Preliminary rendering from Glen Parker Green House

Two transplants from Oakland have started a new blog to document their green housing project in Northside.

Glen Parker Green Home is written by James and Heather Kinsman, who purchased 3.5 acres on (BIRD'S EYE) for $105,000 in November 2006.

According to Heather, their ideas for the house and land "are shaped by many concepts such as permaculture, alternative energy, peak oil, and sustainability to name a few".

They are currently finalizing their design of the 2,000-square-foot-plus house with Architects Plus, and construction may begin this year.

Alan Porkolab and K. Scott Enns have purchased the vacant lots at (BIRD'S EYE) in Prospect Hill for $35,560.

The lots total slightly less than one-eighth of an acre, allowing enough room for a structure with a 5,053-square-foot footprint.

With access to both Decker and Corporation alleys, the land has been used as an informal parking lot and has not contained a building since at least 1996.

No building plans have been submitted, but it's definitely a site to watch.

Porkolab is a trustee for the University Village Association. Enns is (maybe still) the Coordinator of Community Development at the University of Cincinnati.

Both reside in Clifton.

Regional issues for people with disabilities will be the focus at a public engagement session this evening.

Agenda 360 will meet with the public at the Hamilton County Board of MR/DD, , from 4:30 PM-6:00 PM.

Modeled after Northern Kentucky's Vision 2015, Agenda 360 is meant to address five categories of work: Competitive Economy, Educational Excellence, Livable Communities, Urban Renaissance and Effective Governance.

The ultimate goal of Agenda 360 is to develop a regional action plan that will "transform Cincinnati USA, by the year 2020, into a leading metropolitan region for talent, jobs and economic opportunity for all who call our region home."

The effort is a product of Bold Fusion, the annual young professionals summit.

Admission to the event is free, but registration is encouraged.

Attracting the creative class to cities is important, but what they do once they get there is what really matters.

In a recent post on the Street blog, Hayley Richardson asks "how we can harness the power of the so-called creative class to transcend the aesthetic".

As an example, she tells her story of a recent trip to New Hampshire where she was asked what she is doing to better her community of Philadelphia, and she realized that she didn't know the names of her community council members and had never even attended a city council meeting.

2470 Galvin Ave, Sedamsville
Single-family

DOB: 1888
Died: January 2008
Cause of death: Unsure, but it was run-down. The property is owned by an abutting homeowner on Elberon Avenue, who purchased the property in September for $4,500.

College Hill rendering by Moody Nolan, Inc.

The Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) board has approved designs for the renovation of both the College Hill and Hartwell schools.

The two projects, which will cost a combined $30 million, were approved on January 14.

Moody Nolan, Inc. produced the designs, which show only minor alterations to the buildings' exteriors.

CPS has not announced any dates for the renovations to begin.


Hartwell rendering by Moody Nolan, Inc.

2139 Vine Street

For the second time in two years, property owner Michelle Sanchez has contacted Cincinnati City Council claiming that her personal rights have been violated by the Department of Buildings and Inspections (B&I).

At the request of Councilmember Cecil Thomas, Sanchez has submitted a letter containing 193 specific questions about alleged mistreatment in how her case has been handled.

Sanchez originally contacted City Council in March 2007, alleging the following mistreatment by B&I:

* Modifying names and dates on documents
* Refusal to acknowledge documents pertaining to the case
* Invading personal rights by doing a criminal background search
* Making verbal threats and threatening imprisonment and fines
* Public slandering by yelling personal affairs in a public arena

Sanchez owns a condemned building at (BIRD'S EYE) that is currently a shell, which she purchased in May 2005.

Later that year, B&I issued condemnation orders on the property, citing extreme structure failure due to a collapsing retaining wall, a lack of lateral support, rotted sill plates and hazardous chimneys.

After B&I declared the house a public nuisance in mid-2006, architects from Brashear Bolton did a walkthrough of the property, deeming it "a good shell" and claiming that it was not in imminent danger of collapse.

Later inspection teams from Fields Architects, Advantage Group Engineers, Inc. and from Queen City Home Inspection, Inc. reached to the same conclusion.

The hazard abatement case was later dismissed by the Board of Building Appeals.

Sanchez is currently appealing a conviction by the Hamilton County Municipal Court for the code vioations. Hearings on the case will begin in April.

Although the building is not yet up to Vacant Building Maintenance License standards, she is making slow progress on repairs, having recently installed some new siding and windows to keep the structure water-tight.

A report from City Manager Milton Dohoney on the allegations is due by late February.

