The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) continues to build local collaborations and bridge interests, according to its recently-released 2008 annual report.

Calling OKI "a shining beacon guiding the Tri-State region toward excellence", board president Steve Pendery lists as examples:

• Adoption of the I-471 Corridor Study in October
• Development of the OKI Fiscal Impact Analysis Model, which provides local decision makers with information on the implications of land use change
• The OKI Freight Working Group, which advocated for funding to move freight from highways to rail
• Completion of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Architecture and Plan, which studies traffic demand and the costs and benefits of proposed transit and roadway projects
• The enactment of the Great Miami Drinking Water Protection Project, which received a National Planning Achievement Award for Hard-Won Victory from the American Planning Association

The 26-page report also covers the agency's bicycle and pedestrian programs, urban transportation enhancements, online GIS mapping, clean air and greenspace initiatives, public participation, and strategic planning processes.

OKI reports a 2008 operating budget of $6,111,253, with an operating surplus of $26,652.

Revenue sources included 83.3 percent from the State of Ohio, 10.6 percent from local governments, 5.5 percent from "other" sources, and 0.6 percent from the federal government.

A 38-page draft report (PDF) on January's Over-the-Rhine Brewery District Charrette has been posted by AIA Cincinnati chairman Michael Moose on his website.

Hosted by the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati, AIA Cincinnati, and the Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (BDCURC) and held at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, more than 100 civic-minded citizens and students and 14 architects took part in the day-long session to brainstorm ways in which to make the Brewery District -- especially the area around Findlay Market and Rookwood Pottery -- more vibrant.

Those ideas could then be used by BDCURC to frame future planning discussions with City officials, architects, and developers.

Planning ideas from the five architect-led teams built upon givens of an operating streetcar system ("Gumby", pictured), mixed-uses allowable under the area's Urban Mix zoning, and the use of LEED/green building principles.

Attention was also given to promoting awareness of the neighborhood.

Agreements were generally reached on the development of Pleasant Street as a central pedestrian spine, that a major iconic building should be located at and connected to Bellevue Hill Park via some mode of transit (such as a tram), that existing buildings should be re-used whenever possible, and that parking should be located on the perimeter of the district or within the center of blocks.

Upon completion of the report, a single plan will be selected from among five alternatives and a public presentation will be held at either the Art Academy or the Mercantile Library.

Comments and contributions can be made by e-mailing Michael Moose at or by calling (513) 221-5682.

Although developer General Growth Properties has filed for bankruptcy, construction on the Kenwood Towne Centre Nordstrom store is moving right along, with the store still scheduled to open September 25.

The 144,000-square-foot store, built on the former site of the Parisian department store, will also contain a two-story parking deck.

Total investment for the building and parking deck is estimated at $34 million.

The building was designed by Callison, and W.E. O'Neil Construction is the contractor.

There are 7 photos in this slideshow.

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Previous reading on BC:
Nordstrom photo update, 3/1/08 (3/6/08)
Kenwood Towne Place photo update, 10/20/07 (10/29/07)
Nordstrom elevations (6/15/07)

The Galleries at Pendleton, the condominium project at that was called "dead in the water" a year ago due to the poor economy, is back on the market and on its way to being completed.

Once listed by Sibcy Cline Realtors for between $169,900 and $279,900, the six units are now listed with Comey & Shepherd Realtors as single-family townhomes for between $165,900 and $199,900.

Originally envisioned by Gary Mark Custom Homes as a two-phased project of 17 townhomes on Dandridge, Pendleton, and Spring streets, there is little indication that the remainder of the development will be completed.

Cincinnati Development Fund (CDF) executive director Jeanne Golliher, whose non-profit lending institution provided loan financing for the project, said that they had to foreclose on the properties due to the developer's financial problems.

A sheriff's sale last November had no takers.

"CDF provided attractive financing terms -- 100 percent, 5 percent fixed-rate financing -- as an incentive for a builder to complete the project, as we felt it was critical to the neighborhood to make sure this story has a happy ending," Golliher says.

Chris Lacey, project manager for the Lofts at Fountain Square, purchased the properties at a second sheriff's sale on January 31.

CDF is providing the construction loan, and Spring Valley Bank provided the purchase loan.

David White, president of the --> --> -->, thinks that the local market is strong enough for these single-family units to move.

"Just recently, three single-family homes sold just around the corner on Spring Street," he says. "I know of another single-family home on Broadway where the sale is pending, and I hear folks inquiring about homes -- single-family or otherwise -- all the time."

White believes that the influx of new construction is important for Pendleton to attract more homeowners.

"While I live in the area because of the amazing historic architecture, among many other reasons, some people want to live here for that same reason, but they don't necessarily want to live in an old building," he says. "My main concern with any new construction is that it is well built, fits within the context of the street and neighborhood, and that it offers a range of price points to attract different buyers."

Previous reading on BC:
Death on Dandridge (7/10/08)
Galleries at Pendleton photo update, 2/16/08 (2/22/08)
Photo update: The Galleries at Pendleton (8/31/07)

There are only four days left to participate in the Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI) 2009 Downtown Perceptions Survey.

The survey, designed to gather feedback on progress being made Downtown in the areas of safety, cleanliness, and convenience, will help DCI direct downtown programs and services.

The survey also will gauge awareness on Downtown dining, shopping, and entertainment venues.

Results will be available in June.

Independent research firm Market Tools is conducting the study on DCI's behalf.

Commercial
DOB: Unknown
Died: February 2009
Cause of death: One of several buildings near the intersection razed by Skip Allen of Allston LLC, also a member of the Oakley Community Council. The building had no code violations.

Two years ago:

• Circle Development submitted its final development plan for the Madison Circle project in Madisonville.
• Forty photos were added to the East Walnut Hills gallery.
  
• Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum began its annual weekend tours.

One year ago:

• The City of Cincinnati was exploring its options for what it should do if the Fay Apartments were shut down.
• Cincinnati agreed to sell a vacant City-owned building near Findlay Market to preferred developer Urban Studio LLC for the development of three condominium units.
• Cincinnati City Councilmembers Chris Bortz and Roxanne Qualls introduced a motion to preserve all City rights-of-way, including alleys.

The City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) has released its 2008 Annual Bridge Condition Report, and the overwhelming majority exceed City standards for structural integrity.

