Author: Randy A. Simes

Randy is an award-winning urban planner who founded UrbanCincy in May 2007. He grew up on Cincinnati’s west side in Covedale, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s nationally acclaimed School of Planning in June 2009. In addition to maintaining ownership and serving as the managing editor for UrbanCincy, Randy has worked professionally as a planning consultant throughout the United States, Korea and the Middle East. After brief stints in Atlanta and Chicago, he currently lives in the Daechi neighborhood of Seoul’s Gangnam district.

Categories
Business News

UrbanCincy programming note for rest of 2010

For nearly three-and-a-half years I have worked to grow UrbanCincy while also growing myself both professionally and personally. Early rants have turned into breaking news and what I hope is unique insight about Cincinnati’s urban core. Over that time there have been other changes including the site’s contributing members, the amount and quality of content, and the location in which I have run things.

Since June 2009 I have been living full-time in Atlanta where my full-time job is also located. This lesser known fact was not meant to be secretive, nor was it meant to be advertised. It simply was what it was.

Now, however, another change will be taking place. Over the next two months I will be living and working in Seoul, South Korea full-time. This new job assignment will keep me extraordinarily busy between now and mid-December, and will also keep me away from UrbanCincy to a certain degree. Fear not, as UrbanCincy’s contributing members have been rallied and intend on keeping the site active and interesting during this time.

During this time I hope to occasionally poke my head in and share some profound wisdom, or simply share something interesting from my urban experience in Seoul and elsewhere.

This news does not mean I will be completely absent from the site and its material, but it will mean the amount of content may decrease over the next two months. The whole point of writing this piece is to let you know that there is nothing to be concerned about as UrbanCincy will be back to its normal, and hopefully better, operations by the start of 2011. In the mean time enjoy the contributions from UrbanCincy’s highly capable team of writers and photographers.

Those needing to reach me should contact me by email at rsimes@gmail.com. For immediate needs please contact either contributing editor Travis Estell [travis.estell@urbancincy.com] or staff writer Jennifer Kessler [jenlkessler@gmail.com]. Thanks again for reading UrbanCincy and supporting Cincinnati. Cheers.

Categories
Development News Politics

Cincinnati to host form-based code webinars at City Hall

Cincinnati leaders are hosting five webinars sponsored by PlaceMakers to give local residents a chance to learn more about the implementation of form-based codes. The sessions are intended to compliment the city’s ongoing effort at developing a form-based code.

According to Vice Mayor Qualls’ office, the webinars will take place on the third Thursday of each month starting October 21, 2010 and running through February 17, 2011. Each training opportunity will have its own unique focus led by specialists in that area.

On October 21, Ken Groves and Chad Emerson will look at the Montgomery case study. Dan Slone will then discuss how to integrate a form-based code with an existing code on November 18. The webinar on December 16 will include a discussion about SmartCode calibration basics led by Susan Henderson. At the second-to-last webinar Galina Tachiva will look at how to repair sprawl development patterns, and the final event will look at the Miami case study with the help of Marina Khoury.

The 75-minute webinars will be held at 2pm at City Hall (map). Those interested in attending the free sessions are asked to contact Jennifer O’Donnel at jennifer.o’donnell@cincinnati-oh.gov.  City Hall is accessible by Metro bus service (plan your trip), and free bicycle parking is available in the immediate surroundings.

Categories
Business Development News

Fay Apartments to be renamed The Villages of Roll Hill, undergo $36M renovation

Developers and city leaders kicked off a 30-month long rehabilitation project at Fay Apartments yesterday morning on the city’s west side. Once complete, the project will reduce the total number of housing units and become the largest green renovation of an affordable housing community in the United States.

In addition to a $36 million face-lift that will include the demolition of 17 buildings, the community has also been renamed The Villages of Roll Hill. At this time, city officials say that it has yet to be determined if the new community name will impact the official city neighborhood name of “Fay Apartments”, but early indications seem to indicate so.

Community leaders have been looking at rehabilitating the affordable housing community (map) for nearly five years. The latest version of the plan soon to be realized will reduce reduce the number of housing units from 893 to 703 and upgrade security measures, add new landscaping and trees, and include new playgrounds for the many children that live in the community.