2801 McMicken Avenue

The 4,100-square-foot building at (BIRD'S EYE) in University Heights has been purchased by Sober Living Greater Cincinnati.

Sober Living is a non-profit organization that provides affordable, structured housing to people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

Along with housing, they also provide employment assistance, educational opportunites, transportation, mental health services and AA meetings.

Sober Living operates four homes throughout the City in the CUF, Camp Washington and North Avondale.

Well, which is it?

In the January 25 Price Hill Press, Covedale resident Jim Grawe asks if business and civic leaders will brand the communities in a way that will make them more marketable.

A 2004 survey found that 9 out of 10 St. Theresa parishioners preferred the designation of "Covedale" when asked where they lived.

Given Price Hill's vast size, its seperation into West/East/Lower, and its diversity of income levels, is a further segregation into marketable "Districts" an inevitability?

Isn't part of the "Covedale Garden District" in Price Hill?

What?!?

The January 16 edition of the Christian Science Monitor attempts to answer a very important question: What's the carbon footprint of a new subdivision or land development?

At issue is a plan to clear 14,000 acres of forest in remote northern Maine and build 2,300 housing units, all of which would only be accessible by car - generating an estimated 500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 50 years.

Thirty-five states either have or are developing climate action plans that incorporate climate-change impacts into the environmental review process for land development.

"Climate change will be the defining issue for urban planning and land development in the years ahead," says Dr. Reid Ewing, executive director of the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education at the University of Maryland. "It will trump everything."

3419 Ault View Ave, Mount Lookout
Single-family

DOB: 1935-1940
Died: November or December 2007
Cause of death: With the roof caving in, the porch falling down and generally being in disrepair, it was razed to make way for the construction of a new house.

Calling funding a "considerable issue", Department of City Planning Director Charles C. Graves III believes that a Northside community proposal for the (BIRD'S EYE) is likely unworkable.

In late November, the Northside Community Council contacted Cincinnati City Council to request their help in working with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) and the (CRC) in relocating the new Chase School.

As part if its $1 billion facilities master plan, CPS plans to demolish the 30-year-old Chase School and replace it with a new $14 million building on the same site.

The site is commonly referred to by community residents as "the pit" or "the hole", and the neighborhood would like to see the school built in a more visible location - closer to Chase Avenue and the McKie Recreation Center - to create a community learning center that can be used by people of all ages.

To the NCC, putting an expensive new building in a site that they know doesn't work is a waste of taxpayer money.

But in a report to City Council, Graves says that money for the NCC's idea is probably not available.

"CPS has indicated that there is currently funding for only the replacement of Chase School," Graves said. "CRC has recently made some interior improvements to McKie Recreation Center, and does not have it scheduled for replacement in the near future."

The NCC has offered financial assistance, reaching an agreement with Duke Energy to have a nearby power substation decomissioned and the land deeded to CPS.

They also have an additional $500,000 donation in hand, but it appears that the City is not going to facilitate a deal.

CPS has not addressed the matter in any recent board meetings.

Chase School is scheduled to be demolished within the next six to twelve months.

Previous reading on BC:
Northside council wants CPS, CRC cooperation on Chase site (12/12/07)

Nevada building in middle, with turret

A key structure in the Fort Thomas Midway district will be auctioned off this morning at 10 AM at the Campbell County Courthouse.

The 120-year old Nevada building, at (BIRD'S EYE), once contained a Kroger, a barber shop and a cafe.

Today, it contains four renovated offices, upstairs apartments and has two available storefronts.

The building was originally scheduled for auction on November 20. The building owner, Bluebird Enterprises, filed for bankruptcy that week, causing the delay.

Fort Thomas Renaissance has applied to have the Midway district placed on the National Register of Historic Places, hoping that historic tax credits would make the entire district more attractive to developers.

A street sign has been installed, the stone gateway elements are up and a new home is under construction at Alms Gate in Columbia Tusculum.

Chrisman Homes is building this subdivision of $1 million+ homes in the hills (BIRD'S EYE).

I believe that this subdivision will eventually be gated.

Please click on each image to enlarge to 640 x 480. Photos will open in a new browser window.




Previous reading on BC:
Small projects photo update, 10/4/07 (10/17/07)
Columbia Tusculum: Alms Gate (6/27/07)

The split of the Department of Community Development and Planning (DCDP) into two new departments will require 87 amendments to the Cincinnati's Municipal Code.

Mayor Mark Mallory recently revived the Department of City Planning, which began work last September with Charles C. Graves III as its director.