The report, a requirement of the Ohio Revised Code, included the inspection of 225 bridges throughout the City of Cincinnati.

Of those bridges, 87 are maintained by DOTE. Sixty-one are considered City bridges and are funded by the City, while the other 26 bridges are funded by Hamilton County by are inspected and maintained by DOTE through a contractual agreement with the Hamilton County Engineer.

During inspection, DOTE staff rate the condition of all bridges from 0 (failed condition) to 9 (excellent condition).

DOTE's goal is to maintain all bridges at a weighted average bridge rating of 6 (satisfactory condition), indicating no structural deficiencies.

Railroad bridges, Interstate bridges, and bridges located on the state highway system are not included in the report.


Results

The current weighted average bridge rating for City bridges is 7.21, a continued improvement since a bridge rating of 5.61 when the Smale Commission Report on local infrastructure was issued in 1988.

For county bridges, the weighted average rating is 6.29, an improvement over the 1988 figure of 5.46.

This figure has dropped nearly half a point since 2007, when responsibility for over half of the county bridges was transferred to ODOT. The transferred bridges were among those that were in the best condition.

Of all DOTE-maintained bridges, 83 are rated "fair" or better, with a rating of 5 or above.


Waldvogel rates 'poor'

One City bridge, the , was rated as "poor" and is currently load-restricted.

Starting in 2010, a $66 million reconstruction will begin with the relocation of four railroad tracks south of the current roadway.

Road construction is expected to begin in 2011 and last for approximately two years.

DOTE has secured $49 million of the construction costs through federal discretionary funds, --> --> --> (ODOT) funds, and money from the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments.


Three county bridges also 'poor'

Three county bridges have also received a "poor" rating from the report: The , the , and the .

Planning for the $100 million+ replacement of the viaduct has begun, and public meetings are planned for this year.

DOTE is currently working to have the project included in ODOT's Brent Spence Bridge project, scheduled for 2015.

No funding has been identified for replacement of the Kennedy Avenue or the Marburg Avenue bridges.


More on funding

The Smale Commission Report recommended annual funding of $1 million in operating funds and $2.8 million in capital funds (1988 dollars) to maintain a deck area of 1 million square feet to a rating level of 6.

With a deck area of nearly 1.325 million square feet -- but with a higher-than-average rating -- the City has budgeted only $178,000 in operating funds and $1.1 million in capital funds for bridge maintenance.

An additional $1 million is received annually from Hamilton County.

The report finds that either funding levels will have to be boosted or outside funding leveraged to keep the condition of the DOTE's bridge inventory from declining.

The complete 2008 Annual Bridge Condition Report, which includes six-year plans for both City and county bridges and inspection reports for all 225 inspected bridges, is available in the Clerk of Council's office.

Previous reading on BC:
Cincinnati releases 2007 bridge report (4/8/08)

The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council last week unanimously approved the Neighborhood Protection Plan in an effort to preserve its neighborhood's look and character.

Introduced by Cincinnati City Councilmember Leslie Ghiz last spring, the plan prescribes a requirement for front-yard setbacks on all new construction to match those of existing structures on the street, and the downzoning of large residential lots to keep developers from subdividing the parcels to build multiple houses.

"Closing these loopholes -- especially in light of the downturn in the housing market -- is critical to the long-term health and quality of life in these neighborhoods," Ghiz says.

Under the pilot plan for the Hyde Park and Mount Lookout communities, SF-6 (minimum 6,000 square feet) residential lots could be downzoned to SF-10 (minimum 10,000 square feet), and SF-10 lots could be downzoned to SF-20.

There are a total of 4,869 SF-6 and SF-10 parcels -- or approximately 1,174 acres -- in the two neighborhoods.

Eyebrows were raised when John Hueber Homes built two houses at in Hyde Park, with the front house sitting much closer to the street than the surrounding structures.

And in Mount Lookout, Gilbert Davis, a resident of , was one of a group of neighbors who brought the issue to Ghiz's attention shortly after Metropolitan Design & Development announced plans to build on a split single-family lot.

"A developer razed a single-family home on our street and is building two homes virtually lot-line to lot-line," he says. "The effect on the character of our neighborhood is devastating. If the zoning changes and front-yard setback rules had been in place, none of this would have happened and the development would have been more consistent with the neighborhood."

Staff from the Department of City Planning is currently working on maps for Mount Lookout, and a public staff conference with homeowners whose zoning may be changed is likely to be scheduled for the end of May.

The proposed changes for both Mount Lookout and Hyde Park are scheduled tentatively for a City Planning Commission hearing in June and a hearing before council's Economic Development Committee in September.

Previous reading on BC:
Hyde Park downzoning to be considered Thursday (3/23/09)
Downzoning in the hands of Hyde Park, Mount Lookout residents (1/15/09)

The Redstone of Kenwood project is completed.

Developed by Scott Street Partners, the five-story, 160,000-square-foot Class A office building is located at in Sycamore Township, just southwest of Kenwood Towne Centre.

CNG Financial Corp., operators of Check 'n Go stores, fills nearly 40 percent of the space.

The 8.4-acre site was once proposed for Sycamore Square, a 300,000-square-foot mixed-use project with the Maisonette as the anchor tenant.

The Sycamore Township Zoning Commission rejected that proposal for being too dense.

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Hover over the slideshow to bring up the controls. You may stop the slideshow by clicking on the square "stop" button, allowing you to scroll through the photos at your own leisure. To get a better view, click on each image to enlarge to 640 x 480. Photos will open in a new browser window.



Previous reading on BC:
Redstone of Kenwood photo update, 3/1/08 (3/5/08)
Redstone of Kenwood photo update, 10/20/07 (10/26/07)

Cincinnati City Council has passed unanimously two ordinances that will allow Burnet Place Limited Partnership (Model Management) to preserve 62 low-income housing units and create over 8,000 square feet of commercial space.

A 30-year, $1.9 million loan of federal HOME funds will be extended through the City's Rental Rehabilitation Program (RRP) for the $12.5 million Burnet Place Project, which will rehabilitate seven buildings at , and , and , and .

Under the funding agreement, the City will hold a second mortgage on the properties and will charge interest on the loan of 3.67 percent.

The City will also receive an annual debt service payment of 30 percent of operating cash beginning in the project's second year.

