The remaining fire-charred buildings that housed Smitty's clothing shop will remain standing for now.
Ed Cunningham, manager of the City's Department of Community Development Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Division, says that the buildings in Over-the-Rhine will be cleaned up and surrounded by an eight-foot fence.
A centrally-located brownfield property is ready for redevelopment, the Ohio EPA declared yesterday.
The agency announced that it has issued a covenant no to sue for a 28-acre site in Lockland, also known as the Hamilton County Regional Business Park.
Single-family
DOB: 1890
Died: June 2009
Cause of death: A collapsing porch roof and garage, bricks falling off the building, deep cracks in the south wall, broken windows. The property appeared to have been vandalized.
The house was condemned in April 2004, declared a public nuisance in December 2006 and razed by the City.
Two years ago:
Schickel Design Company's Martha Schickel Dorff hosted a tour and presentation of the City Home development yesterday evening at her offices at 124 W 14th Street.
The tour was the culmination of a day in which Schickel and development partners 3CDC, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing and Eber Development were honored with the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce 2010 Property Development of the Year "Star Award" for the project, consisting of five new townhomes and six renovated condominiums .
Cincinnati City Council has passed a resolution supporting the construction of sound barrier walls in locations where highway noise hurts property values.
The resolution is the result of more than two dozen communications sent to the office of Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls, largely from Hyde Park residents living adjacent to Interstate 71.
To many, a commute into Downtown Cincinnati via River Road is taking one's life into one's own hands.
As part of the design work for the $64 million Waldvogel Viaduct replacement, the City of Cincinnati's Department of Transportation and Engineering performed a speed study of the segment .
Retail/warehouse
DOB: 1956
Died: July 2009
Cause of death: Structural damage to both the "Louis the Florist" cement block building and an adjacent wood frame building, broken and missing windows, litter. Homeless people were found living inside the abandoned building.
The buildings were condemned in October 2008, declared a public nuisance in March 2009 and razed privately.
The structures had been lost in foreclosure, and a criminal case was not pursued due to "hazy ownership".
Two years ago:
--> --> -->Carter Real Estate --> --> --> and , master developers of the $800 million The Banks project, have unveiled a new and new branding in an effort to better market the property and to build momentum for its spring 2011 grand opening.
The new website, designed by Strata-G Communications offers construction information, leasing details, and, for the first time, street-level renderings showing the buildings' façade coloring, window sizing and other architectural details.
The region's first on-street bicycle "corral" was dedicated at the during an Earth Day celebration last Thursday.
The $1,000 project removes one parking space and can accommodate 12 bicycles. This is different than bicycle racks and bikes chained to parking meters, which can overwhelm sidewalks and make movement more difficult for pedestrians – especially in areas as bike-crazy as Northside.
The Fountain Square Management Group and Duke Energy have announced the winners of EcoSculpt, a sculpture exhibit and competition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
Eleven artists were selected to create original works made of recyclable and/or recycled materials.
Only four days remain to register for Repair Affair, --> --> -->People Working Cooperatively's --> --> --> (PWC) annual spring volunteer event, to be held on May 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
PWC is seeking skilled volunteers to provide critical home repairs for 100 low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners in the Greater Cincinnati, including, for the first time, residents of southeast Indiana.
Three-family
DOB: 1880
Died: June 2009
Cause of death: Defective masonry and cornice, a large foundation hole, interior alterations without a permit, severe water damage, and a severely cracked sidewalk. Vacant for several years, it was open to trespassers and required several calls for City barricading.
The building was originally condemned in August 2006 and declared a public nuisance in October 2006, then changed hands twice and eventually came under the ownership of a woman from Illinois. Work to change the layout from a three-family to a two-family was performed without a permit. Having been vacant for over a year, the building lost its non-conforming zoning status and could no longer be used as a residence.
It was condemned again in April 2008 and declared a public nuisance in December 2008. A criminal case was filed in late 2008, but has not progressed.
At the time of the demolition, the property was assessed at $5,700, with the house valued at $1,330.
A renowned group of national and international business, governmental, and policy experts will gather in Cincinnati to discuss the implications of Ohio's 3C Corridor passenger rail project during the 2010 Urban and Regional Public Transportation Conference, to be hosted by the European-American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) on May 5 at the Westin Hotel.
Three panels will address issues specific to the high-speed rail discussion: economic development, from the local to the federal level; technology, performance, and environmental impact; and financial and operational models. (Please see full list of panelists below.)
