I think the thing that frustrates me the most about that block of townhomes is that those could easily be rented for a premium right now to people who would keep the buildings and street cleaner and safer. I have a huge problem with these individuals living there, disrespecting not only the space but also the public property by littering,  rampant drug activity, loitering etc. and essentially bringing a whole part of OTR down. And tax dollars support this. It's not about having more people in the streets, it's about removing the source of a problem all together. This will continue to be a problems for years and years to come. Let's get real here: Mercer Commons is NOT going to solve all of these problems as many on UO claim they will. You think these people are going to give a crap that shiny new condos are being built and new people are moving in? Absolutely not. Get real.

^ They will care when hundreds of homeowners are looking out their windows or walking home from Japps and constantly calling the cops when they see criminal activity.

You think these people are going to give a crap that shiny new condos are being built and new people are moving in? Absolutely not. Get real.

 

I have to somewhat agree with this point.  Really what needs to be done is evict those individuals that are causing the trouble.  Unfortunately, it looks like the current owner is an absentee landlord (possibly even a big bank which is the worst kind of landlord).

^^^^ Wow, I feel sorry for you having to walk by a cloud of pot smoke. That must be a really painful experience.

Who manages these trouble spots? Where are the police?

 

This is a disaster waiting to happen.

^ They will care when hundreds of homeowners are looking out their windows or walking home from Japps and constantly calling the cops when they see criminal activity.

 

You're one step ahead of the ballgame with that scenario. It's a catch 22: those desirable type of residents will not be moving in with the frequency we imagine unless these criminal activities, gunfire, loitering and litter are gone first. Moreover, developers are NOT going to be able to the the premium that will encourage them to continue building in OTR if these problems remain.

 

You're living in a fantasy world if you think all these half a million dollar plus condos will fill when there's prostitution, gunfire, drugs and trash literally feet away.

 

The good news is that while Mercer is under construction, residents have time to make their voices louder and hopefully the city can understand how to deal with this area. 

^^^^ Wow, I feel sorry for you having to walk by a cloud of pot smoke. That must be a really painful experience.

 

Your sarcasm is noted, but the problem is the general attitude that this is even okay! And with this activity comes all sorts of other issues noted in this thread.

It should be okay. I for one think it is a positive that Cincy seems to be more west coast than east coast when it comes to marijuana attitudes. This should be codified into law, making minor possession the lowest law enforcement priority. Why should we reinforce conservative stereotypes about the city?

 

Littering should not be tolerated. And most definitely not violence or property crimes.

You're living in a fantasy world if you think all these half a million dollar plus condos will fill when there's prostitution, gunfire, drugs and trash literally feet away.

 

How long ago could someone have said the same thing about Vine st.? There are almost no condos left from the first wave of 3CDC development. I don't know how many of these condos will be a half million, quarter million or what, but pretty much anyone paying market rate for their place isn't going to tolerate that activity. Those of us who live in the area now should probably already be complaining louder. There is no disputing that the influx of new residents continues and it will have a positive effect - as it already has on Vine st.

^ ya-

 

Republic is where the riots started- 12th & vine had the highest police calls in the city.  It'll get better eventually.

 

A few answers:

 

13th and walnut (columbia building) is owned by Fannie Mae who got it when the previous New York based owners went broke. 

 

For those who don't know, Brackett Village (all the early 1990's new town home style low income places) are owned by Eagle Realty (as JYP mentioned) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of.... Western & Southern.  It's often said that W&S built all of that to begin moving all section 8 people out of downtown so downtown could redevelop with less low income.

 

 

Moving forward, we need to call dispatch every time something illegal is going on there.  Often we get desensitized and just ignore it, apparently that corner isn't even that high on the Cities call lists (called a friend to complain this morning) mainly because lots of us just ignore it and keep walking.

Edit: nevermind

^^^^ Wow, I feel sorry for you having to walk by a cloud of pot smoke. That must be a really painful experience.

