Soapdish: Rhinegeist taps into history to build future
Over-the-Rhine brewery Rhinegeist, set to open this year, embodies a 21st century spirit of creativity and adventure in the neighborhood with roots in beer and city-building.
Reuse / Rebuild
Latest in Reuse / Rebuild
City Council adopts form-base code
For five years, Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls has been working with the City of Cincinnati to develop form-based code for the city. Last Wednesday, City Council officially approved the Cincinnati Form-Based Code. “Cincinnati now joins hundreds of cities that are using form-based code to build and reinforce walkable places that create value and preserve character,” Qualls says. Cincinnati’s neighborhoods originally developed so residents could easily walk to restaurants, shops and grocery stores in and around business districts. Form-based code will allow neighborhoods to return to that original ideal and reinforce or create places where residents can live, work and play, Qualls says. Current zoning code makes creating mixed-use neighborhoods difficult—the new code will help streamline the development process. To start, form-based code will be applied to business districts and adjacent residential areas in four pilot neighborhoods that volunteered for the chance—College Hill, Madisonville, Walnut Hills and Westwood. The code is a result of six Neighborhood Summit training sessions; five years of neighborhood working group meetings, neighborhood walks and training sessions; five delegations to learn about Nashville’s form-based code; a five-day citywide urban design workshop; a four-day neighborhood urban design workshop; and more than 600 public comments on the draft from residents, stakeholders, neighborhood groups and city departments. By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
Dress for Success Cincinnati moves to Textile Building
The Textile Building is now home to Dress for Success Cincinnati and 4th Street Boutique. The two businesses moved just 100 feet from their old downtown home of 10 years. DFS opened its new doors yesterday, only 13 days after taking possession of its new space. The layout of the old space wasn’t ideal, says Julie Smith-Morrow, CEO of DFS Cincinnati. But in the new building, 4th Street Boutique is on the ground floor, and the DFS programs are all on the ninth floor. “We hope that our clients will feel inspired by the new space when they come in,” says Smith-Morrow. “As always, we’ll be very welcoming, and will meet them where they are.” DFS Cincinnati is one of 127 affiliates in 15 countries that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help them thrive in work and life. It was founded in the Queen City in 1999, and has served more than 11,000 women in the area. 4th Street Boutique sells women’s new and gently-used clothing, and its net proceeds support DFS. “We’re really excited about the move—it’s something we’ve wanted to do for years,” says Smith-Morrow. “We’ve had lots of help from the community, which has helped us succeed. We hope to be able to help women get to work, keep their jobs, develop careers and be successful in life.” By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
Teens create, learn, grow through ArtWorks’ summer jobs
When it comes time for teens to find summer jobs, becoming a muralist doesn’t typically top the list of possibilities. Unless you live in Cincinnati. With ArtWorks’ Adopt-an-Apprentice campaign, however, 110 teens from around the city will be hired to collaborate with each other and community partners to create 10 new murals this summer. For Kyra Watkins, who has been an Apprentice since her freshman year of high school and who hopes to finish out her senior year with yet another apprenticeship, the opportunity is full of benefits. “Besides the fact that you become a muralist in your own right—because that’s not a profession even most adults have—[ArtWorks] always cared about the youth,” Watkins says. “It’s not just, ‘Give a child a paintbrush, and if they do well, you pay them.’ They set up financial sessions and youth nights where you get paid to learn how to manage your money, to budget your money and to be smart.” Watkins says the experience is particularly beneficial because each set of teenagers works under a project manager who helps them learn to identify their skills, learn new ones and ultimately work together to create a final product. A new addition to this year’s campaign will be the involvement of ArtWorks’ SpringBoard business graduate, Chef Frances Kroner, who will lead a select group of Apprentices in developing, producing and selling a new snack mix. Apprentices involved in that project will experience the summer program's first-ever entrepreneurial opportunity. For students who are passionate about art and who want to make it part of their lives, being an Apprentice allows students to gain real-world experience while leaving a lasting impression on the city. Watkins, a senior at Withrow University High School, will soon graduate and begin a new chapter in life as she pursues a degree in political science with aspirations to go to law school. But no matter where she goes, she says, a part of her will always be in Cincinnati. “No matter where I travel, my art will always be here—it’s very homey, like you left something at home and you always have something to come back to,” Watkins says. Do Good: • Help employ an Apprentice by donating to the Adopt-an-Apprentice campaign. • Like ArtWorks on Facebook. • Get involved with ArtWorks by volunteering. By Brittany York Brittany York is a professor of English composition at the University of Cincinnati and a teacher at the Regional Institute of Torah and Secular Studies. She also edits the For Good section of SoapboxMedia.
