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The Columbia Journal April 2009
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CT Calendar
Apr. 20: CTCC meeting, 7 p.m. Riverview East
Academy, 3555 Kellogg Ave.
Apr. 25: East End Community Garden & Orchard volunteer day, 427 Strader St.
May 3: Flying Pig Marathon & Mile 21.3 water station, Carnegie Center
May 16: Riverview East Carnival & CT neighborhood party, 3555 Kellogg Ave. |
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April 20 CTCC Meeting: 7 p.m.
Riverview East Academy, 3555 Kellogg Ave.
Learn about the CT & Cincinnati housing markets with Coldwell Banker Realtors
Join us at the April CTCC meeting for a discussion with Coldwell Banker West Shell Realtors Laverne Klug and David Ziegler, specialists in the CT housing market. Some of you may know Laverne from her 30 years experience selling homes in CT. David brings his own expertise as a CBWS realtor in the Hyde Park office.
The CTCC Steering Team formulated questions in advance we think you'll want to hear, from what sells and what buyers are looking for, to best mortgage deals today and options if faced with foreclosure.
Bring your own questions for Laverne and David for an informative evening on the biggest investment most of us have.
We will begin with a short CTCC business meeting, including updating the neighborhood project proposals to submit for City funding. All residents are eligible to vote.
Don't forget to bring your articles for the community TIme Capsule. How do you want future generations to remember Columbia Tusculum? This is the last time to submit.
Please note, we have moved to a 7 p.m. start time for CTCC meetings, and now meet at the Riverview East Academy. Parking is under the school. Enter from a large staircase at the far end of the lot, nearest the river. |
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Click here:
ctcc@columbiatusculum.org
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... future of Columbia Tusculum's historic structures
Columbia Tusculum has some amazing historic buildings, among the oldest in the City. The Victorian painted ladies on Tusculum Avenue and adjoining streets are only some of the treasures in CT. There are also homes and buildings from the 1860s to 1900s on old thoroughfares, such as Eastern Avenue and its adjacent streets, as well as on hillsides like Delta Avenue's. These were built before the first subdivisions of the 1880s were created.
This spring a number of issues are sprouting on the fate of old structures in the neighborhood. But which buildings deserve to be saved and which do not? Tough questions any time but especially in today's economic climate, with no simple answers.
One consideration is, does the building reside in CT's historic district? You mean, not all of Columbia Tusculum is in a historic district? Yep, that's the case.
 In 1979, community leaders worked with the City to define a critical mass of historic buildings to protect as the "historic district." Key was whether historic structures' architecture "contributed" to the district and the concentration of contiguous contributing buildings on streets. Any construction or changes to existing structures in the historic district require review by the Historic Conservation Board and a Certificate of Appropriateness. Demolition requires owners to prove restoration is an unreasonable economic hardship.
Streets where historic structures are mixed with non-contributing, usually 20th century, buildings were not included in the historic district. This can result in historically significant buildings outside the historic district not being protected by the Historic Conservation Board review process.
McKinley School sale
This is the case with McKinley School, listed on the National Historic Registry which recognizes buildings of historic significance. The CTCC was informed in March that it's one of nine schools no longer considered usable for public school classrooms and will be put up for sale by Cincinnati Public Schools. If you recall, McKinley and Linwood school students were consolidated three years ago into the new Riverview East Academy.
McKinley School is probably the oldest remaining school building in the City, with the original Eastern Avenue section built in 1876. The National Registry, unfortunately, provides no protection if changes are made to the structure or demolition are planned.
McKinley School is separated from the eastern boundary of the historic district by the Waterworks building. Consequently, no Certificate of Appropriateness is required for changes or demolition.
CPS Operations officials have been contacted for more information. The school must first be made available for sale to other private schools or colleges. If no interested party comes forward, the school will be put up for sale in a public auction with eight other closed schools, which may not be scheduled until June. CPS is preparing "frequently asked questions" regarding sale of these schools.
Part of the early notification we received indicated CPS "will accept reasonable fair market price offers on the properties and if none are received, the District will not dispose of the properties." Details of school property sale requirements are in Section 3313.41 of the State of Ohio Revised Code.
