^ Oh, yeah, there's a world of difference on Klotter.

Demolition:

 

* A vacant multi-family building behind 12-14 E Thirteenth St. is being demolished.  This building is in the middle of the block and is served by alleys.

It's nice seeing that OTR is thinning out the crap structures.  Few of these buildings were true gems, some were just hollowed out shells.

Full rehab:

 

* 112-114 E. McMicken Ave.  Building was built in 1859.  Owner also owns 110 E. McMicken.  I'm not quite sure which one is which here, but you get the general idea of the state of the area.

 

 

To be demolished:

 

* The old Martin's Club structures as 282 and 284 Stark St. are being demolished by Nicholas Music and Vending (Nicholas Enterprises).  The building was built in 1865 and was in poor condition.  These are the same owners as Martin's Bar, and they own some property in other parts of OTR.  I don't look for anything positive to come from this.

 

I believe those buildings are Jim Hohlbiens buildings.  Jim is the one doing all of the rehabs on Peete, Frintz and he owns several now on E Clifton.  He is purchasing whole streets at a time at the base of Mulberry Hill and is really looking to turn things around.  The biggest problem is the OTR Foundations buildings at 100 E Clifton and 101 and 105 Peete St.  The Foundation for all the good they say they do, is in the slum lord business with these buildings.  Once I figure out how to post a pic on here I will begin to share some of the problems coming out of the Foundations buildings.  These 3 properties are helping to slow down the progress of the base of Mulberry Hill.

^ If you're looking for help on how to post pics on here, this thread tells you how:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3838.0

 

QUESTION:

Does anyone know anything about 1612-1616 Moore St. and 1631 Walnut.  All three were purchased recently by St. Anthony Enterprises LLC from Agrilink Foods for $350K each.

---

Updates:

 

* The sale of 1124 Main St. (formerly Bar Cincinnati) went through on July 5 for $120,900.  It was bought by Bankers Choice LLC.

 

* Shabob LLC is beginning $250,000 worth of interior renovations at 79 Peete St.

 

 

Old news:

 

* I don't think anybody has posted any pics of the Light and Manor Houses.  1111 Broadway is particularly striking:

 

Buildings lost:

 

 

* 108 W. Fifteenth St. is about to bite the dust.  It was in terrible shape and has been owned by the city for three years.  I doesn't appear to have been touched since then, except maybe by crack smokers or the homeless:

UPDATE:

 

* As of last month, the developers (Open Door Development) of the Moerlein/KD Lamp project were still trying to get a maximum price guarantee from their contractor.  I am not sure if this has been accomplished, but from what I understand once this gets done the first phase of the project should begin to take shape.  They are now proposing 98 units, which will be developed in phases.

I don't know if any of you know anything about the Cincinnati Land Reutilization Program, but it's a program where the city acquires residential development sites in certain neighborhoods.  They are then sold off at low prices for development.

 

The following have expressed interest in developing sites in OTR and have been heard in front of council:

 

Belize Breeze LLC:

* 145 Goethe St.  The developer has offered $1,800 and plans a single-family, owner-occupied home.

* 170 Goethe St.  The developer has offered $2,500 and plans a single-family home here as well.  I believe both of these are going in front of the Planning Commission.

 

 

Also, city council has voted to release $417,000 in HOME funds to the Miami Purchase Preservation Fund.  The following are the properties they plan to rehab in OTR/Pendleton.  The total project cost is just over $6.5M and will provide an additional 42 units of affordable rental housing (HUD Section 8):

 

* 1221 Jackson St. (1865, three-family)

(the one on the left)

 

* 1609 Pleasant St. (1865, three-family)

(damn...looks like this thing's on a street by itself!)

 

* 519 Dandridge St. (1880, apartments)

* 521 Dandridge St. (1880, apartments)

* 523 Dandridge St. (1888, three-family)

* 527 Dandridge St. (1879, apartments)

 

* 1650-1654 Hamer St./7-17 Back St. (1860, apartments)

 

If anyone cares about the 46-page contract, it can be seen here:

http://city-egov.rcc.org/BASISCGI/BASIS/council/public/child/DDD/14414.pdf

 

Update:

 

* The "KD Lamp" project is still in the works.  It is now under the working name of Moerlein Commons, and glaserworks is currently working on drawings.

