"Cultivation, proper planning, and tough decision making" within Covington's $40 million HOPE VI redevelopment program could make it one of the best in the nation and an anchor for future renewal, according to a recent report by the University of Louisville's Center for Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods.

The report, prepared for the Housing Authority of Covington (HAC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides a baseline evaluation of the second year of the city's attempt to remake its Eastside neighborhood, which was once anchored by the 163-unit Jacob Price Homes.

The City of Cincinnati, in conjunction with Hamilton County and the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, will apply for a $600,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Coalition Assessment Grant for the purpose of assessing brownfield sites throughout the City and Hamilton County.

The Port passed a resolution supporting the application on November 14.

The City of Cincinnati will buy two parcels of vacant land for the expansion of the Boldface Recreation Area in Sedamsville.

City Council approved the $500 purchase of approximately half of an acre of wooded property at from CWR Investments, LLC at its Nov. 15 meeting.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Northside
YEAR BUILT: 1930
USE: Auto sales and service
OWNER: BHM Properties LLC
ASSESSED VALUE: $275,890
ORDERS: --
CONDEMNED: --
HAZARD: --
REASON RAZED: Razed by neighboring business Bud Herbert Motors, possibly for expansion.

Following public hearings held recently by the Department of Community Development, Property Maintenance Code Enforcement, the following 114 buildings have been declared a public nuisance:

• , West End (single-family, 1885)
• , Northside (three-family, 1893)
• , Evanston (single-family, 1896)
• , West Price Hill (single-family, 1906)
• , Madisonville (single-family, 1908)

At its meeting on Nov. 15, Cincinnati City Council approved an application for a grant through the for work associated with the rehabilitation or replacement of the Western Hills Viaduct.

The City's Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) submitted the grant application prior to the October 1 deadline for fiscal year 2017-2019 funding, for which a budget has yet to be set.

The City of Cincinnati has agreed to a sale agreement with Harbor View Holdings, LLC for the sale of 13.06 acres adjacent to the California Golf Course for the development of approximately 30 market rate single-family homes.

The unimproved property at will be sold to the Crestview Hills-based developer for $196,000, its estimated fair market value.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Lower Price Hill
YEAR BUILT: 1911
USE: Two-family dwelling
OWNER: Mich-Alta Management LLC (Detroit, MI)
ASSESSED VALUE: $2,970
ORDERS: --
CONDEMNED: July 2005, vacant and water damaged. The owner began repairs, but apparently ran into financing issues. The building was ordered vacated and barricaded in June 2006. In February 2008, condemnation orders were reissued, adding a deteriorating porch, defective gutters and downspouts, and cracks in the masonry walls. Orders were reissued in September 2008.
HAZARD: March 2009. The current owners acquired the property in June 2010.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

The City of Cincinnati's Urban Conservator, Larry Harris, will hold a public hearing today at 2 P.M., Centennial Two, , Suite 720, to determine the historic significance of 101 buildings that have been condemned and/or declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

All of the following buildings are more than 50 years old and subject to review under Section 1101-57.1(1) of the Cincinnati Municipal Code:

• , Carthage (single-family, 1890)
• , Carthage (single-family, 1885)
• , Lower Price Hill (mixed-use, 1900)
• , West Price Hill (single-family, 1912)
• , West Price Hill (single-family, 1918)

NEIGHBORHOOD: Evanston
YEAR BUILT: 1900
USE: Multi-family dwelling (6 units)
OWNER: DB Midwest III LLC (Boise, ID)
ASSESSED VALUE: $59,000
ORDERS: October 2004, for clogged yard drains and hazardous earth conditions causing water to pour in and damage an apartment during heavy rains. Orders were reissued in May 2005, adding lintels, windows, electric fixtures, defective gas and plumbing, paint, plaster, exit and hall lights, roof, and drainage. All below ground apartments were ordered vacated. The entire building was ordered vacated in July 2007. New orders issued in October 2008, adding cornice, gutters and downspouts, chimney, and dilapidated fence. Ordered vacated and barricaded in November 2008. The property was acquired by the current owner through foreclosure in January 2009, and it was ordered vacated and barricaded again.
CONDEMNED: March 2010, adding vandalism, mold, and roof damage from a fallen tree. A criminal case was filed in April 2010, but was dismissed for want of prosecution.
HAZARD: September 2010.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

In an effort to stem negative cash flow at DeSales Plaza in East Walnut Hills, Cincinnati City Council has extended the development's Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) tax exemption for its 45 apartments for an additional seven years.