Units will be rented to households below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), with 20 percent reserved for those with an income 50 percent below AMI. Eleven of the units will be priced according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Low Rent and High Rent HOME limits.

The second ordinance transfers $470,903 from various HOME project accounts into the RRP project account.

Additional project funding would come from bank loans, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, funds, and developer equity.

The HOME program is HUD's largest block grant to state and local governments, allocating annually approximately $2 billion nationwide.

Previous reading on BC:
Ordinances could help presevre 62 low-income housing units in Avondale (4/22/09)

The Hotel Metropole, a 10-story Neoclassical style building at , has been recommended for placement on the National Register of Historic Places by the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board.

The recommendation will now be forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places for consideration.

A decision is expected in about 90 days.

Built in 1912 and enlarged in 1924, the Hotel Metropole was recommended for its association with the peak era of Downtown hotel development in 19th- and early 20th-century Cincinnati.

Most recently, the building has been used as single-resident occupancy and subsidized rental housing.

Also recommended by the board were the Born Capital Brewery Bottling Plant, Hayden Building, and the New Hayden Building in Columbus; and Groveport School in Groveport.

Image credit: Greater Cincinnati Memory Project

Single-family
DOB: 1904
Died: February 2009
Cause of death: Razed by Collins Riverside Development to make way for the proposed $50 million Harbor Lights condominium project. The house had no code violations.

One year ago:

• Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously to amend The Banks' planned development district to make it consistent with building height limits set in the master development agreement.
• Council also voted to sell the old Engine 9 firehouse to the Cincinnati African American Firefighters Association for $1, to be used as a meeting facility and neighborhood center.
• Pendleton Neighborhood Council hosted a tour of the current School for Creative and Performing Arts, followed by a discussion of blight and vacancies with City staffers Ed Cunningham and Jennifer Walke.
• Camp Washington community organizer Joe Gorman proposed the idea of a City-wide beautification effort to clean up our abundant rusted railroad bridges.

As the City's Department of Community Development assumes administration of the Neighborhood Support Program (NSP) from Invest in Neighborhoods, a new ordinance has been floated to amend and clarify a 1989 ordinance on just who "represents" each of the City's 52 neighborhoods.

The ordinance directs city manager Milton Dohoney Jr. to maintain a directory of Representative Community Councils, which would be required to:

• Define and codify their geographical territories
• Define a neighborhood resident as anyone who lives within those boundaries
• Extend full membership, voting, and participation priveleges to all neighborhood residents ages 18 and older, without regard to whether the resident has paid a membership fee
• Not discriminate against a resident based on housing type
• Not allow any policy, regulation or rule that violates any local, state, or federal anti-discrimination law or ordinance
• Require that voting privileges for non-residents be extended only through a vote of residents at the council's annual meeting
• Require that all issues of community interest, such as NSP funding allocation, zoning considerations, liquor licensing and development considerations be up for an open vote of all residents
• Provide appropriate and timely public notice for meetings covering all community issues of interest
• Provide neighborhood resident vote totals to any City department or agency that is working on a particular issue
• Refrain from campaigning on behalf of any candidate running for public office

Ordinance not finalized

Rick Dieringer, executive director of IIN, was part of the working group that was appointed by Councilmember and then-chair of the Vibrant Neighborhood Committee Laketa Cole to develop recommendations on how to better clarify the 1989 ordinance.

He says that the proposal he's seen from city solicitor John Curp diverges dramatically from the findings of his working group.

"As written, the proposed ordinance would strip from community councils the right to establish reasonable requirements for voting privileges, such as joining the organization by paying membership dues, attending a minimum number of meetings or participating in volunteer activities, or waiting a reasonable period – currently 60 days – after joining before one can vote," Dieringer says.

He argues that, as private corporations under state law, community councils have the right do decide those requirements on their own.

He says that some of those rules were made to protect the viability of the organizations and the best interests of the neighborhoods.

"Our working group concluded that the City has a legitimate interest in trying to determine whether a community council's request or position truly reflects the will of the neighborhood," Dieringer says. "Therefore, we suggested a change that calls for an open vote of residents, just like is done now on NSP proposals, on any matter a community council may convey to the City, be that a funding request, a zoning issue, liquor license issues, or any other request for City action. All other matters – elections, disposition of non-City funds, community activities not involving the City, etc. – would be left to the council to determine as it sees fit."

Dieringer worries that even the working group's suggestion could limit a council board's ability to conduct business and would make it more difficult for it to react to problems in a timely manner.

"As proposed, the new ordinance would impose upon community councils more stringent requirements for conducting votes than are in place for our political elections," he says.

Another change would require an annual community vote about whether to extend membership priveleges to non-residents, ostensibly to simplify a confusing requirement that each council grant any five resident the right to call for a vote once a year.

"I fail to see where new voting requirements contribute to the health and vitality of community councils not do they help councils be more representative of their neighborhoods," Dieringer says.

In a response to those concerns, Cole says that the ordinance is nowhere near being finalized, and is not likely to come up for a vote for several weeks.

"I agreed that revisions had to be made to many sections, which is why I presented the ordinance in the first place – to get community and neighborhood feedback," she says.


Other neighborhoods fear impacts

Oakley Community Council (OCC) president Dave Schaff doesn't see a City takeover of the NSP as the end of the world, but urges the City to treat the issue carefully.

He says that many community councils, including his, also serve as both a chamber of commerce and a residential advocacy board.

Any City ordinance dictating who can serve community councils – and who can vote – would decimate the OCC.

"The proposed ordinance would eliminate five of 12 Oakley board members, who play an instrumental role for Oakley, particularly as it concerns business development," Schaff says. "Yes, there is a caveat in the ordinance, but the mere suggestion that residents will control whether a business owner/representative can serve greatly offends me."

Schaff recommends that the City help provide checks and balances to struggling councils, but wait a year or two to assess whether a City takeover of NSP funding is really necessary.

"We elect nine Cincinnati Councilmember to establish and execute policy and operate city government because you are working day in, day out on issues," he says. "Oakley should not be subject to transactional voting, where we will see a flurry of folks, who may never attend another meeting, vote to swing an issue."