The move eliminated all planning functions from the Department of Community Development and Planning (DCDP) and allowed the City to dissolve the Department of Buildings and Inspections (B&I) - splitting its functions between the two new departments.

Amendments to the Municipal Code naming the new departments and dissolving B&I were approved by City Council in December.

The text amendments to Chapter 1400 of the Municipal Code include:

* 9 changes from the "Director of Community Development and Planning" to the "Director of the City Planning Department"
* 78 changes from the "Director of Buildings and Inspection" to the "Director of the City Planning Department"

These changes are expected to be approved by City Council.

Previous reading on BC:
Council approves changes for DCDP (12/24/07)
City approves money for new planning director (9/18/07)
$36,000 made available for planning director's salary (9/11/07)

Local jewelers Richter & Phillips Company have purchased a couple of lots (BIRD'S EYE), between Sycamore and Broadway Downtown.

A 3,500-square-foot building dating to 1885 stands alongside a gravel parking lot, both sandwiched between the Seventh and Broadway parking garage and Sycamore Place at St. Xavier Park.

The combined size of the sites, which were purchased for $260,000, is slightly under one-tenth of an acre.

The property has also been subdivided from two into three lots, which is uncommon unless improvements are planned. (Although it is possible that the land was separated from the building for tax purposes.)

Richter & Phillips has been in business since 1896 and is headquartered in the Gwynne Building at , Downtown.

3132 Van Buren Ave, Avondale
Car wash

DOB: 1981
Died: January 2008
Cause of death: It's probably time for another beautiful sign from Norton Outdoor Advertising, though they haven't applied for any permits. With a collapsing roof, the old car wash was finally condemned last November. The site had been fenced off for quite some time.

These photos were taken when I was getting some Columbia Tusculum construction shots on January 9.

On the way home, I stopped by Holy Cross-Immaculata Church in Mount Adams to get a couple of skyline shots.

These photos have been added to the following galleries:

* Columbia Tusculum +11 (69 photos)
* Skyline +5 (56 photos)
* Mount Adams +4 (94 photos)
* Mansion Hill +1 (28 photos)

Please click on each image to enlarge to 640 x 480. Photos will open in a new browser window.

Columbia Tusculum





Mount Adams


Mansion Hill


Skyline

As a result of the CityLink litigation, the City of Cincinnati's Zoning Text Amendment Committee (ZTAC) will soon make recommendations to the City Planning Commission on proposed changes to the zoning code.

The City Planning Commission formed ZTAC in 2007 to review proposed changes to the zoning code before they are presented at their meetings.

The proposed $12 million, 98,000-square-foot CityLink facility would include long-term transitional housing, a jobs center, a health center, a gym, a cafe, a day care and a barber/beauty salon.

As a result of county lawsuits in which specific terms in the City's zoning code were called into question, on January 15 Councilmember Chris Bortz offered a motion to:

* Replace the term "community service facility" with "social service facility"
* Define "community" and "commercial"
* Amend the definition of "transitional housing" to ban dormitory-styled housing and to specify a numeric limit
* Define "short-term", "long-term", and "transitional"
* Amend the definition of "special assistance shelter" to set a numeric limit on the number of residents.

Opponents of CityLink requested the changes, hoping to avoid the further concentration of social services, which they fear would concentrate poverty and crime in an area that is already struggling with economic development.

They claim that what they term a "community service facility" would be allowed in many different neighborhoods and that the approval of CityLink would set a dangerous precedent, allowing similar large social services sites to develop without any real City control.

In December, CityLink attorney Tim Burke contacted City Council asking for an end to the "fear mongering and misrepresentation" of CityLink opponents, adding that the planned transitional housing would only be allowed in areas zoned for manufacturing, like their site at in the West End, and not in residential neighborhoods or in business districts.

The proposed land use has been found to be proper and legal by both the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas and the Hamilton County Court of Appeals.

ZTAC's recommendations will be subject to public hearings by the City Planning Commission and City Council's Economic Development Committee before coming to a Council vote.

Previous reading on BC:
Burke defends CityLink (12/27/07)

Even in the cold, cold rain, construction continues on scattered-site low income housing along Saratoga and Roberts streets in Newport.

The need for more affordable housing in Newport grew after the city's demolition of its riverfront housing projects in anticipation of the Ovation development.

The new construction is a collaborative effort between the Brighton Center, Inc. and the Housing Authority of Newport Kentucky.

Please click on each image to enlarge to 640 x 480. Photos will open in a new browser window.