"Cincinnati is a miraculous city," Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory said during his 2010 State of the City Address, delivered last Wednesday evening. "We get kicked around sometimes for not going out on a limb. We do not go out on extremes. We sort of steadily move along."
This slow-and-steady approach has allowed Cincinnati to weather the economic storm better than many cities he said, making progress through a combination of public-private partnerships, investment in public infrastructure, and the attraction and retention of companies that create jobs.
The following 27 photos were taken between April 9 and April 16, 2010.
The tour opens with a shot I took while in Eden Park covering a story about a $1 million gift to Cincinnati Riverfront Park from the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts. From there, I stopped into the Famous Neon's Unplugged for some reason. Probably because I missed opening night.
Vice President Joe Biden has announced that the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) has received a $17 million competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) as part of its "Retrofit Ramp-Up" initiative to reduce energy bills for the nation's building owners.
Over the next three years, GCEA will use the funding for community outreach and collaboration to increase energy efficiency across the residential, commercial and multi-family sectors in Hamilton County and in the Northern Kentucky counties of Boone, Campbell, and Kenton. Regionally, it is estimated that the program will achieve as much as 250 million kilowatt-hours in electricity savings, 2.5 million therms of gas savings, and as much as a 250,000 ton reduction in greenhouse gases.
Three-family
DOB: 1911
Died: July 2009
Cause of death: Brick failure, deteriorated gutters and downspouts, and an abundance of litter. Squatters and drug dealers had set up shop. Building code violations dated back to 2003, and electrical service had been shut off.
The house was condemned in May 2007, declared a public nuisance in September 2008, and razed by the City following asbestos abatement.
Owner Evelyn Baskin had tried to sell the property, but it was apparently unattractive to buyers.
Four years ago:
A coalition including the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, the City of Cincinnati, and Hamilton County have been awarded a $1 million grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for brownfield assessment activities.
The grant, which includes $800,000 to investigate properties contaminated with hazardous substances and $200,000 for properties contaminated with petroleum, will be directed to properties located in industrialized county communities, including the GO Cincinnati target corridors of Madison Road, Seymour-Reading, and Queensgate-Mill Creek.
Matt Cullen, president and COO of Rock Ventures LLC, will outline how the new casino at Broadway Commons can positively impact the entire city during his keynote speech at the Business Courier's ninth annual Commercial Real Estate Developers Power Breakfast, on May 6 at the --> --> -->Duke Energy Convention Center --> --> -->.
In addition to Cullen, a group of panelists will discuss how the region can make the most of this development and how the casino should integrate into the surrounding neighborhoods.
The historic Laurel Court mansion, at , in College Hill opens for tours again on April 25 at 1 P.M.
Visitors for the one-hour tours will get a rare opportunity learn more about the history Beaux-Arts mansion, completed in 1907 for Champion Coated Paper founder Peter G. Thomson and now the private residence of Larry and Judy Moyer.
Multi-family
DOB: 1865
Died: July 2009
Cause of death: Deep cracks in exterior walls, crumbling chimney, deteriorated roof, missing and broken windows, and severe water damage. The building had been vacant since at least 2003.
The building was condemned in March 2007. During that time period, owner John Moore tried to sell the building and promised repairs if a sale didn't go through. A later court case led to entry into a diversion program.
It finally was declared a public nuisance in September 2007, and was razed by the City following asbestos abatement. Moore's diversion was reversed and he was sentenced to 180 days in jail (suspended), six months of community control/probation, and $94 in court costs. It appears that he has had an outstanding warrant since March 2009.
Three years ago:
The first house in the City of Cincinnati to be rehabilitated and sold using federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funding was dedicated during a Monday morning ceremony.
The three-bedroom home at in East Price Hill was completed by Price Hill Will using a portion of the $8.4 million Cincinnati was awarded out of $3.92 billion earmarked in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.
Dealing with a legacy of environmental contamination and far too many outdated business facilities, the neighborhood of Camp Washington has a new vehicle to help guide its redevelopment.
Last week, Cincinnati City Council passed a resolution supporting the Camp Washington Industrial Area Plan and recommending that the city manager apply for grants to pursue its implementation.
Cincinnati will appropriate nine properties and 17 temporary easements for the $2 million Montana Avenue Improvement Project, which is designed to improve safety along the 1.8-mile corridor .
The new three-lane "road diet" approach will utilize the roadway's current 36-foot width. The appropriations, expected to cost $75,000, are needed for a new right-turn lane at Westwood Northern Boulevard.