Schaff is not alone in his concern -- on April 20, Councilmember Roxanne Qualls submitted for public record 75 pages of e-mails and letters from representatives of the Walnut Hills Area Council, Over-the-Rhine Community Council, West End Community Council, Westwood Civic Association, College Hill Forum, California Community Council, Carthage Civic League, Lower Price Hill Community Council, Mount Washington Community Council, Avondale Community Council, Columbia Tusculum Community Council, and more.

Some of these issues will be discussed this afternoon at 2 PM in council's Vibrant Neighborhoods Committee.


No dollars disbursed

As of two weeks ago, 20 community councils had signed contracts with the City of Cincinnati for NSP services: Avondale, Bond Hill, Camp Washington, Carthage, College Hill, Corryville, East End, East Price Hill, Evanston, Kennedy Heights, Lower Price Hill, Madisonville, Mount Airy, North Avondale, Northside, Roselawn, South Fairmount, Spring Grove, Walnut Hills, and the West End.

Nine community councils have outstanding contracts, but have not filled out a proposal or registration forms: Columbia-Tusculum, Downtown, East Westwood, Hartwell, Hyde Park, Millvale, North Fairmount, Westwood, and Winton Hills.

No vouchers have been submitted since nine of the NSP contracts have become fully executed, and no NSP has been paid.


Moral obligation

As a moral obligation, council is considering an ordinance that would transfer $60,100 from a contingency account to the Department of Community Development to help pay for costs above the original $50,000 budgeted for administration of the programs.

Because of a break in services, council also is considering advancing NSP funds from Department of Community Development accounts to three community councils as a moral obligation for expenditures accrued prior to February 5:

• Spring Grove Village Community Council: $1,021.90
• Mount Washington Community Council: $681.15
• Avondale Community Council: $501.00

"There may be future requests from Community Councils to receive approval for expenditures prior to their contract date," Dohoney says in a statement accompanying the ordinance.

Previous reading on BC:
$110K, new staffer needed to administer neighborhood support funds (3/4/09)
Invest in Neighborhoods wins NSP contract (12/9/08)
Kamuf: Look into Invest in Neighborhoods turmoil (11/5/08)
Invest in Neighborhoods under scrutiny, NSP out for bid (9/10/08)
Former Invest in Neighborhoods board member says agency 'hiding more than they're telling' (8/8/08)

Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously to establish a capital improvement project program account for environmental remediation and demolition costs at the future site of MetroWest Commerce Park in Lower Price Hill.

The new account will hold $3 million in Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grants that were awarded by the Ohio Department of Development in July 2007.

Developers Al. Neyer Inc. and Resurgence Group LLC have proposed four or more LEED-certified buildings totalling 250,000 square feet and housing light industrial, flex and office space on 18 acres on and around the former site of Queen City Barrel, which burned down in August 2004.

The first building could open by summer 2010, and the developers estimate that the $25 million project could create 400 jobs at buildout in seven to 10 years.

Previous reading on BC:
Council to vote on MetroWest account today (4/22/09)
Cincinnati approves bonds, land swap, lease for new MSD offices (3/20/08)
Cincinnati wants $15M in bonds, land swap for MSD offices (3/3/08)
MSD needs new office building (11/15/07)
MetroWest receives Clean Ohio funds (7/27/07)

Towne Square Lofts, on in Blue Ash, looks like it's pretty much completed.

Developed by Steve Pick and Jim Petricone of Towne Square Partners, the $9.8 million project consists of 26 condominiums of between 1,265 and 3,300 square feet, priced for between $392,500 to $910,000.

Geared toward empty-nesters, the complex includes a common area, workout room, and 56-space underground parking garage.

The Multiple Listing Service of Greater Cincinnati lists ten for sale, with none sold.

CinTech Construction Inc. was the builder, and Michael Hamilton Architects was the project architect.

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Cincinnati City Council has passed unanimously an ordinance directing the chief building official to grant all necessary permits for Cincinnati's Urban Gardening Pilot Program, notwithstanding Sections 1403-05, 1405-05, 1409-07, 1413-05 and 1421-33 (b) of the Cincinnati Zoning Code.

Under the zoning code, "farming" is only permitted in MA Manufacturing Agriculture zones and on a limited basis in single-family zoning districts.

But many of the 9 lots do not fall under those criteria, and, because the typical zoning change process takes three to six months and would place a burden on the Department of City Planning and Buildings, the City chose to pursue notwithstanding ordinances to permit planting to begin by mid-May.

In a communication to council's Health, Environment and Education Committee, city manager Milton Dohoney Jr. said that taking this route could prevent future problems, as well.

"While this is a pilot program, which the City administration believes will be a success, it would be detrimental to modify the zoning of the properties from multi-family, commercial and manufacturing districts," he said. "In the event the program is not continued on a specific site in the future, another user would then need to petition for a zone change back to a less restrictive zoning classification."

Urban gardens have been proposed for sites in East Westwood, Hartwell, Madisonville, North Fairmount, Northside, Over-the-Rhine, South Cumminsville (2), and West Price Hill.

City administration is currently reviewing applicants for the proposed sites.

Created by vice mayor David Crowley as one of the 82 recommendations in the , the pilot program is expected to beautify the City, make fresh foods more readily available, reduce storm water runoff, reduce the costs of property maintenance, and create local jobs.

Photo credit: "Palo Alto Community Garden - Main Garden" by , courtesy of Flickr.

Previous reading on BC:
Cincinnati Farm program could be in place by spring (1/12/09)
Crowley: Make vacant City parcels available for farms, gardens (10/30/08)

Cincinnati City Council has passed two ordinances to pay CBD Holdings Inc. (3CDC) for a Walnut Street streetscape project.

The first ordinance establishes a new capital improvement project account with an unappropriated surplus of $405,721 in tax increment financing (TIF) funds to cover the costs of planning, design and construction of streetscape improvements .

The second ordinance approves a $405,721 payment to CBD Holdings for the work completed before the capital account was established.

The City entered into an agreement with CBD Holdings to construct the streetscape in October 2008.

Two-family
DOB: 1917
Died: February 2009
Cause of death: Orders on the house date back to at least 2001, and, following a couple of civil fines, the owner lost the building to Bank One through foreclosure.

The Cincinnati Zoo Foundation acquired the still-vacant property in 2005. In 2007, there was talk of donating the property to Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity for rehabilitation or a rebuild. Evidence of squatters was found in 2008, and the house eventually was boarded up.