Discount grocer Aldi Incorporated has submitted plans to build a new store at (BIRD'S EYE) in the Ridge and Highland commercial and industrial area.

Most of the 16,822-square-foot store and 82 surface parking spaces will be located in the City of Cincinnati, with a small portion in Columbia Township.

Construction would require the demolition of a vacant Hollywood Video store and the improvement of a cracked and broken sea of asphalt, with new landscaping and lighting.

A vacant Rally's restaurant on Town Development's 1.53-acre site has already been razed.

While Aldi's plans were approved by the Hamilton County Rural Zoning Commission, they have not yet been approved by the Board of County Commissioners.

Cincinnati's portion of the proposed site is considered an acceptable use under CG-A Commercial General - Auto zoning and requires no action.

A look back at development news from the past week

Local blogs

CityKin reports that the Historic Conservation Board will hold a hearing this afternoon regarding the Freestore Foodbank's plans to demolish several buildings in Over-the-Rhine.

The Parker Flats blog has some amazing photos of the building's interiors and mechanicals.

UrbanCincy breaks down the GO Cincinnati report.


Print media

Developers of the Banks have been given extra time - until February 29 - to secure the $74 million in financing needed for the project's first phase.

Construction is beginning this week on the parking garage for the first phase of the Uptown Consortium's $100 million Avondale redevelopment project.

Cincinnati City Council is being asked to consider $2.4 million in gap financing that could allow College Hill's Linden Park Commons project to break ground this fall.

Another extremely wasteful project has been proposed, with Bear Creek Capital announcing plans for a 250-acre, Easton-like development on a greenfield in Liberty Township.

Calling it "grossly oversized", Hyde Park Neighborhood Council voted 7-2 against a proposal for a four-story, mixed-use building at 2633 Erie Avenue.

The Oakley Community Council will present its final design plan for the new streetscape project on February 5.

The Anderson Center complex will be occupied within the next week, with the official opening day scheduled for March 15.

A public hearing will take place in Madeira January 28 to consider rezoning the south side of Euclid Avenue, between Miami and Laurel avenues, for attached townhomes or condominiums.

Schuermann Properties has proposed a 12-acre medical complex near the I-74 and North Bend Road interchange in Green Township.

Kentucky Senate President Pro Tem Katie Stine plans to introduce a bill in the General Assembly that would require all new state roads to be built with walking and bike paths.

The Marge & Charles J. Schott Foundation is granting Green Township $500,000 to restore the historic Diehl house (1835), where Mrs. Schott once lived.

The renovation of Mariemont's Resthaven Barn has begun, with plans to hold a regional art exhibition this May.

This April, a coffee shop may be coming to Fort Thomas' Midway district.

Phase 1A of the $3 million renovation of Highlands High School is wrapping up, with Phase 1B set to begin in February.

2418 Iowa Ave, Walnut Hills
Multi-family

DOB: 1911
Died: January 2008
Cause of death: Razed by the Union Institute and University for parking. The City had been hounding them about defective windows, plaster and drywall, plumbing and electrical since November 2005. The last tenant was evicted late last year.

Kendle International will stay in the Carew Tower Downtown for at least the next ten years, thanks to a City incentive package.

City Council approved unanimously a property investment reimbursement agreement that would pay the company up to $204,750 over the next five years, leveraging $4.4 million in building improvements. The City's funding will match the nearly $488,000 in Job Creation Tax Credit money offered by the Ohio Department of Development.

The agreement will also bind Kendle into a ten-year lease, with two five-year renewal options. Kendle's lease at the Carew Tower was set to expire in 2009.

The company will use the funds to renovate 130,000 square feet on nine floors of the tower to accommodate an expected 75 new employees.

The City will be reimbursed by the earnings tax revenues from the new employees and is expected to gain $9.3 million in new revenue over the life of the lease, including $8.5 million from the retained jobs.

To accommodate the growth, the company had been considering sites in Norwood, Blue Ash, Covington, Newport and Downtown.

Kendle currently employs 558 information technology and back office workers at the tower.

Kendle International provides clinical research and regulatory consultancy services to biopharmaceutical companies and employs 3,000 worldwide.

Cincinnati City Council has voted unanimously to accept $2.2 million in trust funds to build a new aquatics center in Avondale.

The Otto Armleder Memorial Family Aquatics Center will be built next to the Hirsch Recreation Center at (BIRD'S EYE).

The Council vote amends a September agreement in which the City entered into a restrictive covenant with the Otto Armleder Memorial Trust and accepted $1.9 million in funds.

