Installing an array of solar panels at the citys wastewater treatment plant is expected to save Fairfield half the annual cost of its electricity to operate the facility.

Council approved an agreement with Milford-based Melink Solar to design and build an array of panels on six acres of land east of the Groh Lane plant, adjacent to the Great Miami River. The cost is $3.1 million, which includes contingency dollars.

The wastewater treatment plant is the single largest user of electricity of all the citys facilities, said Adam Sackenheim, assistant city manager. Last year, the city spent more than $260,000 to purchase 3.7 million kilowatts of electricity.

With the expected 40 percent increase in the cost of electricity this year, the cost would climb to about $370,00 for the same amount of electricity this year and beyond, Sackenheim wrote in a memo to the council.

Over the course of the 30-year lifetime expectancy of the array, the city would save anywhere from $2 million to $2.5 million in energy costs. He called the solar panels a hedge against volatile and increasing energy costs, adding the project was an effort to be more operationally resilient and sustainable.

In addition to providing cost savings to the city, this project will help achieve a priority one goal from the Fairfield Sustains plan: increase local on-site renewable energy in municipal operations by 2030, he said in the memo.

When federal investment tax credits valued at 30-40 percent of the total project cost are factored in, the payback timeline is 12-13 years, Sackenheim said.

The entire system is 100 percent made in the USA the control system, inverters, said Councilman Tim Meyers.

The solar array will be designed to generate 1.5 megawatts of direct current.

It will offset at least half of current energy consumption at the facility, Sackenheim said.

For an asset thats going to with a little love and care (last) over 30 years, were going to get some real significant (benefit) out of this and a good use of taxpayer money, Meyers said.

Next steps would be finalizing a design for the array, obtaining the proper permits and the start of construction, possibly by the end of October or early November, with the array becoming operational by mid-March 2026.

The former Sears building at Northgate Mall, once a pillar of the shopping complex, is set to be demolished on Tuesday.

This site has remained vacant since 2018, before the Colerain Township Trustees purchased it for $2.2 million with plans to transform the area into a mixed-use development.

Kathy Schwartz, owner of Kathy's Happy Organs & Pianos inside the mall, has witnessed many changes over the years.

"It's been a long time, and I've seen a lot of changes happen," said Schwartz.

WATCH: Her business is one of the last ones standing inside Northgate Mall after more than 25 years.

Schwartz's business spent 13 years right next to Sears.

Schwartz said she knew the department store would be closing soon when she walked in to find the right shoe after leaving the store with two left shoes.

"I couldn't find help, there was maybe one or two sales clerks in the whole store, and so I just went in and got the right shoe and left," Schwartz said.

Schwartz said she noticed the signs when Sears laid off several employees and when they stopped selling certain brands.

"Too bad, it was great when Sears was there because if my car needed an oil change, I just dropped it off, they would call me and I would pick it up, it was great," Schwartz said.

Losing businesses in the mall has been challenging, according to Schwartz.

Northgate Mall suggested she move her business to another location inside the mall, away from the dust and noise, which she said has worked out great for her.

"I have a chance to highlight a lot of my product," Schwartz said.

Despite the challenges, Schwartz has maintained her presence in the mall after all these years because loyal customers recommend her business by word of mouth and online shoppers.

"I like the location, and to move would cost me more money," Schwartz said.

Schwartz expressed hope that the revitalization of the 60 acres around Northgate Mall will draw more visitors to the area.

Fort Thomas is considering selling a portion of the Carlisle Park property to a large grocery store chain.

At the citys council meeting on Monday, city administrator Matt Kremer announced the deal, a sale of a 6.8-acre parcel of the park for $650,000.

Although the city declined to name the business, the project is being handled by Cincinnati-based developer STNL Development, which is currently developing a property in Owensboro for a Publix grocery store.

The 24-acre property along Memorial Parkway, donated to the city by philanthropist Wayne Carlisle in 2021, was named in his honor shortly after the donation.