Arcade Legacy a destination for gamers
Old-school and high-tech at the same time, it is a veritable museum of video game history.
Local craftsman makes jewelry from old silverware
Local craftsman Dave Behle and his wife Deb started Spoonin’ Jewelry soon after their retirement.
Lights! Camera! Historic preservation in NKY looking for stories
The historic preservation offices of Covington and Bellevue are searching for historic homes and commercial buildings or owners and tenants who are interested in talking about their experience with their historic homes or buildings for an educational film. The film will focus on historic preservation in Northern Kentucky and will begin filming in June. Chosen submissions will be filmed and included in the final video, which will be shared online and will be used to educate people throughout the region, says Beth Johnson, preservation and planning specialist for the City of Covington. “This project will make people look at the buildings and appreciate them in a different way,” Johnson says. “When you live in a historic district, you see these buildings every day and take them for granted.” Johnson has already received numerous submissions. “People are in love with their historic buildings and take pride in their community,” she says. This is the second video that the Covington and Bellevue historic preservation offices have collaborated on. The first video, “Historic Preservation: Saving Place,” was produced in 2011 and narrated by Nick Clooney. It won the 2012 Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Preservation Award and the 2012 National Alliance for Preservation Commission Excellence in Public Outreach/Advocacy. The second video is a continuation of the first, but it includes more education. The first was a basic introduction to historic preservation, Johnson says. Both films were funded by the Certifiable Local Governments grant. All historic homes and commercial buildings in Covington, Newport and Bellevue are eligible to be included in the video.The focus of the video is on the architecture of Northern Kentucky, including Greek revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, second empire, colonial revival, four square and craftsman/bungalow style. To submit your home or building, send interior and exterior photos of it to bjohnson@covingtonky.gov by 4:30 p.m. May 13. By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
Cincinnati’s first tuition-free charter school to open in August
Just in time for the new school year, Carpe Diem Learning Systems will open its first Ohio school at Aiken High School Aug. 21 in College Hill. Carpe Diem is Cincinnati’s first tuition-free public charter school for the general district population, and is sponsored by Cincinnati Public Schools. Carpe Diem-Aiken will offer a blended learning model of digital curriculum with blended learning experiences, says Rick Ogston, founder of CDLS. Twelve years ago, Ogston’s wife, Sharon, encouraged him to go back to school and get a Masters' degree in education. After that, he started to learn about charter schools and the difference they can make in communities. From there, Carpe Diem was born. “Carpe Diem is about personalizing education to the nth degree,” Ogston says. “It brings the uncommon combination of personalized education and high academics with a career focus on achievement to the table. We prepare students academically for the 21st century, but we also allow students to progress at a pace more comfortable to them.” The curriculum at Carpe Diem is tailored to meet the needs of a spectrum of students, from those who are lost in large schools or traditional classrooms, to gifted students who want to work at an accelerated pace. Tyree Gaines is the new principal of Carpe Diem-Aiken, and she hopes to contribute instructional leadership that opens the door for students and teachers to maximize their potential. “I want Carpe Diem-Aiken to empower students to be learners, thinkers, doers, believers and achievers,” she says. Carpe Diem-Aiken will bring an innovative new educational model to the area, but it will also be debuting Aiken New Tech, which infuses technology into curriculum while incorporating project-based learning and real-world experiences, says Janet Walsh, director of public affairs for CPS. “We love that the Carpe Diem model incorporates ‘blended learning’—a combination of technology-driven and teacher-led instruction, which is very much a wave of the future,” Walsh says. CDLS is North Central Association-accredited and includes Edgenuity’s instructional content, uBoost’s online recognition and reward system, and a secure online portal to provide parents with real-time student data. Carpe Diem also offers opportunities for career concentrations in Information Technology, Science and Engineering, Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Digital Arts and Entertainment, and Health Sciences. Carpe Diem-Aiken joins CDLS’s first school, Carpe Diem Collegiate High School in Yuma, Ariz., and Carpe Diem Meridian, which opened in August in Indianapolis. Carpe Diem Summit in Fort Wayne is scheduled to open this August as well. Parents and students who are interested in meeting with Gaines and learning more about Carpe Diem-Aiken can email her at TGaines@CarpeDiemAiken.com or call her at 513-612-0153. If you’re a Cincinnati student who is interested in attending Carpe Diem-Aiken and is 12-16 years old, you can enroll in Carpe Diem here. By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