Due to an increase in expected construction costs, the (CRC) requested an extra $300,000 for the project.

The project has not been put out to bid.

The CRC currently operates one Otto Armleder Aquatics Center at in Over-the-Rhine. A second will open in 2008 at the in Price Hill.

Previous reading on BC:
CRC seeks more funds for Avondale aquatics center (1/15/08)
Avondale aquatic center approved (9/12/07)
City eyes Avondale aquatic center (8/7/07)

2633 Erie Avenue

The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council will convene a special meeting tonight to discuss and to take a position on a proposed mixed-use project for (BIRD'S EYE) on Hyde Park Square.

Developer Falling Leaves LLC (Smith-Carnes Realtors) has proposed demolishing the current two-story residence, built in 1920, and erecting a four-story building on the site.

The building, which would have a footprint of over 4,000 square feet, would include the following:

* First floor: Approximately 500 square feet of retail space and 9 parking spaces
* Second floor: 3,795 square feet of office space
* Third and fourth floors: 4 apartment units

The meeting, which is open to the public, takes place at 7 PM at the Social Hall of the Knox Presbyterian Church, on the .

Study area: Click to enlarge

The City of Madeira and the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission will be holding a Camargo Road Planning Workshop from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM tonight at the Madeira High School cafeteria, .

The study will focus on the business district from Euclid Avenue to the Indian Hill border.

As a gateway into the City, Madeira hopes to clarify the zoning code to make the corridor more attractive to developers.

While one side of Camargo Road is zoned for manufacturing use, the other side is mostly zoned for residential.

The study will also address underperforming structures, traffic flow along the road, and how to attract more pedestrian activity.

Tonight's workshop will be conducted in the charrette format, with residents and business owners breaking off into small groups to brainstorm ideas for the area.

A second meeting is planned for February to discuss the ideas from tonight's session.

Registration begins at 6:15 PM. More information can be found .

Western Hamilton County is seeing increasing growth, and how that affects the region's future will be discussed tonight in Green Township.

Agenda 360 is holding its next public engagement session at the Nathaniel Greene Lodge, , from 5:30 PM-7 PM.

Modeled after Northern Kentucky's Vision 2015, Agenda 360 is meant to address five categories of work: Competitive Economy, Educational Excellence, Livable Communities, Urban Renaissance and Effective Governance.

The ultimate goal of Agenda 360 is to develop a regional action plan that will "transform Cincinnati USA, by the year 2020, into a leading metropolitan region for talent, jobs and economic opportunity for all who call our region home."

The effort is a product of Bold Fusion, the annual young professionals summit.

Admission to the event is free, but registration is encouraged.

3747 Vineyard Pl, Columbia Tusculum
Single-family

DOB: 1924
Died: December 2007
Cause of death: Torn down to make way for a new single-family house by HSC Development. The old house, at 4,198 square feet, was assessed at $742,100.

Cincinnati City Council has approved unanimously a rezoning that will allow six new condominium units to be built in Mount Adams.

The rezoning from single-family use to multi-family residential will let Metropolitan Design and Development build one more unit on the site at (BIRD'S EYE).

The building will be 35 feet in height near the intersection of Monastery and Oregon streets and will gradually decrease in height as the street elevation increases.

Parking will be supplied on the first floor.

No timetable has been set for construction.

Previous reading on BC:
EDC to consider Mount Adams condos (1/15/08)
Metropolitan plans Mount Adams condo building (11/7/07)

The downzoning of several Westwood properties for single-family homes was approved unanimously by City Council.

The properties, at and at , were formerly occupied by nuisance multi-family buildings that were later purchased and razed by the City.

All of the sites could support multiple single-family homes of medium density, which would help the neighborhood reach its goal of a 60 percent homeownership rate.

The Westwood Civic Association is currently looking into establishing a land bank to make properties such as these more attractive to developers.

Previous reading on BC:
EDC to consider Westwood downzoning (1/15/07)

Here are a few of the smaller projects I have encountered in my travels.

Please click on each image to enlarge to 640 x 480. Photos will open in a new browser window.

Columbia Tusculum
A new single-family home being built by Garry Brasch Custom Homes at .


This new home is being built at - not sure of the builder.


Mount Lookout
This little house at is being rehabbed.


A new single-family house at , being built by Black Diamond Construction Company.


A teardown/rebuild at , which I believe is being done by Michael Painter.


Over-the-Rhine
, a rehab being performed by Urban Sites Properties.