The project was made possible through federal funds including a $32 million loan from the Department of Housing & Urban Development and a $3.2 million loan from City HOME. The City of Cincinnati has also granted an eight-year tax abatement on the renovation work.

Developers from Cincinnati-based Wallick-Hendy Properties are seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the project, but stated last year that the level of green improvements would be dependent upon government support.

Categories
News Politics

New youth city council elected through YMCA’s Youth in City Government program

A new group of young leaders was sworn into office last week as part of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati’s annual Youth in City Government Conference. This year’s two-day conference included more than 200 Cincinnati high school students from 14 participating high schools.

According to the YMCA, participating students were asked to perform roles of prosecution, defense and witnesses (with expert trial lawyer guidance) in a mock trial as part of a variety of structured activities meant to engage the young individuals.

The new Youth Cincinnati City Council was also treated to a question and answer session with local politicians, a luncheon with Judge Tyrone Yates, a gavel ceremony, and a proclamation from the U.S. Senate before being sworn in before Cincinnati’s regular City Council meeting at 2pm on Wednesday, October 6.

“This conference is all about helping young people to develop skills that will allow them to thrive as they move forward with their lives to become productive, socially responsible adults,” Jana Nattermann, youth zone director for the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, stated in a prepared release.

The year-round YMCA Youth in City Government program gives Cincinnati students the opportunity to learn about local, state, national and international politics. It offers teen participants a venue to gain leadership skills, strengthen their ability to express ideas clearly and persuasively, and learn fellowship by working together with peers from diverse backgrounds.

YMCA officials say that the year-round program is structured to provide an opportunity for students to learn about local, state, national and international politics while also gaining valuable leadership skills.

YMCA Youth City Council – Mark Brockman (St. Xavier High School); Nick Staresinic (Moeller High School); Evan McConaughy (St. Xavier High School); Mary Crema (Mt. Notre Dame Academy); Le’Asha Moore (Hughes Center); Kyle Denman (St. Xavier High School); Brandon Craig (Withrow University); and Brandon Weiss (Wyoming High School). Standing is YMCA Youth Mayor Patrick Regan (Aldersgate Christian Academy) and YMCA Vice Mayor Jonte’ Pegg (Hughes Center).

Categories
Arts & Entertainment News

OTR Urban Kickball League kicks off tonight at Cutter Playground

The inaugural season of the Over-the-Rhine Urban Kickball League will kick-off tonight at  5:30pm.  Response to the league’s formation has been overwhelming.  In just under two weeks, approximately 150 people signed-up to participate, while three businesses signed on to support the league financially.

The OTR Urban Kickball League includes 12 teams that will take part in a round robin league lasting six weeks.  The champion will be determined by the highest point total (three points per win, one point per tie) at the end of the season in mid-November.  Each team is comprised of an approximately 50/50 breakdown between men and women.

Jennifer Kessler, UrbanCincy writer and creator of the league, says that the purpose of the league is two-fold.

“The kickball league is going to be a fun social activity, and it will also bring people out to an under-utilized part of the neighborhood, putting eyes on the street and integrating with the community,” she explained.

The games will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 5:30pm and 6:30pm at Cutter Playground at 14th and Sycamore Street.  The public is welcome to attend and watch the games which are expected to last less than an hour.  Kessler notes that following each game many of the league participants will be meeting to socialize at Neons Unplugged – one of the league’s sponsors.

“The OTR Kickball League gives Neons the opportunity to demonstrate our philosophy that a neighborhood bar can have a positive affect on the neighborhood as a whole even outside the confines of its own four walls,” explained Neons owner Michael Redmond.

In addition to Neon’s, the first-ever OTR Urban Kickball League was made possible through the support from Hoist and Hudepohl Amber Lager which will both be available for purchase at Neons throughout the season and beyond.

Redmond concluded by saying, “We hope that other bars, businesses and individuals will follow in supporting more grassroots neighborhood efforts like this one to help show that Over-the-Rhine is more than just viable, but even a desirable place to live, work and play.”