New doggie daycare on West Side
Three weeks ago, K9 Social Club opened its doors in Western Hills. The doggie daycare offers grooming and boarding, and plans to add training to its repertoire soon. Owner Jamie Stenz used to take her border collie to the daycare when it was under different ownership. When it closed, she decided to lease the space and start her own doggie daycare. “As far as I know, it’s the only daycare for dogs in the largest neighborhood in Cincinnati,” Stenz says. While at K9 Social Club, dogs get their own lockers and interact with other dogs and staff members. They also receive a daily, complimentary organic treat and can watch Animal Planet on TV. The Club also has kennel-free boarding, which includes free daycare during the day and a staff member on-site at all times. And all dogs who stay at K9 Social Club get their photo on the wall in the lobby, like club members. Stenz plans to have a webcam service up and running in the next few days so owners can check in on their dogs while they’re away. “We want to bring a sense of community to Western Hills and be a service that pet owners can rely on,” Stenz says. “We want K9 Social Club to be a fun, safe place to bring your pup. A social pup is a happy pup, and that makes for an even happier pet owner. That’s our goal—happy pups and pet owners!” Daycare starts at $22 per day, and boarding at $38 per day. Before being allowed to be in daycare or board at K9 Social Club, dogs go through behavior evaluations. They also must be up-to-date on all vaccinations. By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
Covington’s DPI improves infrastructure one project at a time
Two weeks ago, Covington’s Department of Public Infrastructure hosted a tour and shared its best practice models. Many of DPI’s current projects focus on capital improvements related to problems such as street reconstructions and landslide concerns. Covington’s infrastructure developments keep things running, says City Manager Larry Klein. “When people see a fire truck, ambulance, police car or someone cutting grass, they’re all results of the city’s public works division,” he says. “Citizens see services such as snow removal or street repair, but they don’t see what goes on behind the scenes.” For example, the city’s fleet division does auto repairs in-house, rather than outsourcing those repairs. In 2009, the city contracted with KOI Auto Parts as its in-house auto parts vendor. The city used to spend $600,000-700,000 on parts, but by bringing KOI in-house, the cost is now about $350,000-400,000, says Tom Logan, director of public improvements. “The fleet division keeps everything running smoothly and gets the vehicles back out on the street,” Klein says. “We’re not only saving money but time as well.” DPI also recently replaced single-purpose trucks with dual-purpose models. Snow removal trucks, for example, were only used three or four months of the year. The dual-purpose trucks come with swap-loaders, which allows DPI to interchange the dump beds for other equipment. These trucks saved the city about $100,000, Logan says. DPI is currently also involved in storm water improvements, renovations to Devou Park, riverfront development and the replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge. “It’s guided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Ohio Department of Transportation, but Covington has a strong stance and the ability to provide input in the decision-making process,” Logan says of the bridge planning. “It’s a very important project for the whole region because of the traffic that travels along I-71 and I-75. For Covington, we have to ensure that the connections to the bridge are maintained.” By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
City Council adopts form-base code