The original eight-year exemption expired at the end of 2011, making the full taxes payable at the beginning of 2013. Although the apartments are fully-leased, the owners of DeSales Plaza requested the extension due to difficulties attracting and retaining commercial tenants.

At its Nov. 15 meeting, Cincinnati City Council approved the appropriation of $895,000 to remodel office space at its Centennial Two office tower for the --> --> -->.

The expenditure is the result of an October 17 motion by Council members Cecil Thomas and Wendell Young that argued that the project would help cut City costs.

Cincinnati City Council on Nov. 15 passed four ordinances providing $6.2 million to the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority to prepare the for redevelopment.

The City and the Port will enter into an agreement for real estate services in which the City will issue $6.2 million in bonds, deposit those proceeds into the new Focus 52 program fund, and then provide that funding to the Port. The City will also provide $495,000 from an un-appropriated surplus in the general fund to service the first year of debt on those bonds.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Madisonville
YEAR BUILT: 1900
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: Martha A. Harris
ASSESSED VALUE: $36,210
ORDERS: August 2009, for exterior steps and gutters and downspouts. Orders were reissued in November 2011.
CONDEMNED: August 2012, following a one-alarm fire on July 29 that caused $20,000 in damage to the roof, rafters, wall framing, windows and doors, and caused extensive water damage. The property was vacant at the time.
HAZARD: --
REASON RAZED: Razed by the owner to close out orders.

Cincinnati City Council on Nov. 15 approved the transfer of $8.6 million in un-appropriated parking facilities funding into a new capital improvement program project account, a move that will allow the City to pursue the purchase of Tower Place Mall and the adjacent 1,623-space parking structure known as Pogue's Garage.

On November 29, the City plans to present a purchase arrangement before the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas that could allow it to acquire the property from current owner LSREF2 Baron LLC and bring the property out of foreclosure.

The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority board of directors approved its new strategic plan on Nov. 14, outlining its top economic development priorities for the next two years.

According to the plan, the Port is seeking to beef up its inland port operations, focus on the creation of development-ready sites in strategic locations, manage an innovative and comprehensive public financing program, and to increase communication and trust through stakeholder outreach and the use of social media channels.

Pendleton's 90-day Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) enforcement blitz ended with a ceremony and ribbon-cutting on Nov. 14.

The NEP brings together City departments, neighborhood businesses and residents to address blight, crime, and other nuisances, helping to forge new partnerships that will facilitate long-term neighborhood revitalization and investment.

from neighborhoods, businesses, and organizations for 2013 and beyond.

The organization's mural program, created in partnership with the City of Cincinnati in 2007, seeks to beautify local neighborhoods through the production of public art. The murals are produced by professional artists who work with apprentice artists ages 14 to 21, all of whom are paid for their efforts.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Madisonville
YEAR BUILT: 1915
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: The Cincinnati Bible Way Church Inc.
ASSESSED VALUE: $46,000
ORDERS: September 2009, for gutters and downspouts, exterior paint, and a faulty front porch. The documented owner at the time was determined to be deceased. Orders were reissued in February 2012.
CONDEMNED: --
HAZARD: --
REASON RAZED: The church acquired the property in August 2012. It could be a case of the church wanting to close out the building orders, or they could be looking for expanded parking. The church razed an adjacent property at 5020 Mathis Street in July.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Riverside
YEAR BUILT: 1890
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: I Love Cincinnati Properties LLC
ASSESSED VALUE: $8,000
ORDERS: --
CONDEMNED: --
HAZARD: --
REASON RAZED: Unsure, but the house had a history of vacancy and litter violations.

