Tag: urban housing

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Arts & Entertainment News

Downtown hosting open house this weekend to showcase ongoing progress

On Saturday, September 15, Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI) and the Downtown Residents Council will celebrate urban living with a free event called Live It Up Downtown.

The residents and boosters have cause to celebrate. Downtown Cincinnati has added more than 5,000 residents over the past five years. Over the past decade, crime has also dropped approximately 25 percent, retail occupancy rates have improved to their best levels in five years, and overall employment is up.


Crave is one of dozens of new businesses to open downtown so far in 2012. Photograph by Randy Simes for UrbanCincy.

All of the progress has neighborhood advocates excited about the state of their slice of Americana, and they want the whole region to learn more about the progress.

“Live It Up Downtown is an opportunity to celebrate our vibrant residential community,” David Ginsburg, President and CEO of DCI, stated in a prepared release. “A lively group of residents will be on hand to meet and find out first-hand why they chose to live downtown.”

According to organizers, the event will run from 3pm to 11pm on Fountain Square, and will feature realtors and property managers on-hand to provide information about downtown living options. There will also be scheduled entertainment, live music, food and drink available for purchase, and more than 30 small businesses and organizations on-hand to discuss their involvement in the center city.

Those interested in checking out available residential units downtown will be treated to open houses at the American Building, Lofts at Fountain Square, The McAlpin, Glass House Lofts, 18 East Fourth, and Current at The Banks from 3pm to 6pm.

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Up To Speed

Cincinnati addressing ‘missing middle’ housing with form-based code

Cincinnati addressing ‘missing middle’ housing with form-based code

Many U.S. cities lack middle-density housing options, which were built less frequently after the 1940’s, when trends shifted toward auto-centric development and single-family home ownership. But more Millennials and Baby Boomers are now choosing smaller living spaces in walkable neighborhoods, and Cincinnati is well-positioned to take advantage of this trend. More from Better! Cities & Towns:

But Cincinnati has a tremendous opportunity. In these urban neighborhoods they already have what other cities want and are trying to build: A variety of urban housing types, including some of the best collection of Missing Middle Housing in the country; a network of neighborhood main streets ready to be revitalized; a rich, diverse, and well-built collection of historic architecture; and, easily accessible open space networks created by the topography weaving throughout these neighborhoods.

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Business News

CMHA’s housing voucher program goes completely digital

For the first time in years, the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority will open the waiting list for its Housing Choice Voucher program. Additionally, the week-long application period will, for the first time ever, be completely digital.

In past years individuals applying to be included in the program could do so in person, but now applicants must apply online. CMHA officials say that those who do not have access to a personal computer may apply at one of 22 locations throughout Hamilton County. The full list of application sites can be found on CMHA’s website, at 1635 Western Avenue or can be provided by calling (513) 977-5757.


Hamilton County HCV Application Centers

“This is going to be a huge, county-wide effort for the week of April 4-8,” a representative with the Cincinnati office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) told UrbanCincy. “It’s been years since the list was open, so I can only imagine there will be great demand.”

The application period will run from 12:01am on Monday, April 4 until 11:59pm on Friday, April 8. Those applying will be placed into a lottery which will determine who will be included on CMHA’s waiting list.

The Housing Choice Voucher program was previously known as the housing agency’s Section 8 housing voucher program. It works by providing housing assistance to those in financial need. Low-income families apply for the program, and based on financial need, are given gap financial assistance to cover the costs of private rental units throughout Hamilton County.

Those using the program are required to pay 30 percent of their income toward the rent, and the remainder will be covered through the gap financing. The properties which participate in the HCV program, as a result, are owned and managed by private property owners.