Category: Development

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Development News

LEED building practices helping turn around Covington neighborhood

Two new homes in Covington have been awarded LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for their green home building and design. The two homes become some of the first LEED certified homes in Kentucky, with the home at 520 Thomas Street being the first home to achieve LEED Gold.

The home was built by the Center for Great Neighborhoods (CGN), with assistance from the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) of Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky and the City of Covington, and incorporates a variety of sustainable design features that include low-flow plumbing, low-e windows, EnergyStar-rated appliances, high efficiency HVAC systems, recycled construction materials, bamboo flooring, sustainably-harvested wood moldings and more. In total, the green building features of the new home scored the project 78.5 out of 136 total points possible in the LEED for Homes certification – Gold status projects must score between 70.5 and 85.5).

“As a LEED certified home, 520 Thomas Street serves as a model of greener living for the entire community,” said Nate Kredich, Vice President of Residential Market Development for the U.S. Green Building Council. “The home is at the national forefront of quality; and their example can help us all to live better by reducing our environmental footprint, cutting our utility bills, and coming home to a healthier place to live.”

The new homes are part of a larger revitalization wave happening in the Austinburg neighborhood of Covington which is bordered by the Licking River and the proposed Licking River Levee Walk.

“The Center for Great Neighborhoods aims to make Covington a place where people choose to live, work, and play,” Rachel Hastings, Director of Neighborhood & Housing Initiatives with CGN, described. “We built homes on a formerly vacant lot in Covington’s Austinburg neighborhood at the request of the Austinburg Neighborhood Association in an attempt to increase home ownership and remove blight.”

Hastings explained that the CGN uses its housing development program in a targeted effort to increase property values, reduce blight and increase high-quality affordable market-rate home ownership. She is also excited about the positive impact the Seneca Place development is having on the neighborhood which is seeing its first new construction in over 50 years.

“When neighbors saw the new homes being built, it helped restore their confidence in their neighborhood and encouraged them to make improvements on their home because they saw that they could get a return on their investment,” explained Hastings. “The homes also show that, for a reasonable price, you can build LEED Gold homes that are easy for the average homeowner to maintain.”

The new homes also mean an addition to Covington’s tax base and new residents populating Covington’s urban core. The success is planned to continue as CGN owns additional lots in the Austinburg neighborhood where it plans to construct an additional eight homes, and invest another estimated $1.6 million into the immediate area.

520 Thomas Street construction photograph provided.

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Development News

Cincinnati Port Authority lands $1M grant for brownfield redevelopment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced yesterday that the Port Authority of Greater Cincinnati has been awarded a $1 million grant that will be used to investigate contaminated properties throughout Hamilton County referred to as brownfields.

The $1 million grant is broken up into two separate categories that includes $800,000 to investigate properties contaminated with hazardous substances, while the remaining $200,000 has been earmarked for the investigation of properties contaminated with petroleum.

Brownfield sites are more problematic to redevelop due to the contamination of the site that is often very costly and time consuming to clean. As a result it is quite typical that government agencies assist in such remediation processes in the form of financial assistance or liability deferral. Most recently the City of Cincinnati pledged to assist Boston Beer Company in its expansion efforts that include the redevelopment of a contaminated property adjacent to their existing West End operations.

“Returning brownfield sites to productive use has tremendous benefits for Cincinnati and Hamilton County,” said Port Authority President Kim Satzger. “A clean site is an enduring contribution to our environment and our economy.”

The collaborative effort between the Port Authority, City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County will focus on priority areas identified in the GO Cincinnati report including the Mill Creek Corridor, Madison Road Corridor and Seymour/Reading Road Corridor.

“As Greater Cincinnati’s industrial base declined, many Hamilton County communities were left with a legacy of abandoned and underutilized properties,” said Christine Russell, Director of Brownfield Development at the Port Authority who believes that the grant money offers an opportunity to continue to redevelop affected properties throughout the county.

According to the Port Authority, since 2001 it has worked on nine brownfield sites in Hamilton County, returned 157 acres of land to productive use, removed over 80,000 tons of contaminated soil, captured nearly 384,000 gallons of polluted water, recycled more than 1.7 million tons of steel and over 164,000 tons of concrete. Port Authority officials estimate that these projects have resulted in a $1.35 billion annual economic impact and supported 13,793 jobs.

Brownfield clean up work photo provided.