NEIGHBORHOOD: South Fairmount
YEAR BUILT: 1929
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: ADP of Greater Cincinnati LLC
ASSESSED VALUE: $26,580
ORDERS: October 2008, ordered vacated and barricaded due to a lack of utilities and heavy vandalism.
CONDEMNED: May 2010, adding roof damage, broken and missing windows, a broken front door, and litter and high weeds. In December 2011, the property was lost in tax foreclosure.
HAZARD: May 2012.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

NEIGHBORHOOD: South Fairmount
YEAR BUILT: 1890
USE: Three-family dwelling
OWNER: Denessa R. Minor
ASSESSED VALUE: $17,810
ORDERS: July 2006, for cornice, masonry walls, windows, fire escape, exterior steps, exit and hall lights, smoke detectors, bathroom ventilation, flooring, electric fixtures, deteriorated walks, and obstructed exits. Orders reissued in August 2007, adding soffit and exterior paint. In November 2008, orders were again issued, this time adding a cracked foundation, water leaks and damage, and water heater. Apparently, the owner was trying to sell the building, which was sliding downhill. A civil hearing in January 2009 resulted in a $500 fine. More orders came the next month, adding a defective toilet, foundation holes, gutters and downspouts, plaster, doors, and vermin infestation. And...again...January 2010, adding a lack of water service, defective plumbing lines, and no heat. In April 2010, the building's copper was stolen.
CONDEMNED: January 2011.
HAZARD: February 2012.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

Cincinnati Preservation Association's (CPA) 48th Annual Meeting and Awards will feature a celebration of the oldest zoo structure in the country, which is undergoing a major restoration.

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is utilizing a Save America's Treasures grant to restore its Reptile House, a National Historic Landmark built in 1875.

The City of Cincinnati's Director of Buildings and Inspections will hold a public hearing Friday at 9 A.M. in the Main Conference Room of the Building Development and Permit Center, , to determine if the following buildings should be declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program:

• , Evanston (single-family, 1911)
• , West Price Hill (three-family, 1919)
• , West Price Hill (single-family, 1916)
• , Evanston (multi-family, 1900)
• , Mount Washington (multi-family, 1961)

NEIGHBORHOOD: Sedamsville
YEAR BUILT: 1904
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: Lisa and Ron Baldwin
ASSESSED VALUE: $35,550
ORDERS: July 2007, for garage, roof, gutters and downspouts, and exterior steps. Ordered vacated and barricaded in October 2008. Mr. Baldwin told City inspectors that there had been a foreclosure proceeding, but that the bank returned the building because they didn't want it. A criminal case was filed against the owners in June 2009.
CONDEMNED: July 2009. In August 2009, both were found guilty in the criminal case and were entered into a compliance program. The building was brought into compliance in March 2010, and the case was dismissed. The owners voiced their desire to raze the property. At a hearing that May, the building was found not to be a public nuisance, but was ordered to be kept vacated and barricaded due to its prior issues and its lack of utilities. In September 2011, it was again condemned, adding soffits, cornice, broken and missing windows, litter and high weeds.
HAZARD: May 2012, adding defective siding.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

NEIGHBORHOOD: University Heights
YEAR BUILT: 1904
USE: Three-family dwelling
OWNER: Erika A. Dawson
ASSESSED VALUE: $15,170
ORDERS: September 2007, ordered vacated and barricaded die to squatters and criminal activity. A site inspection showed that the building was missing downspouts, had damaged siding, and was missing windows, and all of the utilities has been disconnected or turned off. These orders were reissued to the new, current owner in January 2008. Building rehabilitation was underway by July 2008.
CONDEMNED: September 2010, due to a February structure fire that damaged the roof and left side wall. A criminal case was filed in March 2011, with the owner eventually entered into a diversion program.
HAZARD: June 2011, adding broken and missing windows, deteriorated gutters and downspouts, and litter.
REASON RAZED: Razed by the owner to close out orders.

NEIGHBORHOOD: West Price Hill
YEAR BUILT: 1960
USE: Taco Bell
OWNER: SDI Foods Inc. (Memphis, TN)
ASSESSED VALUE: $142,000
ORDERS: July 2011, ordered vacated and barricaded due to broken windows, vandalism, litter, and high weeds.
CONDEMNED: --
HAZARD: --
REASON RAZED: Razed by the owner to close out orders.

