September 12, 200519 yr Hmm...they add 150 jobs in the offices but then drop 64 at the plant. It figures: Sun Chemical plant lays off 64 workers Sun Chemical Corp., the pigments maker that is adding up to 150 jobs at its Spring Grove Avenue offices in an administrative consolidation, Friday laid off 64 employees at its Chickering Avenue plant because of slowdown in business, a spokesman said. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050910/BIZ01/509100325/1076/rss01
October 4, 200519 yr From Heartland Real Estate Business, September 2005: CITY HIGHLIGHT, SEPTEMBER 2005 CINCINNATI CITY HIGHLIGHTS Scott Abernethy, John Gartner III, Bart Weprin, Melissa Williams, Andrew Sellet, Erick Koehler, Rob Taylor Cincinnati Office Market While some submarkets still need more time to heal, the greater Cincinnati office market is entering its healthiest stage in the past 5 years. After recovering during the past 2 years, the Queen City’s office market shows signs of expanding in 2005. In particular, absorption in Class A space was positive in every submarket except the CBD, a first since 2000 and a leading indicator that the office market is beginning to expand. Coupled with this, new development has been relatively light and developers have wisely chosen selected markets for new deliveries, which further allowed the market’s recovery. Job growth is kicking in despite the challenges of rising oil prices and interest rates. In fact, in Kenwood, Midtown and Blue Ash, landlords are finally regaining control of rental rates and beginning to realize some rent growth. The CBD office market experienced little activity during the first half of the year, and the Class A market posted more negative absorption than Class B, 83,650 square feet and 14,610 square feet, respectively. The market still remains healthy, though, with Class A space showing a vacancy rate of only 7.7 percent. Rental rates in the CBD average around $22.15 gross but vary widely from $27 to $17.50 per square foot gross in Class A space. By year’s end, the CBD will open its first office tower since 1933 when Western Southern opens its 180,000 square-foot 300 Broadway Building. This, along with moves by Convergys and the exit of Cinergy, a byproduct of its buyout by Duke Energy, will pressure lease rates as the vacancy rate increases. Looking forward, the downtown area received positive news with the long delayed riverfront project moving forward after the county signed an agreement with the Banks Development Company. Additionally, 3CDC pledged $42 million and the government another $14 million to renovate and reinvent the Fountain Square area. Positive absorption of Class A space in the suburban markets signals an impending expansion. More than 226,000 square feet of Class A space was absorbed during the first half, which knocked almost two percentage points off the vacancy rate. Mid-sized and smaller companies fueled this absorption, with no major leases greater than 50,000 square feet. Rental rates average about $19.40 a square foot in the suburban markets, and Class A rates range from $24.50 to $15.50 gross. Kenwood and part of the Midtown market have led the charge. In Kenwood, developers have seen the consistent absorption of space in this still relatively small office submarket. Its central location, absence of a local earnings tax and existing retail amenities have led developers to announce three major projects during the next 2 years despite the high cost of land. First will be Kenwood Towne Place, a project backed by Bear Creek Capital, Dove BOC and Neyer Holdings. Set to begin in the fourth quarter, the project will include 175,000 square feet of office space and 300,000 square feet of retail. The highly publicized Sycamore Square will be developed by Scott Street Partners and Cincinnati Capital Properties. When completed, this project will bring 220,000 square feet of office space to the area. The third major project will be at I-71 and Montgomery Road. While details are not finalized, it is anticipated that Neyer Properties will develop more than 500,000 square feet of office space on this site. In the Midtown market, activity is brisk in the Norwood portion of this submarket that is on the periphery of the CBD. For starters, Norwood, which is farther out from the CBD than the Red Bank sector that also comprises Midtown, had the year’s major lease deal. Cincinnati Bell inked a 230,000 square-foot lease in Belvedere’s Central Parke, with the lease commencing during the third quarter. The Cornerstone office development at Smith-Edwards and I-71 continues to demonstrate Norwood’s popularity. Cornerstone I is already 92 percent occupied, while Cornerstone II will open in the fall with more than 90 percent of its space pre-leased. And Miller-Valentine and Jeffrey Anderson Real Estate have finally ended their eminent domain struggle and will begin construction of Rookwood Exchange. With an expected completion date in 2007, the project will bring more than 400,000 square feet of office space to the Norwood market. Northern Kentucky and the Mason submarkets continue to lag, with both areas having large chunks of office space available. Tenants can find seven properties offering more than 50,000 square feet of contiguous office space in Northern Kentucky, and four such properties in the Mason market. Both markets did report some good news during the first half, posting positive absorption in Class A space. With no new construction on the horizon, both markets face slow but steady absorption in the coming months. These pockets of strength demonstrate the office market’s move from recovery to expansion. Moving forward, the office vacancy rate, which now stands at 18 percent and less than 16 percent for Class A, should continue to decline. All in all, the greater Cincinnati office market is poised to become healthier as expansion becomes the rule rather than the exception. — Scott Abernethy (CCIM, SIOR) is a second vice president specializing in office sales and leasing in Colliers Turley Martin Tucker’s Cincinnati office. Cincinnati Retail Market Retail development continues to be driven by the growth of big box development. Wal-Mart has entered Kroger’s backyard with an aggressive push. There are currently 17 Wal-Mart Supercenters open, under construction or planned for greater Cincinnati. Kroger and Meijer are fighting back and making headlines by rapidly increasing store numbers and store footprints. Kroger unveiled the first of the area’s super-sized stores last year in Anderson Township. The 104,000-square-foot store includes an in-store Starbuck’s and a jewelry store. Kroger also is planning to relocate and expand an existing 50,000-square-foot store to a 112,000 square-foot store in the fast-growing suburb of Liberty Township in Butler County. Across the nation, and here in Cincinnati, regional