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Business Development News Politics

Cincinnati region lands $17M for energy efficiency retrofits

The Greater Cincinnati region landed $17 million for energy efficiency retrofit projects through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Retrofit Ramp-Up initiative that is a collaborative effort to reduce energy costs for thousands of home and business owners throughout the Cincinnati region.

The energy efficiency retrofit funds will be supported locally by the Greater Cincinnati Retrofit Ramp-Up program run by the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA). U.S. Representative Steve Driehaus (D-OH) states that the funds will help modernize the region’s energy infrastructure and create jobs that are critically needed.

“Retrofit projects put people to work, increase energy efficiency in older buildings, and save ratepayers money on their utility bills,” Driehaus explained. “The Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance has offered a plan to retrofit thousands of homes and businesses in our community, and I look forward to the alliance putting these resources to good use.”

According to the U.S. DOE, Cincinnati’s retrofit program will involve community and organizational outreach efforts that will include the expertise of energy adviser services in residential, commercial and public sectors. This process, led by GCEA, seeks to utilize a model of community collaboration, including marketing, utility program integration, financing affordability and accessibility, customer participation and workforce development.

“This federal funding allows us to leverage private capital to potentially create a local energy efficiency market of up to $50 million per year,” said GCEA Executive Director Andy Holzhauser. “That means residents and business owners are saving money on their utility bills, moving our country toward energy independence, and creating or retaining as many as 1,400 quality jobs to serve this market.”

In total, national Retrofit Ramp-Up projects make up part of the $80 billion Recovery Act investment aimed at developing clean energy and improving energy efficiencies. Cincinnati’s program won its $17 million grant through a competitive bidding process.

Photo of Andy Holzhauser provided.

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Development News

Cincinnati hospital achieves LEED for Existing Buildings certification

The Christ Hospital has been recognized as the nation’s first hospital to achieve LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This certification has been verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

The announcement comes as the Cincinnati region continues to position itself as a green building leader in the Midwest and even nationally. The recently completed Christ Hospital Imaging Center received LEED Silver certification for Commercial Interiors due to its lighting systems, heating and air systems, low-flow water fixtures and Energy Star-rated appliances among other things.

“Our employees have been incredibly supportive of efforts to bring green concepts and technology into our hospital, and it is an honor to be a national leader among hospitals for LEED certification,” said Susan Croushore, President and CEO, The Christ Hospital. “By reducing our costs on energy, water and other resources, we are able to better serve the healthcare needs of our patients, their families and the entire community.”

The 555-bed hospital in Uptown achieved the certification for its energy use, lighting, water and material use in addition to other sustainable efforts. The sustainability measures are seen as more than a gain for the environment, but also an economic gain for the families, businesses, workers, taxpayers and community involved.

“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, The Christ Hospital is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”

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Development News

Will the casino help or hurt local businesses?

Yesterday, Rock Ventures LLC completed the $35 million purchase of the Broadway Commons site (pictured at right) where Cincinnati’s new casino will be located. But with construction set to begin this fall and an opening date in 2012, questions remain as to whether the development will help or hurt existing businesses in the area.

Some local business owners believe casino visitors will venture out into the surrounding neighborhoods to patronize bars, restaurants, hotels and other local businesses. Paul Fries, co-owner of the new Jack Potts Tavern, said that the opening of the casino, in addition to the Cincinnati Streetcar line, would create a “great entertainment area.” But others aren’t so sure, and say the casino will have no effect or would even hurt the surrounding area. To ease these concerns, the developers held a mini-charrette in February that focused on the connections between the casino and the nearby entertainment districts, among other topics.

The design of the building will be a huge factor in how the casino connects to the neighborhood. Casinos are often insular, with restaurants, bars, and entertainment within, giving visitors little reason to leave. With convenient access to a connected parking garage, many visitors will drive in and never step foot outside of the development. Creating a primary entrance facing the street is absolutely necessary to develop a true connection. Fortunately, Cincinnati’s casino developers plan to build restaurants and retail facing Reading Road, Broadway and East Court, and have a main entrance at the corner of Reading Road and Broadway.

Another emerging issue is how modified alcohol regulations for the casino would affect area bars. The developers are seeking the right to serve liquor 24 hours a day and to give guests free drinks. But would guests be as likely to venture out into nearby bars if they have the ability to be served later at the casino?

Hopefully additional charrette sessions will be held, allowing more residents and business owners to give input and voice their concerns. Since the casino is a certainty, Cincinnatians should fight to make sure it has a positive impact on the surrounding community and our existing businesses.

Broadway Commons photo courtesy of Sherman Cahal.