The --> --> -->Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington (CGN) --> --> --> will celebrate its city's leaders of past, present, and future during its Annual Celebration tomorrow evening from 5:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. at The Grand, located at 6 E 5th Street.

The event recognizes the community's accomplishments during the past year and honors those who contributed to those accomplishments.

NEIGHBORHOOD: West Price Hill
YEAR BUILT: 1955
USE: Multi-family dwelling (4 units)
OWNER: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company (Jacksonville, FL)
ASSESSED VALUE: $134,010
ORDERS: May 2012, ordered vacated and barricaded due to masonry damage, exterior paint, uneven and dangerous front steps, broken or missing exterior doors, missing and vandalized mechanical systems, water damage, a lack of utility service, litter, and high weeds.
CONDEMNED: --
HAZARD: --
REASON RAZED: Razed by the bank to close out orders.

Beginning today, the public will have several opportunities to view and provide input on Metro's draft transit improvement plan.

Metro, the provider of more than 17 million bus rides annually, last updated its regional transit plan in 2008. The addition of new technologies, ever-shifting demographics and the development of new destinations and employment centers has led the agency to revisit how it can best serve the community's transportation needs.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Madisonville
YEAR BUILT: 1895
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: Rick Pescovitz and Kelly Mahan
ASSESSED VALUE: $65,030
ORDERS: September 2009, for roof, gutters and downspouts, exterior paint, and broken windows. A City search revealed that the then owners were deceased. The building was ordered vacated and barricaded in July 2011. There were numerous orders for litter, high weeds, and (once) an abandoned vehicle dating back to 2007.
CONDEMNED: August 2011, for failure of the roof structure that resulted in a large hole in the south gable, masonry damage, rotten ceiling joists and rafter ends, and collapsing ceilings.
HAZARD: April 2012.
REASON RAZED: Razed by the current owners to close orders. Pescovitz and Mahan acquired the property in August.

Downtown Cincinnati officially got a new living option last Thursday with a ribbon-cutting at The Reserve at 4th and Race, an 88-unit apartment redevelopment by Ashley Commercial Group and Arcadia Communities.

Built in 1927 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the City's West Fourth Street Historic District, the 15-story former office building once housed the Chamber of Commerce and later the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, which vacated the space in the early 1980s.

Visitor impressions of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine continue on an upward trend, according to survey results released by Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI).

The annual Downtown Perceptions Survey, conducted online by Montgomery-based LaVerdad Marketing between August and October, shows that 73 percent of its 1,712 respondents either strongly or somewhat agree that Downtown is safe, a ten point increase from last year. Seventy-eight percent found Downtown clean, which represents an eight point increase from 2011.

North College Hill's Middle-High School building has achieved LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the third education facility in the state and the second in the county to earn the honor.

Completed in 2010 and designed by SFA Architects, the 198,000-square-foot building achieved the certification due to such features as high-efficiency heating and cooling, environmentally-friendly building materials, sustainable site development, and solar panels that are capable of producing 5 percent of the school's energy needs. An estimated 918 tons of waste was diverted from area landfills during the building's construction.

Cincinnati City Council has directed the City's Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) to work with an Oakley Community Council (OCC) committee on solutions to the anticipated increase in neighborhood traffic due to two Norwood construction projects.

The Council motion, unanimously adopted last Wednesday, is the result of more than a year of activity by the OCC's Traffic, Safety, Pedestrian, and Bicycle Friendliness Committee, which has been developing a comprehensive plan to protect the neighborhood from cut-through traffic resulting from Rookwood Exchange and the Mercy Health Midtown Emergency Medical Building, which are now under construction and expected to open next year.

A public meeting to explore potential uses for a Ludlow brownfield site will be held this evening at 6 P.M. at the Ludlow Municipal Center, located .

The city is seeking a $200,000 Brownfields Hazardous Substances Cleanup grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for remediation activities at the former Barker Fine Colors building at 38 Elm Street. The grant funding also would be used to conduct public outreach and to certify cleanup through the Kentucky Voluntary Environmental Remediation Program.

