'Incline District' branding approved for East Price Hill

CINCINNATI - Portions of East Price Hill, Lower Price Hill and Sedamsville may soon be officially branded the “Incline District of East Price Hill.”

Members of the Cincinnati Planning Commission voted Friday to recommend the measure to Cincinnati City Council.

It’s the first time such a designation has been sought and approved for any of the city’s 52 neighborhoods. The area is roughly bordered by Warsaw Avenue, Elberon Avenues and State Street.

Community leaders, developers and residents asked for the designation to help promote and market the area due to a number of major improvement projects currently underway.

They include Incline Village at West 8TH Street and Matson Place, the Incline Business District, The Flats at Price and Hawthorne Avenues and The Elberon at West 8th Street and Elberon Avenue.

“We believe that branding the area will be a powerful tool to the redevelopment efforts and allow a greater sense of connectivity among the neighbors and businesses,” said Price Hill Will Executive Director Ken Smith. “It gives them a more manageable area in which to focus.”

East Price Hill Improvement Association President John Schlagetter said people in the neighborhood have taken ownership of their community.

“I think that’s because we understand the Incline District takes nothing away from anyone and benefits all, particularly the neighborhoods represented by its inclusion of East Price Hill, Lower Price Hill and Sedamsville.

John Cranley, the former Cincinnati City Councilmember who is one of the developers of Incline Village, added, “We’re all part of the Price Hill community.

Planning Commission member Charles Graves, III, voted for the plan.

“There is an energy that’s going on,” he said. “We want to recognize that and support the community’s efforts in doing that.”

Cincinnati Assistant City Manger Scott Stiles said he feels that Price Hill could become the next Mount Adams because of the redevelopment taking place.

Forty years ago, Mount Adams was a deteriorating neighborhood that was revitalized in part by Towne Properties.

“When you’re up there, it’s pretty amazing,” he said. “You’re five or six minutes from downtown. Great time to invest up there.”

The name “Incline District” stems from the fact that the Price Hill Incline used to transport vehicles, freight and people from its base at Glenway Avenue and State Street to the top at West 8th Street and Matson Place.

“Price Hill Will believes that the Incline District for the City of Cincinnati is extremely important as a continuing effort of the neighborhood to reinvent itself,” said Smith.