Full rehab:

 

* 112-114 E. McMicken Ave.  Building was built in 1859.  Owner also owns 110 E. McMicken.  I'm not quite sure which one is which here, but you get the general idea of the state of the area.

 

That picture shows 108 E. McMicken and 110 E. McMicken.

 

 

112 E. McMicken is the vacant lot to the left and here is 114 E. McMicken.

 

It will be three ±900SF one-bedroom rentals when completed.  Right now the rehab is pretty straight-forward, but I hope to install a new cornice in the future.

 

I also own 1622 Walnut, which is slated to begin rehab early next year.

^ Thanks for the clarification!

A couple more buildings to come down (neither of these look like there was much use in saving them):

 

 

* 106 Peete St., Shabob LLC (1865-ish, single-family):

 

* 114 Peete St., Shabob LLC (1865-ish, single-family):

These two buildings are part of Jim Hohlbiens development, the carriage house next to them will be rehabed and 5 new market rate homes will be going in there.  The plans are at 79 Peete St. if anyone would like to go take a look. 

^ I just may do that!

* I mentioned in this post the plan by Belize Breeze, LLC to build single-family homes at 145 and 170 Goethe St.  Ordinances were passed in the 9/8/05 council meeting to allow this to happen.

 

* Citadel Building Group will build at 218-222 Mulberry St.  An ordinance allowing their purchase of CLRP land was passed unanimously by council.

 

* The emergency ordinance allowing the Miami Purchase Preservation Fund to renovate buildings in OTR passed unanimously.  Here's the agreement/plan for that:

http://city-egov.rcc.org/BASISCGI/BASIS/council/public/child/DDD/14414.pdf

 

* $200,000 has been pulled from the account to rehab the Emery Theatre for other uses.  The Emery Center Apartments Limited Partnership was unable to secure matching funds, so that project is off for now.  These monies will be transferred to the neighborhood TIF project.

 

* The Greater Golden Gate Baptist Church will be wrecking 5 W. McMicken Ave.

 

Good news on the Emery Theatre money.  That place is so underutilized, and even though it needs help is pretty killer inside.

Belize Breeze is John Coulter (sp?) and he has the new rehab on Sycamore and Goethe (big Sibcy Sign in the front).  From what I hear 218 - 222, which was part of the Main St. Steps, has been sold to Doug Spitz, who did the new construction on Boal (not the ones going up now by Breen Fisher but further up the st.)

Yeah, I remember reading about Belize Breeze in a story on Sycamore Hill a couple of years back.

Cincinnati kid, I think you might have misread the sentence about the Emery Theatre funds.  I believe the money was taken from the theatre rehab account and diverted to other purposes.  It is a confusing sentence.

Yes, it was taken from the Emery Theatre account because matching funds from other sources couldn't be found.  In other words, no rehab for now.  The money goes from that account into the TIF district project that came out of council recently.

 

Which makes it shitty in one respect, but still possibly helpful in another.  And maybe Emery can come up with some other sources for the funds.

I noticed a few days ago that 1600 Main St. (Main and Liberty) was wrapped in a tarp.  Does anyone have any idea what's going on there?

 

 

Buildings being lost:

 

* Beehive Investments & Development LLC is demolishing the 1860s structure at 47 Clifton Ave.  This was expected, as it's part of a redevelopment.

I believe that 1600 Main is one of the buildings owned by Vernon Raider (sp?)  My understanding is he is making market rate apartments.  While Im not a construction guru, my wild guess is that the tarp is for the repointing of the building to keep moisture in while the mortar cures.  Maybe as an alternative to having to keep it wet.  Of course I could be (and probably am way off.  :-D)

^ Actually, you make a lot of sense and you're probably right.  I looked it up and it is a Rader property.

Slumlord of the day:

 

* Local slumlord Larry Rhodes is being made to conduct minor structural repairs to 146-148 Mulberry St. to comply with the VBML.  This is a run-down, vacant multi-family structure built around the end of the Civil War.   He also owns the run-down buildings at 961 E. McMillan St., 95 Mulberry St., and that hideous shack at 800 Wyoming Ave. in Lockland, as well as a vacant lot on Walker St.  He has apparently owned these for 20+ years and has made almost no improvements.  These properties all appear to be vacant.

