A lawsuit between the City of Cincinnati and Queensgate Terminals is likely to begin March 7, unless members of City Council agree to an eleventh-hour settlement plan.

In Council motions dated February 14 – and then February 22 – Councilmember Jeff Berding asked the City to take "all necessary steps" to sell the 31-acre Hilltop Basic Resources property in Lower Price Hill to Queensgate Terminals for fair market value, thereby settling a court judgement resulting from a prior lawsuit between the two parties.

More than 30 preservation professionals and advocates attended the Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program (CAMP), held on Friday at Covington City Commission Chambers.

Led by the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, topics ranged from regulatory basics to comprehensive preservation planning to federal preservation standards. Speakers included Dan Becker, executive director of the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission; Robin Ziegler, a staffer on the Nashville-Davidson County Metropolitan Historic Zoning Commission; and Ramona Murphy Bartos, city attorney for the City of Guyton, Ga.

A study looking into the implementation of bus rapid transit (BRT) in Cincinnati should begin "as soon as possible", according to a recent memo to City Council from Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) Director Michael Moore.

The memo is in response to a November 2010 motion by Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls – co-sponsored by Councilmembers Laure Quinlivan, Cecil Thomas and Wendell Young – asking DOTE to look into the feasibility of BRT as part of a larger multi-modal transit plan integrating BRT, light rail, streetcars, and the City's existing rail policy.

On Tuesday, the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on two alternatives for an extension of the Little Miami Scenic Trail that will eventually connect to the Ohio River Trail.

The open house, to be held from 5 P.M.-7 P.M. at the , will present findings and preliminary recommendations from a recent Hamilton County Park District feasibility study.

One week remains on the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) call for charrette submissions for the 2012 Natural Talent Design Competition.

The green building non-profit is seeking a compelling subject – person, place or item – that represents a need for a sustainable building solution. All ideas must be buildable, certifiable, and impactful.

Abandoned/Vacant building count

Total as of February 1, 2011: 4,817 buildings
% Change in past month: +0.6%
% Change in past six months: +3.0%
% Change in past year: +14.0%
% Change in past two years: +51.3%
% Change in past five years: +170.6%

The Westwood Historical Society is hoping to raise $40,000 to save a key piece of neighborhood history.

The Historic Village of Westwood School Bell and Clockworks, purchased in 1894 by Casimir Werk and cast by the VanDuzen/Buckeye Bell Company, were removed from the Westwood School prior to Cincinnati Public Schools' (CPS) $14.4 million renovation project.

Although lead abatement work has already begun, the rehabilitation of the historic – and derelict – Elberon apartment building in East Price Hill officially kicked off with a reception Wednesday morning.

Price Hill Will is working with the Model Group on a $7.4 million rehabilitation the 26,526-square-foot building at into the Elberon Senior Apartments, 37 one- and two-bedroom apartment units for seniors 55 and older. Two vacant buildings adjacent to the Elberon will be razed to create additional parking and green space.

Registration is now open for this summer's tenth annual Ohio River Way Paddlefest, the largest canoe and kayak paddling event in the Midwest.

The event kicks off June 23 with the Kid's Outdoor Adventure Expo, featuring hands-on learning on such topics as water safety, fishing, bird species, sustainable energy, gardening, and recycling.

The City of Cincinnati is considering the sale of two vacant City-owned lots in the Mohawk area of Over-the-Rhine to Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity for the construction of a new single-family home.

The lots, located at , were acquired by the City in 2002 as part of the Cincinnati Land Reutilization Program (CLRP).

Cincinnati is poised to get its first mountain bike trail in Mount Airy Forest, thanks to a City Council motion adopted last Wednesday.

The motion directs the Cincinnati Park Board to work with the Cincinnati Off Road Alliance (CORA) and other volunteers to develop up to 20 miles of trails in the western portion of the 1,459-acre park, west of Interstate 74.

Nominations are due next Monday for this year's Frank F. Ferris II Community Planning Awards, an annual recognition of planning commissions or committees that "have contributed to the elevation of planning principles, greater awareness of the value of planning, and improved quality of life".

Awarded by the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission (HCRPC), nominations are judged on both plan development and plan implementation, including the planning commission or committee's role in the planning process, the amount of public participation and collaboration, the plan's effectiveness.

Winners of a local architecture drawing competition will be announced this Wednesday as the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati (AFC) opens an exhibit of the works.

The "Art as Architecture" exhibit opening, to be held at AFC Gallery at from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M., will feature entries into a juried competition of architectural drawings by community professionals and students in various design disciplines.

The annual meeting of TransportationMATTERS, a statewide group founded in 2008 to advocate for increased investment in all modes of transportation, will be held this Friday from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. at the offices of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, .

In addition to electing a slate of officers and recommending members for its board, the group will review its 2010 work and outline plans for 2011.

The 21 stop locations for the $128 million first phase of Cincinnati's 4.9-mile streetcar route have been announced.