Options for McKinley School
Any number of valuable uses for McKinley School building have been noted in informal discussions by CT residents. Among ideas: condos, apartments, senior citizen apartments, offices, rentable office cubes for work-from-home workers needing periodic office facilities, a "Pendleton Art Center East" with studios for rent to artists, etc. There are no doubt other creative uses that could ensure the historic structure is retained as a cornerstone of our historic district, while adding value to Eastern Avenue as a mixed residential-commercial use street.
Key to any option will, obviously, be finding an interested property buyer and developer. The state of Ohio provides attractive tax credits for renovation of historic buildings.
The CTCC is attempting to locate potential developers and Cincinnati Preservation Association officials agreed to inform prospects in their statewide network for historic preservation. A commercial real estate broker is being consulted for objective perspective on using this building and identifying interested developers.
A CT community position statement on the use of McKinley School should be developed and sent to CPS. One issue is to request that the school not be sold for tear-down. If you are interested in helping to develop this community position, please contact Arlene Golembiewski at ctcc@columbiatusculum.org. Likewise, if you have ideas on potential developers or how to inform developers of this opportunity, contact CTCC. This won't be a simple task. We need your help.
Other recent building issues
How are other old neighborhood buildings evaluated? Here are examples from March-April illustrating the kinds of development and preservation issues confronting the CTCC:
1. The Historic Conservation Office asked for comment on a demolition permit requested by St. Stephens Church that had not gone through Board review. The 1920s convent building on the border of the historic district is "landlocked" by other buildings on all sides, with no public road access for another owner. The building has been unused for many years, and with no architectural features "contributing" to the historic district. We emailed the Historic Conservation Office that it appears appropriate for tear-down.
2. The Cincinnati Preservation Association requested comments on a citizen's letter it received objecting to likely tear down of a c. 1900 "mansion" at 545 Delta Ave. A developer had early plans for a condo development at this site. The old building has been unoccupied and appears seriously deteriorated. Given that it's outside the historic district and its condition, CTCC is not taking a position. The developer's plans, earlier supported by CTCC, appear to be on hold.
3. The Preservation Association also inquired about potential buyers for a c.1900 house at 3726 Mead Ave., southeast of Eastern and Stanley avenues. It was on the City Building Department's hearing list to determine whether long-vacant, problem buildings are public nuisances and should be demolished. If the building is declared a nuisance, it's usually demolished within a few weeks. On this property, CPA found the attorney for the bank showed up at the hearing and said they had a potential buyer. Their plans were unknown. |
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... The 2010 U.S. Census: Why does it count?
The countdown to Census Day, April 1, 2010, has begun this month with address canvassing in neighborhoods. Census workers have started verifying and updating 145 million addresses nationwide.
The goal is to ensure that every housing unit receives a questionnaire in March 2010.
Our goal: to ask you to tell everyone you know that there's no harm for anyone in opening the door to census workers, but there's a lot of financial benefit for all of us -- our neighborhoods, our city and our state.
All information is kept confidential. Workers, who carry official Census Bureau badges, only want to know how many living units are at a particular address. They will not ask for bank or Social Security information. By law, they do not share info with the FBI, IRS, CIA, welfare, Immigration or any other government agency.
But this simple information is like gold to Cincinnati.
An accurate count of citizens is important because everyone counts. The number affects how many representatives we get in the U.S. House of Representatives and how many of $300 billion-plus federal dollars our local and state governments will get for important projects.
This time, census workers are using hand-held computers equipped with GPS to increase geographic accuracy. This will greatly reduce coding errors on old paper maps.
This also is the first census to include group quarters such as dormitories, group homes, prisons and homeless shelters, which also should make the count more accurate. In early 2010, newly constructed homes will be counted.
"A complete and accurate address list is the cornerstone of a successful census," said Tom Mesenbourg, acting director of the U.S. Census Bureau. All census workers take an oath for life to keep all info private and violations are punishable up to a $250,000 fine and five years in prison.
Columbia Tusculum has a lot of new housing constructed since the last census. If Census workers come to your home now to confirm your address, please give them needed information.
For more information regarding the 2010 Census visit: www.census.gov |
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| Columbia Tusculum Community Council News |
Columbia Tusculum Spring Party
A free neighborhood event is for planned May 16, 2009 in partnership with Riverview East Academy's Community Carnival Day. The aim is to:
ˇ Create an annual neighborhood event that promotes vitality of neighborhood;
ˇ Engage neighborhood businesses and organizations;
ˇ Create lasting partnership with Riverview East Academy.