For five years, Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls has been working with the City of Cincinnati to develop form-based code for the city. Last Wednesday, City Council officially approved the Cincinnati Form-Based Code. “Cincinnati now joins hundreds of cities that are using form-based code to build and reinforce walkable places that create value and preserve character,” Qualls says. Cincinnati’s neighborhoods originally developed so residents could easily walk to restaurants, shops and grocery stores in and around business districts. Form-based code will allow neighborhoods to return to that original ideal and reinforce or create places where residents can live, work and play, Qualls says. Current zoning code makes creating mixed-use neighborhoods difficult—the new code will help streamline the development process. To start, form-based code will be applied to business districts and adjacent residential areas in four pilot neighborhoods that volunteered for the chance—College Hill, Madisonville, Walnut Hills and Westwood. The code is a result of six Neighborhood Summit training sessions; five years of neighborhood working group meetings, neighborhood walks and training sessions; five delegations to learn about Nashville’s form-based code; a five-day citywide urban design workshop; a four-day neighborhood urban design workshop; and more than 600 public comments on the draft from residents, stakeholders, neighborhood groups and city departments. By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
Dress for Success Cincinnati moves to Textile Building
The Textile Building is now home to Dress for Success Cincinnati and 4th Street Boutique. The two businesses moved just 100 feet from their old downtown home of 10 years. DFS opened its new doors yesterday, only 13 days after taking possession of its new space. The layout of the old space wasn’t ideal, says Julie Smith-Morrow, CEO of DFS Cincinnati. But in the new building, 4th Street Boutique is on the ground floor, and the DFS programs are all on the ninth floor. “We hope that our clients will feel inspired by the new space when they come in,” says Smith-Morrow. “As always, we’ll be very welcoming, and will meet them where they are.” DFS Cincinnati is one of 127 affiliates in 15 countries that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help them thrive in work and life. It was founded in the Queen City in 1999, and has served more than 11,000 women in the area. 4th Street Boutique sells women’s new and gently-used clothing, and its net proceeds support DFS. “We’re really excited about the move—it’s something we’ve wanted to do for years,” says Smith-Morrow. “We’ve had lots of help from the community, which has helped us succeed. We hope to be able to help women get to work, keep their jobs, develop careers and be successful in life.” By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
Teens create, learn, grow through ArtWorks’ summer jobs
When it comes time for teens to find summer jobs, becoming a muralist doesn’t typically top the list of possibilities. Unless you live in Cincinnati. With ArtWorks’ Adopt-an-Apprentice campaign, however, 110 teens from around the city will be hired to collaborate with each other and community partners to create 10 new murals this summer. For Kyra Watkins, who has been an Apprentice since her freshman year of high school and who hopes to finish out her senior year with yet another apprenticeship, the opportunity is full of benefits. “Besides the fact that you become a muralist in your own right—because that’s not a profession even most adults have—[ArtWorks] always cared about the youth,” Watkins says. “It’s not just, ‘Give a child a paintbrush, and if they do well, you pay them.’ They set up financial sessions and youth nights where you get paid to learn how to manage your money, to budget your money and to be smart.” Watkins says the experience is particularly beneficial because each set of teenagers works under a project manager who helps them learn to identify their skills, learn new ones and ultimately work together to create a final product. A new addition to this year’s campaign will be the involvement of ArtWorks’ SpringBoard business graduate, Chef Frances Kroner, who will lead a select group of Apprentices in developing, producing and selling a new snack mix. Apprentices involved in that project will experience the summer program's first-ever entrepreneurial opportunity. For students who are passionate about art and who want to make it part of their lives, being an Apprentice allows students to gain real-world experience while leaving a lasting impression on the city. Watkins, a senior at Withrow University High School, will soon graduate and begin a new chapter in life as she pursues a degree in political science with aspirations to go to law school. But no matter where she goes, she says, a part of her will always be in Cincinnati. “No matter where I travel, my art will always be here—it’s very homey, like you left something at home and you always have something to come back to,” Watkins says. Do Good: • Help employ an Apprentice by donating to the Adopt-an-Apprentice campaign. • Like ArtWorks on Facebook. • Get involved with ArtWorks by volunteering. By Brittany York Brittany York is a professor of English composition at the University of Cincinnati and a teacher at the Regional Institute of Torah and Secular Studies. She also edits the For Good section of SoapboxMedia.