 

Don't patronize me. I am completely fine with weed. I don't care if people smoke and I think it should be fully legalized. Until it is actually legal, I think if you want to smoke you should do it in the privacy of your home. It doesn't help to have people using illegal drugs (regardless of my aforementioned opinion on weed) in a neighborhood with a reputation for drug trafficking and violence. It gives off the impression that the neighborhood isn't safe and the police don't enforce laws. If that is one of Joe Cincinnati's first impressions of OTR it could have a lasting, negative impact on his perception of OTR/downtown.

 

It also doesn't help the legalization argument when those same people are yelling at people walking down the street and throwing their trash all over. It gives weed a bad name and something for the social conservatives to point at.

^^^^ Wow, I feel sorry for you having to walk by a cloud of pot smoke. That must be a really painful experience.

 

Don't patronize me. I am completely fine with weed. I don't care if people smoke and I think it should be fully legalized. Until it is actually legal, I think if you want to smoke you should do it in the privacy of your home. It doesn't help to have people using illegal drugs (regardless of my aforementioned opinion on weed) in a neighborhood with a reputation for drug trafficking and violence. It gives off the impression that the neighborhood isn't safe and the police don't enforce laws. If that is one of Joe Cincinnati's first impressions of OTR it could have a lasting, negative impact on his perception of OTR/downtown.

 

It also doesn't help the legalization argument when those same people are yelling at people walking down the street and throwing their trash all over. It gives weed a bad name and something for the social conservatives to point at.

Yes. thank you.

 

 

^^^^ Wow, I feel sorry for you having to walk by a cloud of pot smoke. That must be a really painful experience.

 

Don't patronize me. I am completely fine with weed. I don't care if people smoke and I think it should be fully legalized. Until it is actually legal, I think if you want to smoke you should do it in the privacy of your home. It doesn't help to have people using illegal drugs (regardless of my aforementioned opinion on weed) in a neighborhood with a reputation for drug trafficking and violence. It gives off the impression that the neighborhood isn't safe and the police don't enforce laws. If that is one of Joe Cincinnati's first impressions of OTR it could have a lasting, negative impact on his perception of OTR/downtown.

 

It also doesn't help the legalization argument when those same people are yelling at people walking down the street and throwing their trash all over. It gives weed a bad name and something for the social conservatives to point at.

Yes. thank you.

 

 

 

ryanlammi you perfectly articulated my exact thoughts on this subject

What you guys are advocating for is discriminatory policing. You know how people say drug laws are racist? This is why. If it happens in the hood, it's a problem. If it happens on campus, no big deal. I've seen hipsters smoking weed in the patio at Neon's and the parking lot at Grammer's. I would find it outrageous if someone called the police on them. I find it equally outrageous that you guys want to call the police on someone smoking on the stoop outside their house.

 

Worry about the litter and harassment. On Walnut or anywhere. Don't pick and choose what is offensive based on the socioeconomic status of who's doing it.

^ I agree. They need to tackle the bigger crimes.

^^ Both of the instances you mentioned were on private property away from the street and the public. These could give bad impressions of those businesses, but not the neighborhood as a whole (IMO). It should be the business' responsibility to act in their own interests and kick them out as they see fit to please the rest of their customers. Police are not walking by there and intentionally ignoring the activity. I think it is completely different from smoking on the sidewalk because you know the cops will turn a blind eye.

 

Furthermore, if I am smoking on the sidewalk I fully expect an officer strolling by to confront me about it and enforce the laws. I know that if I was smoking weed in Clifton Heights (say on West Clifton) I would be confronted if a cop passed by me. Why are the laws enforced differently there than in OTR? And to be clear, I am not advocating calling the police because I think that would create tension between the old residents and new residents. I just want the police to enforce it on their own.

What you guys are advocating for is discriminatory policing. You know how people say drug laws are racist? This is why. If it happens in the hood, it's a problem. If it happens on campus, no big deal. I've seen hipsters smoking weed in the patio at Neon's and the parking lot at Grammer's. I would find it outrageous if someone called the police on them. I find it equally outrageous that you guys want to call the police on someone smoking on the stoop outside their house.

 

Worry about the litter and harassment. On Walnut or anywhere. Don't pick and choose what is offensive based on the socioeconomic status of who's doing it.