Multi-family
DOB: 1880
Died: July 2009
Cause of death: Damage to the cornice and brick work, missing and broken windows, damaged plaster and cracked walls, water damage, no utilities, raccoon infestation.
The building was condemned in April 2007 and declared a public nuisance in September 2008. Ownership changed during this point, taking its former owner off the hook for a planned criminal case.
The new owner planned to bring the structure up to Vacated Building Maintenance License (VBML) standards, but apparently was unable to do so. It was razed by the City following asbestos abatement.
Two years ago:
Three-family
DOB: 1915
Died: July 2009
Cause of death: Failing structural members, deterioring gutters and downspouts, damaged wooden porches, broken and missing windows, water damage, and an overgrown lot. Electric service had long been turned off,Convenient to Reading Road, the property was being used by squatters and drug dealers.
Building orders existed on the property since June 2003, after it had long been vacant. Electric service had already been turned off.
The owner, Evelyn Baskin attempted to sell the property between 2004 and 2007, but none of those sales ever went through.
It was declared a public nuisance in September 2008 and razed by the City following asbestos abatement.
Some of Christian Moerlein Brewing Company's line of beers will be brewed in Over-the-Rhine for the first time since the start of Prohibition, company president and CEO Greg Hardman said on Friday.
The company, and its wholly-owned subsidiary Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewing Co., has signed a lease option to move its Middletown offices to a 125,000-square-foot building at , just north of the intersection of Liberty and Vine streets in the neighborhood's Brewery District.
The six preliminary concepts for the $2 billion-$3 billion replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge will soon be narrowed to three, following a presentation by the --> --> --> (ODOT) and the --> --> --> last Thursday.
The project's advisory and aesthetic committees are expected to trim the number of concepts within the next several weeks. All six bridge concepts will be posted to the project website beginning tomorrow, and public comments to the project team will be accepted through the website's feedback link.
The City of Sharonville will hold a pre-bid meeting at 10 A.M. today for 13 contracts related to the $32 million Sharonville Convention Center expansion, 11355 Chester Road.
The contracts, ranging from concrete and steel work to HVAC and finishes, represent approximately $22 million of the project cost.
Runners and walkers from throughout Greater Cincinnati will converge on Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum on April 25 for Northside's second annual Reduce, Recycle, Run 5K.
The family-friendly race serves as a fundraiser for the Cincinnati Northside Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, allowing it to continue its mission of increasing homeownership, eliminating blight, and preserving the neighborhood's historic character – all in a sustainable manner.
The third in the Cincinnati Museum Center's five-part Heritage Programs "Paris of America" series on local history takes place tomorrow at 7:30 P.M. at the museum's Reakirt Auditorium.
Presented by Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati (AFC) Executive Director Sue Ann Painter, will focus on architecture in the City from 1870 to 1900.
Cincinnati Preservation Association presents "Famous Architects of Glendale", an illustrated lecture by historian Beth Sullebarger, on Thursday at 7:30 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church, 155 Fountain Avenue in Glendale.
Co-sponsored by the Betts House Research Center, the lecture will show how the picturesque planned community, named a National Historic Landmark in 1977, became a magnet for many great architects.
Two-family
DOB: 1922
Died: May 2009
Cause of death: Deteriorating sidewalks, boarded and missing windows, structural damage, failing gutters and rake boards, missing siding, a collapsing front porch, and heavy water damage. The property was covered in trash and overgrown brush, grass, and weeds.
The house was condemned in March 2006, declared a public nuisance in January 2008 and razed by the City following asbestos abatement.
The owners are deceased.
Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls was joined by Walnut Hills community leaders yesterday to propose returning McMillan Street and William Howard Taft Road to two-way traffic, a move seen as key to revitalizing the neighborhood's struggling business district.
The proposal, also introduced via Council motion, directs City staff to come up with a four-year plan, including a budget, for converting the before Council's summer recess. Elements of the plan are expected to follow Complete Streets guidelines, including reduced traffic speeds, better incorporation of alternative modes of transportation, landscaped medians, wider sidewalks, traffic signals, and roundabouts.
The evolution of multi-family housing in Cincinnati is explored in the exhibit "From Tenements to Townhouses: Multi-Family Housing in Cincinnati", opening with a Friday reception at the Betts House, 416 Clark Street, from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M.
Curated by Margo Warminski, preservation director of the Cincinnati Preservation Administration, examines the physical structures and social constructs of the area's multi-family buildings, from the City's first tentative steps in apartment living in the late 1800s all the way through the 20th century.