malls are making the transition toward a streetscape environment to capitalize on the success of lifestyle centers. (Regional malls sales average $366 per square foot versus the estimated lifestyle center average of $420, according to ICSC Research.) General Growth Properties has enjoyed tremendous success with the streetscape renovation at Kenwood Towne Centre, attracting tenants to one of Cincinnati’s top regional malls. New additions include Magginao’s, The Cheesecake Factory, Pottery Barn and Ann Taylor Loft, along with the planned fall opening of Restoration Hardware. Additional malls announcing plans to redevelop with the streetscape/ entertainment environment include Northgate Mall in Colerain Township along the Interstate 275 west beltway, Eastgate Mall in Union Township along the I-275 east beltway; Tri-County along the I-75 north central beltway (JC Penny’s exodus of Tri-County for the area’s first freestanding location in the growing Fairfield Township allows room for continued growth); and Florence Mall located along the I-75 south beltway in Florence, Kentucky. Lifestyle centers continue to enjoy unparalleled success. Local developer and area concept pioneer Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate announced plans for the addition of three local projects. Deerfield Towne Center in Mason, Ohio, will begin the Phase II 150,000-square-foot expansion that will include a mixed-use component. The redevelopment of former regional mall Crestview Hills Town Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, will open in late October and will be anchored by Dillard’s, Borders Books, Coldwater Creek, Banana Republic and Mike and Jimmy’s Chophouse. And finally, the long anticipated third phase of the Rookwood projects, still battling itself through the Supreme Court in an effort to resolve issues with eminent domain, is a multi-use project that will include 400,000 square feet of retail, 500,000 square feet of office, a hotel and a large residential component. Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate, in a joint venture with Miller Valentine Group, is actively negotiating with tenants such as Capital Grill, Cona Grill, Mitchell’s Steak and Seafood House, Bravo and Crate & Barrel. Retailers are trying to accommodate stores closer to population inside the beltway in sites that historically were considered difficult. Creative site selection tactics are being employed in areas previously believed to have barriers of entry. Examples include land on former industrial sites, in residential areas and with challenging topography. Pioneers include Bear Creek Capital, with redevelopment projects in Crescent Springs and Newport, Kentucky, using industrial revenue bonds to finance 400,000-square-foot plus developments. Vandercar Holdings stimulated the revitalization trend with the redevelopment of a former Milacon plant along I-71 in central Cincinnati. Vandecar’s project in Florence, Kentucky, also was built on difficult terrain and is anchored by a relocated and expanded Wal-Mart Supercenter. Anchor Properties is the latest developer to reveal plans for revitalizing a former industrial site, with a Wal-Mart Supercenter to anchor its development in Evendale, Ohio. Also located within the Downtown Cincinnati submarket, developer Miller Valentine Group is proposing a mixed-use development along the Ohio River that will connect Newport, Kentucky, along the river to downtown Cincinnati. The development will be anchored by 140 luxury condominiums, a proposed 50,000-square-foot grocer and a limited assortment of high-end restaurants and retail. Two of the hottest growth areas in the greater Cincinnati market are on the Ohio side of the river in Butler and Warren counties. These two counties have been consistently the fastest-growing counties in the state over the last 5 years in both residential and retail development. In Northern Kentucky, the hottest growth areas are located in Boone County. There is a high degree of interest to redevelop older, industrial use sites to serve the existing population in under served markets into newer, larger retail developments. Examples of this are the Center of Cincinnati, Millworks, Rookwood Exchange and the Regency Centers’ Red Bank development anchored by Wal-Mart. Currently, vacancy rates range by submarket from 5 percent to 12 percent. Rental rates average by product and submarket, but tend to fall within the following ranges: suburban grocery anchored centers in the high teens to mid twenties per square foot; suburban unanchored centers range from low teens to mid twenties per square foot; and lifestyle centers average between $30 and $45 per square foot. — Melissa Williams, senior associate, and Andrew Sellet, retail specialist, in retail brokerage services, and Erick Koehler, senior associate, and Rob Taylor Jr., CCIM, senior sales vice president in retail investment services, contributed information for this story. They work in Colliers Turley Martin Tucker’s Cincinnati office. Cincinnati Multifamily Market Cincinnati has emerged as a popular option among national multifamily investors who are looking to find higher returns on their investments. This is due to the fact that there has been very little new construction of apartment rental units, decreasing apartment vacancy, stable population growth and continued demand for condominiums. Though multifamily construction is almost non-existent in Cincinnati, condominium conversion projects are occurring in several areas from downtown to the suburbsan areas, providing investors with solid investment opportunities. Edgecliff, a 156-unit apartment tower located in East Walnut Hills, is one of the condominium conversion projects that is fueling the trend in Cincinnati. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Jefferson Development Group Inc. is investing $28 million to buy and convert the 26-story tower into luxury condominiumminiums. Another conversion project, The Bluffs at Devou, is a 160-unit property overlooking downtown Cincinnati. It was purchased by a condominium converter out of Chicago for $53,000 per unit. While condominium projects are highly profitable for investors, they also have become an attractive alternative to apartment living for renters, despite the fact that apartment rents have remained relatively stable in recent years. Since 1997, rents in Cincinnati increased by only 1 percent per year, from an average of $540 per month in 1997 to $630 per month today. That means that the average rent in 1997, which was $540 per month, has increased by less than $100 during the past 7 years to an average of $630 per month today. Vacancies for apartments in Cincinnati average 9 to 9.5 percent, down from recent years, and with only 550 to 600 new apartment units expected to open in 2005, inventory will remain steady and demand