 

If any of that was directed at me, here's my response:

 

I would never call the police on someone smoking something no matter the location. I will call the police from now on when I'm harassed, drugs are offered to me, or I witness a drug deal mere feet from my face - especially in OTR whether it's 13th and Walnut, 12th and Clay, on Main, at Elm and Liberty, on Sycamore, at Vine and Green or on 12th in Pendleton.

 

Discriminatory policing? Racism? Hardly - the fact that any of this sh!t is tolerated at all by any of the people who witness it is despicable. I'm not happy that I've let a lot of stuff slide in OTR that would never be tolerated in, say, my parents' neighborhood.

 

If we want OTR to change for the better, we, as citizens, must hold it to the same standard to which we hold other neighborhoods. OTR's continued growth is far from guaranteed and one tragic incident could severely derail the neighborhood's rebirth.

 

An increased police presence in these trouble areas is absolutely necessary.

Thank you.

^^ Double that--amen, OTR! ^^

OTR murder suspect returned to Hamilton County

 

Here's the guy who is being charged with the shootings on the 1600 block of Walnut a few weeks ago: http://cincymugshots.com/inmate-permalink.php?txtSearch=Amison%2C+Virgil

 

You can check him out on the Clerk of Court via the link above.  He's got nearly 70 charges, many violent, since he turned 18 in 2000, and who knows how many before then.  He has a similar rap sheet to his victim.

I've seen him around. It's hard to miss a thug with tattoos that crawl up his neck. Stay classy.

Guess how many murders have been in Avondale this year...Just guess...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got a number?  Well you're wrong.  It's ZERO

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120817/NEWS/308170127&Ref=AR

Guess how many murders have been in Avondale this year...Just guess...

Got a number?  Well you're wrong.  It's ZERO

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120817/NEWS/308170127&Ref=AR

yeah, but it's not like people haven't been trying. The article cites a number of shootings.

Really interesting to see the problem spots in OTR become very clear...

 

OVER-THE-RHINE — A man was shot in the head late Monday outside Kroger, 1420 Vine St., Cincinnati police said this morning.

 

The victim was talking with first responders at the scene immediately following the 8 p.m. attack and is expected to recover, police said.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120821/NEWS/308210012/Two-overnight-shootings-Cincinnati?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

This also reminds us that homeless people aren't committing violent crimes. How many shootings happen at 12th &elm or 15th & elm, etc. all of these crimes are from people loitering all day but who often live in a nearby building but don't have to work to live. At least the guy asking for money or selling streetvibes is doing SOMETHING. The guys loitering at 13th & walnut and 15th & vine contribute nothing to society but take up a lot of our policing resources.

The Rolling Stones - Waiting On A Friend-HD

Although there has been 3 murders the past week in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is on pace to have the fewest murders  in a decade.

Kids...

 

I've ran into the same group of kids twice.  4 African American kids probably age 14-15ish, dressed in prep attire (tan khakis). I've seen them during the day and at night. I watched the group walk down republic checking for unlocked cars. Today as I was walking back to work from OTR they followed me and threw rocks.  Apparently they liked my ray ban sunglasses.  This happened on chestnut between central and john. 

 

Watch yourself out there. Had I not looked behind me I probably would have been hit in the back of the head.

All males?

Correct. 

 

Do you know the group I'm talking about?

Possibly. I live in the area and I haven't seen them do anything suspicious, but I will keep my eyes peeled.

I have seen them around 13th & vine and 13th & walnut. My neighbor said she saw them checking for unlocked doors inches and yelled at them.

^you mean 15th/Vine?

I've lived in OTR for a couple years and have never felt this nervous to walk to and from work up until now. For a few minutes I thought I was going to get jumped.  I can tell these kids are going to be a real problem.  They have the no fear lets be tough attitude. 

Hyde Park Flasher Strikes Again!!

 

Police say the suspect has flashed women in Hyde Park and Oakley about 10 times over the last two years.

 

He approaches them and speaks with them. Once he has the woman’s attention, he exposes himself and fondles himself.