Since then, the city has grappled with drainage, grading and access concerns on the property. Plans for park amenities had been set aside while research was conducted to determine the sites stability.

Hear from residents on the possibility of getting a new Publix in the video below:

The city has been meeting with Sanitation District 1, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the city of Newport (a small portion of the site is within the city) to review the drainage and other concerns.

In the meantime, the city met behind closed doors with representatives of the grocery chain over the past few months but had not disclosed any information until the June council meeting.

The proposed development would include a 47,000-square-foot two-story building with a parking lot.

The grocery store would be on the second floor with a parking garage on the first floor. Also on the first floor would be a 3,200-square-foot liquor store.

He said the first floor would be designed to blend in with the parking garage, and the company would collaborate with the city on the exterior design to ensure it fits the citys aesthetic.

Total parking spaces would be 215, with 75 parking spots inside the garage and 140 spots outside. Docks for deliveries would be at the back of the building.

Kremer showed some images from the proposal, noting it would be subject to approval by the planning commission as well as the citys design review board and board of adjustment. Likely, it would require a zone change or a new zone, he said.

The expectation of this company is to have 2,000 visitors a day at the retail store, Kremer said. They expect to have 15 to 20 deliveries per week with a tractor-trailer, 50 additional weekly deliveries from smaller vehicles like vans and full-size pickup trucks. All deliveries will be made at the rear loading dock.

He noted that the store would employ between 120 and 200 people, including both part-time and full-time staff.

WCPO spoke with several residents about their thoughts and concerns regarding the possible addition. Every resident we spoke with said they were concerned about the traffic impact to that area.

The property is just off Memorial Parkway, which is a two-lane road. Resident Kelly Booth said that when there is construction or other disturbances, the traffic is already an issue.

I just worry that when we put a heck of a lot more traffic, trying to get in and out of one spot. Just exasperating all those issues that we already have getting back and forth Memorial Parkway," said Booth.

A traffic study would be conducted to determine traffic flow and turn lanes into the property, according to Kremer. He also noted that the development plan added two traffic lights to the area.

Kremer highlighted the benefits to the city, including payroll and property taxes, insurance premiums and franchise fees.

In total, conservative estimates are over $180,000 the first year, he said. And to put that into perspective for Fort Thomas, this is about the number two, three or fourth highest revenue business in the city.

A review of city services did not indicate the project would be a strain on police, fire or public services, he said.

Kremer noted that the original intent was to develop a park on the site, but concerns about the drainage were daunting. Now that the results of the testing are in, he said, it appears addressing the issues would be a financial burden on the city. The new owners would take on the cost of shoring up the property and have not asked for any financial incentives.

In coordination with KYTC, Kremer said the city conducted a drainage and geotechnical analysis in 2024.

The plan, he said, was to create a solution for the drainage issues that are on the property and determine how the property could be best used with park features.

Three inclinometers, instruments used for measuring angles of slope, elevation, or depression, were added by the city to track land movement and assess whether it was shifting. The data, Kremer said, showed a shift of around a half-inch every six months.

To avoid settling, if a parking lot were to be installed, engineers recommended that the city remove six feet of soil, set it aside, and install eight-inch lifts with compaction, then return the soil. Kremer noted this was only for a parking lot, not any buildings.

Kremer said the project would be expensive. It would also be hard to find a place to store the six feet of dirt from six acres. He went on to outline other issues with drainage, including a pipe that runs under Memorial Parkway. Fill had been placed above the extension of the pipe, creating a pond area that allowed water to infiltrate into the unstable fill.

To address the issues and stabilize the area, it is estimated that the city will incur costs between $415,000 and $845,000 to resolve the stormwater blockage, he said.

Three people who came to speak on the citys budget also weighed in on the Carlisle sale.