high. As condominium conversions continue to pop up across Cincinnati, downtown is in the beginning stages of a more significant transformation. Along the downtown riverfront, excitement is brewing for The Banks, a mixed-use project, which will include 500 units of apartments and condominiums, 90,000 square feet of retail space, 200,000 square feet of office space and a 250-room hotel along the waterfront. Led by developers Corporex Companies Inc. and Vandercar Holdings Inc., construction is expected to commence next spring. It is anticipated that The Banks, spanning eight city blocks, will revitalize downtown Cincinnati, enhancing life in the riverfront community. Along with downtown, Cincinnati’s suburban areas, such as those along the interstates, continue to grow. The gap between Dayton and Cincinnati is narrowing and development is gravitating toward Interstates 75 and 71. New housing developments and retail centers in these areas are attracting young families who are either buying homes or looking to rent in family-friendly communities. Cincinnati’s population is expected to increase steadily at 5 percent per year until 2008. Its stable growth and steady cash flow have pushed Cincinnati from being a locally dominated marketplace to a nationally recognized investment market. A thriving metropolis, Cincinnati still maintains the personality and charm of a small town and will persist on its unwavering path of slow and stable progress. — Bart Weprin is senior advisor for Sperry Van Ness. Cincinnati Industrial Market The word recovery no longer describes the greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky industrial market. The industrial real estate corridor is experiencing the highest level of success since 2001. The local vacancy rates and levels of absorption in the second quarter of this year confirm the industry growth and increased activity that has been forecasted since the end of last year. Through the first half of this year the total net absorption has reached approximately 2.5 million square feet. This is a drastic change from the approximate 800,000 square feet of net absorption that was created in the market at the same mid-year point in 2004. This increase in activity has been a direct result of local expansions, as well as new business entering the marketplace creating an overall gross absorption for the market for mid-year 2005 of approximately 4.75 million square feet. If the market remains at this pace for the balance of the year, the total gross absorption could equal the cumulative amount as was seen during the past 4 years. The bulk market is the driving force for the increase in activity through the first half of 2005. The most active markets have been northern Cincinnati suburbs (Tri-County/West Chester) and Northern Kentucky. Together these two markets encompass approximately 85 percent of the bulk market. Significant transactions during 2005 include: Werner Ladder, leasing 572,000 square feet at the former Gap Distribution facility in Erlanger, Kentucky; and Amazon.com, occupying a sublease of 484,000 square feet that was available by L'Oreal at Park West International in Hebron, Kentucky. The only two major speculative buildings that have been on the market for the past few months are quickly being absorbed, including the 198,000 square feet at Park West International Q, consisting of leases with Hitachi (105,000 square feet) and PreFlex (40,200 square feet) with the balance 51,600 square feet having a pending lease in place. The 543,000-square-foot speculative facility known as Park West International M, is one of last large bulk facilities available in the marketplace. Future development will be spurred by the creation of new industrial parks that are currently under development, as well as the new speculative activity, which is being supported by the increased activity, as well as the owner occupied build-to-suits. — John Gartner, III, SIOR, is vice president of industrial sales with Cincinnati-based Grubb & Ellis|West Shell Commercial. http://www.heartlandrebusiness.com/articles/SEP05/highlight1.html
October 17, 200519 yr From the 10/16/05 Enquirer: PHOTO: Some neighbors strongly object to expansion plans by Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church. Enquirer file Church unsure of poll result Hyde Park members asked to list priorities By Steve Kemme Enquirer staff writer HYDE PARK - A congregation survey that was supposed to clarify the controversial expansion plans of Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church has produced more confusion and contention. In the survey, congregation members placed a low priority on building a multi-purpose center on the grounds of the former monastery the church owns on Erie Avenue. E-mail [email protected] http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051016/NEWS01/510160383/1056/rss02
October 21, 200519 yr At least it isn’t West Chester. These office parks are incapable of recruiting new jobs from out of state, instead these lazy bastards just lobby downtown businesses. Does anyone know how to bring “new” jobs to Ohio anymore? It can’t be blamed totally on cold weather, Minneapolis is thriving and it is twice as cold up there. They need to fly down to god awful Atlanta and steal their jobs…WTF? Interbrand to move to Norwood Downtown-based branding consultancy Interbrand will relocate to the Ackerman Group's Cornerstone Two building and gradually convert the Norwood space into a hub for the Tri-State offices of its parent company, the Omnicom Group. Earlier this year, Interbrand, which doubled its number of employees in the past five years, announced plans to relocate its 70 workers and add up to 30 new jobs. That plan will begin with the signing of a 23,000-square-foot lease at Cornerstone with the intention of bringing Omnicom's (NYSE: OMN) local BBDO Worldwide office, a global advertising agency, and Integer Group, a promotional agency, to the building as well. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2005/10/17/daily34.html?from_rss=1
October 21, 200519 yr From the 10/20/05 Enquirer: $18M expansion keeps up with county The Enquirer BATAVIA - Mercy Hospital Clermont broke ground Wednesday for an $18 million expansion, a milestone in the hospital's evolution from the small, country hospital founded 32 years ago. The expansion means patients will get to see more doctors, have a wider array of services and have more privacy if they are admitted. The hospital had more than 36,000 emergency room visits last year and admitted about 6,000 patients. ... More at: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051020/NEWS01/510200363/1056
October 22, 200519 yr "Ackerman welcomes such enthusiasm." Would they welcome me saying that I think their buildings suck? Would they welcome me saying that what they do is bad for America?