Of special note this year is celebration of Riverview East's first high school graduating class. One fun activity to honor the 2009 graduating class will be closing of the community Time Capsule.
If you enjoyed last year's informal May grill-out at the Carnegie Center, come for this May 16 event at RiverviewEast and meet an even wider circle of Columbia Tusculum neighbors.
Come to also learn more about Columbia Tusculum businesses, including the newest additions to Columbia Square.
There's still time to help with planning and getting this event off the ground. If you have ideas for food, music and activities and would like to help, contact Beth Fiore, CTCC director, at enfiore@gmail.com. March CTCC Notes
The March 16 CTCC business meeting was abbreviated. Instead, we were introduced to our new neighborhood school, the Riverview East Academy, with a building tour and entertainment by the school's first-grade class. Their poem on astronaut Mae Jemison, accompanied by xylophones was a big hit with all attending. Thanks to Principal Eugene Smith, Learning Center Coordinator Patrice Tiggs and all the Riverview East staff for being gracious hosts and welcoming us to the community council's new meeting home.
We also heard an informative presentation on Columbia Tusculum's historic buildings and architecture by Margo Warminski, Cincinnati Preservation Association director. Ben Young, Morris Place resident and volunteer member at-large on the City's Historic Conservation Board, described how that group functions as stewards of City historic districts. Arlene Golembiewski, CTCC president, wrapped up the evening with a virtual tour of CT buildings on the National Historic Registry.
The CTCC Steering Team is busy on several community projects that include:
1. Completing plans with ArtWorks for the community mural. Yes, this will be completed in 2009 despite schedule setbacks in working out details with SORTA, the railroad overpass property owner.
2. Teaming up with Riverview East Academy for a combined Spring neighborhood party and school carnival, set for May 16 at the school.
3. Designing new street banners and signs to clearly announce where you are entering and leaving Columbia Tusculum on the Parkway and Eastern Avenue.
4. Planning for 2009 maintenance of the gateway parks, pocket parks and median strip landscaping for which the neighborhood is responsible.
5. Starting conceptual plans to develop a neighborhood square within Columbia Square and investigating sources of funding to pursue.
6. Planning future CTCC monthly meeting programs and speakers for the rest of 2009.
Flying Pig Marathon Mile 21.3 Water Station
CTCC will once again take charge of staffing a water station for the Flying Pig marathon on Sunday, May 3. See the whole spectacle of the race from a front-row seat in front of the Carnegie Center. Plan to arrive by 8:15 AM to see race leaders pass by the Carnegie Center.
Fran Santangelo, a CTCC director, will organize the water station. She needs 30-40 volunteers to set up/clean up and hand out water to runners. It's a lot of fun and you'll receive a 2009 Flying Pig marathon T-shirt.
The Flying Pig organization requests volunteers sign-up through its website. You will be asked to declare your water station organization. This allows CTCC to be verified for volunteer involvement. (You'll also get prompted to enter your T-shirt size.)
If you can volunteer , go to www.flyingpigmarathon.com. Select the Volunteer Tab at the top and then "Volunteer Registration" at the left menu. Then, "Sign up with a registered group." Select "Columbia Tusculum Community Council" from the menu. Type "CCC" all in caps as the password.
The Carnegie Center seeks new trustees
The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum is a nonprofit organization separate from the Columbia Tusculum Community Council. It is a group of Columbia Tusculum residents who joined forces in the early 1990s to preserve and protect this former Carnegie Library on Eastern Avenue as a historic building and focal point for community activities.
The Carnegie Center is looking for four new members for its Board of Trustees. If you are interested in joining the Board to help shape the center's future, please contact Ben Young at byoung@tcco.com or any of the other trustees.
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Columbia Tusculum People in the News
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Dick Macke stages photo exhibit at Redtree Gallery
You can still catch Walworth Avenue resident Dick Macke's photo exhibit until April 30 at the Redtree  Gallery. Redtree Gallery owner Wendy Smith, also a Walworth Avenue resident, has moved the gallery from its prior Oakley side street location to a more prominent spot at 3210 Madison Road.