 

He and his wife live in a million dollar home in Hyde Park, apparently.  Here's his address (I'll leave his wife's name off).  Please feel free to write to him like I did:

 

IRWIN LAWRENCE RHODES

3815 ERIE AVE 

CINCINNATI, OH 45208

 

Here are the properties at 146 and 148 Mulberry:

   

 

 

Buildings being lost:

 

* This vacant building at 1539 Pleasant St. is a gonner.

 

Good detective work. I think we should get the I-team on these rich homeowners who own these run down properties. In my part of the neighborhood I always wondered about those BMWs or Mercedes' parked in the run down areas of River Road and Queen City. Those people should be exposed.

I'd like to somehow expose these deadbeats to a wider audience, that's for sure.

Larry Rhodes is now under probation for these buildings.  There is both a criminal as well as a civil case against him.  The judge has given him till Dec 19th to "completely" finish these buildings.  Larry hired Hummel Restoration to do repairs on these buildings however Larry both failed to get a permit to begin work as well as bounced a check to Hummel.  A building on Sycamore and 95 Mulberry are other buildings Larry ownes that are in disrepair and which have criminal actions filed against him on.  The end of the year will mark the end of Larry Rhodes.

Keep up the good work grasscat, lets look at Brandon Blatt and City Cure next.

BLATT BRANDON

7900 ROLLINGKNOLLS DR

CINCINNATI, OH 45237 USA

For 219 Mulberry

 

 

^ Thanks for the info.  It's good to know that this guy is facing legal issues over it.  It almost makes me feel like there is justice after all.

A little news on the Shabob LLC (Jim Hohlbiens) development on Peete.  The building at 67 Peete St. was condemned during a field inspection, and he has been ordered to make about $20,000 worth of repairs.  I do not know if this building is part of the developer's plans.  Do any of you know about this?  Michael Redmond, I remember you mentioning this project.

I just noticed the buildings on danridge st in pendleton have rehab dumpsters out in the street. You can see them when driving on liberty. I will have to investigate!

I believe Model Management got the green light from the city a couple of months ago for money to get going on the rehab of the these buildings.  The plan is to create affordable rental housing.  I hope it is of the apparent quality of the housing across from Washington Park....

Model Management

uggghhhh...There goes the neighborhood! I have heard some ok things about them on mulberry st. though, maybe michael redmond could chime in. This neighborhood needs some pricey homes in the hard to reach places,then police would go back there. It would also be a great place for artists living spaces and residences being it's right next to the Pendleton arts center.

Fortunately, also on Dandridge/Spring/Pendleton is the planned Pendleton Mews project.  Rumor has it that it groundbreaking is getting close on Dandridge. :clap:  These homes are planned to be (I think) 300k+ or so.  I have also heard about a new two-family project at Pendleton/Dandridge independent of Pendleton Mews, but I don't know the price point of these.

 

I have heard mixed things about Model Management as well.  I know a number of their existing properties aren't in great shape, but maybe they are trying to change thier image.  I've notice a couple of thier ugly properties have transferred to a "new" owner. I don't know if they were actually sold or they are just creating a new name to hide behind - which seems to happen around here.  Keep "Model Managment" on the nicer properties and a name nobody recognizes on the ugly ones.

 

Im not sure that Pendleton/OTR necessarily needs "pricey" homes.  Just more home owners.  I think it would be great to get more housing in the 90-175k range.  I think this is a largely untapped and possibly large market.  I have met some great folks who rent in the area but have occupations that can't afford to pay 200k+ for a condo. 

Im not sure that Pendleton/OTR necessarily needs "pricey" homes.  Just more home owners.  I think it would be great to get more housing in the 90-175k range.  I think this is a largely untapped and possibly large market.  I have met some great folks who rent in the area but have occupations that can't afford to pay 200k+ for a condo. 

I compleeeeeetly agree!  More home owners! Less Model!

I will have to look at 67 but I know that 3  buildings are scheduled to be torn down on Peete.  2 of the buildings (106 and 114 you can see them at the top of this page) both white houses on the north side of Peete are just waiting for the Ok because of a retaining wall issue behind them.  67 I believe is the red buiding further down Peete with a tarpe on the roof.  I spoke with Jim yesterday and he has two structural engineers who say the building can be saved and 1 ( bob becker) who says it can not.  Jim would like to save the buiding, it could be a great building but he is working that out with the City right now. 