Arcade Legacy a destination for gamers
Old-school and high-tech at the same time, it is a veritable museum of video game history.
Local craftsman makes jewelry from old silverware
Local craftsman Dave Behle and his wife Deb started Spoonin’ Jewelry soon after their retirement.
Lights! Camera! Historic preservation in NKY looking for stories
The historic preservation offices of Covington and Bellevue are searching for historic homes and commercial buildings or owners and tenants who are interested in talking about their experience with their historic homes or buildings for an educational film. The film will focus on historic preservation in Northern Kentucky and will begin filming in June. Chosen submissions will be filmed and included in the final video, which will be shared online and will be used to educate people throughout the region, says Beth Johnson, preservation and planning specialist for the City of Covington. “This project will make people look at the buildings and appreciate them in a different way,” Johnson says. “When you live in a historic district, you see these buildings every day and take them for granted.” Johnson has already received numerous submissions. “People are in love with their historic buildings and take pride in their community,” she says. This is the second video that the Covington and Bellevue historic preservation offices have collaborated on. The first video, “Historic Preservation: Saving Place,” was produced in 2011 and narrated by Nick Clooney. It won the 2012 Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Preservation Award and the 2012 National Alliance for Preservation Commission Excellence in Public Outreach/Advocacy. The second video is a continuation of the first, but it includes more education. The first was a basic introduction to historic preservation, Johnson says. Both films were funded by the Certifiable Local Governments grant. All historic homes and commercial buildings in Covington, Newport and Bellevue are eligible to be included in the video.The focus of the video is on the architecture of Northern Kentucky, including Greek revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, second empire, colonial revival, four square and craftsman/bungalow style. To submit your home or building, send interior and exterior photos of it to bjohnson@covingtonky.gov by 4:30 p.m. May 13. By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
Cincinnati’s first tuition-free charter school to open in August
Just in time for the new school year, Carpe Diem Learning Systems will open its first Ohio school at Aiken High School Aug. 21 in College Hill. Carpe Diem is Cincinnati’s first tuition-free public charter school for the general district population, and is sponsored by Cincinnati Public Schools. Carpe Diem-Aiken will offer a blended learning model of digital curriculum with blended learning experiences, says Rick Ogston, founder of CDLS. Twelve years ago, Ogston’s wife, Sharon, encouraged him to go back to school and get a Masters' degree in education. After that, he started to learn about charter schools and the difference they can make in communities. From there, Carpe Diem was born. “Carpe Diem is about personalizing education to the nth degree,” Ogston says. “It brings the uncommon combination of personalized education and high academics with a career focus on achievement to the table. We prepare students academically for the 21st century, but we also allow students to progress at a pace more comfortable to them.” The curriculum at Carpe Diem is tailored to meet the needs of a spectrum of students, from those who are lost in large schools or traditional classrooms, to gifted students who want to work at an accelerated pace. Tyree Gaines is the new principal of Carpe Diem-Aiken, and she hopes to contribute instructional leadership that opens the door for students and teachers to maximize their potential. “I want Carpe Diem-Aiken to empower students to be learners, thinkers, doers, believers and achievers,” she says. Carpe Diem-Aiken will bring an innovative new educational model to the area, but it will also be debuting Aiken New Tech, which infuses technology into curriculum while incorporating project-based learning and real-world experiences, says Janet Walsh, director of public affairs for CPS. “We love that the Carpe Diem model incorporates ‘blended learning’—a combination of technology-driven and teacher-led instruction, which is very much a wave of the future,” Walsh says. CDLS is North Central Association-accredited and includes Edgenuity’s instructional content, uBoost’s online recognition and reward system, and a secure