It was razed privately following asbestos abatement.

Mark Fisher, senior director of facilities and planning for the Cincinnati Zoo, says that they plan to plant some trees on the site and keep it green indefinitely.

One year ago:

• A working group created by Ohio Lt. Governor Lee Fisher submitted suggestions for the future of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program, which has closed unexpectedly after the initial $120 million in funding was allocated.
• ENCORE's Green Bags Eco Lunch Series toured the LEED Silver house at 2573 Observatory Avenue in Hyde Park, a $1.5 million new build by John Hueber Homes.
  
• A Sayler Park warehouse was razed.

Cincinnati City Council has voted unanimously to create a capital improvement program project account for a new Graeter's manufacturing facility in Bond Hill.

The account will house a $1.84 million grant from the Ohio Department of Development's Job Ready Sites program that will be used for the $11 million, 28,000-square-foot plant at .

The building, which will include a larger freezer, loading dock, and blend room, will allow Graeter's to extend its nationwide reach by quadrupling its ice cream output to 1 million gallons annually.

Last week, council approved the issuance of up to $10 million of economic development bonds to finance a loan package for the project, in exchange for the company's commitment to retain 68 jobs and to create 30 new jobs over the next three years.

Graeter's will repay the loan over 20 years, at 2 percent interest for the first two years and 4 percent interest for the remaining 18 years, and will purchase the 4.4-acre construction site from the City for $1.

The company has announced that it plans to break ground on the project within the next two months and plans to begin production at the new facility in January 2010.

Offices at its current Reading Road facility will be maintained and will continue to produce candy and baked goods.

Previous reading on BC:
Plans for new Graeter's plant in Finance Committee (4/1/09)

Cincinnati City Councilmember Roxanne Qualls presented a comprehensive report (PDF) detailing plans to help move homeless people to housing at council's meeting yesterday.

Homelessness to Homes, prepared by the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless, recommends changes to the emergency shelter system, more transitional and permanent housing options, and better cooperation among funders.

The report is the result of an October 2008 council motion seeking to develop a "blank slate" approach to homelessness that adressed, from the ground up, problems that homeless individuals face such as mental and physical health problems, addictions, lack of education, and other barriers to employment and housing.

A steering committee, chaired by United Way president for community impact Barbara Terry, worked with representatives from human service agencies, local foundations and funders, the faith community, and business leaders.

"The task we gave to the Continuum and those who helped develop this plan was not easy," Qualls says. "Cincinnati has struggled for years to provide adequate shelter for homeless individuals. Our trust and confidence in the Continuum's compassion, expertise and diligence is reflected in this report."

Kevin Finn, executive director for the Continuum, says that he believes the plan brings the community together around "real issues and real solutions" to end homelessness for individuals in Cincinnati.

Over then next three to five years, the 109-page report recommends:

• A higher level of service system-wide to move individuals out of homelessness quickly
• An ambitious increase in transitional and permanent supportive housing, with a workable strategy for its development
• Targeted services, specific to the individual's gender, age, or special needs, with reduced reliance on emergency shelter
• Clear accountabilities of and actions for social services agencies, the business community, local government, funders, and homeless people alike for the good of those who are homeless and the whole community

"The tremendous time and the scope of knowledge and experience dedicated by over 70 people in the past six months to produce this plan has been incredible, and sets the stage to create a world-class system of providing homeless services and facilities in a way that integrates well in our neighborhoods," says Peg Moertl, chair of the Continuum's board of directors.

The next step is the passage of a council ordinance establishing a transition team that will prioritize, then help implement, the report's recommendations.

"Far too many people in Cincinnati are homeless," says mayor Mark Mallory. "As we continue to see progress in our city, we must ensure that everyone benefits from that progress. Now that we have the report, it is time to get to work and produce positive change."

Jennifer O'Donnell, aide to Councilmember Qualls; and Jason Barron, Office of the Mayor, contributed.

Previous reading on BC:
Second community forum for 'Homeless to Homes' this Wednesday (2/23/09)
New plan to help homeless find homes (10/16/08)

The following is a series of photos taken during Give Back Cincinnati's Community Immersion event on April 4.

While many of our stops are not represented here due to poor photo quality, I can tell you that we hit the following places during our afternoon tour:

• Take the Cake Cafe
• Visionaries & Voices
• American Can building
• MoBo Bicycle Co-op
• The Hideaway (lunch)
• Shake It Records
• Off the Avenue
• GLBT Community Center
• Happen, Inc.
• Northside Tavern (drinks)

Following a brief time at Northside Tavern that featured tour participants, scooter riders/bikers, an odd assortment of tunes that varied from Britpop to hard rock, Cincinnati Rollergirls selling raffle tickets, and Jim Tarbell, I headed down to Fountain Day on the Square and then to Head First Sports Cafe to meet up with some Give Back Cincinnati folks and watch the Final Four games.

Thank you to Give Back Cincinnati and the people of Northside for such an enjoyable day!

The 44 photos in this slideshow have been added to the following galleries:

• Northside +41 (158 photos)
• Fountain Square +3 (43 photos)

These galleries, and those of dozens of other Greater Cincinnati communities, can be found in the drop-down menu at the top of the right-hand column.

Hover over the slideshow to bring up the controls. You may stop the slideshow by clicking on the square "stop" button, allowing you to scroll through the photos at your own leisure. To get a better view, click on each image to enlarge to 800 x 600. Photos will open in a new browser window.

Residents of the properties in Mount Auburn are putting together a petition to submit to Cincinnati City Council outlining how they should be assessed for a retaining wall they say will save their property values.

The retaining wall would correct problems resulting from a 2005 landslide caused by a burst water main at two vacant properties owned by Michael Kelley at 1843 and 1845 Walker Street that damaged decks and sewer lines at seven properties.

Since 2005, the landslide problem has spread to encompass more properties, geotechnical engineers have told the residents that, to fix the landslide problems, any retaining wall would have to be done as one project.

City estimates put the cost of the retaining wall at around $600,000.


Residents get to choose

Under Ohio Revised Code 727.06, the residents of Walker Street have one of two choices on how they will be assessed for the new retaining wall.

The first choice, an assessment initiated by council itself, would assess every resident on both sides of the street an equal share, with the City paying 2 percent of the cost.

