Mt. Lookout / Columbia-Tusculum

Home of Cincinnati's 16-inch astronomic telescope and Ault and Alms parks, Mt. Lookout boasts locally-owned, one-of-a-kind specialty shops, as well as upscale restaurants and neighborhood watering holes. The neighborhood is inviting with a bright mix of traditional and modern elements scattered around the easily walkable Mt. Lookout Square.Featuring a well-maintained stock of stately older homes, a new wave of young families and singles have recently taken to moving up to the hill in search of housing deals conveniently located to a vibrant nightlife and strong community involvement.

Dog days heat up 100-year-old Ault Park

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For Good
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July 26, 2011

The Cincinnati Park with the photo-friendly pavilion and extensive old-fashioned rose collection turns 100 this year. In addition to traditional celebrations like a birthday bash this August, Ault Park will also, for a few hours every Saturday, go to the dogs.Camp Canine, a month of Saturdays dedicated to getting to know your dog, is designed to get both you and your pup some exercise in one of Cincinnati's most historic greenspaces."We want to get more exposed to our hiking trails," says Ruthann Spears, manager of the Cincinnati Parks' Explore Nature program. "We thought this was a great way to get everyone and their dogs out in the park."Each week, experts specializing in everything from pet nutrition to psychology will be on hand to answer questions about food choices, tell you when it's necessary to call a vet and even offer insights into what your dog night be thinking"[The pet psychologist] can give people clues on to how to read what your dog is feeling," Spears says. "It helps owners with rescue dogs to understand what the dog has been through and other dogs that don't understand why their owner leaves all day long for work."Camp Canine is the Parks' first dog camp. In order to participate, dogs should be up to date with shots, have a good temperament and be on leash during the hikes.Do Good:• Leave no child inside. Don't have a dog? Click your way to fun ideas about how to enjoy city parks with your family. • Join the birthday celebration. With a birthday bash slated for Aug. 18 and more celebrations in September, be sure to take time to enjoy more than a walk in the park.• Give a day, get a game. Volunteer at least four hours in a city park and earn a free ticket to a Reds game as a token of appreciation. By Ryan McLendonPhoto courtesy Cincinnati Parks

Wasson Way bike path advocates hope to transform rail spur
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Development News
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June 14, 2011

A group of residents from several Cincinnati neighborhoods spoke at the June 7 meeting of Cincinnati City Council's Quality of Life Subcommittee. Their subject? A recently closed railroad spur and a proposal to change it into a 6.5-mile cycling and walking path."This could really serve as an important connector for the many [multiuse path] projects Cincinnati has going on," said project advocate Jay Andress.The proposed project would convert a Norfolk Southern Railroad spur into a path that would connect with the Little Miami bike trail in Newtown and run into the heart of downtown. Advocates at Tuesday's meeting pointed out that the path would only cross seven roads in its entire length, making it a true rarity: a nearly uninterrupted trail running through several neighborhoods in a major urban area.But beyond the health benefits and transportation options that the path could provide, some residents at the meeting brought up another point: building the path could resolve a growing problem with the semi-abandoned line.Hyde Park Neighborhood Council President Anne Gerwin said the point where the line crosses Wasson Road has been a maintenance and safety issue for years. "We struggle many times each year to have the city and railroad maintain it," she said. The neighborhood's council passed a resolution supporting the project.Likewise, Hyde Park resident Lindsay Felder, who said her home is within sight of the track, said there's been a visible deterioration of it - and an uptick in people loitering along the weedy path - since it became inactive in 2009."We've always wondered about the tracks," she said, explaining that she began going door to door to drum up local support after meeting Andress and learning about the proposed project."We see it as a great upcycling of existing property that is underutilized," she said.Subcommittee chair Laure Quinlivan said there are a number of details to clarify before the project moves further forward, such as determining if Norfolk Southern has future plans for the line, and if an arrangement can be made that would allow the city to adapt the path into light rail if that becomes a future transit option."This is really a great proposal," she said. "The best ideas don't always come out of City Hall. If we could make this happen, it would be such a great asset to so many residents."Story: Matt CunninghamPhoto: Wasson Way Project

Hyde Park parents work to bring neighborhood school back
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Development News
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April 26, 2011

An effort to reopen Hyde Park Elementary is underway by a small group of energized and concerned neighborhood parents. The school was closed in 2005 due to a decline in enrollment and has since been used as temporary location for Kilgore and Mt. Washington schools as they renovated their buildings. Since the absence of a public elementary school in Hyde Park, the community has seen a loss in young families seeking an affordable public education. The Parents for Hyde Park School now want to make a difference as they try to convince Cincinnati Public Schools that reopening Hyde Park Elementary would benefit greatly both the school system and community. "On the whole, this is a win-win situation for all parties involved. The community wins as it attracts more young families to the area. The current and new residents benefit by having access to an elementary school for their children, and CPS benefits by having an excellent rated school in their portfolio," Tom Rowe explained. Rowe is an active parent in the fight for this cause. "If everyone gets on the same side of the table to work on solutions, we think we can get this thing accomplished. We are extending our hands to work with CPS to resolve these issues."Hyde Park students currently attend Kilgore in Mt. Lookout, which is supposed to house 450 students. Currently, the school houses 629 students, almost 200 students over capacity. Another solution included sending children to Parker Elementary, a school currently on academic watch."We think that a quality public school option is critical for the vibrancy of any community. We want to increase the sense of community within three neighborhoods including Hyde Park, Oakley, and East Walnut Hills by having a better public school system," Rowe said. "The school serves the community in general as it serves as a foundation and meeting place for members of the community to interact."Although efforts have been ongoing for three years, the recent involvement of concerned parents has gotten the attention of CPS. The Parents for Hyde Park School claim reopening the school would help save CPS money in the long run and provide a necessity for a vibrant community."Our goal is to have CPS reopen Hyde Park School as East Side Elementary providing top notch elementary education to the children of Oakley, East Walnut Hills, and Hyde Park," Row said. Writer: Lisa Ensminger