 

Model Management will have there big test this upcoming year.  They recieved a substantial amount of money to do upgrades on a  building on Mulberry with the agreement that they keep it low income for two years.  That time is up next year.  Rumor has it that Model is converting 2 large low income buildings into market rate condos next year on Mulberry. 

 

As far as pricey homes in hard to reach areas, try 249,900 pre construction pricing on new construction on Peete St.  210,000 on Frintz st for luxury condos.  Whether you come out to see these on the tour tomorow or not, stop by any time to 79 Peete St and look at what is going on.  The last piece of the puzzle on Peete is in the process of being aquired by Jim Hohlbien which is 101 and 105 Peete (under contract now!)  He ownes the whole area, over 90 properties, all going to be market rate.  Joe Gorman, of Mulberry Views fame (126-134 Mulberry) is putting together investors now for more construction on Mulberry.  Doug Spitz (builder of the new contruction on Boal ( not the ones under contruction now but further up) is building 2 market rate houses next to the Main St. Steps.  Larry Rhodes is about to be unseated from his buildings on Dec. 14 when he is put in jail. 

 

If you step back, look at the major projects, Gateway to the south, 3CDC and City West to the West, the whole hill to the North (Hohlbien, Rader, Spitz, Coulter, Gorman, Hunderlaw, and Fisherand don't forget about HBA and the proposed CitiRama at the top of Hughes St.) and Pendleton to the East, a big crunch is being placed on pockets like Vine and Republic.  It is coming, but everyone needs to be unified in there support for these developers, they are taking huge risks.

 

 

SomewhereOTR,

 

I believe what you are talking about with Model Management is an effort by the company to do lower density units.  By that I mean taking a building with ex. 30 units and going to 15.  This could be telegraphing a sign that these buildings are being prepped for condos.  Just like in the example above on Mulberry where they recieved money from the city with the agreement to keep it low income for two years and then they are free to go market rate.  I have heard they are doing this North of Liberty.  I will try and get some addresses and more info if I can.  I do not trust Model Management that much either but we will know soon enough what there true intentions are.

The low-income tax projects that Model is completing all around OTR must stay low-income for 15 years.  They may have decreased the density at 26 W. 13th from 30 to 15 units, but each unit is still a maze of tiny rooms because the number of bedrooms determines the amount of Section 8 rent.

I wasn't sure which OTR thread to post this too. I'm sure grasscat will move it if nec.

 

This CityBeat article has some interesting developments I didn't know about; Sam Adams watering hole, a large condo project in the Christian Moerlein building, Venice Pizza space, etc. 3CDC and Mr Leeper don't sound that evil, give 'em a chance.

 

<b>On a bus tour of Over-the-Rhine developments</b>

 

By Stephanie Dunlap

 

As usual, clowns have the right idea: Pile 'em all in a small vehicle and rattle around town for a few hours.

 

A charter bus, 50 people and a few hours circling through Over-the-Rhine seemed a quick way to boost the awareness and maybe the cooperation of the many organizations trying to revitalize affordable and market-rate housing while preserving the neighborhood's historic architecture.

 

http://www.citybeat.com/current/news.shtml

MAJOR happenings from Model Management!!!

Based on their track record, I would think that most if not all of these renovations will be affordable rental apartments.

 

* 1622 Logan St., a complete renovation.  This is a historic property built in 1886 and contains rental apartments.

 

* Complete renovations are supposed to go on at 1624 and 1626 Moore St.  However, such address does not exist, the parcel numbers don't show and the whole 1600 block of Moore is owned by St. Anthony Enterprises.  The Model projects appear to be in the area of McMicken and Lang.  If anyone can clear this up, please do.

 

* Another complete renovation is scheduled for 1627 Walnut St.  This is a historic multi-family building built around 1860.

 

* 1642-1644 Vine St. is going to have a complete renovation.  This multi-family building was built in 1894.

