Reuse / Rebuild

Covington’s DPI improves infrastructure one project at a time

By Newsroom

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April 30, 2013

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

Latest in Reuse / Rebuild

College Hill Gardeners partners with Historical Society for bicentennial event

By Newsroom

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Architecture + Design

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April 30, 2013

This year is the 200th anniversary of the founding of College Hill, and to celebrate, the College Hill Historical Society and College Hill Gardeners are partnering for History in Bloom. The event includes a lecture by Ed Loyd, CHHS president, on May 14, and a tour of five College Hill gardens on June 15. The lecture will include past and present photos of the gardens at the five homes, along with images of a few gardens that used to be in College Hill, Loyd says. “College Hill is a natural fit to put history and gardens together,” he says. College Hill got its name from Farmers’ College, which was founded in 1846. It was one of the first schools for agriculture in the United States, and was around almost a generation before other land-grant colleges were established. It was a research center for all types of scientific agricultural education, and predated the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Loyd says. This year is the eighth year for the CHG garden tour, but the first year for the event to have a co-presenter. “The agricultural significance in College Hill is noteworthy, and it provides a great backdrop for the gardens,” says Beth McLean, founder of CHG. The gardens included on the tour are those of Twin Towers, Tanglewood, The Upson House, The Oaks and Laurel Court. All of the houses are along Hamilton Avenue, Belmont Avenue and Hillcrest Road (Old College Hill). The gardens feature beautiful landscaping and ornamental structures, plus a Japanese garden and parterre, which can be found at Laurel Court. Tickets for the tour go on sale May 4 for $10. Tickets will be available at CHG’s plant sale May 4, at the College Hill Coffee Company and at the lecture. Day-of tickets are $12. The lecture will be at the Campus Center at Llanfair Retirement Community; seating is limited. Please contact CHG at 513-681-1326 to reserve your seat. By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter

Conde Nast names 21C Museum Hotel one of world’s top new destinations

By Newsroom

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Architecture + Design

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April 23, 2013

A 1924 landmark turned art hotel in downtown Cincinnati, next to the Contemporary Arts Center and across the street from the Aronoff Center for the Arts, makes it to Conde Nast's "hot list." Read the full story here.

ReSource launches new programs to serve nonprofits

By Newsroom

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Architecture + Design

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April 23, 2013

ReSource redistributed products to assist 330 local charities last year, and it has the potential to be able to reach even more organizations this year through its two new programs, which the nonprofit will unveil at its May 15 Launch Party in Sharonville. For more than 20 years, ReSource has collected surplus donations from corporations, and then made items like office furniture and personal care products available to nonprofits for pennies on the dollar. “We’re the connector to the nonprofit organizations,” says Development Director Martha Steier. She says ReSource’s ability to bring businesses together has broadened her ability to make an impact in the community. Steier says the organization’s mission is to help build stronger nonprofits, so ReSource provides warehouse space for member organizations to come shop for what they need. “So much we have here with a little creativity and a little open-mindedness can be put together for reuse,” Steier says. In addition to offering needed items for low-cost purchase, ReSource will now offer items for rental with its Event Décor Rentals program. “We’ve had—for about five or six years—a fall fundraiser, as many nonprofits do, and we have a decorations committee who is responsible for decorating tables and making invitations,” Steier says. “And we’ve had several board members that do these same events for other nonprofits, and everyone borrows from everybody else, or they go and buy things and end up storing them in their basements.” Rather than buying things and getting limited use from them, ReSource had the idea to get donations for décor, store the items in the warehouse space and then make them available for rental. This allows nonprofits to save money, which they can instead put toward serving the community, Steier says. In addition to the Event Décor Rentals program, ReSource will launch its room makeover program, which already has two clients: the YWCA Clermont County women’s shelter and the Lower Price Hill Community School. ReSource has several architects on its board with the skill and talent to show rather than tell community members the benefits of the nonprofit. With an all-volunteer design team, ReSource will create specifications to transform rooms within area nonprofits so that they are more useable and conducive to serving the organization’s mission. For example, ReSource will replace ripped carpet and make the YWCA’s living room more inviting for women and children. The organization will also renovate a 50-year-old annex within the LPHCS so that it can serve as a classroom for individuals enrolled in the Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s Bridge program. “It’s sometimes hard to explain our story,” Steier says. “We really want to be able to show everyone what nonprofits can do with the corporate donations.” Do Good: • Attend ReSource's Launch Party at its Sharonville warehouse space. • Contribute to ReSource by donating. • Become a member nonprofit if you would like to shop at ReSource for needed items. 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.