The payback period would be five years, and property owners would be able to contest the assessment to a board of revision.

With the second choice, residents would petition council through committee, which would then go to a council vote.

The petition would include a description of the project and the affected area and would require the approval of residents owning 60 percent of the front footage.

Again, the City would pay 2 percent of the project cost, but there would be no limitation on the number of years for payback.

The residents are looking at the second option and trying to get the City to pay more than 2 percent of the project cost.

It's also likely that they'll choose to assess only the owners between 1815 and 1847 Walker Street, the hardest hit properties, to solidify their 60 percent approval.


Property values

In a report to council, city manager Milton Dohoney Jr says that property values along Walker Street are mixed, and that the data doesn't give a clear picture of the landslide's effects.

According to Dohoney:

• Of the 15 properties affected by the slide, the aggregate purchase value of the properties between 1977 and 2008 is $1.41 million. However, the Hamilton County Auditor's Office lists a current market value of just over $2 million, and increase of 43 percent.
• The three properties with a purchase price of "zero" have since increased in value to a range of between $84,290 and $98,880.
• The four properties that decreased in value fell by between 8 percent and 11 percent, and were purchased between 2002 and 2005.
• Two properties purchased in 2008 show an increase in value of 300 percent.
• Two properties purchased in 2006 show an increase in value of 0 percent.
• Of the three properties purchased in 2000, two increased in value from between 21 percent and 33 percent, while the third increased by 108 percent.
• A property purchased in 1996 has increased in value by 1.4 percent.

"As such, it is difficult to conclude that there is a direct relationship between the landslide and this loss of value; however, as the slide progresses, in a matter of time, damage to more structures may occur," Dohoney says.

Previous reading on BC:
Walker Street retaining wall closer to Council vote (4/8/09)
Resident: 'Please help us save Walker Street' (2/24/09)

Cincinnati City Council has passed unanimously an ordinance approving the payment of more than $30,000 to four contractors as a moral obligation for the stalled Walnut Hills Neighborhood Business District Storefront Improvement Project.

The four contractors, Dickey's Glass, Lee Stultz Electric, Fix All Remodeling, and B&B Aluminum-Vinyl, completed work as subcontractors to Victory Neighborhood Services as part of a $75,000 project to renovate up to 15 storefronts .

Victory went out of business prior to submitting a voucher to the City to collect payment for the work.

The City is working with the community to find a new contractor to complete the project.

Previous reading on BC:
Stalled Walnut Hills storefront project could move forward (4/16/09)

Earlier this month, Queen City Survey posted a piece about Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's demolition of three houses at , a historic area known as "Vernonville".

Many wondered what the plans were for the site, so I'm happy to report that there will be, coming soon...wait for it....

A fenced-in parking lot.

Permits were pulled for the project two weeks ago.

One has to wonder what will become of the Vernon Manor now.

Thank you, CCHMC!!!

School
DOB: 1970
Died: February 2009
Cause of death: The Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies (K-8), formerly known as the Crest Hills School, is being razed for the construction of a new 63,032-square-foot school for 400 students.

A 2001 assessment by the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission and DeJong & Associates found that the building had inadequate ventilation systems, room sizes that do not meet Ohio standards, poor site circulation, a lack of bus loading and unloading space, and was not ADA-compliant.

Three years ago:

• I visited Krohn Conservatory, Eden Park (where I got a shot of Bellevue), Walnut Hills, Devou Park for a few shots of the skyline and Covington, MainStrasse, and the Roebling Suspension Bridge.*
  

One year ago:

• In celebration of Earth Day, Jami and Libby debuted their Green Bags Eco Lunch Series and the ENCORE environmental real estate blog.
• Rothenberg School planning committees continued to meet with project partners.
• Voting was scheduled tentatively for the Cincinnati streetcar project.

* Hover over the slideshow to bring up the controls. You may stop the slideshow by clicking on the square "stop" button, allowing you to scroll through the photos at your own leisure. To get a better view, click on each image to enlarge to 800 x 600. Photos will open in a new browser window.

Cincinnati City Council will vote on the establishment of a capital improvement project program for MetroWest Commerce Park at its meeting this afternoon.

The new account would be funded with $3 million in Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grants for the cleanup of environmental contamination, demolition of buildings, and other remediation work on 18 acres in and around the former Queen City Barrel site in Lower Price Hill.

The Ohio Department of Development ranked the project first out of 17 applicants when awarding the grants in July 2007.

The $25 million MetroWest project will consist of four or more LEED-certified buildings totalling 250,000 square feet and housing light industrial, flex and office space.

Developers Al. Neyer Inc. and Resurgence Group LLC estimate that the project will create 400 jobs by the time it is built out in 7 to 10 years.

Demolition on the site began nearly a year ago, and the first building could be open by summer 2010.

Photo credit: June 2008, City of Cincinnati Office of the City Manager

Previous reading on BC:
Cincinnati approves bonds, land swap, lease for new MSD offices (3/20/08)
Cincinnati wants $15M in bonds, land swap for MSD offices (3/3/08)
MSD needs new office building (11/15/07)
MetroWest receives Clean Ohio funds (7/27/07)
City frees $413,000 for land at MetroWest site (6/28/07)

At its meeting this afternoon, Cincinnati City Council will consider two ordinances that could lead to the preservation of 62 new low-income housing units in Avondale.

The first ordinance would extend a 30-year, $1.9 million loan of federal HOME funds to Burnet Place Limited Partnership (Model Management) through the City's Rental Rehabiliation Program (RRP) at an interest rate of 3.67 percent.

The loan would be applied to the $12.5 million Burnet Place Project, consisting of the rehabilitation of seven buildings at , and , and , and , preserving 62 low-income housing units and creating over 8,000 square feet of commercial space.

Under terms of the loan agreement, the City would receive an annual debt service payment of 30 percent of operating cash beginning in the project's second year and would hold a second mortgage on the properties.

The ordinance is necessary because the RRP normally authorizes only forgivable deferred loans, and a 2007 council motion that requires council approval for all rental rehabilitation projects.

Units will be rented to households below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), with 20 percent reserved for those with an income 50 percent below AMI.

Eleven of the units will be priced according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Low Rent and High Rent HOME limits.

No tenants would be forced to move during the rehabilitation.