 

 

POSSIBLE FUTURE MAJOR NEWS

 

* The city may enter into a Preferred Developer Agreement with Mohawk Area Development Corporation for the property it owns at 254, 258-266, 270-272 and 278 Mohawk Ave.  #254 is occupied by a multi-family building that's been vacant since January 2003.  These are single-family sites, and the developer hopes to build up to 10 new market-rate single-family homes with off-street parking.  This would fill in a huge vacant gap in that part of Over-the-Rhine and bring badly needed homeowners and could be a boost to the Brewery District.

 

* The city may enter into a Preferred Developer Agreement with Dottie Lewis for the properties it owns at 1725 and 1727 Vine St. (Vine and Elder).  She responded to one of the RFPs that the city put out for properties it owns around Findlay Market.  She wants to develop three condo units with off-street parking, though I don't know where she'd put it unless it was tucked behind the building off of Republic.  This is off to the Finance Committee but it's heavily supported and should go through.

 

 

Updates:

 

* Urban Legacy's condo project at 400 Reading Rd. continues.  They will be putting balconies on the upper floors, including some overhanging Broadway.  This required payment of $100 to the city to grant them an aerial easement.

 

 

Buildings Lost:

 

* 216-218 Magnolia St.  Multi-family dwellings owned by Downtown Property Management Inc.  No apparent reason for demolition.

 

There are renovations being done now on Mcmicken and Lang, I did not think this was Model but I will try and find out.

I thought this story on iRhine touched a lot of bases and addressed some concerns and some solutions as far as preservation and gentrification.  There are some links within the story that can be found by clicking on the linked evrsion at the bottom.  This is from 11/7/05:

 

 

Over the Rant: AlteractiveSpeaks

by Dyah Kartikawening, iRhine

 

This is Cincinnati that is easily remembered as "a place twenty years behind the time" just because Mark Twain said so. The Queen City of the West has been declining since 1940s, leaving a couple of traces and abandoned houses and rotten infrastructure. Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine, its very own downtown neighborhood, is still struggling from riots four years ago. Is it?

 

Negative news coverage has taking over Over-the-Rhine. As if no one has done anything after the riots. Regardless of many things that are happening in this neighborhood, the word "April riots 2001" is still followed every news covering Over-the-Rhine. What I've seen is otherwise. There are many things still undone, but progress is there.

 

Downtown Cincinnati, Inc. recorded $52.3 million near-term residential development, with 614 condominiums, and 1,595 rental, in Over-the-Rhine (State of the Downtown, Downtown Cincinnati, Fourth Quarter 2004 Report, December 31, 2004) . New businesses are opening. Ideas are implemented. Over-the-Rhine is perhaps a neighborhood that has the most civic organizations. It is also a neighborhood that host many non-profit arts organizations to provide arts and culture activities in Cincinnati. Many people are working toward different things but similar goals. Over-the-Rhine has incrementally gotten over the riots.

 

Over-the-Rhine has been preserved by neglect. Since the beginning of its history, Over-the-Rhine seems to be very strong for anyone to destroy it. Started from the German community, the Appalachian residents in 1970s, the African American community, and all the people who felt the amazing characters of the feel of urban neighborhood want to be part of it. Although we have lost a big chunk of the West End from the urban renewal shock, we still have Over-the-Rhine, one of the biggest historic districts with a distinct German character and Italianate style buildings with a sense of place. Over-the-Rhine is one of the biggest assets Cincinnati cannot ignore.

 

 

Grassroots Historic Preservation is not a paradox

 

Historic preservation is an option to re-develop Over-the-Rhine. Historic preservation is no longer a luxury, but a successful method of economic development. Other inner-cities had made it, getting over gentrification and homelessness, providing affordable housing, and bringing back economic development in inner cities. One of the ways to achieve that is by using our own potentials instead of focusing on what is wrong.

 

The impact of preservation is obvious, on the project and beyond. J. Randall Cotton, associate director of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia mentioned that historic preservation bringing jobs, people, and investment back to communities. He mentioned that historic preservation has a civic value that improves our quality of life.

 

The City of Seattle used to have the Neighborhood Matching Fund, a $4.5 million fund for neighborhood-initiated improvement projects in historic preservation, parks, public arts, and civic-leadership workshop. The fund is administered by The City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and managed to fund 250 self-help community projects. Jim Diers, in his book Neighbor Power: Building Community the Seattle Way mentioned that neighborhood residents can become leaders who able to make a difference in their neighborhood, if organized.

