New police substation in Walnut Hills result of partnership, safety efforts

A new police substation at 921 E. McMillan, or Red Point, in Walnut Hills is the result of a partnership between Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, LISC, the City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Police Department. Through a grant from LISC, WHRF has been able to focus its attention on safety issues and build a relationship with CPD.
 
The substation is part of WHRF’s efforts to redevelop McMillan between Gilbert and Kemper. It used to share an office with WHRF, and is more of a break room for CPD officers and an office for Hamilton County probation officers.
 
“We’ve used the presence of law enforcement to help stabilize the corner,” says Kevin Wright, executive director of WHRF.
 
Red Point was formerly a corner store that became one of the biggest drug houses in the neighborhood. After a homicide in March, police did an undercover drug buy that lead to a raid. WHRF suggested that police take a city code official with them on the raid to check out interior code violations.
 
The building was ordered vacant because of code violations, and the Land Bank could then foreclose on it. WHRF and the city purchased the building as part of a larger development project, and in nine months, Red Point went from a murder scene and drug hotspot to a Hamilton County probation office.
 
“Our partnership with LISC, Place Matters, the City of Cincinnati and CPD has been essential to community development in Walnut Hills,” Wright says. “Our shared objective makes the community stronger and allows us to effect change to make the neighborhood more livable.”
 
By Caitlin Koenig
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