Dick is one of five artists exhibiting. His photos focus on his trips to New Orleans, post-Katrina. For more information on the gallery and show opening, see www.redtreegallery.net.
Jeanette Jackson makes Cincinnati Rollergirls Derby team
If like me, you thought roller derby was a thing of the past, think again. Columbia Parkway resident Jeanette Jackson, labored through a two-month process of tryouts, boot camp, scrimmages and study groups to make the CIncinnati Rollergirls Derby team.
 In just three years, the Cincinnati Rollergirls have established themselves as an exciting part of the Cincinnati sports scene. An average of 1,212 fans flocked to each bout at the Cincinnati Gardens in 2008 to see the Black Sheep and Silent Lambs play. The league has also given away a total of $1,500 to charities. The Cincinnati Rollergirls have received coverage from nearly every major media outlet in the city. See www.cincinnatirollergirls.com for their whole story.
You'll be glad you checked out a very entertaining and competitive sport. This is clearly not your mother's (or grandmother's) roller derby. These girls kick serious butt. Congratulations, Jeanette. And by the way, Jeanette's skate name is Manic Janet (#521).
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| Welcome, new Columbia Square Tenants |
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Two new businesses come to Columbia Square |
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o Gymboree Play & Music, an early child development center, officially opened on April 6 at 3549 Columbia Parkway.
o The Brown Dog Café will open a restaurant at the Square in August. It will feature outdoor seating and will serve beer and wine with a primarily vegetarian/natural foods menu. The owners of Brown Dog Café in Blue Ash on Pfeiffer Road and Tinks in Clifton are heading up the new venture. It is an ideal addition to the Square that Columbia Tusculum residents should greatly enjoy.
Gymboree Play & Music offers developmental play, music and art classes for parents and children ages newborn to 5.
"From sensory stimulation to problem-solving games and storytelling, our classes use play-based activities to stretch the body and mind,'' says Brian Kerstine, owner of Gymboree Play & Music of Greater Cincinnati. "From the moment they walk in the door, parents can see that we've created an environment where kids are free to move, play and explore safely.''
Gymboree's key philosophy is parent involvement because children learn best when parents enter their world of play and imagination, he says.
With an array of music styles, Gymboree music classes help kids explore the power of rhythm, melody, tonality and beat while nurturing key physical, social and intellectual skills. In art classes, children's imagination and self-expression are inspired through painting, sculpture, drawing, collage, dramatic play and more.
Gymboree also hosts birthday parties and themed events such as Mother's Day, Father's Day and pumpkin patch celebrations, where kids and parents can play, laugh and sing together. For more information on offerings, call 871-1900.
The company is a global leader in early childhood development programs, operating more than 550 locations in 30 countries. |
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Urban Orchard Project: 427 Strader St.
On Saturday, April 26, volunteers will come together for the Urban Orchard Project at 427 Strader St. This project three blocks west of Riverview East Academy, led by Joe Corcoran of the Veterans Memorial Garden, will plant 100 fruit trees to serve as a nursery for community gardens throughout Cincinnati. Over 100 saplings will be planted including apples, pears, plums and persimmons.
 Current raised beds are tended by the after-school gardening club of nearby Riverview Academy. Much of the produce grown has been donated to the Freestore/Foodbank. This year the Veteran's Memorial Garden will be expanded to double its size and a general clean-up of Strader Street will take place. This is part of the Great American Clean-up weekend. The event is sponsored by the Cincinnati Garden Club, the Civic Garden Center of Cincinnati, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful and Starbucks Columbia Tusculum.
Many volunteers are needed to prepare beds and plant the trees. If you can help, contact Stuart Revis at Starbucks at 533-4127.
Summer jobs for youth
Artworks, Cincinnati's award winning arts-based youth employment program for teens, is currently recruiting enthusiastic teen artists for its Summer Job Program. This summer, jobs will be available at Artworks in the visual arts.
Interviews will be held one weekend only, April 18 and 19, at the Contemporary Arts Center. More information and applications are available for download at www.ArtWorksCincinnati.org. For questions, contact Allison Knue at 333-0388.
Mayor's 4th Annual Youth Jobs and Opportunities Fair: Mayor Mark Mallory welcomes all young people between the ages of 16 and 24 throughout Greater Cincinnati to participate in this event April 23, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center, Exhibit Hall B. The fair is designed to help connect young people to employment opportunities that will help build a successful future.
