Over-the-Rhine C o m p r e h e n s i v e P l a n June 2002 The Over-the-Rhine Comprehensive Plan A consensus-based plan by people who care Mayor Charlie Luken Prepared for the Over-the-Rhine Community Valerie A. Lemmie, City Manager Prepared by the City of Cincinnati City Planning Department in collaboration with City Council Minette Cooper OTR Community Council David Crowley OTR Coalition Paul Booth ABCD Resident’s Table John Cranley Other Community Stakeholders Pat DeWine Chris Monzel City of Cincinnati David Pepper Department of Community Development Alicia Reece Department of Transportation and Engineering James Tarbell Cincinnati Recreation Commission Cincinnati Park Board Division of Employment and Training Design consulting by Kenneth Cunningham and Associates, Inc. in association with the University of Cin- cinnati Community Design Center and Olika Design Table of Contents Credits iii Executive Summary 1 Introduction 19 Existing Conditions 25 Housing 35 Economic Development 65 Safety 87 Transportation 99 Quality of Life 119 Implementation 145 Appendix A: The Community Design Process 171 Appendix B: List of Demographics 235 Appendix C: Buildings on the National Register 237 Appendix D: Social Service Organizations 239 Appendix E: Financing for Housing Development 243 i ii Credits Planning Steering Committee Linda Brock, ABCD Resident Jim Moll, OTR Coalition Mary Burke,OTR Housing Network Bonnie Neumeier, OTR Community Council Pat Clifford, Drop Inn Center Judith Osborn, OTR Chamber of Commerce, Business Representative Vanteen Coates, St. Mary Baptist Church, OTR Coalition Walter Reinhaus, At Large Resident Elaine Coffy-Vinson, ABCD Resident Al Rohs, Rohs Hardware, Business Representative Darrick Dansby, Smart Money, Dave Rohs, Rohs Hardware, Business Representative Wade Dent, The Electronic Ark, Stephen Rohs, Business Representative Chuck Downton, OTR Coalition Marva Royal, ABCD Resident Tom Dutton, OTR Housing Network Kathy Schwab, Downtown Cincinnati Inc. Stephanie Edwards, OTR Community Council Bro. Mitch Schweickart, OTR Community Council Julie Fay, OTR Coalition Tom Stapleton, Eagle Realty Group Tony Gulden, OTR Coalition Arlene Turner, ABCD Resident T. Deloris Hale, OTR Community Council Nafisa A. Wali, Mercy Franciscan at St. John John Hauck, Attorney, OTR Coalition Sondra Walls, Walls Real Estate Investments, OTR Coalition Jimmy Heath, At Large Resident Sharon Weis, OTR Community Council Sam Hill, At Large Resident Sharon Whitehead, At Large Resident Nannie Hinkston, OTR Community Council Bertha Smith, ABCD Resident Avery Irvin, ABCD Resident Georgia Keith, At Large Resident Carrie Johnson, OTR Community Council Terry Hocker, Social Service Representative Katrina Lackey-Harris, OTR Community Council Susan Knight, OTR Community Council Ronald Lee, ABCD Resident Blondell Slade, ABCD Resident Tom Lee, At Large Resident Vermell Perkins, ABCD Resident Dottie Lewis, OTR Coalition Vanessa Sparks, At Large Resident Rev. Damon Lynch III, New Prospect Baptist Bill Barron, At Large Resident Sr. Monica McGloin, OTR Community Council Glen Ward, Institutional Representative Claudia Fatimah Miller, ABCD Resident Those listed on this page participated in the planning process and contributed to the recommendations made in this plan. However, including their names is not meant to imply that they agree with or endorse all recommendations in this plan. iii City Staff City Planning Commission Community Development Department Caleb Faux Peg Moertl, Director Terri Hankner Maria Collins, Senior Development Officer Jacquelyn McCray Gerard Hyland, Supervising Community Development Analyst Don Mooney Tom Jackson, Senior Development Officer David Rager, Acting Deputy Manager Greg Kathman, Senior Development Officer Tim Riordan, Acting City Manager Donna Richards, Senior Community Development Analyst James Tarbell, Council Representative Herb Washington, Senior Community Development Analyst Peter Witte Department of Transportation and Engineering City Planning Department John Deatrick, AICP, Director Elizabeth A. Blume, AICP, Director Bob Richardson, City Architect Vanessa McMillan-Moore, Administrator Martha Kelly, Supervising Engineer Felix Bere, AICP, Senior City Planner Jack Martin, Senior Architect Adrienne Cowden, City Planner Other City Staff Sharon Ferguson, Administrative Specialist Cheryl Meadows, Director, Employment and Training Division Sharon Johnson, Secretary Doug Carlisle, Director, OTR Recreation Center Diego Jordan, Senior City Planner Robin Hunt, Cincinnati Park Board Katherine Keough-Jurs, AICP, City Planner Steve Schuckman, Cincinnati Park Board Charlie Lammers, Senior Planning Technician Shirley Litteral, Secretary Tylon McGee, Graduate Intern Richard Proctor, Co-op Gincy Thoppil, Graduate Intern Dan Young, Senior City