Resident Sharon McKnight said, Fort Thomas is only 5.2 square miles. That makes preserving our green space incredibly important. Most residents, myself included, support the vision and the comprehensive plan to remain a city in a park and the preservation of green space. Selling off land that was donated in 2021 to be used as a park goes directly against that vision, in my opinion.

She then read from a LINK nky article about the Carlisle donation from 2021, noting the excitement over receiving the donation and the intent to create a city park with the Carlisle property.

So how did we go from celebrating this property to now looking into selling it for profit to a regional grocery store? asked McKnight. If that property had real development potential, it likely would have been built on long before it was donated to the city as a public park.

She added that residents should be more involved in these decisions and urged the council to include residents in discussions like this earlier in the process.

Reach out to your community, said McKnight. Look at the comp plan, send out a new survey, see if the community wants this. But I tell you, Im pretty sure we enjoy our green space and our little small plain town.

Other residents who spoke echoed her concerns to protect green space within the city.

WCPO 9's Marlena Lang asked Kremer about the property being donated with the purpose of creating a green space for the community.

Kremer said that once STNL reached out, the first thing the city did was reach out to the family of Carlisle.

They said that the city could do whatever they wanted with the property, and there were no hard feelings if it wasnt turned into a park like we originally discussed," said Kremer.

If the council approves the deal, a municipal order allowing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the company would be next. It would likely show up on the agenda for the council meeting scheduled later this month (June 16). After that, there would be geological, soil testing, and surveying of the property.

If all goes well, the developer would request a zone change and submit a development plan. The planning commission would need to approve and adjust as needed. Kremer said this could take as little as four months, but more likely six months.

There would also be drainage, lighting, signage, landscaping and other planning commission concerns. Tree board and design review board approvals would be necessary as well.

The property is currently zoned residential, so a new zone would need to be approved. The city would issue initial grading permits, but other permitting would be handled by Campbell County. Once all the approvals have been obtained, the city would then sell the property, and construction could start.

If all goes well, the store will be open to the public within the next two to three years, Kremer said.

This story originally appeared on our partner's website LINK nky.

The future is looking bright for Union, Kentucky, as plans for the Union Town Square development promise to enhance community life. This initiative will introduce more green space, along with a new city building and an amphitheater.

Over the last decade, Union has experienced rapid growth, establishing itself as the second-largest city in Boone County.

Mayor Larry Solomon said thousands of residents moved in with the development of more apartments, homes and retail shops.

"Over 10 years ago, we were just a small bedroom community with a population over 4 or 5,000," Solomon said.

WATCH: For years, there has been talk about a Union Town Square between US-42 and Old Union Road, which sits in the center of town.

The project is estimated to cost $14.5 million and will feature not only a new city building and amphitheater but also parks and recreation.

"It's very important for our residents to have a space where they can bring their families and as a center for the city," Solomon said.

The current city building, which spans just 1,700 square feet, is no longer sufficient for the growing community.

The new city building will be a substantial 8,000 square feet and will be strategically located next to parks, providing families with the space to enjoy the green space.

"It's surrounded by different activities for recreation for kids with playgrounds, and then there is a garden area for older adults," Solomon said.

Solomon said that the development aims to meet the needs of Union's residents.

"We know what the people that live here, what they look like, making over $150,000 a year and that have kids," Solomon said.

The official groundbreaking for the Union Town Square project is scheduled for 2026.

"The key to this whole thing is bringing our families together," Solomon said.

When North by Hotel Covington opens, guests will find a mix of new and old in the building that once housed the city's YMCA. The developers even kept part of the pool.

Management and assorted Northern Kentucky leaders will cut the ribbon on the $26.5 million redevelopment on Tuesday. Finishing touches were still being added on Monday.

You can see more of North by Hotel Covington here.

"We looked at these two historic buildings and we wanted to preserve the history and the integrity of the building," said General Manager Justin Ham."And how do we merge that together and modernize it with the interiors and the type of service?"