Two working group orientation meetings have been scheduled for next week to further refine Cincinnati's draft comprehensive plan.
Attendees will learn about the 12 plan elements, the working group process, and future meeting dates. Each working group will meet between 4 and 6 times before the process wraps up in December.
Single-family
DOB: 1895
Died: July 2009
Cause of death: Loose bricks on the chimney, missing siding, broken and missing windows, inadequate gutters and downspouts, missing porch components, and water damage. The front door was often open, letting trespassers in. Some of the damage was due to vandalism. The City ordered the building vacant in February 2007.
It was finally condemned in May 2007, after more than six years under building code violations. A criminal case was filed against the owner in July, and the building entered the City's hazard abatement program in October. In late 2007, he applied for a Vacated Building Maintenance License, then applied for a demolition permit a couple of months later.
In March 2008, the owner plead no contest and was required to pay court costs. The house was razed by the City following asbestos removal.
Three years ago:
Built in 1924 and once a favorite haunt of the elite and famous, the Vernon Manor Hotel closed its doors for good in March 2009.
"This is a bittersweet day for me," Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory said during a press conference yesterday morning. "This hotel has always had a special place in my heart, and in the hearts of members of my family. We sort of hung out here and have been coming here for years, coming to Sunday brunch and having my meetings. So it's sad for me to see the hotel go away, but this is a great opportunity as it relates to economic development."
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A plan by Adriatico's Pizza owner Tom Erbeck to move his operation to a newly-constructed building at has hit a snag after his site plan was rejected by Cincinnati Zoning Hearing Examiner Margaret Wuerstle.
"The relief is excessive and indicates that the site may not be appropriate for the proposed development," said Wuerstle in her decision, citing Erbeck's request for a variance, a conditional use, and five special exceptions for the new construction.
Fences are up around the Valley Homes complex in Lincoln Heights, and demolition is imminent.
The Model Group previously has announced plans to redevelop the troubled housing complex as Villas of the Valley, a two-phased project that will consist of both senior cottages and housing for families.
Mixed-use
DOB: Between 1860 and 1880
Died: July 2009
Cause of death: Severe neglect, leading to damage by the elements. Utilities had been shut off for several years (water since 1997), and it and surrounding properties had become centers for drug sales, prostitution, and the illegal dumping of garbage, old furniture, and construction materials.
The buildings were first condemned in October 2006 and March 2007, respectively.
Criminal cases against owner Charles Reed appear to have been dismissed last August, since the buildings were no longer there.
835 Bank Street was assessed at $9,650 at the time of demolition, with the building valued at $350. 837 Bank Street was assessed at $6,990 at the time of demolition, with the building valued at $1,820.
Three years ago:
A deeper look into Chapter 761 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, the chronic nuisance ordinance, is expected to be in front of City Council by April 21.
The report, to be issued by City Manager Milton Dohoney, has been requested in a motion drafted by Councilmember Charlie Winburn and adopted by Council last Wednesday.
More than 700 members of the National Conference of Black Mayors (NCBM) will convene in Cincinnati from May 12-16, the City and Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau announced yesterday.
The 36th Annual Convention, themed "Able Leaders, Stable Cities: Resolving Our Communities' Challenges," will bring influential civic leaders from throughout the country to discuss solutions and best practices to challenges faced by local elected officials.
This weekend, the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati (AFC) will sponsor "The Lord was my Client: Church Architecture of Edward J. Schulte, 1890-1975", a free two-day program featuring a lecture, panel discussion, and tours focused on the works of the prominent local architect.
On Saturday at 1 P.M. at the St. Peter in Chains Cathedral Undercroft, 325 W Eighth Street, noted architectural historian Dr. Denis McNamara will highlight Schulte's work as designer of some of the City's most prominent churches in the 1930s and 1940s.
Single-family
DOB: Between 1890 and 1910
Died: August 2009
Cause of death: A fire on April 9, 2009 that started on the first floor and moved through open wall voids into the attic. Extensive damage was caused to the rear addition and roof rafters.
One year ago:
At a ceremony on Friday at Eden Park, the Cincinnati Park Board received a $1 million gift from the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts to create the new Jacob G. Schmidlapp Stage and Event Lawn, part of the first phase of Cincinnati Riverfront Park.
Heidi Jark, vice president and manager at the foundation office at Fifth Third Bank, presented the first of two $500,000 checks to Cincinnati Parks Director Willie Carden, Jr., who then passed the check to Board President Marian Lindberg.
