First Suburbs—Beyond Borders

‘We all need to band together’: A former mayor, now a county commissioner, speaks out

Stephanie Summerow Dumas' leadership experience in Hamilton County's first-ring suburbs gives her a unique perspective on their challenges.  

A township invests in its suburban ‘downtown’ to keep it vital

Springfield Township transformed an abandoned '60s-era community hub into a new gathering place. 

What happens when a cornerstone restaurant closes in a small town?

No community was more affected by the closure of Frisch's restaurants than the village of Fairfax.

Greenhills firefighter Joe Knight. Greenhills is moving from all-volunteer to paid firefighters.
Taxing times: Small towns count on special tax levies to maintain essential services

Paying for fire protection and emergency medical services was on the ballot seven times in six different communities.

Two homes built on teardown lots on Watterson Street, one built in 2022 and one in 2023, flank a home built in 1930.
How one small town is taking charge of land use in its tiny community

It can be thankless work, but updating zoning allows communities to control land use  and how their towns evolve. 

When it comes time to pass a budget, Blue Ash has money in the bank

While Hamilton County has its share of towns faced with declining tax bases, Blue Ash enjoys a surplus of nearly $60 million.

Mariemont marks a milestone anniversary by honoring its founder’s vision

To commemorate its centennial, and leave a lasting legacy in the village, Mariemont leaders focused on improving shared community assets.

Metro’s sales tax increase can improve streets, sidewalks, bridges in the county’s small towns

Tens of millions have been awarded to projects outside the city of Cincinnati, making the tax a significant source of funding for small towns.

Together again: Towns work to reconnect neighborhoods divided by trains and automobiles

Six neighboring communities are figuring out how to restore the small-town connections they enjoyed before the interstate highway and the railroad carved them up.

A ‘sleepy little town’ awakens with new housing and community gathering space

An idea conceived nearly 10 years ago, Delhi Towne Square is part of a movement toward people-oriented places that offer the benefits of being part of a community. 

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