October 22, 200519 yr I drive past the Cornerstone on I71 every day. It is so ugly. I go to the Gold's Gym in that building, and the parking garage below the building is terrible. The traffic flow is strange. I'm surprised there aren't any major accidents with the way the entrance ramp is set up.
October 22, 200519 yr From the 10/20/05 Enquirer: Boone's new plan stresses infrastructure Only then can development follow, say authors of updated document By Brenna Kelly Enquirer staff writer BURLINGTON - There's a new plan to guide development in this fast-developing county. Wednesday night, the Boone County Planning Commission approved the 2005 update of the county's Comprehensive Plan. Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051020/NEWS0103/510200342/1059/rss13
October 22, 200519 yr I don't understand why a branding consultancy would be associated with such ugly-ass buildings!
October 23, 200519 yr My friend works there and he says the vast majority of employees would rather stay downtown. He is also pretty high up professionally and will be heading downtown almost every day to meet with clients, a huge pain in the ass for him.
November 7, 200519 yr Lafarge approves $120M expansion in Silver Grove 100 new jobs to be added By Jon Newberry Post staff reporter Lafarge North America Inc. is ready to move forward with a $120 million expansion of its drywall plant along the Ohio River in Silver Grove. The company's board has approved the expansion, it announced this morning. The project will add a second manufacturing line and boost production capacity from 900 million square feet to 1.6 billion square feet of drywall. ... http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051107/BIZ/511070369/1001
November 24, 200519 yr I hope so. These events were 4 freaking years ago! From the 11/21/05 Cincinnati Business Courier: Local hotels hit by spot of sunshine Lucy May Senior Staff Reporter The region's hotels finally have recovered from the pounding they took in 2001 after the Comair pilots strike, the riots and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The hotel occupancy rate for the region was 58 percent through September of this year, according to data from Smith Travel Research. ... http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2005/11/21/story3.html
December 15, 200519 yr A related story from the 12/9/05 Enquirer: Dearborn group sees county growth Nonprofit initiative boosts Web presence By Alexander Coolidge Enquirer staff writer A year after forming, Dearborn County Economic Initiative officials said they have made strides toward positioning the southeast corner of Indiana for development and growth. James West - president of the nonprofit, set up by local governments and business leaders to spur the county's growth - said a lot of effort has gone into boosting their Internet presence. The organization's Web site, www.dearborncountyedi.com, features such information as a catalog of local properties available for development. "There's an old saying that an army moves on its stomach - you have to feed your troops," West said. "The same goes for economic development, only you need to provide data to (generate) interest." Read More...
December 17, 200519 yr From the 12/11/05 NKY Sunday Challenger: PHOTO: GOOD NEWS: Gary Convis, executive vice president of Erlanger-based Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, reacts to a comment after announcing Toyota's plans to begin producing a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the Camry model in late 2006 at its Georgetown, Ky., plant during a news conference in May. James Crisp / The Associated Press Toyota Growth Good for NKY Erlanger Employment Rolls, Facilities Expand By Jason Feldmann The Sunday Challenger [email protected] ERLANGER - While other car manufacturers like General Motors and Ford struggle for revenues, Toyota Motor Corp. is on pace to set a record net profit for the fourth straight fiscal year. Posting second quarter profits of $2.6 billion, Toyota's overall sales rose 9 percent to $42 billion. To keep pace with their Japanese competitor, GM and Ford have been offering incentive discounts to sell cars, which have cut into their earnings. GM reported a $3 billion loss in revenue for the first nine months of the year. Ford, meanwhile, reported a third-quarter loss of $284 million. Read More...