The mayor said 75 employers will participate with "thousands" of jobs available. The City will post 500 jobs itself. Some of the companies who have already signed up for this year's job fair are: The Home Depot, Citi, FedEx Ground, US Bank, Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, IBEW Electrical Training Center, and CoCoKey Water Resort.
Cincinnati Recreation Commission is recruiting 100 new lifeguards for 37 City of Cincinnati public pools. Free lifeguard training is available which will certify potential lifeguards in American Red Cross Lifeguarding, first aid and CPR for the professional rescuer/AED. Training participants must turn 15 by the end of the lifeguard course.
Mayor's Shop 52 Seminars support small business
In partnership with PNC Bank, Mayor Mark Mallory's Shop 52 Seminar Series is designed to help cultivate small businesses in Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods and provide opportunities to individuals who either own or dream of owning a small business.
"In the tough economic times, many small businesses are struggling. Our seminars help
small businesses succeed," Mallory said. "Shop 52 will continue to invest resources
in creating a diverse, vibrant and successful small business community in Cincinnati."
The first seminar, conducted March 26, focused on strategies for small businesses to remain successful, even during these difficult economic conditions.
Three remaining seminars will be held: June 9 (The Right Relationships for Success),
July 18 (Financial Managment), and September 26 (Marketing Your Business). All seminars are held at 7 p.m. at Xavier University's Cintas Center in the Schiff Conference Center. Anyone can attend, but should register in advance. Go to www.mayormallory.com for more information.
Home foreclosure hotlines
Are you concerned about possible home foreclosure? Hotline counselors are available to discuss your problems and recommend solutions. Banks are recognizing it's to their advantage to keep homeowners in their homes. Call a counselor now to help you plan your options:
o NeighborWorks -- 24-hour hotline with HUD-certified counselors, 1-888-995-HOPE
o State of Ohio -- Save the Dream, 1-888-404-4674
o Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, 241-9100
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Get involved in Columbia Tusculum
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Spring is here with plenty of volunteer opportunities. If you would like to get more involved in your community and make new friends, we have volunteer opportunities for you:
- Flying Pig Water Station: Help set up/clean up and hand out water to runners. Interested volunteers can sign up at www.flyingpigmarathon.org. Select "sign up with a registered group" option, using "Columbia Tusculum Community Council" and "CCC" as password. For questions, call Fran Santangelo at 484-3395.
- CT Neighborhood Spring Party: Help plan this event and celebrate Columbia Tusculum. Contact Beth Fiore at enfiore@gmail.com.
- Urban Orchard Project: Help plant fruit trees for city-wide community gardens, contact Stuart Revis of Starbucks at 533-4127.
- CT Beautification Committee: Planning, planting, weeding, watering, grass cutting around our gateway welcome sign -- we need it all. Help this group over the winter plan new projects for a cohesive beautification plan.
- Columbia Journal editor and support: Have ideas to improve the look and content of the e-Journal? Stories to contribute? We need someone to take over as Journal editor, as well as help in writing stories.
- CTCC Website development: Help update the organization and maintain content for www.columbiatusculum.org.
- Special project help: Is your time limited, but still willing to help on an ad hoc basis? We can match you with current needs. Let us know your time availability or the kind of skills you have to offer.
Contact ctcc@columbiatusculum.org if you can help on any of these.
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It's easy to send us news. Do you have a local event to tell your neighbors about? Know of someone who's won an award, started a new business or some other noteworthy news? |
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Important phone numbers:
o Emergency Calls: 911
o Non-emergency police calls: 513-765-1212
o 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.:
Officer Germaine Love, Neighborhood Liaison Officer 513-979-4480
Sgt. Cassandra Tucker, Unit Supervisor 513-979-4470
o Lt. Joe Williams, 1st Shift Commander (7 a.m.-3 p.m.) 513-979-4438
o Lt. Michael John, 2nd Shift Commander (1 p.m.-9 p.m.) 513-979-4437 o Lt. John Rees, 3rd Shift Commander (9 p.m.-5 a.m.) 513-979-4439
o District 2 Police Front Desk - 24 hours 513-979-4400
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