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The recommendations were unveiled at a meetinggof council’s Vibrant Neighborhoods, Environmentg and Public Services Committee June 23. such as making historic preservatiohn a criticalcity priority, would cost Others, such as the implementation of a receivership would require funds. Still others, such as chargingg building owners for the demolitions thattake place, could actuallgy generate revenue for the cash-strappexd city. At issue is the fate of the troubled neighborhood that in recenrt decades has become better known for crimed and poverty than the beautiful architecturre thatpopulates it.
Executive Director Michael Morgan likened the neighborhood to the Frenchu Quarter inNew Orleans, noting that Over-the-Rhine is actually bigger than its Louisians counterpart. Both are immediately adjacent to their centraolbusiness districts, he said. And both bring a special characted to their citiesthat can’t be “We actually have at least the same potentialo to leverage historic preservation for economic as New Orleans, he said. “Instead, we are lettinf it rot.” Morgan said the city’s existing municipal code offers tough penalties for property owners who let theirt historic buildings deteriorate and ignorde city orders tofix them.
But the code isn’gt being enforced, he said. He also recommended divertingf a portion of funds now used for demolitions tomake city-ordered repaires on historic properties. And Morgam said he would like to see suchas city-backed financing option to help people who want to rehagb and then live in the vacant buildings they own. Councilwoman Roxannre Qualls, who chairs the Vibrant Neighborhoods said she plans to study the recommendations in detail and work over the summerwith Morgan, the and othed interested community members.
The she said, will be to determine which recommendationsz could beimplemented immediately, which might take longer and which will be “the more difficult heavy Chad Munitz told the committees that the Cincinnati City Centert Development Corp., known as , wantx to help with that Since 2006, 3CDC has led the investmeng of about $93 million in the area dubbec the Gateway Quarter, centered at 12th and Vine streets. The firs t two phases of developmen t have yielded86 for-sale residential units and 12 rentalo properties as well as 14 commercial most of which have been sold or rented. “It is our No.
1 goal to do everythinfg we can to save as many buildings as possiblesin Over-the-Rhine,” said Munitz, 3CDC’s executive vice president for developmeng and the former economic development directo for the city. Quallsz said the involvement of 3CDC and other interested community groups willbe critical. “3CDC has provenj the point,” she said. “Az you have restored thesee buildings, it’s transformative. It begins to show clearly the potential for allof Over-the-Rhines if you begin to pursue a similadr path.” For his part, Morgan said he was pleasedr with the committee’s response. “I am encouraged by the fact that Ms.
Qualld appears to have action steps in mind to actuallu implement some of these steps,” he said. Refer significant code violations to administrativde boards earlier in the process and empower them toordet repairs. Divert some funds used for demolitiobn todo city-ordered repair work. Change city code to deter demolition ofhistoricc properties. Fund and use a targeted receivership program. Expand Housing Court. Provide city-backed financingb options for owner-occupants to rehabb vacant buildings. Use and enforce historic preservationb provisions incity code. Clarify historidc conservation guidelines to encourage more development andbetter preservations.
Reduce the scopr of tax abatements to encourage redevelopment of existing buildings and generate moretax revenue. Make historic preservatiojn a city priority. Source: Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati PreservationAssociation
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