The second ordinance would transfer $470,903 from various HOME project accounts into the RRP account.

Additional project funding would come from bank loans, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, funds, and developer equity.

The HOME program is HUD's largest block grant to state and local governments, allocating annually approximately $2 billion nationwide.

Not much visible is happening at the Factory Square project in Northside, but the project is far from dead.

During Give Back Cincinnati's Community Immersion on April 4, Jared Wayne of developer Bloomfield/Schon + Partners said that we should expect to see the building open in about two years.

In fact, his company is so invested in the project that he says he's basically on the project site full-time.

Upon completion, the former factory building will house more than 90 market-rate apartments, sheltered parking, and 27,000 square feet of commercial space that will include a restaurant or café use.

Townhomes, offices, and a public park are also planned for the property surrounding the structure.

There are 9 photos in this slideshow.

Hover over the slideshow to bring up the controls. You may stop the slideshow by clicking on the square "stop" button, allowing you to scroll through the photos at your own leisure. To get a better view, click on each image to enlarge to 640 x 480. Photos will open in a new browser window.



Previous reading on BC:
ODOD: Forcing tax credit approvals would 'offend constitutional separation of powers' (5/16/08)
Ohio developers file writ with Supreme Court over tax credit program (4/11/08)
Inside American Can (3/25/08)
American Can applies for brownfields funds (10/10/07)
American Can named local landmark (8/8/07)

Dozens of Cincinnati projects are seeking a piece of the $787 billion federal economic stimulus package, but there are hundreds more ideas in the minds of City residents.

As the City considers how its share will be spent, many of these ideas have been submitted to Cincinnati City Councilmembers for their consideration.


Walnut Hills business district

Jewel Rice of Walnut Hills suggests that stimulus money be channeled to the Walnut Hills business district, an area that she describes as having "gone from struggling to seedy".

In addition to a satellite office for City Hall, she would like to see a satellite permit office, new apartments, a second grocery store, and a community garden.

Infrastructure could be improved through repurposing buildings, unifying facades, lighting storefronts, and utilizing green energy, she says, and new investment could be gained through tax and rent incentives.

Rice believes that the one- to two-year project would create jobs, add new businesses and living options, and reduce blight and crime.


Public safety for East Price Hill

Dan Boller of East Price Hill believes that stimulus money should be used to build a combined state-of-the-art facility for Cincinnati Police Department District 3 and Cincinnati Fire Department Engine 17.

He suggests the Grandview site , currently owned by Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA).

"It is clearly obvious that the D-3 Police Headquarters is in need of expansion and it seems clearly obvious that CFD Engine #17 makes a majority of its runs up from Eighth and State into East Price Hill that this site would make street accessibility sense," Boller says. "Havin direct access to Grand Avenue, a thoroughfare to Fairmount and then up to Westwood, along with extremely short distance access to both major Price Hill corridors of Glenway and Warsaw seems to present a fantastic fit for both the Police and Fire Departments."

Both the and have been suggested for a replacement building for the cramped District 3 station, but the City has said that it will purchase neither.


Preservation, not demolition

The City's share of federal economic stimulus funding should be channeled into preservation of the City's historic building stock, says Cincinnati Preservation Association (CPA) preservation director Margo Warminski.

"CPA strongly supports using this money for rehabilitation and weatherization rather than demolition," she says. "While some buildings need to come down, there has been too much emphasis in recent years on demolition and not enough on renovation and stabilization of the buildings that will attract residents back to the City."

As far as infrastructure improvements, Warminski says that CPA supports construction of the streetcar as an important first step toward more balanced transportation options and less automobile dependence.

"Streetcars built many of the City's historic neighborhoods, and streetcars can help to revitalize them."


Stimuli for our feet

Bonnie Parsons has a very simple idea -- invest in our public sidewalks.

"It's not as glamorous as a streetcar line or as popular as a bike trail along the Ohio River," she says. "Yet hundreds of thousands of people would benefit from this every day."

Although Parsons realizes that it's the job of individual property owners to maintain their sidewalks, she feels that $40 million in federal economic stimulus money could put many of our small contractors back to work.

"In general, the City takes much better care of the streets than property owners do of the sidewalks and driveway entrances alongside them," she says. "Property owners just don't have the resources to do this job as well as the City can."

She says that one of her neighbors, who does concrete work for a living, estimated the cost of replacing the sidewalk and driveway apron in front of her property at $1,000 to $2,000.

"At a time when many homeowners are having trouble making ends meet, are losing jobs, and have limited ability to borrow, this would be a great way to take the additional burden off their backs," she says. "Many of my neighbors think the City is responsible for the sidewalks anyway and can't understand why the City is letting them get into such poor shape when they take much better care of the street. When I told them it was their responsibility to repair, they became very worried that the City would tell them to fix their walks when they are having trouble making it from day to day."

Previous reading on BC:
Vote on Cincinnati stimulus projects! (2/5/09)

Cincinnati City Council has passed unanimously an ordinance creating a capital improvement project account for two streetscape projects in Corryville.

The account will utilize $100,000 in tax increment financing (TIF) funding to plan, design, and build streetscape improvements and .

In February, Corryville Community Council approved of the use of the TIF money by an 11-0 vote.

Previous reading on BC:
Corryville streetscape financing considered (4/8/09)

The Hamilton County Planning, Zoning, and Community Development Department has released its (PDF).

The 32-page report outlines in detail last year's accomplishments in key initiatives such as the Government Cooperation and Efficiency Project, Project IMPACT, First Suburbs Consortium of Southwest Ohio, Hamilton County Climate Initiative, Local Alliance for Nature and Development, Certified Planning Commissioner's Program, and contract services.

This year's report does not provide financials for the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission (RPC) or the Hamilton County Rural Zoning Commission (RZC).

A part of the Hamilton County Planning, Zoning, and Community Development Department, the RPC provides advisory planning services to the 12 unincorporated townships of the county and the 37 fee-paying member municipalities and makes zoning recommendations to the RZC. The RZC serves the Board of County Commissioners by administering and enforcing zoning in four townships and by providing contract services to a number of townships and villages in Hamilton County.

Both bodies operated at a deficit in 2007.