Sounds like a job for Shadow Hare.

Although there has been 3 murders the past week in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is on pace to have the fewest murders  in a decade.

 

Still sucks when a prostitute (Candance Demoss) is killed right outside my house while I'm gone on a trip. Much thanks to the drug-dealing neighbor that the police won't bust and who is still free (for now).

Tell the police. Your information is valuable to them in planning their activities. You aren't bothering them. They want to know what has happened to you and appreciate your cooperation. Each district has a resource officer whose job is to connect with people in the area and you can email the district commanders as well. Take photos or videos with your phone. Send the photos or video to the police. We pay a lot to the police. Let's get our money's worth. Here is a link: http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/contact-us/.

Trust me, I've done that. Our neighbors have done that. They want his supplier, he's low-ball - that is, until the murder. I didn't know until that happened that he was operating a whore house.

^you mean 15th/Vine?

 

No, 13th between republic and vine.

Although there has been 3 murders the past week in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is on pace to have the fewest murders  in a decade.

 

Still sucks when a prostitute (Candance Demoss) is killed right outside my house while I'm gone on a trip. Much thanks to the drug-dealing neighbor that the police won't bust and who is still free (for now).

 

She was a prostitute?  Yikes. She had virtually nothing in her record that implies she's a prostitute. And news reported she had two kids, age 4 and 2 even though she's only 20.  Crazy.

 

 

Hyde Park Flasher Strikes Again!!

 

Police say the suspect has flashed women in Hyde Park and Oakley about 10 times over the last two years.

 

He approaches them and speaks with them. Once he has the woman’s attention, he exposes himself and fondles himself.

 

I'm amazed this guy hasn't been caught by now.

Although there has been 3 murders the past week in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is on pace to have the fewest murders  in a decade.

 

Still sucks when a prostitute (Candance Demoss) is killed right outside my house while I'm gone on a trip. Much thanks to the drug-dealing neighbor that the police won't bust and who is still free (for now).

 

She was a prostitute?  Yikes. She had virtually nothing in her record that implies she's a prostitute. And news reported she had two kids, age 4 and 2 even though she's only 20.  Crazy.

 

Apparently. She had no custody of the kids. Had theft, drug, OVR charges and more. I didn't know my neighbor had a side job until an officer told us about it.

 

But we've been marking plates by recording who comes in and out of the house for a while. We are also in the process of installing some cameras on our properties to watch his (discretely). And his landlord may evict him - he hasn't made his rent payments for a month or so.

 

She was a prostitute?  Yikes. She had virtually nothing in her record that implies she's a prostitute. And news reported she had two kids, age 4 and 2 even though she's only 20.  Crazy.

 

Apparently. She had no custody of the kids. Had theft, drug, OVR charges and more. I didn't know my neighbor had a side job until an officer told us about it.

 

I'd be leery of saying she was a prostitute without being sure but you're probably right.

Think this was just turf BS?

Eh, that was coming from the officer and VICE.

 

Not sure, but we've started a neighborhood association basically just trying to get rid of him.

Cash reward offered for information on Northside murder

 

"A cash reward is being offered for any information that will lead to the arrest of the person who killed 20 year-old Candace DeMoss last Sunday. Candace was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds last Sunday in a Northside front lawn.

A local limousine company, where Candace's cousin works, is offering a cash reward, up to $5,000, for any information on Candace's death."

 

http://www.fox19.com/story/20172179/cash-reward-offered-for-information-on-northside-murder

^There's a candlelight vigil for this victim at 4 on 12/1/12

University of Cincinnati campus ranked among most dangerous in U.S.

 

It ranked the most dangerous colleges in America by averaging FBI crime data per capita from 2008 to 2011 for schools with enrollment above 10,000.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2012/11/university-of-cincinnati-campus-ranked.html

^There's a candlelight vigil for this victim at 4 on 12/1/12

 

We finally had to remove the memorial. There were far too many folks coming up every night blaring music, sitting in their cars drinking and smoking, and well... visiting the memorial. They would then sit and honk their horns at my neighbor - who I'm not sure made bail.