What are everyone's thoughts on this?  They author (Mayor of Blue Ash)  obviously doesn't have the votes to stop this thing or he wouldn't have resorted to appealing to the masses in the paper.  I disagree with his thesis on apartments in general, but to me, he is basically saying he doesn't want people who can't afford $250-$450K houses in Blue Ash and using schools and the rec center as a sounding block.  I guess he also forgot that Blue Ash was originally built of small, modest homes that the working class could afford.

 

Thoughts?

 

Project is not best for Blue Ash

 

The City of Blue Ash is on the cusp of a significant change in the makeup of its housing stock.

 

On Thursday, Blue Ash City Council will cast a vote that has long-term ramifications for Blue Ash’s future. Council will be asked to approve a zoning change which would permit the construction of 250 new rental apartment units on Kenwood Road opposite Osborne Boulevard. The proposed development is not unattractive, but its pleasant appearance belies its real impact on Blue Ash.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130805/EDIT02/308050017/Project-not-best-Blue-Ash?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

Kinda like.

 

http://culturalstudiesteaching.wikispaces.com/Gail+Rogers

 

 

 

I understand Blue Ash's concerns, as increasing rental housing by 50% is pretty significant.  That said, I think the best thing Blue Ash could do would be to densify around their downtown, and build up the whole Kenwood/Cooper area as an urban asset.  There is already a lot of (relatively) high density, small single family homes surrounding 'downtown' Blue Ash, so there are the bones in place to have a semi-traditional functioning urban center.  The Thriftway site is really the only remaining large open parcel in this part of Blue Ash, so I think having upscale multi-family development there is appropriate and beneficial to the community.  The line about 400 new families at the Blue Ash Rec center is absurd and reeks of NIMBYism.

Blue Ash shoots down $30 million apartment project

Apr 25, 2014

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/04/25/blue-ash-shoots-down-30-million-apartment-project.html

 

Blue Ash City Council voted 5-1 against a zoning change last night that would have allowed the development of a $30 million apartment project.

^ Socialism.