Mt. Washington plan will preserve buildings, create new identity

The community of Mt. Washington, a neighborhood on the eastern border of Cincinnati's corporate limits, wants to preserve its past and pave the way for a better future.

The traditional residential character of the community slowly faded over recent decades as multi-family dwellings replaced ranch homes and commuter traffic increased on the community's main thoroughfare, Beechmont Avenue. 

So in 2003 the Mt. Washington Community Council passed a comprehensive plan aimed at bringing back the residential, walkable character of the neighborhood. The final zoning changes needed to put the plan into action were requested last week. If granted, the changes would return a significant portion of Mt. Washington's Beechmont corridor to single-family residential status, community council land use and zoning chairman Robert Hayes said.

"When you come up Beechmont hill there's a combination of multi-family structures in with single-family mid-century modern ranches, which is kind of a bizarre juxtaposition," Hayes said. "The goal is to reduce the automotive character of Beechmont Avenue and preserve the mid-century modern buildings that are there."

Besides preventing new apartment complexes from popping up next to Mt. Washington residents' homes, the comprehensive plan aims to revitalize the business district with a more walkable character. Commercial zoning changes enabling that were granted in early 2009.

"The goal for the zoning changes was to retain the residential character that exists here and help preserve some semblance of a pedestrian friendly walkable community, and hopefully that will complement the changes that are proposed for Beechmont Ave.," Hayes said.

Hayes said that a recent highway department study reported that 80 percent of cars driving through Mt. Washington reached speeds of 48 mph or faster, despite 25 and 35 mph speed limits. The improvements to Beechmont Ave. are aimed at reducing those speeds traveled, and making the business district more accessible. The lane width on Beechmont will be reduced to 10 ft from 12 and 13 ft.  Bike lanes, street parking and a median will also be added in some areas. 

City staff will be on hand to answer resident's questions about the Beechmont Ave. improvements at an open house at the Mount Washington Recreation Center from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. February 9, Hayes said.

Writer: Henry Sweets