Category: Development

Categories
Business Development News Transportation

$122M urban stream reclamation project includes potentially huge impacts

The Cincinnati Business Courier is reporting that city and municipal sewer district officials are looking at a bold project that would completely transform South Fairmount, reclaim a currently buried creek, and solve the county’s largest combined sewer overflow (CSO) problem site.

Located at the western end of the Western Hills Viaduct, South Fairmount has been in an extended state of struggle. Vacancies and low property values plague the small neighborhood, and investments to rebuild Queen City Avenue have done little to spark new investment. But now officials are looking at a $122 million plan they hope will finally reinvigorate the area.

The crux of the five plans presented to community members is to fix a long-standing CSO problem which results in 1.7 billion gallons of dirty water flowing into the Mill Creek annually. In order to solve the problem engineers and planners would remove an underground sewer pipe dating back to 1910, and replace it with separate underground storm sewers and a reclaimed natural stream above.

The majority of the plans also call for a rebuilt park and recreation area, bike and walking trails along the reclaimed stream, potential mixed-use infill, civic gathering space and even a small lake at the eastern end of the project site.

While all of this immediately sounds exciting, there is an existing neighborhood located in this location. Dozens of historic structures, a park, businesses and residents would all have to be relocated during the potentially decade-long rebuilding project. Officials have begun acquiring land in the area already, and the city owns a good deal of land in the project site. Additionally, eminent domain is already being discussed for what is identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a critical problem.

The impacts of such of project could and will be profound if it becomes reality. More than 40 acres of urban land would be completely rebuilt in what is considered to be the largest stream reclamation project, intended to solve a CSO problem, ever.

Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls also sees the massive project as an opportunity to create a bus rapid transit center in South Fairmount that would connect the city’s western neighborhoods with uptown.

“For a community that’s been racked by poor transportation choices and declining homes and businesses that left, it would be a significant economic development project. This could be a really thriving community,” Qualls told the Business Courier.

Categories
Development News

Coach Development resurrects 60-unit North Fairmount development

A development in North Fairmount (map) that has sat unfinished and dormant for nearly two years has been resurrected by a new developer, and will be ready for new residents later this spring.

The Bluffs at Woodcrest, originally developed by MI Homes, was purchased by Coach Development near the end of 2009 after MI decided to move away from multi-family developments. The new developers are currently building an additional six, three-story townhouses that will finally push the development past the half-way mark.

The development was originally planned to include 60 townhomes, but to date only 24 have been built and sold. Coach Development President Robert Gerwin says that after the current six townhomes they are building are complete they intend to move on to more.

“We’re going to see how the market is, but we hope to have these next sold out in May, then start on the next building,” Gerwin explained.

Each building includes six townhomes and is perched atop a hill just minutes from downtown Cincinnati. The central location was one of the main drivers for Coach Development when they decided to purchase and pursue their first urban development.

“We feel that Cincinnati and urban living is growing and thought that this was a good fit for us and a great opportunity to get into the city of Cincinnati.”

With an expectation of selling 10 to 12 townhomes in 2011, Gerwin believes that a full build out will be complete over the next two to three years. He also says that the first building should be completed by the end of March, and that many of the units should be appealing to young people looking for an urban lifestyle.

“These townhomes lend themselves to young professionals and first-time homebuyers,” Gerwin said. “The most recent one we sold is to a young woman who works uptown as a nurse. We really like the younger demographic.”

The townhomes start at $119,000 and include a ten-year property tax abatement through the City of Cincinnati. Those interested in touring a unit can contact Ronald Kelly or Michael Sweeney with Comey & Shepherd at (513) 241-3400.

Bluffs at Woodcrest photograph by UrbanCincy contributor Thadd Fiala.