December 18, 200519 yr From the 12/13/05 Kentucky Post: Lafarge expansion opposed By Jon Newberry Post staff reporter Some neighbors of the Lafarge drywall plant in Silver Grove plan to oppose a planned $120 million expansion when it's taken up at a Campbell County zoning commission meeting tonight in Alexandria. Nancy Wills, a resident of unincorporated Campbell County south of Silver Grove, said dust from the plant continues to pose problems, leaving residue on her property and causing respiratory problems. ... http://news.kypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051213/NEWS02/512130368/1014 From the 12/14/05 Kentucky Post: Board delays Lafarge hearing By Kevin Eigelbach Post staff reporter Representatives of the Lafarge drywall plant in Silver Grove lacked an essential ingredient Tuesday night to further their quest to build a $120 million addition to the plant: Copies of the site plan for each member of the Campbell County & Municipal Planning & Zoning Commission. Because those copies weren't provided by company representatives, as county regulations require, the commission tabled the proposal, commission member Richard Rice said. Until Lafarge provides copies of a site plan, the commission won't consider the request. ... http://news.kypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051214/NEWS02/512140373/1014
December 19, 200519 yr From the 12/15/05 Enquirer: Church changes plans Hyde Park neighbors still unhappy By Steve Kemme Enquirer staff writer HYDE PARK - The Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, whose proposal to build a multipurpose center on the front of its property on Erie Avenue drew strong opposition, now wants to build it near the back. That change has rankled Raymar Boulevard residents even more because it would place the multipurpose center closer to their houses. "That is really outrageous," said David Altman, a member of Preserve Hyde Park, a group that formed to fight the church's expansion plans. "They would be building it in what is the quietest area. ... It's an absolutely terrible idea." E-mail [email protected] http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051215/NEWS01/512150357/1056
December 21, 200519 yr From the Enquirer, 12/16/05: Lafarge drywall plant expansion vote delayed Some in area complain of dust, noise BY RYAN CLARK | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER SILVER GROVE - Officials tabled a proposal for a $120 million expansion of the Lafarge drywall plant in Silver Grove Tuesday night because they said representatives of the company were not prepared to make their final presentation. Peter Klear, director of planning and zoning for Campbell County, said representatives of the Lafarge plant did not give copies of the site plan to members of the board, as county regulations require. The planning and zoning commission must approve the expansion. ... http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20051216/NEWS0103/512160396/
December 28, 200519 yr From the 12/28/05 Wall Street Journal: PHOTO: Pinder Kaur keeps a clsoe eye on a direct embroidery machine, which stites logos on work shirts at Cintas. Post file photo Cintas workers sue unions By Kris Maher The Wall Street Journal When a union organizer showed up unexpectedly at Elizabeth Pichler's Bethlehem, Pa., home on a cold Saturday afternoon in February 2004, she shut the front door on him. "It annoyed me that anybody could go and get information about me and come to my house," says Pichler, a 64-year-old receptionist at uniform company Cintas Corp. A handful of co-workers at the company's Emmaus, Pa., plant were also annoyed about visits to their homes and complained to their managers. They eventually learned that the union had traced their home addresses from license plates in the company parking lot. That made them angry enough to meet with lawyers provided by the company and then file a suit in June 2004 alleging their privacy rights had been violated... http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051228/BIZ/512280326/1001/RSS04
December 30, 200519 yr From the 12/23/05 Enquirer: Commission gets new members Florence By Brenna R. Kelly Enquirer staff writer The board that decides whether new subdivisions will be built and how Boone County will develop will look a little different next year. Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051223/NEWS0103/512230436/1059/rss13
January 7, 200619 yr From the 1/2/05 Kentucky Post: Survey looks at Boone parks By Luke E. Saladin Post staff reporter As growth continues in Boone County, officials are looking for guidance on whether to build more pools, skate parks or anything else park visitors want. Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051231/NEWS0103/512310390/1059/rss13
January 11, 200619 yr From the 1/10/06 Enquirer: County awaits Lafarge plans By Ryan Clark Enquirer staff writer Campbell County officials will again hear a proposal for a $120 million expansion of the Lafarge drywall plant in Silver Grove. Officials were to consider the proposal last month, but tabled it because they said representatives of the company were not prepared to make their final presentation. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060110/NEWS0103/601100347/1059/rss13
January 11, 200619 yr From the 1/11/06 Enquirer: Planning board OKs plant expansion Drywall firm meets all requirements, panel says By Ryan Clark Enquirer staff writer SILVER GROVE - Campbell County Planning and Zoning Commissioners approved the $120 million expansion of the Lafarge drywall plant in Silver Grove Tuesday, saying the plant met all requirements for the city's zoning regulations. A final public hearing with the state's Division of Air Quality will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the site of Tuesday's meeting, the Campbell County Courthouse, 8352 E. Main St. in Alexandria. That will be the last hurdle before the expansion is approved, officials said. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060111/NEWS0103/601110401/1059/rss13