Major traffic changes are coming this evening for the more than 50,000 daily motorists using the , as work crews prepare to begin demolition of the Waldvogel Viaduct.

After rush hour tonight:

• Evans Street will be closed at U.S. 50. Local traffic can access Evans Street from Gest Street.
• Southbound State Avenue to eastbound River Road will not be permitted. Access to westbound River Road will be permitted.
• Eastbound River Road to northbound State Avenue will not be permitted. Access from westbound River Road to northbound State Avenue will be maintained.

NEIGHBORHOOD: South Fairmount
YEAR BUILT: 1900
USE: Two-family dwelling
OWNER: Knight Investments LLC (Cheyenne, WY)
ASSESSED VALUE: $27,670
ORDERS: June 2011, ordered vacated and barricaded due to prolonged vacancy and vandalism.
CONDEMNED: September 2011, due to water damage, gutters and downspouts, broken or missing mechanicals, lack of utilities, broken and missing windows, and litter.
HAZARD: February 2012. No contact from the owner.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

NEIGHBORHOOD: East End
YEAR BUILT: 1881
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: PNC Bank (Cleveland, OH)
ASSESSED VALUE: $36,330
ORDERS: --
CONDEMNED: April 2012, three days after a two-alarm fire that caused an estimated $50,000 in damage. The previous owner had passed away in 2010, and the property was in probate.
HAZARD: --
REASON RAZED: Razed by the executor of the former owner's estate at a cost of $10,788. PNC Bank took over ownership of the vacant lot yesterday.

NEIGHBORHOOD: South Fairmount
YEAR BUILT: 1895
USE: Two-family dwelling
OWNER: Transportation Alliance Bank Inc. (Ogden, UT)
ASSESSED VALUE: $8,210
ORDERS: --
CONDEMNED: August 2012, following a two-alarm fire that caused $20,000 in damage and displaced one resident.
HAZARD: --
REASON RAZED: Razed at the request of the Cincinnati Fire Department in order to extinguish the fire and prevent further loss to the property next door, which had already suffered an estimated $3,000 in damages. The bank acquired the lot on September 20, 2012.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Westwood
YEAR BUILT: 1916
USE: Two-family dwelling
OWNER: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company (Santa Ana, CA)
ASSESSED VALUE: $78,570
ORDERS: February 2007, for broken walks, gutters and downspouts, porch, electric fixtures, plaster, flooring, and roof. Some work was done, but by June 2009 calls to the former owner went to a number that was no longer in service. That same month, orders were reissued with soffit, masonry, and exterior paint added. In August, the former owner filed for bankruptcy, but chose to retain ownership of the house. At the beginning of 2010, the former owner claimed that she no longer owned the house and that it had gone into receivership. That April, orders were again issued and added the garage, chimney, cornice, soffit, windows, and rubbish into the mix. The building was ordered vacated and barricaded in July 2010, then again in July 2011. The entire property was in limbo.
CONDEMNED: December 2011, totally sacked.
HAZARD: May 2012. The bank finally took "ownership" of the building on October 4, 2012.
REASON RAZED: Razed privately by the owner to close out imminent orders, after the City had already expended funds for permit applications, a performance bond, and an asbestos survey.

Interested parties will have a final opportunity to provide input into Kenton County's draft comprehensive plan during a public workshop on the plan's goals and objectives, to be held this evening from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. at Blessed Sacrament School in Fort Mitchell.

Over the past year, residents, business owners, elected leaders, and other stakeholders have participated in more than 60 input sessions to craft Direction 2030, a document aimed at informing county policy for the next 20 years.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Madisonville
YEAR BUILT: 1900
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: Meharpal Khanna (San Jose, CA)
ASSESSED VALUE: $8,500
ORDERS: --
CONDEMNED: January 2011, for damaged exterior walls exposing studs and insulation, collapsing chimneys, falling bricks, and a rotting porch. At the time, it was bank-owned.
HAZARD: September 2011, issued to a new owner. Gutter and downspout damage added. In February 2012, a chimney collapsed and dumped bricks onto a car, and the whole left side of the building was in a state of collapse. Condemnation orders were reissued, then again in June 2012. The property was purchased by Khanna for $2,100 on September 17, 2012 and demolished in early October.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