Hotel Covington, a project of the Salyers Group, opened next door on Madison Avenue in 2016. It opened in the 1910 Coppin's department store and former Covington City Hall building.

North, which once housed the YMCA and offices, was built in 1912. Now, it will feature 53 suites and loft-style hotel rooms and a 500-person ballroom. They have kitchens or kitchenettes and some have multiple bedrooms.

"There's just been a huge demand from some of our brides but we also have a huge relationship with Film Cincinnati," Ham said. "We're known to have a lot of different actors, some musicians, so we wanted to create a space with that in mind."

Knowledge Bar and Social Room on the first floor, just off the lobby, has been soft opening the past two weeks.

"People have been telling their friends, that's for sure," said Bar Lead Dana Hagedorn. "So every day it's busier and busier."

The bar features a signature cocktail, transferred from the Coppin's restaurant next door. The Liquid Knowledge is a take on the bourbon-based Kentucky mule drink. It also features light snacks the bar calls "snips," named for the fuzzy part of a horse's nose, Hagedorn said.

The theme runs throughout the space. Local legend is John Coppin won the money to buy the land for his department store by betting on a long-shot horse race at the Latonia track. That horse's name was Knowledge.

Now it's immortalized in a ceiling mural in the large social room at the bar that bares its name.

"We want them to be able to walk around the building and our staff to be able to tell the story of what happened here," Ham said.

Throughout the building, developers left remnants of the past.

The old YMCA track's wall painting remains in one hallway on the second floor. Rooms on the third floor are lofted because that space was once the gymnasium. And in the Lightwell ballroom, people in line for the bar may find themselves standing on top of a glass window into the corner of what once was the YMCA's pool.

The ballroom has already hosted about two dozens events.

And construction's not finished. There's a retail space on the corner, in what used to be the Gateway Bookstore. Revival Vintage Spirits and Bottle Shop has announced plans to open a new, larger space there.

Bookings for North by Hotel Covington officially start May 1.

A Wawa gas station is coming to Liberty Township.

The township's board of trustees approved on Feb. 7 plans for Unicorp National Developments, Inc. to build a Wawa gas station at 7160-7198 Cincinnati Dayton Road, near Skyline Chili and The Donut Dude.

Civil engineer John Bayer with Mason consulting firm Bayer Becker said the Wawa will replace an existing car wash and former fuel station. This is the first gas station Wawa has brought forward for approval in Ohio. Robert Grassman, who spoke on behalf of Wawa, said they plan to open a cluster of gas stations in Ohio in 2025.

In December 2022, Wawa announced plans to expand to Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana after saying it had received "thousands of requests over the years." The company also said it would begin opening stores in Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia.

"These markets are the perfect places for Wawa to expand based on their strong business communities, their family-like atmosphere, and the confidence that our unique offer and amazing associates will be welcomed by these communities," Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens said. "We look forward to bringing our freshly prepared food, specialty beverages, fuel, and convenience services to these new areas all while creating new jobs and meaningful community support."

In addition to its gas pumps, Wawa is known for food and beverage options like its custom-made hoagies and specialty drinks. The company currently operates in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington D.C.

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A local group is providing a closer look at its plans to turn a once-segregated school into a cultural arts center in Glendale.

The former Eckstein School served Black children in the village for decades. It closed in 1958.

It was more than just a school though, said Bill Parrish, whose father attended Eckstein. This was the center of the community.

The school has been empty and in need of serious repairs for years. In 2021, its future was uncertain after a developer proposed demolition to build a convalescent home.

If you really want to save something, you're going to fight for it, Parrish said.

The community rallied around the site to push for its preservation. In 2021, the Cincinnati Preservation Association (CPA) agreed to purchase the school. Ultimately, the association will transfer the lot to the Eckstein Cultural Arts Center, which Parrish started.