January 13, 200619 yr From the 1/13/06 Enquirer: Residents split over Lafarge plant expansion BY SCOTT WARTMAN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER SILVER GROVE - A public hearing Thursday on expansion of the Lafarge drywall plant in Silver Grove was divided between residents who said the plant pollutes the area and those who described it as clean and beneficial to the community. In the Campbell County Courthouse in Alexandria, residents, county officials and Lafarge employees debated the plant's proposed $120 million expansion before the Kentucky Division for Air Quality. The state will consider the comments and draft a proposed permit for approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ... http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20060113/NEWS0103/601130441/
January 23, 200619 yr From the 1/22/06 NKY Sunday Challenger: PHOTO: NATION'S LARGEST: The biggest gypsum drywall manufacturing plant in the United States is Lafarge North America Gypsum, bordered by the Ohio River and Silver Grove's Mary Ingles Highway. The plant currently has 600,000 square feet under roof. After some of the current structure is removed and renovated, the total square footage will be 950,000 square feet. Courtesy Lafarge Gypsum NKY Drywall Plant May Soon Be World's Largest Lafarge Awaits State Approval for Expansion By Jeff Fichner The Sunday Challenger [email protected] SILVER GROVE - Lafarge North America's gypsum drywall plant, located in this Campbell County city, is one step away from becoming the world's largest single-line producing plant of gypsum drywall. Situated on the Ohio River, the company hopes to break ground this March on a new expansion if everything goes as planned, said Bruce Major, Lafarge's Silver Grove plant manager. ... http://www.challengernky.com/articles/2006/01/22/business/doc43d12c5fd6e12248426415.txt From same: Expansion Opponents Express Frustration By Tom Mitsoff The Sunday Challenger [email protected] ALEXANDRIA - Some residents of the area surrounding the Lafarge drywall production facility in Silver Grove say the factory is bad for their property values and maybe even their health. Citizens packed the Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting room on Tuesday, Jan. 10, to observe discussion and deliberations by the Campbell County Planning Commission over Lafarge's proposed 435,000-square-foot plant additions. ... http://www.challengernky.com/articles/2006/01/22/business/doc43d12d4acbb14651930376.txt
January 24, 200619 yr On the flip side, its a score for an inner ring suburb, who by the most part are suffering.
January 24, 200619 yr My friend works there and he says the vast majority of employees would rather stay downtown. That doesn't surprise me...sometimes it seems like these decisions are made solely by the whim of some old executive that does it for his own convenience. I had a friend that worked for Discover Card(once part of Sears) and said that Sears moved out of the Sears Tower for mainly that reason...all of the execs lived on the North Shore and didn't want to drive downtown anymore. On the positive side, the trend seems to be shifting and many companies are establishing both a Downtown and Suburban location in Chicago. It seems that the Suburban locations are having a hard time luring the talented go-getter's that generally tend to reside in the city. My friends and I get calls all of the time from recruiters talking up these great jobs available and 90% of the time they are in the suburbs. Thanks...but no thanks
January 24, 200619 yr If my company moved to the suburbs, I would probably look for another job. I love working downtown.
January 25, 200619 yr It seems that the Suburban locations are having a hard time luring the talented go-getter's that generally tend to reside in the city. So there are very few "talented go getters" living in the suburbs? Sounds like a rash generalization to me.
January 25, 200619 yr would it make a difference if cornerstone were in p. ridge or oakley? Even if cornerstone was located in Pleasant Ridge or Oakley, it would still be a horrible building. The building itself is an eyesore, and the traffic flow is horrible.
January 25, 200619 yr would it make a difference if cornerstone were in p. ridge or oakley? Even if cornerstone was located in Pleasant Ridge or Oakley, it would still be a horrible building. The building itself is an eyesore, and the traffic flow is horrible. But was that the OP's (monte's) original point?
January 25, 200619 yr So there are very few "talented go getters" living in the suburbs? Sounds like a rash generalization to me. I said generally in my statement...so that would imply that I am indeed, generallizing. I have worked in both settings, and it may not be true in Cleveland, but ask anyone that has worked in both environments in larger cities and I would think they would tend to agree. In the city you generally find more single people that are more career oriented since they are not concentrating on kids and family. In this situation 'the single person' always seems to be the one that ends up working late/weekends while others need to get home to the spouse and kids. I saw an article/research on it recently somewhere...I'll try and dig it up when I have time.
January 25, 200619 yr At least it's still somewhat near the center of the region. Could have been worse.
January 26, 200619 yr From the 1/25/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: A Toyota employee works on a car at the plant in Georgetown, Ky. The facility has 7,000 workers. Toyota Toyota jobs perked up once-sleepy Georgetown BY ALEXANDER COOLIDGE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER The lingering uncertainty swirling about Ford Motor Co. and the Southwest Ohio communities that depend heavily upon it stand in stark contrast with the economic boon created 50 miles to the south by another auto company. In Georgetown, Ky., Toyota is planning to manufacture the first hybrid Camry later this year at its largest plant outside of Japan. Since beginning production in 1988, the plant has grown to 7,000 workers and has created a boomtown in what might have stayed a sleepy Lexington suburb. Stan and Jan Sekula, who own the Bryan House Bed & Breakfast in downtown Georgetown, said they've had only a handful of guests doing business with Toyota stay overnight, but that hardly matters when the automaker pumps so much into the local economy. Cultural and community events sponsored or aided by Toyota help boost visitors to the area, while commercial and residential development flies up across town. Read More...