Time traveling at the Cincinnati Observatory
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Education + Learning
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March 22, 2011

At the Cincinnati Observatory Center in Mt. Lookout, you can see the oldest professional telescope in the country any day. But March 26 offers an opportunity to see rare images, some of which no one has glimpsed for more than 100 years."Through the Looking Glass," an old-fashioned slide show presented via a period projector, offers a look back in time to earlier night skies, telescope construction, humor and history. The glass plates have weathered decades - some show key figures of the observatory's past while others reflect events long gone by, including Halley's Comet.It's a good excuse to visit the observatory, known nationally at the birthplace of astronomy, and its two historic buildings. The main building, an 1873 Samuel Hannaford design, houses the newer 16-inch Clark telescope. The smaller building dates from 1904 and holds the older 11-inch Merz and Mahler telescope. The smaller building's cone-shaped dome is part of a room specially designed for comet-hunting.Do Good:• Reserve your spot for the slide show. Shows are scheduled for Sat., March 26 at 7 and 8:30 p.m., and Mon., March 28 at 7 p.m., with an additional show possible if demand is great. Call Dean Regas, 513-321-5186, to reserve your seats.• Plan a visit. Whether you stop in during the day to see the sun or on a public tour night, you're likely to discover something new and interesting at the Cincinnati Observatory Center. • Keep the observatory strong. Every donation helps keep entrance costs low and maintenance levels high.By Elissa YanceyPhoto courtesy Cincinnati Observatory Center

Soapdish: Hooray for Hollywood
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General
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March 8, 2011

Columnist Casey Coston reflects on our Hollywood afterglow thanks to native son George Clooney's recent three week stint filming in the Queen City, and takes a closer look at the challenges and rewards of bringing the film industry to your hometown.

Neighborhood business districts get big boost from city, CNBDU
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Architecture + Design
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February 15, 2011

  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 may become offices for Cincinnati State's culinary program. 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 EnsmingerPhotography provided.

The Year In Photos
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Architecture + Design
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December 14, 2010

Managing photographer Scott Beseler takes a look back at the photos from our top stories of 2010, showcasing some of the people, places and things that define our region.

‘Play Me I’m Yours’ Comes to Cincinnati
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Arts + Culture
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August 3, 2010

This week, Cincinnati welcomes British performance artist Luke Jerram and his brightly colored, outdoor pianos. Brought to the Queen City by Cincinnati Public Radio in celebration of their anniversary, Jerram and a team of talented local artists will paint playable pianos in public spaces over the next month.

Cincinnati to begin Phase 1 of Mt. Lookout Square enhancements
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Development News
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June 1, 2010

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Trendy Mt. Lookout Square may soon get facelift
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Development News
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August 4, 2009

The Mt. Lookout Community Development Corporation (MLCDC) is looking to transform the trendy Mt. Lookout Square on Cincinnati’s east side.  The efforts are being driven by community activists who feel the neighborhood’s business district has become somewhat worn over the years and is in need of some new attention. The group has been meeting for the past couple of years and developed a multi-phased approach to cleaning up and rejuvenating Mt. Lookout Square.  Within that approach are three main priorities for the redevelopment efforts that focus on Square Appearance, Vehicle Flow and Parking in that order. The neighborhood priorities are detailed into the following high-level objectives: Enhance the appeal of the square to residents, visitors and businesses by addressing many of the dilapidated walkways, parking structures/enclosures, signage and lighting.Incorporate more green-space into the currently very “car centric” appearance of the square.Address many of the pedestrian and traffic safety concerns expressed by businesses and the community at large.Improve the aesthetics of business frontage and provide more business-friendly pedestrian access to window shopping and open air dining.Grow and sustain a diverse business environment.Improve the aesthetics and reliability of public utilities.Address constraints to hosting public Square festivities.Implement a comprehensive parking solution that will allow us to more effectively utilize the center island as green-space. The goal is to address all of these priorities by the completion of all phases of the redevelopment effort.  The final of the efforts would also be the most difficult and include off-street parking that would replace the parking currently located in the middle of the square.  That space would then become an inviting public space with a fountain, seating areas and trees very similar to what is seen in Hyde Park Square. Similarly the same company, Vivian Llambi & Associates, which developed the plans for the Hyde Park Square renovation years ago, is also the same firm that has developed the plans for the Mt. Lookout Square renovation project.  Vivian Llambi & Associates was also responsible for the work at Fountain Square, Government Square and the Aronoff Center for the Arts. In addition to off-street parking and a restored public center piece, the renovation efforts also hope to include wider sidewalks to enable more sidewalk dining and street cafes, minimization of overhead power lines, new streetscaping and traffic calming measures like curb bump-outs. Mt. Lookout Square has long been criticized for being difficult to navigate for motorists, somewhat dangerous for pedestrians and also lacks the necessary amounts of parking for the various merchants on and around the square. Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Scott Beseler

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