Building Cincinnati

04/14/2022

This is my sign-off for this page. The FB redesign has made continuing this page impossible. Thank you to all of you (nearly) 5,000 followers for your time and for your interesting insights. Facebook has been unresponsive to my problems. You've made it fun and worthwhile.

04/12/2022

I gave it another shot. I'm not able to share posts, and I'm not able to search. If this doesn't clear up soon, then this page is going away. FB doesn't respond to my complaints. It's Opening Day...I'm going to watch that and not worry about this today. I'm very sorry that I can't deliver on this page.

04/10/2022

I'm very, very tired of this FB interface. It doesn't let me do anything anymore. I have my own URL...I might just have to migrate all of that over there. I'm very sorry to all of you for the lapse in links. I've been trying. Meta ain't helping. 😕

04/07/2022

$50 million transformation planned for this corner of Fourth Street [$$$]:

"A massive reinvestment is planned for not one but two buildings just a block from Fountain Square.

"[PHOTO CAPTION]: The Mercantile Library in the building at 414 Walnut St. is looking to double in size as part of Model Group's plan to convert most of the building to apartments. Model Group also is partnering with building owner Rick Rothfuss to redevelop the adjacent Mercantile Center. CORRIE SCHAFFELD | CBC"

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2022/04/05/mercantile-library-center-transform.html via Cincinnati Business Courier

The project could add as many as 220 apartments to this corner of downtown Cincinnati

04/07/2022

Only in Ohio: The Mercantile Library:

"A feast for the senses with creaking floorboards, oversized arched windows allowing light to beautifully embrace the space, and comfortable reading spaces with inviting leather chairs encourages all things reading, writing, and thinking. The extensive book collection amongst the glass-floored stacks beckons to be explored. With decades of history, and a camaraderie for the love of learning the Mercantile Library welcomes visitors to embrace their inner bookworm."

https://ohio.org/travel-inspiration/articles/bound-for-fun-at-the-cincinnati-mercantile-library via Only In Ohio

A bibliophile's dream resides on the 11th floor of the Mercantile Building in Downtown Cincinnati!

04/07/2022

'You can't argue with cash.' More homes in Greater Cincinnati selling for cash. Who's buying them? [$$$]:

"Cash sales jumped from about a quarter of total home sales in the Cincinnati area to more than a third in just the past three years, Attom says."

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2022/04/05/home-sales-more-than-third-cincinnati-homes-sold-cash-buyers/7189710001/ via Enquirer - Cincinnati and Kentucky

Cash sales jumped from about a quarter of total home sales in the Cincinnati area to more than a third in just the past three years, Attom says.

04/07/2022

Nearly century-old Hyde Park church could be bulldozed for shops, apartments [$$$]:

"Developers have yet to ask Cincinnati planning and zoning officials to approve their plans."

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2022/04/05/hyde-park-baptist-church-apartments-shops-replace/7133379001/ via Enquirer - Cincinnati and Kentucky

Developers have yet to ask Cincinnati planning and zoning officials to approve their plans.

04/07/2022

Illegal dumping severely impacts our community and the work of The Port and its managed entities. We join the City and Cintrifuse's efforts to find a solution that stops this behavior in our community. Join us on April 6th to share your ideas to reduce litter. Register here: https://bit.ly/34KZm4O

04/07/2022

04/07/2022

Opinion | Cincinnati's affordable housing situation isn’t improving:

"The Affordable Housing Trust Fund and all the pitfalls and quagmires of its current existence have been prevalent in Cincinnati's affordable housing dialogue since its inception in 2018, but it doesn't have to be that way. The concept of the fund is great – it's supposed to act as an assignment of government capital to build living quarters for those that couldn't afford rent otherwise. Unfortunately, its natal stages came with at least one major flaw: funding.

"The coalition that convinced the Cincinnati City Council to establish the fund had to fight a lengthy campaign and didn’t get all their demands met. One of the demands left off the table — arguably the most critical one — was a source of consistent income. The fund, in turn, was made only as powerful as each individual City Council member was willing to make it."

https://www.newsrecord.org/opinion/opinion-cincinnati-s-affordable-housing-situation-isn-t-improving/article_d3997702-b499-11ec-87a4-93fe6f0658d4.html via The News Record

The Affordable Housing Trust Fund and all the pitfalls and quagmires of its current existence have been prevalent in Cincinnati’s affordable housing dialogue since its inception in 2018, but it

04/07/2022

UC Health celebrates significant structural milestone on $221M revitalization project:

"University of Cincinnati (UC) Health officials celebrated a significant milestone in its $221 million Clifton Campus revitalization last week, as construction workers placed the final structural beam atop a new emergency department and surgical building at UC Medical Center.