online portal to provide parents with real-time student data. Carpe Diem also offers opportunities for career concentrations in Information Technology, Science and Engineering, Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Digital Arts and Entertainment, and Health Sciences. Carpe Diem-Aiken joins CDLS’s first school, Carpe Diem Collegiate High School in Yuma, Ariz., and Carpe Diem Meridian, which opened in August in Indianapolis. Carpe Diem Summit in Fort Wayne is scheduled to open this August as well. Parents and students who are interested in meeting with Gaines and learning more about Carpe Diem-Aiken can email her at TGaines@CarpeDiemAiken.com or call her at 513-612-0153. If you’re a Cincinnati student who is interested in attending Carpe Diem-Aiken and is 12-16 years old, you can enroll in Carpe Diem here. By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
New doggie daycare on West Side
Three weeks ago, K9 Social Club opened its doors in Western Hills. The doggie daycare offers grooming and boarding, and plans to add training to its repertoire soon. Owner Jamie Stenz used to take her border collie to the daycare when it was under different ownership. When it closed, she decided to lease the space and start her own doggie daycare. “As far as I know, it’s the only daycare for dogs in the largest neighborhood in Cincinnati,” Stenz says. While at K9 Social Club, dogs get their own lockers and interact with other dogs and staff members. They also receive a daily, complimentary organic treat and can watch Animal Planet on TV. The Club also has kennel-free boarding, which includes free daycare during the day and a staff member on-site at all times. And all dogs who stay at K9 Social Club get their photo on the wall in the lobby, like club members. Stenz plans to have a webcam service up and running in the next few days so owners can check in on their dogs while they’re away. “We want to bring a sense of community to Western Hills and be a service that pet owners can rely on,” Stenz says. “We want K9 Social Club to be a fun, safe place to bring your pup. A social pup is a happy pup, and that makes for an even happier pet owner. That’s our goal—happy pups and pet owners!” Daycare starts at $22 per day, and boarding at $38 per day. Before being allowed to be in daycare or board at K9 Social Club, dogs go through behavior evaluations. They also must be up-to-date on all vaccinations. By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
Covington’s DPI improves infrastructure one project at a time
Two weeks ago, Covington’s Department of Public Infrastructure hosted a tour and shared its best practice models. Many of DPI’s current projects focus on capital improvements related to problems such as street reconstructions and landslide concerns. Covington’s infrastructure developments keep things running, says City Manager Larry Klein. “When people see a fire truck, ambulance, police car or someone cutting grass, they’re all results of the city’s public works division,” he says. “Citizens see services such as snow removal or street repair, but they don’t see what goes on behind the scenes.” For example, the city’s fleet division does auto repairs in-house, rather than outsourcing those repairs. In 2009, the city contracted with KOI Auto Parts as its in-house auto parts vendor. The city used to spend $600,000-700,000 on parts, but by bringing KOI in-house, the cost is now about $350,000-400,000, says Tom Logan, director of public improvements. “The fleet division keeps everything running smoothly and gets the vehicles back out on the street,” Klein says. “We’re not only saving money but time as well.” DPI also recently replaced single-purpose trucks with dual-purpose models. Snow removal trucks, for example, were only used three or four months of the year. The dual-purpose trucks come with swap-loaders, which allows DPI to interchange the dump beds for other equipment. These trucks saved the city about $100,000, Logan says. DPI is currently also involved in storm water improvements, renovations to Devou Park, riverfront development and the replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge. “It’s guided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Ohio Department of Transportation, but Covington has a strong stance and the ability to provide input in the decision-making process,” Logan says of the bridge planning. “It’s a very important project for the whole region because of the traffic that travels along I-71 and I-75. For Covington, we have to ensure that the connections to the bridge are maintained.” By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter
