Page 980 – Soapbox

Northern Kentucky Sanitation District’s green roof a regional model

By Newsroom

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August 25, 2009

The offices of a sanitation district may not be the first place you would think to look for an innovative green roof, but maybe they should be. At the headquarters for the Northern Kentucky Sanitation District a 2003 expansion featured the incorporation of an outdoor environmental education center and an innovative vegetated (green) roof. The expansion also featured a number of other green features including a wetland classroom, storm water garden, watershed plaza, oil/water separator, porous pavements, technology lab, and an urban forest. The 5,200 square-foot green roof that was incorporated on the expansion received the Green Roof Award of Excellence by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities in 2007 in the extensive institutional category, and when the building opened in 2003 it received the Kentucky Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects' (KYASLA) Award of Honor with excellence. The green roof was designed by Cincinnati-based landscape architecture firm Human Nature, and was installed by Roofscapes, Inc. that prides itself on being a "full-service green roof installation firm." Roofscapes Inc. used an unirrigated 4-inch thick green roof profile that included a variety of plants like Sedum, Allium and Bouteloua. The green roof project was planned and developed with the intent of reducing rainfall runoff and improving overall water quality. The Northern Kentucky Sanitation District has continued to monitor the project since its completion in the summer of 2003. The green roof is also designed to accommodate access by Sanitation District staff and visitors, and includes a paved elevated walkway for tours. The commonly cited and well-known Chicago City Hall green roof used a similar design approach that was also installed by Roofscapes, Inc. If you or a group would like to tour the Northern Kentucky Sanitation District's green roof you can do so Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4pm. Those looking to schedule a tour are instructed ot call Jamie Edgemeyer at (859) 578-6764 before visiting the site at 1045 Eaton Drive in Fort Wright, Kentucky.Writer: Randy A. SimesPhotography by Scott BeselerStay connected and follow Randy on Twitter @SoapboxRandy

Northwind development to bring 25 new green homes to Northside

By Newsroom

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Architecture + Design

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August 25, 2009

Potterhill Homes has a long track record building homes in the city. In 2005 and 2007 Potterhill built the Citirama neighborhoods in Cincinnati, and built another 60 single-family homes at the Mills of Carthage. "The city holds a special spot in my heart," says Potterhill Homes president Carolyn Rolfes. The dedication to investing in the city will continue this winter when Potterhill opens the new model unit for their Northwind development in Northside. The model unit will be LEED-certified and feature energy efficient appliances and utilize geothermal technology that will use the Earth's temperature to naturally heat and cool the home. Rolfes notes that all homes will have the option to become LEED-certified and all will be built to the same standards as the model home. The geothermal technology is an additional upgrade, but one that will pay for itself quickly. The geothermal systems will cost anywhere between $9,000 and $13,000 depending on the house. "You get a 30 percent tax credit on that and will save about 40 to 50 percent on your utility bill," says Rolfes who believes the geothermal system pays for itself in savings over one month when compared to the additional costs added to a typical mortgage. Buyers will be able to choose from 15 different house plans that are about 1,800 square feet and cost about $170,000 when all is said and done. The community is located on a hilly and heavily treed site and is located across from a 25-acre nature preserve that includes a hiking trail. Northwind is also just a few short blocks from Northside's popular neighborhood business district. "I love Northside; we have been talking about this opportunity for a few years now. It is a really neat community and fits with what Potterhill Homes does," says Rolfes. Rolfes continues by saying the green focus of this project is perfect for Northside because its residents are already some of the most green people in the city, and says that they're not going green because it's trendy, but because it's right. Writer: Randy A. Simes Images Provided Stay connected and follow Randy on Twitter @SoapboxRandy

Twisted Sisters Cafe brings pretzel bliss to Northern Kentucky

By Newsroom

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Development News

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August 25, 2009

Located in the heart of Bellevue's historic business district at 411 Fairfield Avenue (GoogleMap), Twisted Sisters Cafe specializes in gourmet pretzel sandwiches and desserts. The self-described pretzel shop also offers a variety of lunch time offerings including soups and sandwiches that can be paired or matched with your pretzel creation of choice. Twisted Sisters Cafe is an afternoon treat as the shop is open from 11am to 4pm Tuesday through Saturday. The cafe also offers party trays and boxed lunches for those looking to take the pretzel bliss back to the office or home. Single pretzels cost between $2 and $3 not including any additional goodies you may want to use as toppings. Items like bacon cheddar, cheese dip, cream cheese, glaze, and bacon are all available for anyone looking to ramp their pretzel experience up a notch or two. For those looking to buy in bulk, you can purchase an 8-pack of pretzels, or a pack of 50 'Knots' or 'Bites.' The gourmet pretzel sandwiches cost $7 and include ham, turkey, roast beef and chicken salad with a host of additional veggies, cheeses and condiments to choose from for toppings. The cafe also offers a variety of rotating specials. Right now those consist of a Reuben Pretzel Sandwich, Pizza Pretzel, Spicy Italian and a Knotty Dog. Guests are encouraged to take some time out and dine in at their Fairfield Avenue shop. Those that visit on Thursdays are treated to a $1 off special on any pretzel sandwich. Additional specials can be found on the Twisted Sisters Cafe website. Anyone looking to purchase large orders is encouraged to call ahead at (859) 781-6569, or fax at (859) 581-0200. Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Scott Beseler Stay connected and follow Randy on Twitter @SoapboxRandy

Randall Etheridge

By Newsroom

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General

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August 22, 2009

Randall Etheridge and his wife Carrie wanted to live in a neighborhood where they could imagine having children and would not have to move after five years.

Dawna Cobb

By Newsroom

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General

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August 22, 2009

In the more than twenty years that she and her husband have lived in Charles Village, Dawna Cobb says they've seen significant change.

UC Classmates’ award winning redesign of Drop Inn Center will compete nationally

By Newsroom

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Environment + Sustainability

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August 18, 2009

A three-person team of UC classmates took the top prize at the 2009 Natural Talent Design Competition sponsored by the Cincinnati chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council with a redesign of the city’s Drop Inn Center homeless shelter. The trio received a $1,000 cash prize, and will compete with other designers in a national contest at USGBC’s Annual Green Building Conference and Expo in Phoenix Nov. 11-13. Nearly a dozen teams of young professionals and students competed in the Cincinnati contest, which required them to design in accordance with the LEED Green Building Rating System. It was one one of more than two-dozen contests that took place across the country from New York City to Los Angeles. The Cincinnati team of Stephanie McBride, Donald Mouch and Corey DiRutigliano won with their creative design which incorporated solar panels and skylights, green space, rain water collection system, radiant floor heating, roof and hanging gardens and more. The design also incorporated the practical elements of the Over-the-Rhine shelter with separate woman’s and men’s dorm facilities, residential recovery units, employee offices and dining area. There are no plans for the winning design to be used at the Center, but potentially it could serve as a starting point if the Drop Inn center is redeveloped. “(The) Drop Inn Centers redesign is structured around the homeless into employed, self-sufficient adults. The Drop Inn Center should not be constricted to simply being a homeless shelter, but rather should aspire to connect its users with the community and the environment in which they live,” the trio explained in its project submission. The design took about two months to complete, McBride said. The team spent most of that time talking about what the design should include and what statement it should make. “The social aspect of the design was important. We didn’t want to build a bigger center, we wanted to confront the problem (of homelessness) and provide a quality of life for the inhabitants,” said McBride, and Artechture grad working on her MBA at UC.

Cincinnati-based health systems make Thomson ranking

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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August 18, 2009

The Health Alliance and Catholic Healthcare Partners, both from Cincinnati, have been ranked in Thomson's top 10 U.S. health systems based on clinical performance. The study looked at mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay and adherence to clinical standards of care based on public data from 2006 and 2007. Researchers looked at 252 health systems in the United States and found "statistically significant" differences between top and bottom performers in several key areas. Read full article here.

UC students work with local police to fashion better uniforms

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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August 18, 2009

In an effort to inject 21st Century design into police uniforms, students at the University of Cincinnati's internationally acclaimed Fashion Design program have been working with local police agencies to develop a new uniform design that is safer, more comfortable and more fashionable. The students have been examining the use of new fabrics that are more durable and materials that will work better with officers' movements and environment. Officers from the University of Cincinnati police department and Cincinnati police division have been able to assist students with safety and federal regulations for uniforms. Read full article here.

Semi-Final rounds of Funniest Person in Cincinnati being held this Wednesday

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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August 18, 2009

The Funniest Person in Cincinnati contest is coming to a close and will have the semi-final round of competition this Wednesday at the Go Bananas Comedy Club. The majority of this year's amateur division was from outside of the Cincinnati area, thus making a Cincinnati winner in that category a long shot. The semi-pro division has all Cincinnatians left in the semi-final. The doors will open this Wednesday night at 7pm with the first comedian taking the stage at 8pm. Votes from the audience to factor into the final results. Read full article here.

Xavier, Miami, UC, NKU make Forbes ranking

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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August 18, 2009

Four Cincinnati area universities made Forbes' annual ranking of "America's Best Colleges." Xavier came in at the highest spot at number 196, but all ranked within the top 600 schools that Forbes ranks out of the more than 4,000 examined. Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity rank the schools based on several criteria including student evaluation of professors and courses; students' success after graduation; average salaries of graduates; estimated student debt; graduation rate; and the number of students and faculty who have won nationally competitive awards like Rhodes scholarships. Read full article here.