"UC Health and UC College of Medicine leaders and employees gathered with community and construction partners for a 'topping out' ceremony, marking the occasion by placing their signatures on the final beam. The moment, an important step in any construction project, signals exterior and interior work can begin as the building begins to take shape."

https://www.newsrecord.org/news/uc-health-celebrates-significant-structural-milestone-on-221m-revitalization-project/article_ed76b262-b498-11ec-a13d-afaadc834010.html via The News Record

University of Cincinnati (UC) Health officials celebrated a significant milestone in its $221 million Clifton Campus revitalization last week, as construction workers placed the final structural beam atop a new

04/07/2022

pages still won't let me search for contextual prior posts and articles. I apologize for this, but there's nothing I can do about it. It's been three days, so I'm just going to post all of the articles I have lined up so you'll be informed. I swear, Facebook does everything it can to just screw anyone trying to write a page.

04/05/2022

pages has changed and the search function doesn't seem to work anymore. I'm trying to get the search function to bring up prior related posts and articles. Insights welcome.

04/05/2022

Construction for new Northern Kentucky Health Center planned to begin this summer:

"The Northern Kentucky Health Department's plan for a new health center built in Covington has finally resumed.

"In November of 2016, the Kenton County Local Board of Health met to discuss finding a new location for the Kenton County (Dressman) Health Center. Meetings and discussions continued until March 2020, when the project was put on hold due to the abrupt arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic."

https://linknky.com/business/2022/04/04/construction-for-new-northern-kentucky-health-center-planned-to-begin-this-summer/ via LINK nky

The Northern Kentucky Health Department’s plan for a new health center built in Covington has finally resumed. In November of 2016, the Kenton County Local Board of Health met to discuss finding a new location for the Kenton County (Dressman) Health Center. Meetings and discussions continued until...

04/04/2022

WRECKING CINCINNATI:

* 4935 Bouton St, Mount Lookout (circa 1900, single-family). Razed 3/22 to make way for a new 2,600-square-foot single-family home by Ashford Homes.
* 3413 Marmet Ave, CUF (1909, single-family). Vacant, owner deceased. Current owner in Montgomery, AL. Razed 3/22.
* 3912 Glen Lyon Ave, North Avondale (1913, single-family). Razed 3/22 by Justin Smitherman to make way for a new single-family home.
* 2712 Griffiths Ave, Hyde Park (1876, single-family). Razed 11/21 by the owner to make way for a new single-family home.
* 3714 Woodland Ave, Oakley (1886, single-family). Razed 3/22 to make way for a new $825,000 single-family home by Sterling Homes.
* 726 Steiner Ave, Sedamsville (1960, single-family). Emergency hazard abatement due to fire 6/21. Razed by the City 8/21.
* 2012 Ohio Ave, CUF (circa 1900, single-family). Vacant building, owner lives in Madison, TN. Razed 10/21 and being marketed for redevelopment.
* 3030 Gilbert Ave, Walnut Hills (1909, single-family). Razed 1/22 by the Walnut Hills Cemetery Association of Cincinnati.
* 3036 Gilbert Ave, Walnut Hills (1914, single-family). Razed 1/22 by the Walnut Hills Cemetery Association of Cincinnati.

04/04/2022

UPDATE: COVINGTON RAMP CLOSURES POSTPONED!

"The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) today announced that the closure of two Covington ramps that were scheduled to be temporarily closed tonight will be postponed.

"The entrance ramp to I-71/75 northbound from Pike St. and the exit ramp from I-71/75 northbound to 5th St. will remain open until further notice.

"An update with the rescheduled date will be released this week.

"Texas Turnaround project information and updates can be found at DrivingNKYProgress.org.

"Motorists can get Northern Kentucky road construction updates on DrivingNKYProgress.org and the District 6 Road Report. Follow KYTC District 6 on our page at KYTC District 6 or on our Twitter page at KYTC District 6. For Kentucky’s latest traffic and travel information, visit GoKy or navigate traffic by downloading the free Waze app at WAZE"

https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictSix/Pages/default.aspx via KYTC District 6

Click to learn more about Bridging Kentucky: The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's six-year plan to rehabilitate, repair, or replace more than 1,000 critical structures across the Commonwealth – improving safety, access and mobility for all Kentuckians.

04/04/2022

Nearly $2 billion invested into transportation this year:

"Today, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the launch of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s 2022 construction season.

"This year, Ohio is investing nearly $2 billion on 829 projects across the state. Ninety-five cents of every dollar spent goes toward preserving existing infrastructure. Crews will improve 661 bridges and 7,626 miles of pavement, enough to cover the distance from Columbus to London, England and back. There are 222 projects aimed directly at improving safety on Ohio roads.

"While overall traffic volumes in Ohio continue to trend slightly below pre-pandemic levels, truck traffic is more than 13% higher than the same period in 2019 and showing no signs of slowing down.

"'Ohio is a state that makes and moves things, and a solid transportation system is key,' said Governor Mike DeWine. 'Our investments have made Ohio an attractive place to do business, and ongoing improvements to our roads are essential for continued economic development and the safety of our travelers.'

"Since the beginning of the DeWine Administration, ODOT has invested nearly $6 billion into more than 2,800 projects. These projects aren't just targeted to motor vehicles. More than $450 million has been spent on safety projects like Safe Routes to School and nearly 400 pedestrian safety projects in Ohio's 8 largest cities where these types of crashes are far too common, and dozens of intersections with a history of serious or deadly crashes.

"'Safety has been the top priority since the first day of the DeWine Administration. We're constantly looking for ways to better engineer our roads to ensure they're as safe as possible for those who use them each day,' said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. 'However, drivers have an important role to play too. We need every motorist to buckle up, obey the speed limit, drive sober, and drop the distractions.'

"Work zone safety is another major focus this year. Last year, there were 4,796 crashes in Ohio work zones, 35% of them occurred with workers present. Sadly, 30 people were killed in 26 of those crashes. ODOT workers, vehicles, and equipment were hit 154 times last year.

"'The men and women working on these construction projects are doing dangerous work. Motorists can make it less dangerous by paying extra attention, moving over, and slowing down when they see our crews,' Marchbanks said.

"Speed is one of the biggest issues in work zones. In 2021, the Ohio State Highway Patrol issued 6,015 citations in work zones with 41% being more than 20 mph over the posted speed limit.

"You can stay up to date on construction across the state by signing up for weekly bulletins or visiting the projects page on the ODOT website. You can also see where work might impact your commute or trip at OHGO.com."

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHDOT/bulletins/30ffedf via Ohio Department of Transportation

NEWS RELEASE: Nearly $2 billion invested into transportation this year Ohio Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 04/04/2022 11:00 AM EDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Media contact: Matt Bruning - (614) 466-6906 or Regional/District PIOs Nearly $2 billion in...

04/04/2022

Gov. Andy Beshear Announces Brent Spence Bridge Emergency Repair Named a 'National Project of the Year' by American Society of Highway Engineers:

"Gov. Andy Beshear today announced that the emergency repair of the Brent Spence Bridge in northern Kentucky following a truck crash and fire has been selected the 2021 National Project of the Year Under $20 Million by the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE).

"It is the fourth major award for engineering achievement to be accorded to the project, which involved repairing and reopening the bridge that carries Interstates 71 and 75 over the Ohio River between Covington and Cincinnati. It is one of the most important commercial corridors in the eastern United States, which heightened the urgency of the project.

"The project was nominated and co-sponsored by the Derby City and Bluegrass Sections of ASHE. Prior to the national award, it swept sectional awards and the Great Lakes Region ASHE Transportation Improvement Award in the category of Construction Cost $5 million and Under.

"The project also has received national awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies, the American Public Works Association and Engineering News-Record.

"The Brent Spence Bridge, which carries 160,000 vehicles per day, was abruptly closed when two semitrailers collided and burned early on the morning of Nov. 11, 2020.

"The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) quickly assembled a project team that included consulting engineers from Michael Baker International, Stantec, Palmer and Burgess & Niple, and a
construction contractor, Kokosing Construction Co. An already aggressive schedule – to reopen the bridge in exactly six weeks, on Dec. 23, 2020 – was beaten by a day and the bridge reopened on Dec. 22.

"'The project team, knowing the importance of the Brent Spence Bridge, was laser focused on repairing and safely reopening it as quickly as possible. No one was thinking about awards at the time, but this recognition is well-deserved,' Gov. Beshear said. 'Now, along with our partners in the Ohio Department of Transportation, we're equally focused on building a companion bridge alongside the Brent Spence without tolls.'

"KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said the ASHE award was 'a great credit to our engineers and a host of partners, all of whom worked day and night to restore one of the most important river crossings in the eastern United States.'"

https://transportation.ky.gov/NewsRoom/Brent%20Spence%20Bridge%20ASHE%20Award.pdf via Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

04/04/2022

Volunteer registration is now open for PWC's — and this year is extra special, because it's the 40th anniversary of our annual spring service event!

You can participate any day throughout the month of May that works for you. We'll also be celebrating the anniversary with a cookout on May 14, complete with live music, co****le, face painting, food trucks, and more!

Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/RepairAffair22

04/04/2022

Walls are going up at the new distribution facility for Freestore Foodbank! Paul Hemmer Company is proud to partner with KZF Design on the new 224,000 SF distribution and workforce center less than 5 miles from downtown Cincinnati. This project is the result of the “Growing Beyond Hunger” Campaign to address and eradicate the causes of hunger in the Greater Cincinnati region. We look forward to sharing the progress with you, and you can learn more about this amazing organization here: https://growingbeyondhunger.org/

04/04/2022

Evergreen Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Campbell County. It is located at 25 Alexandria Pike in Southgate. In addition to rolling hills and beautiful monuments, you can see Shaler Battery at the cemetery, one of 28 artillery batteries built in Northern Kentucky during the Civil War. On the hig...

04/04/2022

Where is this skinny building, what is its street address, when was this photo taken and can we still go in that corner door ????

04/02/2022

Opinion: Church wants to focus on service not bell tower lawsuit:

"We are members of First Lutheran Church who would like to clarify a few facts and assumptions made recently in the news media about our bell tower.

"First and foremost, it is our right and, more importantly, our responsibility to have a bell tower that is safe and will withstand any severe weather event. Nationwide, the United States has gone from eight severe weather events from 1990-1999 to 54 from 2010-2019. Within 30 years, severe weather events have increased more than six-fold, according to weather.gov."

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/2022/04/02/opinion-church-wants-focus-service-not-bell-tower-lawsuit/7229572001/ via Enquirer - Cincinnati and Kentucky

Members of First Lutheran Church appreciate the importance of historic preservation, but not at the cost of safety and service to our community.

04/02/2022

'Culture of littering': Linwood neighbors shine light on illegal dumping in Cincinnati:

"One Cincinnati neighborhood is putting the spotlight on illegal dumping. Residents in Linwood shared photos online of a person dumping a large amount of trash under a basketball goal in Linwood Park Saturday morning.

"'There are a lot of neighborhood kids that do come in and play and use these basketball courts,' Marlene Wagner said. 'That's the majority of the usage in this park, and that really took away their opportunity to do that.'

"Residents in Linwood want better lighting and cameras in the park. They also want it to close at dusk."

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/linwood/culture-of-littering-linwood-neighbors-shine-light-on-illegal-dumping-in-cincinnati via WCPO 9

CRC Director Daniel Betts said he is starting to think illegal dumping is the new normal in Cincinnati.

04/02/2022

HAMILTON COUNTY: Weekly Construction Update: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHDOT/bulletins/311a676 via Ohio Department of Transportation - Cincinnati District 8

HAMILTON COUNTY: Weekly Construction Update Ohio Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 04/01/2022 05:30 PM EDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. HAMILTON COUNTY: Weekly Construction Update Through the week ending April 9, 2022: The following traffic advisory incl...

04/02/2022

O'Rourke releases demolition schedule for former IRS site in Covington:

"A 'groundbreaking' next step has taken place for demolition of the former IRS site in Covington.

"Cincinnati-based firm O'Rourke Wrecking has announced their schedule for their demolition of the IRS building.

"Jeff Sizemore, project manager for O'Rourke, laid out the demolition schedule Thursday at a meeting with the city of Covington."

https://linknky.com/news/infrastructure/2022/04/01/orourke-releases-demolition-schedule-for-irs-site-in-covington/ via LINK nky

A “groundbreaking” next step has taken place for demolition of the former IRS site in Covington. Cincinnati-based firm O’Rourke Wrecking has announced their schedule for their demolition of the IRS building. Jeff Sizemore, project manager for O’Rourke, laid out the demolition schedule Thursd...