Today at 1 P.M. at the Business Development and Permit Center, , Cincinnati's Board of Housing Appeals will hold a public hearing to consider orders against the following properties:

• , Over-the-Rhine (multi-family, 1885), suspension of Vacant Building Maintenance License (VBML) fee - continuance
• , Over-the-Rhine (mixed-use, 1870), suspension of VBML fee - continuance
• , Over-the-Rhine (single-family, 1865), suspension of VBML - continuance
• , West End (two-family, 1885), suspension of VBML fee - continuance
• , Over-the-Rhine (mixed-use, 1883), suspension of VBML fee

NEIGHBORHOOD: Walnut Hills
YEAR BUILT: 1900
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: George A. (Sr) and Ansalene Thatcher
ASSESSED VALUE: $15,700
ORDERS: --
CONDEMNED: --
HAZARD: --
REASON RAZED: Severely damaged by a three-alarm fire at the neighboring house on May 3, 2010.

The following 22 photos of several Northern Kentucky development projects were taken on Saturday, a gloomy afternoon for photography.

Please click on each photo to enlarge to 640 x 480 resolution.

NEIGHBORHOOD: West Price Hill
YEAR BUILT: 1906
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: Harbour Portfolio VI LP (Dallas, TX)
ASSESSED VALUE: $6,400
ORDERS: --
CONDEMNED: --
HAZARD: --
REASON RAZED: Emergency demolition due to a two-alarm fire on August 15, 2012.

NEIGHBORHOOD: South Fairmount
YEAR BUILT: 1929
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: David G. Hamilton
ASSESSED VALUE: $10,620
ORDERS: December 2006, for garage, gutters and downspouts, exterior paint, porch guardrails, rotten porch, and masonry walls. Owner was advised to contact People Working Cooperatively or to put the house up for sale. By April 2008, Hamilton had contacted a contractor. Orders were reissued in August 2009. A criminal case was filed in June 2010. By October 2010, Hamilton was in a nursing home and his brother was given power of attorney.
CONDEMNED: November 2011, adding water damage, a collapsed concrete front porch, structural failure of the garage, lack of utilities, and litter. In July 2011, City inspectors learned that Hamilton had passed away.
HAZARD: September 2011.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

NEIGHBORHOOD: West Price Hill
YEAR BUILT: 1917
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: DCS Management Group II LLC
ASSESSED VALUE: $38,070
ORDERS: --
CONDEMNED: February 2004, for structural failure of the foundation. The orders were reissued in January 2007. The owner applied for a permit to fix the foundation, but the application was allowed to expire. Orders were reissued in August 2009, citing prolonged vacancy and a lack of utilities. A criminal case was pursued in October 2009, but dismissed due to an inability to serve summons.
HAZARD: September 2010, adding missing siding, cornices, soffits, and box gutters.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

Today at 1 P.M. at the Business Development and Permit Center, , Cincinnati's Board of Housing Appeals will hold a public hearing to consider orders against the following properties:

• , Evanston (single-family, 1900), suspension of Vacant Building Maintenance License (VBML) fee - continuance
• , Evanston (single-family, 1910), suspension of VBML fee - continuance
• , Walnut Hills (multi-family, 1870), suspension of VBML fee
• , Walnut Hills (single-family, 1895), suspension of VBML fee
• , Evanston (three-family, 1915), suspension of VBML fee

(aka 1709 Montrose St)
NEIGHBORHOOD: South Fairmount
YEAR BUILT: 1920
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: Marivic D. Perfecto and Deanna P. Wong
ASSESSED VALUE: $5,400
ORDERS: October 2008, ordered vacated and barricaded due to being found open to the public, with missing and vandalized mechanicals and litter and debris. In January 2009, the rear porch collapsed. A criminal case was filed in March 2009, but was dismissed two months later for want of prosecution.
CONDEMNED: June 2009, reissued in November 2009 for missing siding and broken and missing windows. The house was being offered for $30,000. Orders reissued in July 2010.
HAZARD: March 2011, adding a defective chimney, gutters, and downspouts.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

The following 21 photos of Riverside's "twin sisters" were taken on July 22, 2012 during a personal tour of the neighborhood by resident Dave Zelman.