 

Diers himself is a lifetime community organizer who made his way out of the community to lead the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods for fourteen years. "No More Studies" is one of the boards carried by SESCO (South End of Seattle Community Organization) when they marched to demand the construction of a new Lucile Street Bridge in Seattle. Diers learned from his organizing experience that communities are interested to work toward immediate result instead of long term planning projects. But, communities voices are heard when they are organized.

 

The City of Cincinnati has a similar program with a much smaller funds, called the Neighborhood Support Program. But the program is limited to the neighborhood community councils and has been cut from $12,000 to $7,000 per neighborhood this year.

 

Otis White, the founder of Civic Strategies, Inc had another story of civic leadership in a community called Delray Beach Florida. In ten years, the neighborhoods have been successfully organized themselves, take charge, and collaborate with local government in sharing responsibilities of neighborhood development.

 

Over-the-Rhine provides an ideal location for small businesses, especially with its storefronts and apartments over retail. It would make more sense to build and to support small and local businesses that will create more jobs for families and create a sense of community and retain the character of the place. Donovan Rypkema in the Economic of Historic Preservation mentioned that small businesses account more than 85% of all new job created. Strengthening civic leadership by supporting local businesses including starving artist sounds fit for Over-the-Rhine.

 

 

Don't say the G word

 

But how can historic preservation happen without gentrification? Development activity or revitalization is not similar with gentrification. Gentrification does not automatically occur when higher income residents move into a lower income neighborhood either. But the word gentrification is linked with its negative context of displacement of people. It was first used in 1964, by sociologist Ruth Glass to define London districts such as Islington, a working-class quarters that was taken over by middle-class community. Jane Jacobs, the American urbanist, on an interview with MSNBC for her book Dark Age Ahead states, "We have to wake up to the fact that gentrification is, like so many things, a double-edge sword. It can work well, but as its extreme, it works badly."

 

Lance Freeman, an Associate Professor at Columbia University, found that gentrification actually increases stability, including among the poor (Columbia Daily Spectator, December 04, 2003). There are many reasons why people move in or out the neighborhood, and there are many other reasons that make them stay despite higher rents.

 

The issue of gentrification in Over-the-Rhine started as early as 1930s. Yet, people have been coming and going in this neighborhood since then. The first flock was the German immigrants in 1850 - 1860 who then moved from Over-the-Rhine to other neighborhoods in the "suburbs" such as Mt. Auburn, Clifton, due to health reasons. In 1950s, the Appalachian came to Cincinnati and they were replaced by the African American, while the number of Caucasians is shrinking along with population decline in the neighborhood.

 

Gentrification is an unnecessary evil in Over the Rhine. Total housing units in OTR are 5,261, with 68% occupied and 31% vacant (Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission). There are 1,667 vacant houses in Over-the-Rhine and more than 1000 vacant lots; I would think that there are plenty of spaces to grow and to live peacefully with those who had settled here for years. Who would be gentrified when the room of development is plenty? Who would be forced from their homes when there are many other places are even empty?

 

But I have heard about people forced to move from their rental homes because of new development, especially on Main Street. People are moving for many reasons, but higher rent could be one of them. My question is: why not creating a group or join an established one to fight for our own rights. InkTank and the Playhouse in the Park are inviting you to come to Alteractive Speak's last event on November 7th, 2005 at 7:00pm at the Playhouse in Mt. Adams to discuss about "Room for All: Stimulating both Market Rate and Aaffordable Housing in Economically Diverse Neighborhoods". And be sure to check out of events and opportunities to get together as a community at www.irhine.com

 

 

Balancing Market-rate Housing with Affordable Housing

 

In Over-the-Rhine, most of new developments that come are targeted to high-end market with condos and apartments. These activities have been claimed to be the result of historic district designation in 1983 that leads to market rate credit that attract developers to invest in Over-the-Rhine. The next issue is balancing affordable housing to match with the big wave of development.

 

Another point of view is that affordable housing will lower the values of other properties. Affordable housing is not squatters. They are marketable and are a form of investment that give people a chance to develop wealth. The Center for Common Concerns, Habitat for Humanity International, 1996, mentioned that location of affordable housing has no significant impact of property values in the surrounding area. Property values are determined by condition of particular property, not properties around the area.