Previous reading on BC:
HCRPC releases 2007 Annual Report (4/8/08)

The Pleasant Ridge branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is celebrating its 80th birthday with a celebration tomorrow evening from 6 PM to 9 PM at Molly Malone's Irish Pub, 6111 Montgomery Road.

The event will also serve as a fundraiser for the Pleasant Ridge Library Fund to help pay for a $1.2 million accessibility project that will add an 1,100 square feet addition, new restrooms, and an elevator.

All tips and 15 percent of drink proceeds will go into the fund.

Music will be provided by .

Pleasant Ridge has had a free library since becoming a village in 1891, and has been part of the Cincinnati library system since 1900.

Single-family
DOB: 1929
Died: March 2009
Cause of death: A fire on August 10, 2008, which started in the basement but quickly spread throughout the house. The fire caused severe damage to the roof, ceiling, and floor structures. All of the occupants had escaped by the time firefighters arrived.

The house was condemned in October 2008. After negotiating all of the insurance company red tape, it was razed privately.

Two years ago:

• Site prep work was being undertaken for the Palisades of Mount Adams condominium project.
  
• Laurel Court, a Beaux Arts mansion located in College Hill, celebrated its 100th anniversary.

One year ago:

• A public hearing for East Price Hill's $50 million Incline Square development was held by Cincinnati's Department of City Planning.
• In observance of Earth Day, Cincinnati's Department of Public Services partnered with Duke Energy to remove graffiti and trash from the walls of Duck Creek in Oakley.
• In Mariemont, Jordan Park was under roof and was just beginning to see the application of exterior cladding.
  
• I visited Hyde Park.
  

With word that Queensgate Terminals is again in court-ordered negotitations to bring a multi-modal transportation facility to the former Hilltop Basic Resources property in Lower Price Hill, more groups are voicing publicly their opposition.

The latest communication is from River West Working Group co-chair Tom Croft to Cincinnati City Councilmember Roxanne Qualls, in which he states that a barge terminal would be incredibly intrusive to the nearby residential areas and could hinder recovery efforts in the surrounding neighborhoods.

"We are starting to see real progress in the redevelopment of the communities along the western riverfront," he says, citing as examples:

• The development of MetroWest light industrial park on the former Queen City Barrel site
• A large investment in --> --> --> Mill Creek facilities
• CPS's $17 million renovation of Oyler School
• Reconstruction of the Eighth Street Viaduct
• The designation of the Incline District in East Price Hill
• The Incline Square development
• Continuing development on the Cincinnati Christian University campus
• Potential retail on "The Yards" site in Sedamsville
• Harbor Lights, a proposed condominium development in Sedamsville

When negotiations over broke up nearly two years ago, City Council directed staff to investigate the use of the property as a public park or housing.

Since then, residents and stakeholders in Lower Price Hill, East Price Hill, West Price Hill, Sedamsville and Riverside have voiced their opposition to the project, which would offload bulk cargo onto rail and truck and would service an even larger logistics center in Jeffersonville, Ohio.

"It is clear that the proposed Queensgate operation will destroy a great deal of existing and potential taxable property value, and consign Lower Price Hill, East Price Hill, Sedamsville and Riverside to permanent blight," Croft says.


Big negative for entire West Side, city

"Lower Price Hill has one of the longest-established residential neighborhoods in Cincinnati," says Dr. Jack Degano, president of the Lower Price Hill Community Council, in his neighborhood's April newsletter. "No one has the right to tell us our homes and way of life must be sacrificed to a hazardous operation that would make our lives unbearable. Political arrogance has no place in our small but civilized, well-organized neighborhood."

Sedamsville Civic Association president Susan Feldman agrees that the people most affected by the City's decision are being bypassed.

"Our neighborhood feels strongly that the City should not be making land use decisions without the approval of those people most affected," she says in an April 3 letter to council panning the plan. "We also believe the City should not allow threats of lawsuits to motivate poor decision making. This will only invite more of these tactics used by special interests."

But to Croft, the barge terminal would damage more than the surrounding neighborhoods -- it would hurt the entire City.

"[This site] is located at key gateways to and from West Side neighborhoods," he says. "In accord with the Cincinnati Scenic View Study adopted by City Council last summer, it must be protected because of its position in the line of sight from Mt. Echo and the City."

Croft contends that the area must be kept available for the Ohio River Trail, one of 45 projects approved by the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) for federal economic stimulus funding.

"[The Trail] is projected by OKI to be extended westward along the Ohio River from downtown along the western Hamilton County riverfront," he says. "It provides an opportunity to link the City together with a system of greenways and bikeways that use our riverfront to maximum advantage."


How will Comprehensive Plan define western riverfront?

Croft believes that the City's western riverfront will be a significant part of the City's upcoming Comprehensive Plan, and that one only needs to see the eastern riverfront to see what's possible.

And he rejects the "working riverfront" label that's been given to the property.

"When looking at Riverside Drive, the $45 million Theodore Berry Park is witness that residential stability and growth is the key to the City's long-term viability," Croft says. "On the West Side, the former Hilltop site is strategic, not only to our neighborhoods, but to the whole City. Residential growth is the key to the City's long-term viability, and businesses that encourage that growth are what we need, not activity that will make people flee."

Degano agrees.

"The East End has come back to life," he says. "There is no factual argument against similar development happening on the west side of downtown that has an even better view of the Kentucky hills, and of the city skyline. Lower Price Hill is no more dangerously within the flood plain than are the new homes in the East End. Construction plans for the new Waldvogel Viaduct envision expanded greenspace for Lower Price Hill, and public access to the riverfront."

Degano refers to past reports from city manager Milton Dohoney Jr. in which he advocated rezoning the 30 acres to RF-C Riverfront Commercial and jumpstarting the negotiation process, arguing that development of the site for public or residential use wass problematic due to the upcoming Waldvogel Viaduct replacement, its multiple active rail lines, its propensity to flood, and its surrounding light and heavy industrial uses.

An updated report from Dohoney is due before council by April 29.

Previous reading on BC:
Professor calls newest Queensgate Terminals report 'flawed' (3/18/09)
River West Working Group: Queensgate Terminals report 'unacceptable' (4/7/08)
Dohoney reports on Queensgate site options (12/26/07)
No contact between City, Queensgate since June (12/19/07)
Bortz offers newest motion to stop Queensgate Terminals (8/9/07)