, C. Roger Nisbet, also made a generous gift in 1982, which was used to purchase the current building and convert it into the Greater Loveland Historical Museum LUDLOW Ludlow receives grants for skate park Kentucky Post, 10/2/06 The City of Ludlow has been awarded $103,000 in federal and private grants to build a skate park at the Ludlow Memorial Park on Elm Street. The city recently received approval of $50,000 of the $103,000 from the National Park Service's Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides grants to cities and counties to develop outdoor recreation facilities. Ludlow City Manager Brian Dehner said the city also received $53,000 from Kenton County, which was awarded the money from Toyota to build a skate park. Because Ludlow was further ahead in its plans, Dehner said the county decided to turn the money over to the city. City officials are seeking another $25,000 from the Tony Hawk Foundation to help them reach their goal of $175,000 for the park. MASON STREET LIGHT REPLACEMENT Community Press Mason-Deerfield Twp, 10/4/06 New street lights matching existing decorative street lights along Tylersville Road, Mason-Montgomery Road and the municipal building parking area will be installed along Cintas Boulevard. City council approved the $27,462 expenditure at its Sept. 25 council meeting. The street lights replace existing street lights, which the city says are corroding. The cost is under estimated 2006 budget cost of $39,000. MIDDLETOWN New Creekview, same great traditions Middletown Journal, 10/5/06 It is a tale of two Creekviews. With a shiny and new version of the Middletown elementary school beside the building with so many memories, the district Wednesday afternoon celebrated the dedication of the new Creekview Elementary School. Although the old school remains next door, the new building is the real deal, said longtime school supporter Dick Blauvelt. "It's Creekview," Blauvelt said. "This school has such excellent teachers and staff — it's what the school is known for — great teachers." MIDDLETOWN 'It's a different place with a new atmosphere' Middletown Journal, 10/6/06 It looks the same from the outside, but those who have been inside Amanda Elementary School say it's entirely different. All that's left before construction workers pack up and leave the school in the hands of its teachers and administrators are a few walkthroughs to double-check everything, said Principal Beth Prince. "My kids came home from school the first week and said, 'We have floors,'" parent and school volunteer Kelley McIntosh said. "It's a different place with a new atmosphere." The rededication Thursday was a time to celebrate the hard work and patience shown during the renovation by school staff, construction workers, students, parents and the community. NORTH COLLEGE HILL Credit union moves office across street Hilltop Press, 10/4/06 Greater Cincinnati Credit Union is relcating its North College Hill Branch to 6899 Hamilton Ave., just across the street from its former office. "Our new, state-of-the-art facility has the latest technology to better serve the financial needs of the community," said Daryl Sawyer, CEO of Greater Cincinnati Credit Union. "Our member service representatives will continue to provide members with the same personalized, friendly service they have been accustomed to receiving." As part of the relocation celebration anyone who stops by the credit union before noon on Tuesday,Oct. 31, can enter to win $1,000. The winner will be selected Nov. 3. ST BERNARD After a year on the market following foreclosure, 28 Clay St was purchased for $25,800. It appears to be an investment property of some nearby residents. The home is pretty shabby, but I think it's up to code. SHARONVILLE Stewart Elementary to hold dedication ceremony Cincinnati.com, 9/28/06 Stewart Elementary School, one of the five elementary schools built in the Princeton City School district this year, will be hosting a dedication and grand opening on Sunday, October 8 at 11850 Conrey Road in Sharonville. All are invited to join in and celebrate the opening of this brand new beautiful building. The dedication ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. Remarks will be made by school and community officials, and the Princeton High School band will perform. Following a ribbon cutting ceremony, the school will be open to the public for tours. To request a formal invitation, please call the school at 864-2800. The new building houses grades Pre-K through five, and is designed to hold 420 students. Construction costs totaled $10,025,000 and the building has several special features including an interior courtyard with gardens, state of the art technology and security, science lab classrooms, color-coded grade level wings, and an art room that incorporates these colors to tie all grade levels together. SHARONVILLE Sharonville Elementary to hold dedication ceremony Cincinnati.com, 9/28/06 Sharonville Elementary School, one of the five elementary schools built in the Princeton City School district this year, will be hosting a dedication and grand opening on Sunday, October 22 at 11150 Maple Street in Sharonville. All are invited to join in and celebrate the opening of this brand new beautiful building. The dedication ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. Remarks will be made by school and community officials, and the Princeton High School orchestra will perform. Following a ribbon cutting ceremony, the school will be open to the public for tours. To request a formal invitation, please call the school at 864-2600. The new building houses grades Pre-K through five, and is designed to hold 420 students. Construction costs totaled $10,160,000 and the building has several special features including a terra cotta eagle which was taken from the original school building, state of the art technology and security, science lab classrooms, and an interior bridge structure that overlooks the main entrance and cafetorium linking the administrative offices with the classes on the second floor. WILLIAMSTOWN Land options Discussion continues on new fairgrounds Grant County News, 10/4/06 Grant County's Tourism Commission, Fair Board, Cooperative Extension Service and Cattlemen's Association had reached a tentative agreement on what they will do with the nearly 67 acres of land that was purchased for the groups by the Grant County Industrial Development Authority. However, the plan will have to change now that the Tourism Commission has decided not to pursue purchase of the land at this time. The IDA purchased the land, which is located between Baton Rouge Road and Interstate 75 in Williamstown, for $12,000 per acre last year. They must sell the property before paying the first interest payment in February 2007. The entities are responsible for paying interest on the land, so the cost is now up to almost $13,000 per acre. Representatives from the groups met last Thursday, Sept. 21 to discuss how they would divide the land. An agreement was reached that: The Tourism Commission and the Cooperative Extension would split the front of the land, with each being responsible for half the cost of an entrance road.
October 9, 200618 yr ^I enjoyed the post, nothing to be ashamed of. Sharonville and Stewart are much more striking designs than what Princeton did in Springdale, which is an utter piece of crap. At least Glendale survived...I think. Hamilton is repainting the 5 year old downtown traffic poles and streetlights...big whoop!
