Neighborhood business districts get big boost from city, CNBDU

Three business districts of Cincinnati neighborhoods, Mt. Lookout, Mt. Adams, and Northside, will be undergoing redevelopment construction with help from the City. Councilmember Laure Quinlivan worked for $800,000 of unused capital funds for "shovel-ready projects" in these three neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods compete each year through a peer-ranking process run by Cincinnati Neighborhood Business Districts United (CNBDU), which distribute $2 million in city funding to neighborhoods seeking business district redevelopment. But this year, Quinlivan assisted more neighborhoods gain money faster by finding funds for the three additional projects.

"This additional funding opens three more slots for next year's funding because we cleared three more off the competitive list," Quinlivan said. "Other neighborhoods now have a better chance for complete renovation at a faster pace."

In addition to adding more slots for renovations, the additional funding also speeds up the process of construction. Mt. Lookout had already obtained funds for renovation of Mt. Lookout Square, a project that was scheduled to be completed within three years. Now the additional money will allow the neighborhood to complete the project this summer.

Each neighborhood has a unique plan to improve the appearance and quality of their business districts. The Mt. Adams Business Guild, for example, will improve streetscape infrastructure by fixing damaged sidewalks and adding more trees and lighting.

"I think it will improve the appearance and safety of the neighborhood," Missy Fox, a Mt. Adams representative in CNBDU, said. "It will definitely help attract patrons to the neighborhood businesses and I am very excited for the neighborhood to add to the positive improvements that happened already."

The Northside Business Association plans to buy and stabilize the vacant Landman Building, which will later be rehabbed into a mixed-use commercial & residential development that should help anchor Northside's rejuvenated South Block. This will help the overall appearance, eliminating an eyesore at the core of the business district.

"This program works and we should be funding our best practices as much as we can," Quinlivan said. "It is all about helping the neighborhoods and giving money back to the city."

Writer: Lisa Ensminger
Photography provided.