Revitalizing Over-the-Rhine: Neighborhood Assets

Cincinnati's historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is in the midst of a major transformation.  The neighborhood that saw serious decline over the past several decades is finally starting to rebound.  With this revitalization comes new challenges and opportunities. In part two of his discussion, Kaid Benfield looks at the neighborhood and its current assets that can be built on.  Assets like Findlay Market, Music Hall and Washington Park top the list. Kaid Benfield is the director of the Smart Growth Program with the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington D.C. Read full article here.

Cincinnati Fine Arts Fund distributes $10.2 million

The Fine Arts Fund raised $11 million this year which fell just short of its $12 million goal.  $10.2 million of that money was distributed this past week to 18 Cincinnati-area arts organizations. The fund supports local organizations like the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Opera and many more including about 70 smaller nonprofit arts organizations and programs. The Fine Arts Fund was founded in 1927 and ha raised more than $200 million for its member organizations over the years. Read full article here.

Video Cincinnati Innovates Featured Entry: BudgetSketch

Ready to get a handle on where your money will go, rather than on where it's already went? This week's featured innovator is Dewayne Greenwood and Bill Barnett of BudgetSketch - an online budgeting program that maps out where your money will go as it comes in, instead of simply showing you where it's been spent.

Soapdish: A bridge over sculpted waters

Electric cars park free in Cincinnati

In an effort to further put the Green Cincinnati Initiative into action the City will soon be offering free parking to anyone driving an all-electric vehicle. Vice Mayor David Crowley says that while only a small number of people will be affected at first, the new program is a symbolic effort.  "This is a concrete step of some economic value to people willing to invest in all-electric vehicles or who drive them," says Crowley. Those wishing to take advantage of the program will have to display a city-issued sticker to park without charge. Read full article here.

Cincinnati Zoo attendance skyrockets

The Cincinnati Zoo has seen explosive attendance growth in 2009 when compared to the previous year.  So far in the first five months, of the year, the Zoo has seen a 40% increase in attendance which totals up to more than 370,000 visitors so far. Those numbers include the second-best April and May attendance in zoo history.  May 23 also marked the highest attendance of any May day in history with nearly 13,000 people visiting the zoo. The Zoo recently opened a new main entrance off of Vine Street and credit this for some of the increase in attendance.  They also said that an aggressive marketing campaign and a variety of national rankings putting the Cincinnati Zoo as one of the best zoos for families in the country. Read full article here.

New president will find changes at University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati has experienced dynamic changes over the past several years.  These changes will greet the next president of the nearly 40,000 student university. The University's main campus has been entirely rebuilt and now boasts one of the most impressive collections of architecture of any university campus, academics and athletics have improved across the board and the university is expecting its largest freshman class ever this year. Dr. Nancy Zimpher left the University of Cincinnati to take the chancellor position of the State University of New York. Read full article here.

Revitalizing Over-the-Rhine: The Legacy & The Challenge

Cincinnati's historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is in the midst of a major transformation.  The neighborhood that saw serious decline over the past several decades is finally starting to rebound.  With this revitalization comes new challenges. Kaid Benfield looks at the neighborhood and examines how revitalization might continue without further jeopardizing any additional historic structures, how the neighborhood might be revitalized in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner and how to do all of this while staying true to the culture of Over-the-Rhine past and present. Kaid Benfield is the director of the Smart Growth Program with the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington D.C. Read full article here.

Restoration work to begin at Cincinnati’s Union Terminal

A $9 million first phase will kick off a larger $120 million restoration effort at Cincinnati's historic art deco Union Terminal that opened in 1933 as a railroad station. The first phase will be begin soon and include the remodeling of several dining and banquet rooms that will be made available to the public for rental. Also included in the work is the cleaning and restoration of ceiling murals, wood veneer and light fixtures, and installing new windows and wiring. Read full article here.