Planner George Ann Wesner, Secretary iv Committee members and Other Participants Committee Chairs Mike Crusham, Historic Society Rita Crusham, Old St. Mary’s Housing Hershel Daniels, Jr., Lloyd-Daniels Development Group Debbie Mays Kathylene Davis John Hauck Denny Dellinger Steve Demar Economic Development Tom Denhart Debbie Mays Larry Fisher, Salvation Army Darrick Dansby Michael Flood Dave Forest Transportation Bert Franklin Walter Reinhaus James A. Franklin, Vine Street Coordinator Robert Freking, ReSTOC Quality of Life Chris Frutkin, OTR Chamber of Commerce Pat Clifford Sister Mary Grafe, Peaslee Neighborhood Center Sharon Whitehead Amar Gueye Cassie Gundrum Other Participants Mark Gunther Margo Aug, P.A.H., Inc. Marge Hammelrath, OTR Foundation Phil Baker, River of Life Church Smith Hammelrath James Berry Steve Hampton Doug Bootes, Mr Pig /Stenger’s Café Adrienne Hardesty Tyler Brown Linda Harig, Cincinnati Central Credit Union Sister Jeanette Buehler Rosalyn Haugabrook Mike Burson, Cincinnati Public Schools C.D. Henderson Chris Carmichael Sam Hill Elaine Coffy-Vinson Tempra Hill Adrienne Cooper, Sibcy Cline Linda Holterhoff, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful Those listed on this page participated in the planning process and contributed to the recommendations made in this plan. However, including their names is not meant to imply that they agree with or endorse all recommendations in this plan. v Other Participants Lee Horvitz Reno Runck Andy Hutzel, Dop Inn Center St. Francis Seraph Parish Avery Irvin Alvin Sanders Rosemary Jackson, Datemaker Beauty Salon John Schneider, DCI Rev. Chris E. Johnson Gregory Smith, Art Academy of Cincinnati Hambry Jones Margie Spinney Bill Lear Judy Squire, ACT Gavin Leonard Catherine Comello Stehlin Mark Lenear Jeff Stec, United Way Wanda Lloyd-Daniels Mike Stehlin Greg Lynn Linda Sterritt John Kornbluh, Friends of Findlay Market Otis Stevens Michelle Market, Art Academy of Cincinnati Jennifer Summers Mike Mathis, Sign of the Cross Housing Lena Sweeten Maureen Mello, CEDC Paul Uber Judi Mendriski Rose Vesper, Ohio Department of Development Meshelle Miller, VOA - Can-Do Rita Walsh, Gray and Pape Bill Merusi Joe Wells, The Labor Company Dr. Vlasta Molak, GAIA Foundation Natasha Wilkins, Children’s Defense Fund Connie Morgan, Morgan Properties Carmen Williams Eric Pawlowski, IMPACT OTR Lawrence Williams Norma Petersen Joe Wilmers, Washington Park School Bob Pickford, Corporation for Findlay Market Cheril Whittenbarger, Fanning/Howey Architecture Bryant Pitak Darren Rehrer Amy Roberts Bruce Robinson, Bruce D. Robinson Architectural Design Dick Rosenthal Those listed on this page participated in the planning process and contributed to the recommendations made in this plan. However, including their names is not meant to imply that they agree with or endorse all recommendations in this plan. vi Design Consultants Design Consultant Kenneth Cunningham and Associates, Inc. Ken Cunningham John Spencer Bill Slone Design Consultant Team University of Cincinnati Community Design Center Frank Russell, Director Irena Verkovskaya Steve Filigno Jason Ramsey Olika Laurie Siebert vii viii Executive Summary The Over-the-Rhine (OTR) Community Plan that follows was cre- The plan’s recommendations are designed to rebuild the housing ated out of the passion, drive and commitment of many existing and economic infrastructure of the neighborhood in a way that will neighborhood residents, business owners, property owners, social create an economically and racially diverse community that can be service providers, development corporations, community business sustained over the long term. The public and private investments interests and the many other stakeholders who love OTR. It is also being made in public schools, the arts, parks and the Findlay Mar- a plan that was developed during a time of great stresses and pres- ket revitalization enhance rebuilding the housing and economic sures in the community. markets. The plan recommendations focus on revitalizing the neighborhood Phase one housing projects are designed to take advantage of the using the many significant assets of this community: public investments in schools and parks, as well as Findlay Market. Economic improvements are targeted to Vine Street, the Loft Dis- · Committed residents and stakeholders trict and Main Street. In addition to the bricks and mortar im- · Rich and diverse arts and cultural community provements recommended, there are support services recommended · Distinct historic architecture for expanded homeownership opportunities and rental assistance · Place in the city’s heritage as the home to Findlay Market and in the area of housing. There are job and personal financial man- Music Hall agement training recommendations