Temporary fencing surrounding the new Clifton Plaza at has been removed, and the space is now open to the public.
Designed by KZF Design, the new plaza features granite bench seating, circular table seating, two bar-style standing tables, and a solar-powered trash compactor. New trees and landscaping have been added throughout.
On a March 17 stroll through Downtown, things still felt a bit dull and drab. By the end of the month, I had to find some places that had some bright colors.
The Downtown photos were taken during a stroll from Fountain Square to Arnold's for St. Patrick's Day. I then made my way back to the Square.
Hyde Park residents are being asked to voice their opinions on what color of brick should be used for the exterior of the new $18.4 million Clark Montessori School at .
In a meeting earlier this month, representatives from the school's planning team, Hyde Park Neighborhood Council (HPNC), and project architect glaserworks looked at three color schemes – two using gray brick blends and one a blend of red and brown brick.
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Artists on Friday began the installation of EcoSculpt, a sculpture exhibit and competition celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
Duke Energy and the Fountain Square Management group are sponsoring the three-week exhibit, which will feature the work of 11 artists using only recycled and recyclable materials.
On Saturday, the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts hosted a public open house to show off its new $400,000 backstage addition.
Over the past eight years, owner and operator Cincinnati Landmark Productions has transformed the 1940s movie house into a fully-functioning performing arts center that recently has featured performances of Meet Me in St. Louis, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Miracle on 34th Street, Tuesdays With Morrie, and Singin' in the Rain.
Single-family
DOB: 1885
Died: June 2009
Cause of death: A suspected arson fire that destroyed the entire second story of the house, making it structurally unsound. Previous inspections revealed a rotted sill at the left rear of the building, a fallen kitchen ceiling, a front porch pulling away from the main structure, and abundant trash and debris.
It was condemned in August 2007, declared a public nuisance in March 2009, and razed by the City following asbestos abatement.
Money from an insurance settlement was held in escrow and may have been used to reimburse the City. There also appears to have been a criminal case, but it looks like the charges were dismissed since, by December 2009, the nuisance had long been abated.
The property was assessed at $6,140 at the time of demolition, with the house valued at $1,940. It is now belongs to the owner of the neighboring apartment building, Foundation Khadimou Rassoul of North America, a non-profit dedicated to the social and economic empowerment of rural Senegalese.
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland yesterday signed Substitute House Bill 313 (Sub H.B. 313), giving land banking authority to 41 counties.
The legislation allows counties with more than 60,000 residents to form and operate county-wide non-profit land banks, providing a comprehensive regional planning tool to address foreclosures, abandonment, and blight.
A report from the Cincinnati Parks Department on its bicycle policies is due before City Council by April 21.
The report, requested in a motion from eight of the nine councilmembers*, is expected to include an inventory of the parks' bicycle facilities and trails, as well as the department's near-term plans to improve those facilities.
Seven architectural treasures of Walnut Hills will be opened to the public on May 8 during Cincinnati Preservation Association's (CPA) annual "Upstairs, Downstairs" spring home tour.
Included on the tour:
"The Roebling Bridge: Facts and Fallacies", the latest in a series of lectures on Northern Kentucky history, will take place this Sunday at 2 P.M. at the Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center, 620 Greenup Street in Covington.
Presented by Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Committee board member Ralph G. Wolff, the event is part of the 2010 Northern Kentucky History Art & Culture Lecture Series, a ten-part, monthly program facilitated by the Friends of Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center and the Kenton County Historical Society.
Two-family
DOB: 1885
Died: June 2009
Cause of death: A collapsing chimney, broken and missing windows, defective structural members, stolen siding, and a yard strewn with rotting wood and debris. Vacant since at least 2004.
The house was condemned in November 2006, declared a public nuisance in November 2008 and razed by the City following asbestos removal.
Purchased by Discount Homes USA LLC, an investor group specializing in foreclosures, in June 2007 for $5,000. At the time of its demolition, the property was assessed at $5,000 and the house itself at only $1,260.
No court cases were ever filed, as the property changed hands three times during the enforcement period.
Three years ago:
Residents of Lower Price Hill again are engaged in a battle to stop unwanted land uses in their neighborhood, this time a group home for troubled boys coming from the foster care and court systems.
Lower Price Hill Community Council (LPHCC) adopted a motion at its Monday night meeting directing LPHCC President Dr. Jack Degano to draft a letter to the Lower Price Hill Community School board president voicing the neighborhood's concerns about the school's proposal to open the home in a three-story building on the west side of its St. Michael the Archangel Church campus at .