A map released by the City shows the route utilizing Main and Walnut streets south of Central Parkway and Elm and Race streets north of Central Parkway, with a bi-directional spur climbing the Vine Street hill to an area near University Plaza in Corryville.

Gateway Community and Technical College announced last week its plans for the expansion of its Urban Campus in Downtown Covington.

The college will hire an architectural firm to create a comprehensive master plan to replace its with a mix of new and rehabilitated existing facilities on .

Abandoned/Vacant building count

Total as of February 1, 2011: 4,817 buildings
% Change in past month: +0.6%
% Change in past six months: +3.0%
% Change in past year: +14.0%
% Change in past two years: +51.3%
% Change in past five years: +170.6%

Cincinnati City Council has adopted a motion to restore $1 million in funding for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) that was removed during December's 2011-2012 biennial budget process.

The restored funding would come from excess transit fund revenues, which exceeded 2010 projections by $1.3 million.

Public comment is being accepted for that could make the roadway safer for pedestrians, motorists, and bicyclists alike.

The Mount Washington Community Council (MWCC) and Business Association have been working with the City's Department of Transportation and Engineering to slow traffic since shortly after a 2004 --> --> --> reconstruction eliminated a "zipper lane" from the roadway.

Cincinnati City Council has passed unanimously two ordinances that will enable construction to begin on streetscape improvements in Corryville.

The ordinances allow the City to issue up to $2.5 million in economic development bonds for pedestrian safety and aesthetic improvements to the , including:

• Wider, café style sidewalks;
• A narrower street, paved with red brick;
• Reconfigured parallel parking;
• Underground utilities;
• New street lighting;
• New street trees and planters; and
• Pedestrian improvements to portions of Corry Street and on Jefferson Avenue at the W Charlton Street and W Daniels Street intersections.

Following nearly three years and three revisions, concept plans for Downtown Cincinnati's first newly-built hotel since 1984 have been approved by Cincinnati City Council.

Rolling Hills Hospitality (Downtown Hills, LLC) plans to build a $14 million, 11-story, 200-room Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites at the .

The second phase of the St. Anthony Village affordable housing project in Over-the-Rhine has received a Community Reinvestment Area tax exemption.

Friars' Court, being developed by at , will receive an eight-year, 75 percent exemption – equal to $296,920 – on its property tax liability.

Development projects in Mount Adams, Mount Lookout and Northside will move forward after Cincinnati City Council identified $800,000 in surplus capital money to fund them.

The projects include:

• $350,000 for the Mount Lookout Community Development Corporation for completion of the revitalization project;
• $250,000 for the Mount Adams Business Guild for streetscape improvements ; and
• $200,000 for the Northside Business Association to buy and stabilize the Landman Building , which may become offices for Cincinnati State's culinary program.

The Cincinnati Park Board has won a First Place Green Award of Excellence from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA) for its 2010 solar panel initiative.

The Park Board secured $451,000 in federal grants and $300,000 in state grants and private funds for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels at 13 park facilities, making it the owner of the largest number of solar-powered structures in the state.

Abandoned/Vacant building count

Total as of February 1, 2011: 4,817 buildings
% Change in past month: +0.6%
% Change in past six months: +3.0%
% Change in past year: +14.0%
% Change in past two years: +51.3%
% Change in past five years: +170.6%

Downtown Cincinnati is closer to getting a Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites after Monday's approval of a development and service agreement package by Cincinnati City Council's Budget and Finance Committee.

Downtown Hills, LLC wants to build the 11-story, 200-room hotel at the , currently part of the Seventh Street Garage. In order to do so, the City would swap that property with the developer for the former American Red Cross building, allowing the City to build a seven-story, 610-space public parking garage with ground-floor retail at Seventh and Sycamore streets.

Cincinnati City Council is considering an eight-year, 75 percent Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) tax exemption agreement with the developer of Friars' Court, the second phase of St. Anthony Village in Over-the-Rhine.

The $1.8 million project, by , includes the renovation of the buildings at into 22 affordable housing units for senior citizens.

One week remains for Bellevue and Dayton homeowners to nominate their houses for Paint the Town 2011, scheduled for June 11.

The tenth annual event, organized by Give Back Cincinnati, will bring in more than 1,000 volunteers for a day of community service, painting and rejuvenating the homes of occupants who are typically physically or financially unable to complete the work themselves.

A collection of pen and ink drawings showing Cincinnati's historic urban landscape goes on exhibit with an opening reception this Friday from 5 P.M.-8 P.M. at the Betts House Research Center, 416 Clark Street in the West End.

The "Vanishing Cincinnati" collection, produced by Barbara and David Day, features more than 20 works detailing the history and architecture of some of the City's most beloved places between the years of 1850 and 1950.

With two major apartment projects already underway Uptown, Uptown Rental Properties is eyeing another block for redevelopment.

