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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
Arts & Entertainment News

Myriad of events at Final Friday offer fun start to weekend

Head down to the Over-the-Rhine arts district tomorrow, February 25 for an evening of interactive and interesting activities during February’s Final Friday gallery walk.

* The Urban Expansion Development office at 1344 Vine Street will be hosting a Grand Opening and Art Show with wine, cheese, music and work from three different artists – Molly Reckman from Chicago, Linda Loschavo from Mt. Adams, and photography from Joshua Timmermans.

* The YES Gallery at 1417 Main Street will have an interactive art display from 6-10pm – a 24 foot mural that visitors can help to color, using 5 foot paint markers. The artists will be giving out free screen prints by the artists with regular sized markers.

* Rumor has it window shoppers will be in for a surprise on the 1200 block of Vine. Be sure to wander by between 7pm and 8pm.

* 4U Fashion Boutique and Sebastian Rey Skin Awareness will be hosting an organic and natural skin care demonstration from 5-9pm at the boutique, located at the corner of 12th and Jackson Streets. Sebastian Rey will be hosting product demonstrations throughout the evening, and product samples, refreshments and music will be available through the evening.

* After a terrible storm canceled the Bockfest Parade in 1998, participants have held a “Precipitation Retaliation” – burning a snowman effigy to ward off any potential bad weather for Bockfest weekend. This year’s party will be at Grammer’s bar at 9pm.

All of these events are in addition to the rest of the galleries, restaurants and bars that will be open on Main Street, Vine Street and numerous other places in between. Kick off your weekend by taking in some art, music, performances, food and libations in the renaissance that is Over-the-Rhine. And most importantly, don’t let anyone tell you that there’s nothing to do in Cincinnati.

Final Friday photo provided by 5chw4r7z.

Categories
Business News Transportation

Cincinnati’s new transport payment system should be world leader

As Cincinnati’s transport officials prep for the introduction of a modern streetcar line in 2012, and potential bus rapid transit in the coming years, further improvements need to be made to the network. One of the most striking improvements needed is a new payment system for those using Cincinnati’s various bus systems, the streetcar, taxis and bike and car share programs if they ever materialize.

In Korea the T-Money Card rules. Based off of a simple yet wildly successful tap-and-go pay system, the card can be used all over the place. In Seoul, one can use the T-Money Card to pay for taxis, trains, buses, museums, vending machines, stores, fines, taxes and more. And in addition to the transit stations, the card can be purchased at convenience stores all over the metropolis.

The functionality is brilliant, and policy makers there have decided to use the data collected, from the system, to determine funding allocation for transit routes. This means that the most heavily used routes and stations get the most investment. Furthermore, the efficient tap-and-go system allows for quick payments and faster boarding on crowded buses and trains.

London has recently decided to go a step further. Their new Oyster Card not only offer the same benefits of the T-Money Card (minus taxi use), but the system also allows for people with contactless bank cards to use those as their tap-and-go payment. Both the T-Money and Oyster cards offer customization as well. The Oyster Card has custom holders and card designs, while the T-Money Card has custom card designs and sizings.

There are flaws with both systems from which Cincinnati can learn as it upgrades its payment system over the coming years. The first lesson is to have broad appeal. Cincinnati should engage various stakeholders to help develop a system pay card that can be used on all of the regional bus systems, streetcars, pedicabs and water taxis. While doing this the city should keep in mind future integration with any bike or car sharing programs.

Flexibility should also be a part of the new payment system being discussed in Cincinnati. The beauty of electronic pay is that the payment plans are limitless. A rider should be able to choose from buying a certain number of trips, specified time frame (i.e. 30 days) or even just a certain dollar amount. Offering riders choices will help fuel ridership and attract riders of choice.

While Cincinnati has been late to the game when it comes to upgrade its decades-old payment system, it allows transport officials to learn from others around the country and world. Innovative technologies and approaches should be used to make sure Cincinnati is on the cutting edge. London and Seoul have great payment system solutions, and Cincinnati should combine them for an even better one.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Business News

YMCA of Greater Cincinnati looks to raise $1M through March

The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati has kicked off their annual Better Together fundraising campaign. Over the course of the next month the non-profit organization hopes to raise $1 million to support membership assistance, youth resident and day camp scholarships, childcare and school readiness program scholarships, urban core assistance and youth sports scholarships.

According to YMCA officials, the organization boasts 17 branches throughout the region, with six of those located within the city of Cincinnati. Officials also say the importance of this year’s campaign cannot be understated when an estimated one out of every three individuals utilizing the YMCA are in need of financial assistance.

“At a time when the challenges of economic stress are weighing heavily on families and individuals, the need to focus on personal growth is even more important,” stated George White, YMCA Better Together co-chair and YMCA of Greater Cincinnati board member. “Every day the Y nurtures values, skills, and relationships in young people that lead to positive behavior, better health, and educational achievement.”

YMCA officials say that of the 127,000 people served in the Cincinnati region last year an estimated 62 percent are youth. The $1 million raised through the campaign will help to cover the more than $3 million the organization distributes annually in the form of membership assistance, child care and other programs.

The Better Together Campaign runs through March 31. Those interested in learning how to contribute to the campaign can call (513) 362-9622 or visit the organization’s website.

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.