Categories
Business Development News Politics Transportation

Hundreds turn out to support rail transit, raise more than $11k for campaign

More than 250 people from all over Cincinnati poured into Grammer’s last Wednesday, February 16. They gathered to, once again, rally for the future of Cincinnati. Some were there for the future of rail transit in the region, others for smart governance, others for economic growth, but most were there to specifically show their support for the city’s modern streetcar system that will break ground in the coming months.

The fundraising and kickoff event was organized by Cincinnatians for Progress – the group that won with voters in 2009 when the same opposition groups threatened to change Cincinnati city governance into a California-style government by referendum. Now, the same group is mobilized to defeat a similar yet more pointed attack on rail transit.

In 2009 the non-profit group organized thousands of Cincinnatians to campaign with them. It appears the same group is ready and willing to fight against a new measure that would prohibit the city from spending any money on light rail or streetcars for the next decade.

“It’s great for us,” says CincyStreetcar.com founder Brad Thomas. “We have a broad-based coalition of support that is still fired up from Issue 9 and is ready to go to battle for the future of light rail and streetcars in Cincinnati.”

The broad-based coalition of support Thomas speaks of includes the likes of prominent business groups, community councils, prominent politicians and community leaders, labor unions, environmental groups, minority groups, regional planning authorities, and transportation groups.

At the first kick-off meeting for what will be a fight leading towards another November ballot item, Cincinnatians for Progress raised more than $11,000.

“This is evidence that while there may be a small group of individuals that want to limit Cincinnati’s growth, there are more people who are passionate about the future of our city,” exclaimed CFP co-chair Rob Richardson. “This will be another long and hard fought campaign, but Wednesday demonstrated that we are up for the fight.”

To get involved in the second rail transit fight in two years sign up with Cincinnatians for Progress, donate to the effort, get registered to vote, and tell your friends and family how important light rail and streetcars are to the future of Cincinnati.

Categories
Business Development News

A look back at the first month of 2011 in downtown Cincinnati

It has been a busy 2011 in downtown Cincinnati so far. A slew of new businesses have opened, the city’s new tallest tower was completed, a new neighborhood is taking shape along the central waterfront, snow has displayed its dominance and the heart of Cincinnati continues to look as beautiful as ever.

Luckily for us, photographer and UrbanCincy contributor Thadd Fiala has been there to capture it all. Enjoy the following collection of photographs from downtown Cincinnati over the first month of 2011.

Categories
Business Development News

MC3 Group to partner with Northside Business Association to revive historic property

A public-private partnership between the Northside Business Association (NBA) and local development company MC3 Group has resulted in a $200,000 grant from the City of Cincinnati to rehabilitate the Landman Building, located at 3929 Spring Grove Avenue. After an unrelated funding request fell through, funds were reappropriated through the city’s Neighborhood Business District Improvement Program (NBDIP) due to the project’s shovel ready condition.

The venture will redevelop the property into office space, potentially with street-level retail or entertainment. The building and its location are seen as a key to success in the “South Block” of Spring Grove Avenue and the recent investment that has been made in the area. MC3 has developed the surrounding properties, with a $675,000 renovation project taking place across the street. There are also plans for a new restaurant and bar next door.

“The proposed project will support the business district and the community as a whole,” stated MC3 Group in the proposal submitted to the Northside Business Association. “It will take a prominent troubled and obsolete property and repositioning it as an attractive and productive asset for the community.”

The shortlisted tenant for the space is Cincinnati State, who would potentially use the space as a sustainable research and development facility or as part of their renowned culinary program. The $680,000 project was also funded through $100,000 of cash or in-kind equity and $380,000 from the Northside Bank & Trust.

Northside Business Association treasurer Don Beimesche says that the neighborhood is especially thankful for the financial assistance that has taken the project off the drawing board and into reality.

“Without the financial assistance from the City of Cincinnati, the Landman Building would remain a vacant eyesore between two renovated buildings at the gateway to the Northside Business District,” Beimesche concluded.

Landman Building photograph by UrbanCincy contributor Jake Mecklenborg.