CINCINNATI -- When Betsy Sunderman's husband suggested they move to East Price Hill in pursuit of a larger house for their growing family, she had one response: "Are you kidding me?"
Sunderman's long-held mental image of the neighborhood was one of a "super dangerous area," she said Friday. Seeing it for herself, however, changed her mind. She's now a resident of its Incline district -- the area near Incline Public House -- and one of many new East Price Hillers drawn by the once-maligned neighborhood's affordability and new developments.
"We got a gigantic house here, a six-bedroom house," Sunderman said. "And it's a third the price of our very small Mount Lookout House."
According to realtor Don Johnson and Price Hill Will chairman Jeff Cramerding, their neighborhood is in the early stages of a renaissance similar to the one that transformed Over-the-Rhine from one of the country's most dangerous neighborhoods to a hip, new entertainment district.
"We're seeing a tremendous amount of new residents; we're seeing a tremendous amount of new development," Cramerding said. "We see a lot of young people who would like to live in Over-the-Rhine, but it's cost-prohibitive, so they're looking for the next best thing."
According to Johnson, the growth is a product of the neighborhood's great views and its low cost compared to other areas of the city -- including Over-the-Rhine. Property values have risen by as much as 50 percent, he added.
Incline Public House, the cornerstone of the Incline District, has seen business steadily grow over its five years in business, bartender Kevin Geers said.
"I see people in here having dinner and lunch two or three times a week simply because they love the neighborhood," he said.
Residents hope they can keep the momentum going. Cramerding said the $10 million renovation of the East Price Hill Masonic Lodge is the next big project to move his neighborhood into the spotlight.