Bakersfield OTR team to open new restaurant across from The Brandery

By Newsroom

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Development News

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April 16, 2013

Joe Lanni and his business partners have had great success with their Over-the-Rhine restaurant, Bakersfield OTR. They recently expanded their brand to Indianapolis, opening a second Bakersfield on March 11. And by the end of the dog days of summer, they plan to open another new restaurant on Vine Street: The Eagle Food and Beer Hall. The name directly relates to the new business' physical space. It will occupy a former Post Office. Since the eagle is the symbol for the United States Postal Service, Lanni thought it would be cool to resurrect the symbol. The Eagle will serve American fare, with a specialty in fried chicken, Lanni says. There are also plans for a burger and three or four other sandwiches, plus soups and salads. And as the rest of its name suggests, The Eagle will also serve up great beer. “When we opened Bakersfield, there wasn’t much open on Vine Street,” Lanni says. “We wanted to open there because we liked the plans for the neighborhood, and in time, it did take off. We’ve enjoyed being part of that growth, and want to continue to be part of OTR with our new restaurant.” By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter

How a Young Community of Entrepreneurs is Rebuilding Detroit

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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April 16, 2013

Read how Josh McManus, who came to Cincinnati to help launch CoSign and other community development projects, is now making an impact in Detroit. See the full story here.

Shades of Grayscale: historic brewery revives to showcase local culture, spirits

By Elissa Yancey

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General

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April 16, 2013

On the site where the first brewery in Over-the-Rhine began operating in 1829, a new generation of artisans is redefining the boundaries of the historic neighborhood’s 21st century renaissance.

Just three units left in award-winning Schickel Design Company’s Bakery Lofts in OTR

By Newsroom

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Architecture + Design

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April 2, 2013

Schickel Design Company recently won a Star Award from the Over-the-Rhine Chamber in recognition of its architecture projects in OTR. The firm’s most recent project is Bakery Lofts, which is located at 1421 Race Street. “It’s wonderful to be recognized for our overall work in Cincinnati and OTR,” says Martha Dorff, Bakery Lofts’ project architect. Bakery Lofts was built in the mid-1800s, and housed a bakery for about 100 years. It was originally a mixed-use building with first-floor commercial space and residential units above, but Schickel Design, 3CDC and Graybach Construction have redesigned the building and turned it into nine condos. The one- to three-bedroom condos range in price from $155,000 to $350,000; and although most of the units are under contract, there are still three available. William Schickel started the firm in Loveland in 1948; it moved to its current location in OTR in 2005. Schickel Design is known for renovations and new construction projects, architecture, space planning, development, interior design, stained glass, environmental graphics and art consultation. Other projects completed by Schickel Design include the City Home Cincinnati project, City Home Race, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Chapel of the Holy Child and Peace Place at the hospital’s Liberty Township campus, Good Samaritan Hospital’s Dixmyth Lobby and Main Street. “As a company, we see a bright future for Cincinnati, and great growth for it and cities like it,” Dorff says. “It’s geographically beautiful and a great place to live and work. It’s a city that people want to move back to and raise a family.” The city is hosting a ribbon cutting for Bakery Lofts on Thursday at 10 a.m. By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter

Bayer Becker symposium awakens Cincinnati neighborhoods

By Caitlin Koenig

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General

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March 26, 2013

The Urban Awakenings series looks at redevelopment projects in four Cincinnati neighborhoods—Walnut Hills, Northside, Over-the-Rhine and East Price Hill—that are focusing on revitalization, and what developers can do to help.

Substance adds a touch of style to OTR

By Sean M. Peters

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Environment + Sustainability

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March 26, 2013

Boutique practices sustainability by offering durable and fashionable products that are projected to stay fashionable four to five years longer than other garments.