October 10, 200618 yr <i>Yes, this is probably the worst thing I've put out this year.</i> Dude, what are you talking about? This is another round-up of loads of stuff happening around town. Plus a double-dose of lovin' for Walnut Hills - I'm always gonna love that! Thank you as always!
October 16, 200618 yr Author Still digging I'm still working on a few things and I might have something new to report soon. Round-up: City of Cincinnati CARTHAGE Cincinnati Housing Partners has purchased 6915 Vine St and has started a rehab. The home was built in 1890. HYDE PARK A new single-family home is being built on the vacant residential land at the corner of Stettinius Ave and Salem St. The two adjacent lots, which is referred to as 3325 Stettinius Ave in the building permits (but not in the auditor site) were purchased for $400,000. Homes in the area are similar to that amount, though the homes across Stettinius are closer to $1 million and on larger lots. MADISONVILLE 6647 Palmetto St has been renovated. MT WASHINGTON First facelift in 36 years begins at McNicholas High School Forest Hills Journal, 10/4/06 Workers from Universal Contracting Corp. recently arrived on the campus of Archbishop McNicholas High School to begin the job of giving the school its first facelift in 36 years. The occasion marked a milestone in the school's TurningPoint Capital Campaign. The construction schedule for the new development includes: -- Demolishing the weight room extension at the north end of the existing gymnasium to clear space for the new main entrance to the school building. -- Erecting a retaining wall and removing trees behind the convent building to the site of the new auxiliary gymnasium. -- Constructing the auxiliary gymnasium with a targeted completion date in December. -- Renovating the school media center. -- Converting the boys' locker room in the convent building to provide much needed additional space for the growing music department. -- Placing a Celtic cross at the Beechmont Avenue entrance to the school to serve as a prominent Catholic identity symbol. -- Remodeling the Chapel of St. Joseph in the convent to enhance the worship space environment. -- Providing a facelift to the Black Box Theater. The Rev. Chuck Mentrup said the construction schedule calls for all remodeling within the existing school to be completed prior to the August start of the next school year. NORTH AVONDALE Vacant land has been purchased at 1009 and 1011 Dana Ave. This is near the intersection with Winding Way. It could possibly be a redevelopment area. NORTH FAIRMOUNT 2554 Liddell Ave (1890) was razed by the city in late August. It was condemned in late 2004, and had been vacant long before that. The building remained in the control of Crowne Mortgage. It then suffered a fire in June 2005. Since then, the single-family home began sliding slowly down a hill. It was declared a public nuisance in June 2006 and Intent to Raze came in late July. SOUTH CUMMINSVILLE/MILLVALE Cincinnati Bell Wireless is planning on putting a 100' tower in the area of 3400 Llewellyn Ave. WINDOWS LIVE LOCAL BIRD'S EYE VIEW WESTWOOD After 11 months of being owned by various banks, 2785 Shaffer Ave has been purchased by an investor. The house is tenant-ready. Round-up: Metro ALEXANDRIA Group homes break ground Kentucky Post, 10/9/06 The Point, a local organization that has served residents with disabilities since 1972, is celebrating the groundbreaking of two new group homes this month and expects a third shortly. On Oct. 19, the organization will break ground for its ninth and 10 homes, both in Alexandria. The homes were made possible by donations from the estate of Newton Zinn, and Henry and Elaine Fischer. ANDERSON TWP 6447 Sherman Ave has been rehabbed. ANDERSON TWP Tanner Custom Homes will be building a 14-unit townhome project on the 6600 block of Corbly Rd, on the north side of the street between Rainbow Ln and Clough Ridge Dr. It appeard that these may offered for around $200,000 GOOGLE MAP BETHEL Committee forms to save Acord cabin Bethel Journal, 10/12/06 More people than could fit in the Acord cabin gathered at the Grant Memorial Building in an effort to save the bedraggled piece of Bethel history. Around 33 people met Oct. 4 to form a committee focused around preserving the Acord cabin and blacksmith shop in Burke Park that were scheduled to be removed. "We can do it. It's going to take some dedication and hard work," said Ron Shouse of Bethel, who organized the meeting and was also named committee chair. "It's going to take a good number of people to do this. I can't do this on my own." The Acord cabin was donated to the village by Kermit and Sue Acord in 1976 to be used as a place for residents to learn and enjoy. "Every year (teachers) took all the kids," said Lois Dennis, committee secretary. "It's so important for kids to see the way people lived in the past." BLUE ASH Crowne Plaza returns to Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati.com, 10/8/06 The Clarion Hotel in Blue Ash has started an extensive renovation and conversion to the Crowne Plaza brand, an affiliate of Intercontinental Hotels Group. The hotel will have 200 guest rooms and suites as well as 20,000 square feet of meeting space, a lobby lounge and the Atrium restaurant. The renovation is expected to be completed by April 1, 2007. CAMPBELL COUNTY U.S. 27 WORK PAVES WAY Campbell County Recorder, 10/12/06 The work to realign U.S. 27 south of Alexandria should make room for more space around the Campbell County Industrial Park. New spaces should be available for development after the highway work is completed, said Campbell County Administrator Robert Horine. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet expects to finish the highway work on U.S. 27 around the plant in the summer of 2007. The industrial park is already the home to a plant the Sara Lee Corporation operates. Campbell County Fiscal Court voted to name the road entering the park Bud Pogue Way at a Wednesday, Oct. 4 meeting. Henry Bud Pogue IV, of Fort Thomas, was a former chairman of the Campbell County Economic Progress Authority, formerly known as the Campbell County Industrial Authority. CAMPBELL COUNTY Campbell residents push for preservation Alexandria Recorder, 10/12/06 A group of residents from Camp Springs and Grant's Lick pushed for more preservation efforts at a Tuesday, Oct. 10 public hearing at the Alexandria courthouse. The Campbell County and Municipal Planning Commission held the hearing to receive final comments on a 19 page draft of the county's vision, goals and objectives for where it wants to be in 2012. There needs to be language in the plan recognizing Camp Springs as a unique place, said Nancy Enzweiler, vice president of the Camp Spring Initiative. The county should think about using specific housing regulations that received a brief mention in the 19 page document to require any new developments in Camp Springs to match the stone buildings in the area, Enzweiler said. Several buildings in Camp Springs are on the National Register of Historic Places, and many of the buildings not made of stone need to be preserved, she said. CAMPBELL COUNTY A.J. Jolly Park gets mile-long bike path Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/9/06 The county may start this fall improving pathways in southern Campbell County's A.J. Jolly Park with the construction of a mile-long bike path along Race Track Road from the Parkside subdivision to the entrance to the park. The county recently received an $89,000 federal transportation grant to build the path. The county will kick in $31,800 in labor and equipment, said County Administrator Robert Horine. "It ties into the recreation plan for A.J. Jolly Park to improve the pathways around and within the park," Horine said. The county had been turned down this year for a land and water conservation grant to extend the path another mile in the park. Horine expects the mile-long path to be completed next year. DELHI TWP Delhi skate park contract approved Delhi Press, 10/11/06 Work was to begin this week to transform aging tennis courts into a skate park at Delhi Township Park. Trustees awarded the $111,000 construction contract to Suburban Rails, a Northside firm, at their Sept. 27 meeting. The bulk of the cost, 75 percent, is coming from a state grant. The township is paying the balance. Township teens like J. J. Berg, 14, have been waiting a long time, he said for such a facility in his own back yard. "It's going to be awesome," Berg said. GLENDALE Sharon Road reopens after bridge collapse Tri-County Press, 10/11/06 State Route 747 was expected to re-open late Wednesday, Oct. 4, but crews were delayed by rain and the need to rest. State Route 747 at Sharon Road in Glendale was closed last week at Sharon Road going northbound and at Coral and Washington avenues going southbound after a stone bridge over a creek near Lake Park collapsed. Crews finished repairing the bridge Friday night and opened the road, according to Glendale Police Officer Steve Cordes. Glendale police diverted traffic to Springfield Pike and Washington Avenue and Church Street. Work crews were stopped after they had been working 30 hours straight, Glendale Police Chief Fruchey said. "It was starting to get dangerous. You have to rest a crew sometime," he said. GLENDALE Princeton may get two new schools Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/11/06 The building boom that produced five new schools in the Princeton district may grow to include a new high school and middle school. Superintendent Aaron Mackey told the school board Monday the district should begin a feasibility study and community surveys to gauge chances for a bond issue next year to pay for a new high school and middle school. He said the current buildings, which are more than 43 years old, need too many upgrades to be renovated economically. Princeton already is in the midst of an $85 million building campaign. The district opened five new elementary schools simultaneously in late August and plans to open two more and to renovate a school by the fall of 2008. The district is in the third year of paying off its 27-year bond issue for that construction. Princeton may refinance to save $4.8 million to $6 million, Robyn Carey Allgeyer, district spokeswoman, said Tuesday. GREEN TWP INTERSECTIONS SPRUCED UP IN GREENERY DECORATIONS Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/15/06 Four intersections along North Bend Road have turned greener. Using an estimated $4,000 in tax increment financing funds, Green Township crews positioned decorative stones and plants - including dwarf blue spruce, sedum, day lilies and moonbeam coreopsis - along the public right of ways of the intersections from Rack Acres to Ridgewood. "We wanted to spruce it up," said Fred Schlimm., the township's director of public services. The plantings were on the road's list of beautification projects assembled by the citizens group, The North Bend Road/Cheviot Road Revitalization Committee. INDIAN HILL OLD REMINGTON STAYS CLOSED Indian Hill Journal, 10/12/06 The reopening of Old Remington Road, between Loveland-Madeira Road and Ohio 126 in Symmes Township, has been postponed until April. Work being performed by Reynolds for MSD is construction/expansion for the Sycamore Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant. The suggested detour is over Loveland-Madeira Road to Ohio 126 and vice versa. MADEIRA Plans for Madeira sidewalk not concrete Suburban Life, 10/11/06 The city of Madeira is looking at ways to make the sidewalk along Shawnee Run Road safer. "The city has talked with Duke Energy about moving the (utility) poles, and they are considering it," said City Manager Tom Moeller. If approved the poles would be moved behind the sidewalk. The city has already made several improvements to the sidewalk within the last year. It replaced the asphalt with concrete and moved a fire hydrant, which had previously been an obstruction. MONTGOMERY Another teardown, this time at 7733 Cooper Rd. Ireland-May is doing the job. The house it will replace, a reasonably sized Cape Cod was built in 1941. (No photo) MT HEALTHY The Speedway station at 7312 Hamilton Ave is now closed, awaiting demolition and a rebuild. The company also owns the two houses immediately to the north. Both houses have held commercial businesses. The entire area is closed off with an orange mesh fence. OXFORD Doty restored to historic site Oxford Press, 10/11/06 The Doty Settlement Cemetery on Brown Road has been restored, and the new historical marker was dedicated Sunday afternoon amid memories of a project nearly 20 years in the making. The cemetery stands only a short distance off the road but was long forgotten and overgrown with weeds when Oxford Twp. Trustee Jim McDonough got a phone call on the Fourth of July two decades ago. The caller was a woman from out of state asking why the township was not taking care of the cemetery on Brown Road. McDonough and then-trustee, the late Sam Woodruff, found the site and toured it. "I remember standing by the gate down by the road when we were leaving and thinking, 'This is no way to treat the dead,'" McDonough said Sunday. He said the weeds were eight to 10 feet tall and brush all grown over the cemetery, where they found a couple tombstones still standing. It was a long process getting the cemetery from that state to what visitors were able to see on Sunday afternoon. Work on the cemetery was a joint effort of the Oxford Twp. Trustees and the Oxford Museum Association. SPRINGFIELD TWP The Springfield Township Board of Trustees will hold a public meeting on October 18, 2006, 6:30 PM at the Administration Building regarding a revision to a development plan by MV Communities. This development, Stonebridge at Winton Woods, is located at 10290 Mill Rd, near Kolping Park. It consists of maintenance-free cottages geared towards retirees. The revision is to add five additional duplex units to Phase I. GOOGLE MAP (right side of Mill Rd, behind Mercy complex) WEBSITE SYMMES TWP Symmes to develop master plan over next year Northeast Suburban Life, 10/11/06 Trustees are working to create a master plan for the township, a move that will create a philosophy for growth and development in Symmes for years to come. The township is in the earliest stages of creating the document -- which will include a township philosophy for buying land, park use, development and a bevy of other township business items -- and Trustee Ken Bryant said the process will take about a year to complete. "It isn't something that happens overnight," he said. One of the first steps is to organize a committee that will put together a proposal for a master plan. Bryant said the township is seeking "diverse backgrounds and forward-thinking people" to fill the five-position committee. Administrator Gerald Beckman said the next step will be to hire a planning and developing firm with experience in creating master plans. He said the township will then look to get the public involved in the process, first holding hearings on a broad group of topics and then gradually narrowing the discussions to specific details.
October 16, 200618 yr Don't know if this has been on here yet or not. There is a four unit loft conversion going on downtown at 646 Main St. The building has always interested me in that it must have been owned by UC sometime in the past or when it was built because their crest is embedded near the top of the building. Prices range from $225-260K Here is the link to the listing: http://www.comey.com/displaylist.asw?listnum=1030415&mls=cincy
October 16, 200618 yr ^Great colors! Did the stand alone house start yet? No, with the market the way it is we are going to sell a few of these first then build the next one.
October 16, 200618 yr ^^The one from Hyde Park looks GREAT!!! Cant wait to see the final product for the Mt. Lookout project.
October 17, 200618 yr A few random shots... my project in Hyde Park The project in Mt. Lookout Holy s%#$. Funny how adding one element (the square pattern above and below the windows) adds so much character. In Hyde Park i'm assuming those are going for 350-400k?
October 17, 200618 yr Funny how adding one element (the square pattern above and below the windows) adds so much character. In Hyde Park i'm assuming those are going for 350-400k? More like $430-$470 if we can get it, here is a link to the listings: http://www.comey.com/displaylist.asw?listnum=1012045&mls=cincy
October 17, 200618 yr Author From the 10/10/06 Enquirer: Residents protest Montana widening BY QUAN TRUONG | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WESTWOOD - City transportation officials and engineers heard a familiar response from residents Monday when they again pitched the idea of widening Montana Avenue. Most reacted with scorn and shook their heads at the idea which, for some property owners, could mean losing as much as 3 feet of frontage from their yards. The Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering held the public meeting at Westwood Town Hall to present their statistics on the safety of Montana Avenue's 9-foot-wide lanes. It was the fourth, and probably last, meeting with residents on the proposal. The proposal is to widen the street by 3 feet from Boudinot Avenue to Farrell Avenue. It would make the four existing lanes wider. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061010/NEWS01/610100369/1056/COL02 From the 10/12/06 Kenton Community Recorder: RENDERING: An artisit's rendering of the new St. Elizabeth Hospice. The facility, which will replace the hospice in Covington, is set to be completed by March. New hospice set to open in March BY JASON BRUBAKER | COMMUNITY RECORDER STAFF WRITER EDGEWOOD -- The St. Elizabeth Hospice Foundation admittedly took a leap of faith when they decided to break ground last fall for the new facility before all of the funding was in place. But now it appears that they will be landing safely on their feet. The foundation announced that as of Sept. 28, they have raised over $5 million for the building of the new hospice just south of the main medical center in Edgewood. The project, which is currently under construction, will cost an estimated $6.4 million, and is expected to be completed by next March. It will replace the current in-patient facility in Covington. MORE: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061012/NEWS01/610120423/1002/RSS01 From the 10/12/06 Enquirer: Waiting list starts for disabled-friendly housing BY SCOTT WARTMAN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER A waiting list has already started for 12 apartments designed to serve the disabled on Newport's west side, where a third of the population is disabled. Housing and Urban Development funds totaling about $1.2 million will be used to build the apartments on land donated by the Newport Housing Development Corp., the City of Newport and the Newport Housing Authority. Brighton Properties, which is part of the community service organization called Brighton Center, will develop the apartments - nine on the 700 block of Ann Street and three on Roberts Street. The apartments, dubbed Newport Commons, will be available to disabled people who meet HUD income guidelines. Accommodations include accessibility for wheelchair-bound people with wider doors, lower appliances and cabinets, and bathtubs that open along the side. MORE: http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20061012/NEWS0103/610120396
October 18, 200618 yr Author From the 10/13/06 Cincinnati Business Courier: Airport hotel now flying Sheraton banner Cincinnati Business Courier - October 13, 2006 The former Radisson Hotel Cincinnati Airport now carries the Sheraton brand, its owner said Friday. Columbia Sussex Corp. said the newly named Sheraton Cincinnati Airport Hotel will be operated under a long-term agreement with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. The 177-room hotel has undergone a major renovation, and now offers high-speed Internet access, LCD flat-screen televisions, and the Sheraton's branded "Sweet Sleeper" beds. It also has 7,000 square feet of meeting space and a restaurant, the Bistro Danielle. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/10/09/daily54.html?from_rss=1 A GetPublished! article from Cincinnati.com, 10/13/06: PHOTO: Demolition of the former Rockdale Temple auditorium and education building began on Oct. 3, clearing the way for the new JCC to be built on the site at 8501 Ridge Road. Groundbreaking is Sunday afternoon, Nov. 5. Demolition begins at site of the new JCC Contributed By JCC of Cincinnati | JCC of Cincinnati CINCINNATI, OH — Last week’s demolition of the old Rockdale Temple auditorium and education building was a welcome sign that the new JCC project is on track. Starting October 3, the buildings at 8501 Ridge Road were reduced to piles of rubble, and the salvaging and hauling began. This demolition is in preparation for the groundbreaking and start of construction for the new JCC. The entire community is invited to celebrate this important milestone at a groundbreaking party at the site of the new JCC (right off the Ridge Road exit of Ronald Reagan Hwy.) on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 3:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 4, Grant Hesser, new JCC project manager, watched as a trackhoe took a huge chunk out of the former Rockdale auditorium. “The demolition is moving along very well,” he said. “I expect the buildings to be completely down this week. Salvaging the metals and hauling away the debris will take another 3 – 4 weeks.” MORE: http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100044&sid=102936 From the 10/13/06 Enquirer: ACB American will replace Johnny's BY CINDY SCHROEDER | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER A longtime company that was on the verge of moving out of Covington has decided to move to the Latonia Shopping Center. Early next year, ACB American, a collections company that employs 69 people and has an annual payroll of more than $1.8 million, plans to move into the space vacated by Johnny's Toys several years ago, said Beth Robinson, Covington's small business recruitment and retention specialist. "We were just ecstatic that they zeroed in on the old Johnny's Toys site," Robinson said, echoing comments by Covington Mayor Butch Callery. "In addition to keeping these jobs in the city, it injects some new life into the Latonia Shopping Center. It'll bring employees down there who'll shop and frequent the restaurants." For some time, Covington officials have been trying to attract a sit-down restaurant to the shopping center, Robinson said. They hope ACB American's planned move will serve as the catalyst to lure one. MORE: http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20061013/NEWS0103/610130425
October 19, 200618 yr Construction to begin on Fairfax shopping center Cincinnati Business Courier - 10:32 AM EDT Wednesday A Fairfax retail/office development anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter is moving closer to reality. Developer Regency Centers closed in September on 35.5 acres at the corner of Red Bank and Murray roads, according to a news release. Construction of the 203,000-square-foot Wal-Mart and nearly 30,000 square feet of retail space will begin in November, with completion expected in May 2007. http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/10/16/daily26.html
October 19, 200618 yr Believe me, that Wal-Mart will be gone shortly after the new one opens, two miles is way too close for two stores. I hate to see more empty big box locations in the Ridge Highland area, but that piece of crap can't close soon enough! If Dante were to write the Inferno today, the Highland Wal Mart would most assuredly be one of his circles of hell.
October 19, 200618 yr Author From the 10/17/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: The Rev. Maynard Tetreault shows the chapel at the Franciscan's Friarhurst Center in Columbia Township. The center is for sale again after a deal with a builder fell through. Photos by Gary Landers/The Enquirer PHOTO: The Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist closed Friarhurst at the end of last year because the retreat house, built in 1947, was obsolete and no longer needed. Retreat center back on market Changing times on Wooster Pike BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER COLUMBIA TWP. - The 13-acre hillside tract overlooking the Little Miami River has assumed various identities in the last two centuries. It changed from wilderness to an orchard and vineyard to a youth weekend and summer camp to a Catholic chapel and retreat center. Now the Wooster Pike property, known as the Friarhurst, is up for sale, and no one knows what its next use will be. The Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, headquartered in Cincinnati, closed Friarhurst at the end of last year because the retreat house, built in 1947, was obsolete and no longer needed. Earlier this year, it appeared the Thomas J. Ackerman Co. would buy the property, demolish the retreat house, chapel and a house dating back to 1845 and construct 52-townhouse-style units. But the company backed out because of the cost of building the required series of retaining walls. So the Friarhurst property is back on the market. The Rev. Maynard Tetreault, building coordinator for the Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, said he's received inquiries from other prospective buyers, including a Bible school, religious organizations, the Hamilton County Park District MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061017/NEWS01/610170354/1056/COL02 From the 10/15/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: This artist's rendering shows a planned $14M hotel planned at Cornell Road and Cornell Park Drive on Blue Ash. It will offer free Internet and shuttle service around the region. Provided Blue Ash to get new, $14M hotel by October To offer free Internet service BY JEFF MCKINNEY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER BLUE ASH - A local hotel operator plans to invest $14 million to open another hotel here by October 2007. The five-story Hilton Garden Inn will be built by Jiten Patel, who operates Hampton Inn in Blue Ash and a Holiday Inn Express in Cincinnati. Work on the 122-room Hilton Garden Inn at the northeast corner of Cornell Road and Cornell Park Drive will begin this month. Patel announced plans in May to build a Hilton Garden Inn along Glendale-Milford Road. But he said last week he decided to build the hotel at the new site because it offers greater visibility and traffic flow. He said the hotel will target business and leisure travelers and will have one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. The rooms will range from $100 to $159 per night. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061015/BIZ01/610150309/1076/BIZ From the 10/14/06 Kentucky Post: Erlanger's Lakemont to get park Site to feature trails, lake, more Post staff report The city of Erlanger is taking the first steps toward building a new city park. City council plans to open bids on Tuesday for grading the site, City Administrator Bill Scheyer said. He hoped that some work might be done before the end of the year, and expected that the project would be largely completed by this time next year. Motorists will access the new park, tentatively called Lakemont Park, from Lakemont Drive, he said. It will lie on 32 acres donated to the city by a group of developers led by the Fort Mitchell-based Drees Co. MORE: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061014/NEWS02/610140337/1014
October 20, 200618 yr Author From the 10/18/06 Eastern Hills Journal: City to rezone Oakley's Ridge Ave. property BY FORREST SELLERS | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER OAKLEY -- A new zoning designation may bring new business into the area. The city of Cincinnati plans to revise its zoning code for several parcels of property along Ridge Avenue. It will now be zoned for commercial use. Previously, the section of Ridge Avenue between Ibsen Avenue and Interstate 71 was designated as planned development. "(City council) only did that as a temporary measure until city staff could study the area to determine a more suitable long term zone," Cincinnati Senior City Planner Katherine Keough-Jurs said. Although a number of businesses operate along this Ridge Road corridor, Keough-Jurs said the planned development designation was not meant to be permanent, and the previous zoning code for the area was outdated. MORE: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061018/NEWS01/610180446/1002/RSS01 From the 10/18/06 Enquirer: River group to host tours THE ENQUIRER LOVELAND - Little Miami Inc. plans to host tours Saturday of the Little Miami Scenic River and Trail Center, a new interactive area where the public can learn about the river and get involved in protecting it. Among the exhibits: a 265-gallon aquarium filled with native fish; a display showing the impact humans have on the river; and mounted specimens of native fish and other animals. The center came together with help from the city, the Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce and others. The DeVol Construction Co. bought the building from the city and renovated it with help from a city grant. A $50,000 grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency helped pay for the displays. More information: www.littlemiami.com. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061018/NEWS01/610180396/1056/COL02
October 22, 200618 yr Author From Northeast Suburban Life, 10/18/06: Buckhead seeks to build new luxury homes BY RICH SHIVENER | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER MONTGOMERY -- Once plans are finalized, the city will see 14 luxury homes on Main Street near Remington Road. Buckhead Homes and its partner Red Pine Development are the developers behind the new condominiums, deemed as the Clarence House, which amounts to estimated 2,800 square feet. The estimated cost of this project is confidential at this time, said Andrew Temmel, a Red Pine representative. He said Buckhead has entered into an agreement with owners of the existing property, Comberger Properties LTD, which would not comment on the agreement. "Construction should start after the first of the year and the first residence will be ready to move in around this time next year," Temmel said. According to a staff report of the city's planning commission, Buckhead will buy the existing property that includes 16 apartments and three separate buildings. Along with constructing the Clarence House and parking lots above ground, once the site is cleared, the developers also seek to build an underground parking lot. MORE: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061018/NEWS01/610180700/1062/Local From the 10/21/06 Enquirer: City wants a say over land use BY FEOSHIA HENDERSON | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER SILVERTON - A change in Silverton's city charter would allow it more control over how city-owned property is sold and developed, said City Manager Mark Wendling. "Now, as long as a development meets the zoning codes, we have to sell it to the highest bidder," as required by state law, Wendling said. To gain more official direction over that process, the City Council put a charter amendment on the Nov. 7 ballot that would let the city seek out and work with a developer without soliciting bids. "It would give us a little more flexibility," Wendling said. Voters must approve the amendment before it takes effect. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061021/NEWS01/610210377/1056/COL02
October 23, 200618 yr Author UPDATE Lower Price Hill: New single-family housing The proposal to build five new single-family houses at 1657-1667 State Ave was approved by the City Planning Commission at their September 15 meeting. The approval is a recommendation to rezone the land from MG Manufacturing General to RM-1.2 Residential Multi-Family. A public hearing before the Economic Development Committee is scheduled for October 31. This should make it onto the Council agenda some time in November. LAST UPDATE (10/2/06) Glendale: Ohio historic marker dedication Glendale's fourth Ohio historic marker will be unveiled on October 28. The marker, which details the history of the Cincinnati & Hamilton Turnpike, will be installed a Tollgate Park. The mayors of both Glendale and Woodlawn will attend, as well as an Ohio Historical Society representative. The dedication begins at 10 AM. Round-up: City of Cincinnati AVONDALE The house at 3860 Spring House Ln may or may not have been demolished already. The old house is being replaced with a brand new one. MT AIRY Mt. Airy treehouse topples barriers Community Press newspapers, 10/18/06 Logan Shannon was almost as excited about being able to explore a 14-foot treehouse as he was with the prospect of meeting his favorite Bengal Chad Johnson. Shannon, 11, of Clermont County, is one of the people for whom the treehouse is designed. Sitting in his wheelchair, clutching a football, Shannon was among the hundreds of guests, work crews and volunteers at the Mount Airy Forest treehouse site last week. More than a dozen Bengals and coach Marvin Lewis volunteered to help complete the project, slated for an open house Oct. 14. "It's going to be neat," Shannon said. The $500,000 project is the only area public treehouse that people with disabilities can visit, according to project manager and Cincinnati Park Board Superintendent Gerald Checco. OAKLEY The home at 3796 Broadview Dr is now complete. It's listed for $798,000. QUEENSGATE Thumbs down on pole ads Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/17/06 Queensgate building owner Albert Lane figures he's clutching at one last straw. When a Cincinnati zoning appeals board on Monday refused to overturn a city staff decision to deny Lane two 6-by-8-foot signs on an sign post (and a rain awning), Lane figured he has only one place left to go - take his sign battle to City Council. "At this point I would not tell anybody to invest in this city because it just doesn't pay," Lane said. "You get a convoluted hard time." Lane wanted permission to let any prospective new tenant advertise its business on a post that once held a legal sign. A former tenant had a sign there when the office building opened in the mid-1960s, but later took it down. Lane didn't replace the sign, which is on redeveloped land he bought from the city, and years later officials restricted signs like the former pole sign. RIVERSIDE 3545 Wisconsin Ave is currently being repaired. Most of the work includes rebuilding areas damaged in a 2005 fire. WALNUT HILLS Building a house Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/22/06 Staff and management from the Walnut Hills-based structural engineering firm Steven Schaefer Associates Inc. have reinvested their own sweat equity into the community, helping out at new Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity project taking shape at 809 Oak St. in Walnut Hills. The project, Cincinnati Habitat Community Home, is being built for Mallie Thompson, a single mother of one from Cincinnati who took custody of five cousins in 2001. Upon completion, Ms. Thompson will purchase the Habitat home with a zero percent, interest-free mortgage payable to Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity. Her monthly payment will be about $350, including costs. "This home is an answer to my prayers," Thompson said. Though many Habitat homes bear the names of benefactors, the newest home in the Cincinnati Habitat family is simply called the "Community Home," reflecting the diversity of talents donated by the various volunteers, companies, churches and organizations involved, said Cincinnati Habitat construction manager Bob Edgecomb. Round-up: Metro BATAVIA UC Clermont Collge campus completes new flag display Clermont Sun, 10/12/06 The University of Cincinnati Clermont College dedicated its new flag plaza Oct. 4. "The flag plaza will be the new centerpiece for the campus," said Dean David Devier. "This will be a wonderful new addition and we are very, very happy to have it." The new flag plaza is located at the front entrance of the campus and now includes the U.S. flag, the Ohio state flag, and the U.C. flag. For its first 21 years, Clermont College only had one building. During those early years, the sole campus flagpole faced State Route 32 and Batavia on the back side of that one building. "There is still a flagpole located on what is now the back of the campus," said Devier. "But the outgrowth of forest has obscured the view." CHEVIOT After six months, Bank One has sold 3503 Meadow Ave for $58,000 to someone who will reside in the property. COLERAIN TWP The Inman Developers project, Summercrest, now has a few listings. As of this writing, there are four listed from $393,617 to $465,958 for 3 bedrooms. April 24, 2006 post on Summercrest COVINGTON AND NEWPORT Reds pay to upgrade fields Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/21/06 Youth baseball players in Newport and Covington will get better turf, fencing and pitching mounds at nine fields in the area, compliments of the Cincinnati Reds. The Cincinnati Reds Community Fund will finance $75,000 worth of improvements to baseball diamonds in the two cities that will include dirt with agents to better absorb water, new fencing, yellow warning strips at the top of fences, new benches, wind shields in front of the dugouts and laser-graded pitching mounds for better water drainage. The young players will get a self-esteem boost by playing on better fields, said Jim Abner, a coach for the Hosea Hitmen, a team of 13-year-old players in District 22 of the Campbell County Knothole Baseball League. "I don't think there is any question psychologically it does something for kids to go out and play at a state-of-the-art facility," Abner said. "These kids sit and watch ESPN every night and want to go to nice places to play." The Reds Community Fund will make upgrades in November and February to: * Two fields at Ralph Mussman Sports Complex and one field at Riddleview Park in Newport. * Five fields at the Cappell Sports Complex and one at Meinken Field in Covington. EDGEWOOD City passes on synthetic turf field Erlanger Recorder, 10/19/06 The city council voted against the addition of a synthetic turf soccer field at Freedom Park, feeling that they may be able to save money by hiring a professional landscaping firm to resurface the existing field. The council had been discussing the idea of adding the new field to prevent the constant maintenance and ease some safety concerns on the current field. The synthetic turf field would have cost approximately $200,000, and came with an eight-year guarantee. However, council member Scott Guenther said he spoke with several landscaping professionals who said that they could save the city money by resurfacing the field. Guenther said the total cost of the project, which would include the addition of a topsoil/sand mixture before planting seeds, would cost approximately $7,500 each year. "I know we've tried to do planting before and it hasn't worked out, but we've never had professionals come in and say how they can do it," said Guenther. "I just think that if this works, it will save the city a lot of money." The council voted 6-1 at their Oct. 16 meeting to allow Mayor John Link to find an outside contractor to do the work. The city is expected to start taking bids as soon as possible for the project. However, the council also said that they would like to see some progress on the field after one year, or they would revisit the idea of synthetic turf. ERLANGER/ELSMERE 2 Dixie firms win improvement funds Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/20/06 The Erlanger-Elsmere Renaissance Advisory Board approved a façade loan and a beautification grant application Tuesday night that will allow two businesses along Dixie Highway to make improvements. The board offers improvement loans and grants to businesses in the cities' shared Renaissance business district along Dixie Highway as part of a program to improve the streetscape and promote "growth and revitalization" in the area. The Dixie Beautification Grant Program offers matching grants up to $250 to business owners for beautification projects, and the Dixie Façade Improvement Loan Program offers low-interest loans up to $5,000 for business owners who want to improve the facades of their buildings. "These programs are great for our businesses and the look of the area," said Erlanger Councilwoman Patty Suedkamp, who serves as the board's chairwoman. "There are benefits from all sides." The board approved the applications of Rhonda Curtin, owner of R.C. Photography, who will receive a $5,000 façade loan to update her building at 4202 Dixie Highway; and Bill Willen, owner of Community Auto Service, who will receive a $250 grant for added landscaping at his business at 4500 Dixie Highway. GLENDALE District seeking building opinions Tri-County Press, 10/18/06 A new middle school and a high school building may be in the future of Princeton City Schools -- but the district won't be putting another issue on the ballot unless taxpayers say so. The district may pursue a ballot issue in November 2007 for the two new buildings, separate from the impending operating levy that could be on the ballot next year or in 2008. But before they do, they're going to the taxpayer in a series of Community Input Sessions, where they'll gather public opinion data through electronic surveys and to determine the next step. The district will gather the data to give to the board, which will make the final decision as to whether or not the district should ask voters for another bond issue. Plans to build a new high school and middle school aren't anything new. LOVELAND Loveland shooting range is closer Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/21/06 A judge's dismissal Friday of the latest attempt to stop an indoor shooting range might not be the end of what already has been a two-year fight. Still, an owner of the proposed range says they're ready to move ahead immediately. Clermont Common Pleas Judge Jerry McBride ruled that David Miller had no standing to challenge the Loveland Board of Zoning Appeals' decision to allow Shooters Supply to move to the former Matthew 25: Ministries location on Loveland-Madeira Road. The judge also said the board did not abuse its discretion in denying Miller's request to continue a March hearing. Marvin Mann, an owner of Shooters Supply, said he has stuck it out during the long fight because the city and residents have been so supportive. In addition to planning and zoning board approvals, the issue also went to voters twice. Shooters Supply won both times. MADEIRA Madeira OKs bond for St. Gertrude Suburban Life, 10/18/06 The city of Madeira has approved a municipal bond for St. Gertrude Church. The bond financing will go toward the parish's new elementary school. Under Internal Revenue Service guidelines, there are certain types of public financing which are tax exempt, said Madeira City Manager Tom Moeller. Moeller said public and private schools can also take advantage of this type of financing. "(However) in order for that to happen, it has to go through the proper approval process," Moeller said. MARIEMONT RESTORATION TO BEGIN Eastern Hills Journal, 10/18/06 Mariemont Village Council started the process of approving the restoration of the boathouse at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Oct. 9. The exterior of the boathouse is expected to cost about $20,000 and will cover exterior landscaping. The interior of the boathouse will cost about $40,000 and will go out to bid with the passage of the ordinance. However, no contracts for the interior restoration can be signed until 2007, and will be paid for out of the 2007 budget. Council will hear the first of three readings at their next scheduled meeting on Oct. 23. MONTGOMERY Here is a rendering of 7954 Cooper Rd, which is the middle house in the three-home Nann's Greenhouse development by Park Homes. The asking price is $899,900. (site at top right) WINDOWS LIVE LOCAL BIRD'S EYE VIEW MONTGOMERY Robert Lucke Homes is doing at teardown project at 7959 Shelldale Way. The new home is listed for $629,000. It replaces a modest home built in 1965. MONTGOMERY Park Homes is doing a teardown project at 9848 Zig Zag Rd. The listed price is $1.1 million. The old home was demolished quite some time ago. MONTGOMERY Legacy Builders is building a three-bedroom home at 10271 Buxton Ln. The asking price is $649,000. A house built in 1956 used to be there. MT HEALTHY Mt. Healthy seeks updated schools Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/16/06 Picture Day briefly became a day in the dark at North Middle School when, a week ago, a photo crew plugged in a camera and shorted out the school. No lights and no computers for nearly half an hour. That same week, a fire crew rushed to Mount Healthy High because an outdated heating unit in a ceiling overheated, setting off alarms but causing little damage. These incidents show some of the reasons Mount Healthy needs new schools, says Superintendent David Horine. Horine, school board members and others are broadening a push this week to get voters to approve a $33 million bond issue to accompany $57 million Ohio has committed to retool the district. MT ORAB Hospice of Hope dedicates new facility Georgetown News Democrat Hospice of Hope-Ohio Valley held a dedication ceremony Wednesday for its new building. Employees and board members gathered on Hughes Boulevard in Mt. Orab for the dedication of the 6,800-square-foot facility. Inside the building are administrative offices, stations for nurses and certified nurses aides and a home base for a team physician. The new facility in Brown County is a huge step in the right direction for Hospice. "We've been in this community for years now. This (new facility) gives us a better physical presence, letting people know that we're here to stay," said Hospice of Hope Director of Development and Public Relations Michael Parker. "We built a multi-million dollar facility to put in our community that's able to withstand the growth. "We're going to grow." NEWPORT Facade grants spruce up city Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/20/06 Newport property owners who want to spruce up their buildings can now seek assistance from the city. Commercial property owners in a historic district or those with property that is eligible for the historic register can get up to $15,000 in matching funds from Newport to make exterior improvements. Any commercial building between Third and 11th streets and York and Washington streets qualifies, said Main Street coordinator Bob Yoder. The city will use a $100,000 grant from the state to fund the project. Newport has offered façade grants before. The city offered $37,500 in matching funds in 2000-01 and $75,000 in 2002-03 and improved 12 building facades. NEWTOWN Residents pray Church Street opens soon Forest Hills Journal, 10/18/06 Setbacks in construction have caused the opening of Church Street to be pushed back to mid-November, village officials said. "They started April 4 and had 180 days to finish, that would have been on Oct. 10," Newtown Mayor John Hammond said. "They are somewhat behind schedule, but not so much. In my opinion the contractors did not want to do it, but we took the bull by the horns and made them get the work done." Hammon said the delays were because of safety concerns. According to him, the road was paved as a result of problems with dust and dirt being blown around by summer winds. It had to be torn up and repaved as more work was done. "It was a temporary solution," he said. "It was a temporary surface to take care of the problems at hand." NORTH BEND Run raising money for athletic facilities Western Hills Press, 10/18/06 The Three Rivers Local School District is inviting members of the community to Fear the "Cliff." The district is hosting its inaugural 5K run/walk and 10K run next month to benefit the Three Rivers Athletic Facility Plan. "This is to help improve the athletic facilities in the district," said Tom Bailey, director of development for the school district. "We're calling it the 'Let's SCORE Fund,' which stands for Strong Community Organized to Rebuild Excellence." Bailey said the district has cut operating expenses as a commitment to the taxpayers, and does not use taxpayer dollars for athletic purposes. SPRINGFIELD TWP Nearly 11 acres along the 10100 block of Mill Rd has sold for nearly $375,000. History on the owner is unknown. This land is just south of Kolping Park along the western side of Mill Rd and currently has one structure, a small house built in 1941. (starts near soccer field at the top and extends west) GOOGLE AERIAL MAP
October 23, 200618 yr Found this ad in a magazine and had not heard of the project before. There is no additional info at the GBBN website and the buildings have not changed hands since 1999. These buildings are on Vine St. adjacent to the Carew Tower and the closer one in the pic is where the Jean-Ro's Bistro is located. Anyone know of any additional info on these?
October 23, 200618 yr Yes, I want to live in the heart of the city! I just don't want to pay out the a** :[
October 23, 200618 yr that's why we have over the rhine. Buy a condo, rent it to an art academy student at a break even price and then move in as gentrification gets to a level you find acceptable.
October 23, 200618 yr Author ^^^ TCK, I am not familiar with any activity there. Both articles from the 10/18/06 Hilltop Press: Township sells old fire station BY HEIDI FALLON | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER SPRINGFIELD TWP. -- Township officials are hoping to sign on the dotted line this week to sell the former fire department building at 8375 Winton Road. Township Administrator Mike Hinnenkamp said New Plan Exchange Property, the owner of the Brentwood Plaza, is buying the site for $675,000. The township has been negotiating with New Plan for the sale for months. Trustees took action at their Oct. 11 meeting to finalize the sale. Hinnenkamp said New Plan's preliminary proposal is to tear down the building that had housed not only the fire department but also road department and township offices. The fire department moved to new facilities adjacent township administrative offices. The road department was the last to leave, moving to its new Compton Road office in 2004. Hinnenkamp said New Plan is proposing to build a 6,500-square-foot two-tenant business. A restaurant may be one of those tenants, he said. MORE: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061018/NEWS01/610180546/1002/RSS01 Wyoming and Springfield Twp. might share park BY ANDREA REEVES | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER Springfield Township and Wyoming are currently in preliminary discussions with the Hamilton County Park District about creating a joint recreation district and leasing a 32-acre stretch of land on Lakeridge Drive in Springfield Township. Both want to build recreational fields for both jurisdictions' baseball, lacrosse, soccer, football, softball, and ultimate Frisbee needs. Wyoming is setting aside $25,000 in seed money in the capital improvement budget next year, for engineering or planning expenses. After passing a 1-mill levy in 2002, the park district bought the 32-acre plot as part of a 110-acre slice of land to preserve hundreds of acres of greenspace countywide, according to park district Director Jack Sutton. MORE: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20061020/NEWS01/610200301/
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