During the tour, we were lucky enough to get inside of the historic Wright houses , as Remo Loreto of Guardian Savings Bank was showing them off to a prospective buyer.

A new interactive map produced by the Office of Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel makes it easier for Ohioans to view and search detailed information on an estimated 36,000 state-owned buildings and properties.

Searchable by county, zip code, city or address, Mandel believes that the new tool will promote economic development and help save the state money.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Pleasant Ridge
YEAR BUILT: 1901
USE: Two-family dwelling
OWNER: Ardell D. Scales
ASSESSED VALUE: $82,320
ORDERS: April 2009, for exterior paint, soffit, gutters and downspouts, flashing, and roof. A criminal case was filed October 2009. Housing diversion was granted in February 2010.
CONDEMNED: December 2010, vacant and open to trespassers. Additional issues cited included broken and missing doors, cornice, and high weeds and rubbish. Late that month, it was discovered that the owner was deceased, with no probate action.
HAZARD: August 2011, adding broken and missing windows.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

Total as of November 2, 2012: 2,419 buildings
% Change in past month: +0.54% (+13 buildings)
% Change in past two months: +0.83% (+20 buildings)
% Change in past three months: +2.02% (+48 buildings)
% Change in past four months: +1.04% (+25 buildings)
% Change in past five months: +0.67% (+16 buildings)
% Change in past six months: +1.43% (+34 buildings)
% Change in past year: --
% Change in past two years: --
% Change in past five years: --

Previous reading on BC:
Abandoned/Vacant report, Urban Conservator, and Housing Appeals, 10/1/12 (10/1/12)
Abandoned/Vacant Building Report: September 2012 (9/4/12)
Abandoned/Vacant Building Report: August 2012 (8/2/12)
Abandoned/Vacant Building Report: July 2012 (7/2/12)
Abandoned/Vacant Building Report: June 2012 (6/7/12)

NEIGHBORHOOD: Bond Hill
YEAR BUILT: 1949
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: Shirley A. Harris
ASSESSED VALUE: $87,780
ORDERS: July 2009, for roof, garage door, and a dilapidated fence. Ordered vacated and barricaded in December 2009, adding gutter and downspout damage and excessive litter and debris. Harris claimed that she didn't have the money to make the repairs.
CONDEMNED: December 2011, due to long-term abandonment, roof damage due to a fallen tree, water damage, collapsed ceilings, crumbled plaster, broken and missing windows, a failing side porch, an overgrown lot, and wildlife infestation. A criminal case was filed later that month.
HAZARD: February 2012.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Carthage
YEAR BUILT: 1907
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: Dartanion A. Thomas
ASSESSED VALUE: $14,740
ORDERS: October 2008, for a rotted porch, broken and missing windows, exterior paint, siding, soffit, cornice, gutters and downspouts. The property was lost to foreclosure in November 2009.
CONDEMNED: March 2010, adding unsupported floor joists, exposed and rotten framing, damaged structural members, damaged doors and windows, unsafe electric. The house was vacant and open to trespassers. Thomas acquired the property from the bank in July 2010, and orders were reissued in October 2010.
HAZARD: July 2011.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Northside
YEAR BUILT: 1865
USE: Single-family dwelling
OWNER: Cincinnati Northside Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CNCURC)
ASSESSED VALUE: $26,650
ORDERS: January 2008, for cornice, a rotted porch, and exterior paint.
CONDEMNED: June 2009, now with broken windows, hazardous front steps, litter and debris, and overgrown weeds. The building required numerous City barricades to keep out trespassers. Orders were reissued to a new owner in August 2009.
HAZARD: May 2010, adding damaged siding, gutters and downspouts. The property caught fire in February 2011, three days after a family of six was moved in. The Cincinnati Fire Department determined that the fire was started by boxes of clothing being stored too close to electrical wires. Ordered vacated in September 2011 due to illegal occupancy.
REASON RAZED: Declared a public nuisance and entered into the City's hazard abatement program.