January 28, 200619 yr RECENT STORIES OF NOTE: 1) Committee defers approving subdivision (Boone Community Recorder, 1/12/06) One Eleven Developers LLC has proposed building 153 single-family homes and 17 patio homes on 50.78 acres along Burlington Pike, close the the Saddle Ridge subdivision. The county planning commission has delayed action on the request. 2) Library will be Boone County's largest (Boone Community Recorder, 1/12/06) Boone County will soon build a new 75,000 square foot main library at the former Flick's Foods site on KY-18 in Burlington. The cost will be $15 million. 3) Boone dog park funds slowly build (Enquirer, 1/14/06) Boone County has raised $17,000 of the $75,000 necessary to build a 4-acre dog park adjacent to England-Idlewild Park. 4) Union seeks an identity (Boone Community Recorder, 1/19/06) Union seeks an identity (Enquirer, 1/20/06) The city of Union is attempting to manufacture an identity from scratch, before it's too late. From the 1/5/06 Boone Community Recorder: Richwood zone change paves way for hotel Hotel could go on part of property BY PAUL MCKIBBEN | COMMUNITY RECORDER STAFF WRITER BURLINGTON -- The Boone County Fiscal Court has given approval to two zoning changes to property in the Richwood area that will allow a hotel to be built. Read more here: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060105/NEWS01/601050439/1076/Local From the 1/26/06 Boone Community Recorder: Hebron may get more retail BY PAUL MCKIBBEN | COMMUNITY RECORDER STAFF WRITER BURLINGTON -- There could be more places to shop in northern Boone County if Toebben Companies is able to get zoning approved for a new retail center. Read more here: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060126/NEWS01/601260398/1076/Local From the 1/27/06 Enquirer: Subdivision project worries neighbors Builder seeks zone change for 84-home plan on Rice Pike BY BRENNA R. KELLY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER BURLINGTON - A proposed 84-home subdivision on Rice Pike has nearby residents concerned about increased traffic and water runoff. Eight residents voiced their concerns about Red Stone Village to the Boone County Planning Commission last week. The commission's zone change committee will consider Toebben Ltd.'s proposal for the subdivision on Wednesday Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060127/NEWS0103/601270459/1059/rss13
February 8, 200619 yr Manufacturing -- Don't write its obit just yet Gateway grooms workers for manufacturing By Jon Newberry Post staff reporter Manufacturing has long been one of the region's economic strengths, but business leaders are increasingly seeing manufacturing jobs that demand high-tech skills going unfilled. There are already at least 600 manufacturing jobs that are unfilled because of a lack of skilled applicants, according to Gateway Community and Technical College, the Northern Kentucky-based business and trade school. The school bases that figure on a just-completed survey of the top 20 advanced manufacturing companies in the area. Those 20 companies alone reported 380 unfilled jobs, it said. In addition, manufacturers will need to replace more than 350 workers a year over the next decade as older, highly skilled employees retire, the survey found. Another 255 per year would be needed to replace those lost from normal turnover. Read full article here: http://news.kypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060202/NEWS02/602020395/1014
February 9, 200619 yr ^ Umm...sure. Okay. From the 2/3/06 Enquirer: Panel votes against homes BY BRENNA R. KELLY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER BURLINGTON - If One Eleven Developers wants to build its Tanglewood subdivision west of Burlington on Ky. 18 it'll have to make its case to Boone County Fiscal Court. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060203/NEWS0103/602030427/1059/NEWS01 From same: Residents respond to recreation survey BY ANDREA REMKE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER More bike and horseback riding trails, athletic fields and the construction of an indoor fitness center with ice rink were just a few of the suggested improvements to the county's parks during a public meeting Monday. Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060203/NEWS0103/602030432/1059/rss13
February 10, 200619 yr From the 2/9/06 Boone Community Recorder: Condos proposed near Oakbrook BY PAUL MCKIBBEN | COMMUNITY RECORDER STAFF WRITER BURLINGTON -- A Cincinnati developer wants to build 290 condominium units near Oakbrook Drive in Burlington. Read more here: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060209/NEWS01/602090609/1076/Local From same: Some residents against retail center BY PAUL MCKIBBEN | COMMUNITY RECORDER STAFF WRITER BURLINGTON -- A Boone County Planning Commission committee will continue working on a request to build a retail center in Hebron. Read more here: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060209/NEWS01/602090606/1076/Local
February 11, 200619 yr From the 2/3/06 Dearborn County Register: Economic development group gets going in ’06 By Denise Freitag, Assistant News Editor 2/03/2006 Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission has taken the next steps toward creating new tax increment financing districts in St. Leon and Aurora. Commission members adopted declaratory resolutions during their Monday, Jan. 30, quarterly meeting, establishing an economic development area and TIF allocation area for each district. If the TIF districts are approved, any future assessed value on industrial and commercial property will be available to the redevelopment commission, said attorney Rick Hall, Barnes and Thornburg, Indianapolis. Read More...