 

The irony is homeless issues and vacant buildings. There are plenty of spaces that none of them could use. Counting the number of homeless people in Over-the-Rhine is useless, so is doing another study. Homelessness is not a general issue but a personal issue. Everyone has their own reason and circumstances that led them on the streets. Some would like to get out; some are choosing to live that way. DCI approaches to hire a social worker to work in a one-on-one basis have had a good impact on some people's lives. Does employing the homeless to help rehab vacant houses make any sense?

 

 

Private Public Partnership

 

In Turning Around Downtown: Twelve Steps to Revitalization, a Brooking Institution report, Christopher B. Leinberger suggested private/public partnership in downtown revitalization. His idea to turn the place around is by locating dollars from private sector, while the public opinion follows the lead. This is not applicable for Over-the-Rhine. This neighborhood is a place because of its people, not just the historic buildings around it. In Cincinnati, perhaps Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) needs to know that Over-the-Rhine community voices matters and counted.

 

All voices and opinions deserve to be heard, just like those who have investment interest in the area. They are the people in the neighborhood they should listen: Over-the-Rhine Community Council, Contact Center, ReSTOC, NoMA (North Main Street Residents Association), the People's Movement, and other groups in this area represents ownerships of this neighborhood. They probably have their own interests, but perhaps some of the goals can be achieved by working together in more immediate result oriented projects.

 

Dyah Kartikawening is a community organizer with Working In Neighborhoods, a non-profit organization who work side-by-side with low and moderate-income residents in Greater Cincinnati, develop community leaders, help shape communities and increase home ownership. She volunteers with iRhine and lives in Over-the-Rhine. Contact: [email protected]

 

http://view.amplifyi.com/?ffcb10-fe9716757166027d70-fdff15707c67007b77177374-fefa15757d6502

 

^^ Michael Redmond, if you're talking about 70 E. McMicken, yes that's a Model project.

 

* Triangle Investors is rehabbing the multi-family building at 55 E. Clifton Ave.  It will include a building addition and a rooftop deck.

I spoke with the new owners of 108 East McMicken.  They bought the property from Wesley Chapel a few months ago on the condition they put it to a "worthwhile" cause.  He told me they are renovating it into senior apartments, probable 5-6 units.

That is great news!

City manager Rager has proposed an ordinance releasing $117,000 in HOME funds to FHD Holdings LLC/Mercy Properties to rehabilitate 4 buildings in OTR to create 23 new rental/market rate units.  The buildings are at 212 E. Thirteenth St., 216 E. Thirteenth St., 1312-1316 Main St. and 1307 Yukon St.

 

FHD/Mercy plans to spend $3.5 million on rehabilitation of properties in OTR over the next 12 months.

 

The total hard construction cost for this project is $1,363,560 including a ten percent construction contingency. The per-unit cost of construction is $59,285. The total project cost is approximately $1,894,060, of which the City of Cincinnati Rental Rehabilitation Program (RRP) will provide $117,000 of the cost of the renovation as a thirty-year amortized loan at 4.52 percent interest. In addition, a City of Cincinnati Lead Grant for approximately $81,000 will be provided. Pro forma analysis indicates adequate costs for project operation after completion. This project will provide eleven units of affordable rental housing and twelve units of market rate housing. The City of Cincinnati will hold a first mortgage on the property.

 

This proposed ordinance is now in Finance Committee with no timetable for return.

 

The entire 25-page contract (PDF) can be read here:

http://city-egov.rcc.org/BASISCGI/BASIS/council/public/child/DDD/16846.pdf

 

(216 E. Thirteenth shows up as 214 E. Thirteenth on the auditor website.  1307 Yukon does not exist but may be the smaller structure to the rear of the 214 E. Thirteenth lot.  There is newer development built in 2000 at Yukon and Woodward.)

 

 

 

Great news! Grasscat, where do you find this stuff?

The work on the E. Thirteenth and Yukon properties is already underway. I believe they have been doing lead mitigation for several weeks, and the exteriors of the buildings have been repainted in the process. Grasscat, I agree that 1307 Yukon is probably the small building north of 214 E. Thirteenth, the 3-story building between the green and taller gray building in this photo:

 

Kendall, I was wondering about whether the buildings had been painted becuase they look pretty good from the outside.  Thanks for posting the pic.