The Cincinnati City Planning Commission on Friday heard a proposal from the developer to build 72 new apartment units on the , wrapped around 88 surface parking spaces. The three- to four-story, townhouse-style walkups would include 30 one-bedroom units, 30 two-bedroom units, and 12 studio units.

Mariemont Village Council's Committee of the Whole will meet at 7 P.M. tonight to discuss the Mariemont Preservation Foundation's draft Vision 2021 plan, a guide for future public and private development in the village.

In the works since last year, the plan has brought together elected and appointed officials, village residents, business and property owners, organizations, and interested non-residents in creating a ten-year plan that addresses 21 priorities including growth of the local tax base, redevelopment, historic preservation and protection of village housing stock, schools, public facilities and amenities, open space, tourism, and government.

Representatives from the City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) and HDR Engineering, Inc. unveiled the recommended alternative for a Clifton road improvement project Thursday evening during a public open house at Fairview-Clifton German Language School.

The $9.9 million is meant to address safety and capacity issues identified on the stretch of roadway .

Construction on what will become the seventh casino to carry the Horseshoe brand kicked off on Friday with a ceremonial groundbreaking.

Local and state officials and business and civic leaders celebrated with representatives of Rock Ohio Caesars at the Downtown, which by late 2012 will be the $400 million Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati.

Proposals are now being solicited for EcoSculpt 2011, a sculpture exhibit and competition to be held April 8-28 on Fountain Square.

Held in celebration of Earth Day and presented by the Fountain Square Management Group and the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, EcoSculpt will feature up to two dozen sculptures made of recycled and/or recyclable materials.

Abandoned/Vacant building count

Total as of February 1, 2011: 4,817 buildings
% Change in past month: +0.6%
% Change in past six months: +3.0%
% Change in past year: +14.0%
% Change in past two years: +51.3%
% Change in past five years: +170.6%

Due to overwhelming interest, a local design competition has been expanded from five days to five weeks, giving participants until March 10 to submit their ideas.

The FIVE Design Competition, presented by MSA Architects, is seeking people from all disciplines to tackle issues related to public transportation infrastructure and ridership.

Eight days remain on a call for presentations for the 2011 Regional Neighborhood Network Conference (RNNC), to be hosted this September by the cities of Cincinnati and Covington.

Now in its 25th year, the RNNC brings together more than 500 participants from the public and private sectors to share best practices and to network, thereby helping to solve common community-based, community-driven issues.

Although Friday morning's ceremonial groundbreaking for Cincinnati's $400 million casino is invitation-only, you can still celebrate the event – and give input as well.

Bridging Broadway, a non-profit dedicated to maximizing the casino's effect on the surrounding neighborhoods, will be holding a community celebration and fundraiser Friday evening from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. at The Drinkery, in Over-the-Rhine.

Trustees for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), the agency that operates the regional Metro and Access bus transit systems, have rejected a set of state fact finder's recommendations related to a new three-year contract that they say would have led to severe service cutbacks.

The recommendations, from the State Employment Relations Board (SERB), were rejected because of massive wage increases and a lack of clarity on health insurance provisions and costs.

Following the adoption by Cincinnati City Council of a motion directing the City to make changes recommended by the Historic Building Loss Task Force, the Over-the-Rhine Foundation (OTRF) has created a mechanism to further insure that its neighborhood's buildings are saved.

OTRF has created the Over-the-Rhine Legal Defense Fund to raise resources to protect at-risk buildings from demolition and to assist their owners in transferring them to interested owners who will maintain and rehabilitate them.

The in Downtown Cincinnati will be replaced starting this year, and funding is now in place for its design.

Last week, Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved an ordinance establishing a new capital improvement program account with $600,000 in un-appropriated parking utilities fund surplus to replace the 54-year-old structure, located .

Cincinnati's Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) is recommending against the closure of the pedestrian walkway in Westwood.

A study of the walkway was initiated last year following a communication to Mayor Mark Mallory and members of City Council by Westwood resident Jonathan Breen, pushing for closure of the walkway due to an increase in neighborhood nuisances.

Today's TransportationMATTERS annual meeting in Columbus has been postponed due to inclement weather.

A mixture of sleet, freezing rain and rain is moving through the City, resulting in between one-quarter and one-half inch of ice accumulation on area roadways.

Cincinnati has voted unanimously to acquire several Northside properties it needs to continue improvements to Colerain Avenue, a project scheduled to begin next spring.

A total of 40 properties will be impacted by the project, which includes a reconstruction, widening, and addition of a center turn lane along 0.23 miles of Colerain Avenue and the vacation and realignment of Lambston Avenue.

Cincinnati City Council has passed unanimously an ordinance allowing it to accept and appropriate a state grant for the cleanup of a portion of the .

The nearly $1.1 million grant, disbursed through the Ohio Department of Development's Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund, will be used to remediate lead contaminated soil and to remove two underground storage tanks on a 7.5-acre portion of the 130 acres that Cincinnati sold to the City of Blue Ash in August 2007.