February 12, 200619 yr From the 2/12/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: A home by Arlinghaus Builders under construction in Hebron. The Edgewood-based builder plans 200 homes in Boone County this year, in six subdivisions. The Enquirer/Sarah Conard Arlinghaus plans 200 Boone homes Builder will locate them in six areas BY JEFF MCKINNEY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER EDGEWOOD - Arlinghaus Builders, one of Northern Kentucky's largest homebuilders, is planning another 200 homes in Boone County this year. Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060210/NEWS0103/602100451/1059/rss13
February 18, 200619 yr From the 2/12/06 NKY Sunday Challenger: Healthy Growth...or Suburban Sprawl? Housing Spurt Creates Issues For NKY, Boone By Lew Moores The Sunday Challenger [email protected] BURLINGTON - The boom in single family home permits dropped somewhat this past year across Northern Kentucky, according to figures released this week by the Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky, but the cooling off period is not expected to last. Read more here: http://www.challengernky.com/articles/2006/02/12/around_nky/doc43ecf00eef908831828676.txt From the 2/12/06 NKY Sunday Challenger. If Boone leaders really think they are planning growth responsibly, then they are really fooling themselves. 'Perfect Laboratory' for Growth Boone's Plan Addresses Strategies By Lew Moores The Sunday Challenger [email protected] BURLINGTON - Groundbreaking has not yet been scheduled, but along Burlington Pike in Boone County, a new main library will go up - a 75,000-square-foot building that is designed not just to meet community needs, but to stay ahead of a growing population. Read more here: http://www.challengernky.com/articles/2006/02/12/community_vision/doc43ecb9c5a6a0f374975934.txt From the 2/12/06 NKY Sunday Challenger: Zoning Changes Governed by State Law By Jason Feldmann The Sunday Challenger [email protected] Anyone who has ever attended a planning commission meeting, regardless of city or county, knows that emotions can sometimes run high. Development encroaching on once-rural land. New businesses opening in a traditionally residential area. A proposal to change a residential zone from single-family housing to multi-family. These are just some of the many issues that regularly come before planning commissions, and they are just some of the issues that are bound to spark public debate. Read more here: http://www.challengernky.com/articles/2006/02/12/around_nky/doc43ecc6b46d1e9104405683.txt
February 21, 200619 yr Oh, well. One fewer paper I have to check.... :D Challenger forced to close Paper cites slow ad sales as reason for its demise BY JESSICA BROWN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER The "Voice for Northern Kentucky" has been silenced. The Sunday Challenger newspaper - billed as "A Voice for Northern Kentucky'' when it debuted in July 2004 - announced over the weekend that it would end publication after it delivered its final edition Sunday. Newspaper officials cited disappointing ad sales as the main culprit in the newspaper's demise. The weekly publication was owned by Challenger Communications, a partnership formed in 2003 by Northern Kentucky real estate developer Bill Butler and Donald Then, a former financial services manager at Hillenbrand Industries in Batesville, Ind. The paper was delivered free to about 60,000 Northern Kentucky homes and made available at locations in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, as well as a few locations in downtown Cincinnati. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060220/NEWS0103/602200347/1059/rss13
February 22, 200619 yr From the 2/21/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: The Oakley Drive-In was a popular attraction until it finally closed. Hyde Park United Methodist Church has rejected a suggestion that it put its planned multipurpose center there. The property is in the 5000 block of Madison Road. Enquirer file Church asked to expand elsewhere Hyde Park United Methodist replies: No BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER HYDE PARK - Residents opposed to the expansion plans of Hyde Park United Methodist Church would like the church to consider building its multipurpose center at the former Oakley Drive-In site in Madisonville instead of a residential area in Hyde Park. "The use would be far enough away from any neighbors so as not to have negative impacts," Keith Harrison, chairman of Preserve Hyde Park, a group that formed to fight the expansion, wrote recently to church leaders. "We think this is a terrific opportunity, one that can be mutually beneficial." But leaders of the church at Grace and Observatory avenues don't share his enthusiasm. but for MORE enthusiasm, click below!!! http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/NEWS01/602210347/1056/rss02
February 28, 200619 yr Have you taken a look at the website lately? Half of the front page is taken up by stuff they're trying to liquidate. I did notice they had 3 cameras for sale.
March 16, 200619 yr Scripps Buys uSwitch For $366 Million Reported by: Associated Press Web produced by: Mark Sickmiller Photographed by: 9News First posted: 3/16/2006 11:21:02 AM The Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps Company has acquired a British company called uSwitch that provides specialized Internet searches. Scripps says it paid $366 million for uSwitch.com, which helps consumers compare rates on gas, electricity, telephones, digital television, broadband, credit cards and personal loans. uSwitch uses a series of calculators that evaluate price, service, location and payment method to help consumers find the best deal and switch their service provider online. www.wcpo.com
March 16, 200619 yr This is fantastic news...although I havent heard many details yet. Hopefully this will bring more jobs downtown....lets fill QCS phase II. If anyone else has news on jobs coming to Cincy or what this mean to the business environment here...please post!
March 16, 200619 yr Scripps buys shopping site British site lets you comparison buy on Web BY CLIFF PEALE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER E.W. Scripps Co. has acquired the British online-comparison Internet site uSwitch for $366 million in cash, growing the Cincinnati-based media company’s new interactive division. That unit now includes uSwitch and the Shopzilla site that Scripps acquired last year. Both evaluate factors including price, location and type of service to help consumers find the best deal. E-mail [email protected] www.enquirer.com
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