There's about 95,000 listings on the National Register. Only 2% of those are associated with the Black experience, said Beth Johnson, CPAs Executive Director. Black sites have been overlooked for a multitude of reasons and CPA felt that it was necessary that we step up to help.

The project involves preserving the past while also looking to the future.

I think when you gather the history and you make it available for people to learn, then I think that's when history doesn't repeat itself, Parrish said. Well do arts programs, education.

Plans include adding a portable stage, recording studio, educational exhibits and multipurpose rooms for community use. Parrish said this will allow community groups to use the space for meetings.

I see a bunch of different people who don't look alike, Parrish said of his vision for the space in the future. And I see a lot of activity.

Parrish's goal is to turn a space that was once segregated into one that is intentionally integrated.

We know that that's going to be hard work, he said. It's not going to be easy, but that's what we're committed to.

The group just launched its fundraising campaign to make the plans a reality. Parrish said it will cost $3 million to renovate the site. The group is also trying to raise an additional $2 million to fund the first five years of operating costs.

You can donate to the project here.

The site is part of CPAs Cincinnati Sites and Stories. Its a free mobile app that allows users to explore sites that have shaped the regions history. The first collection was devoted to sites central to the Black experience in Cincinnati.

Those were the stories that people don't know, Johnson said. Those were the stories that we wanted to make sure we got into people's hands.

To help CPA identify other Black historic sites, email info@cincinnatipreservation.org.

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The future of one of Cincinnati's most iconic buildings just got a boost with more than $6.4 million in Ohio development grants for cleanup and remediation of the interior of Carew Tower.

It's part of $88 million in brownfield grants statewide, Gov. Mike DeWine's office announced Friday.

The $6,439,500 awarded to The Port and Carew Tower owner Victrix Investments LLC will be used for remediation, including a full roof replacement, asbestos abatement, and interior demolition, according to a news release.

The announcement said the 1930s-era office tower would be converted to residential after remediation. Right now, it describes the building as "predominantly vacant and suffering from steady deterioration."

A corporate affiliate of Victrix bought the iconic tower earlier this year for $18 million, amid problems with past-due water and sewer bills. More than one year before the sale, Duke Energy threatened to shut the power off.

Todd Castellini, vice president of public finance for The Port, called its involvement in the grants "a conduit."

"It's expensive, very expensive," Castellini said. "So these type of grants make this type of work happen otherwise they continue to sit and sit and sit."

Carew Tower isn't the only significant building getting state money for remediation as part of this grant process.

The former Union Central/PNC Tower on Fourth Street was built in 1913, but has been empty since 2020. It will become a mixed-use development, a partner to the City Club Apartments next door on Walnut Street, featuring 218 apartments and roughly 25,000 square feet of commercial space.

That project received $1,917,945 for remediation, asbestos removal, some demolition, and environmental work on all 32 floors and in the basement.

"I can say that it's necessary and we're lucky to have it and it's just going to make our city a lot more vibrant and exciting," Castellini said.

Other Tri-State projects got some grant money, too.

The Port was awarded more than $42,000 to demolish and abate the former Reliable Castings iron foundry and $150,000 to demolish a former coal boiler and silo at what is now MadTree Brewing in Oakley.

Clermont County received grants totaling around $387,000 for the cleanup of three agricultural industrial sites. Brown County received grants of more than $400,000 each for cleanup and demolition of the old Aberdeen schoolhouse and former Sardinia Creamery.

Two vacant and troubled Sycamore Township motels will be torn down in 2023 to make way for redevelopment and a possible manufacturing facility, thanks to additional money the State of Ohio released this week.

Governor Mike DeWine announced Tuesday the former Carrousel Inn and former Drake Motel on Reading Road are among 2,277 blighted properties that will be demolished using the state's Building Demolition and Revitalization Program.

"Were not just tearing down dilapidated buildings, were helping to make communities across the state better places to start a business, raise a family, and build a bright future, Governor DeWine said in a news release.

Hamilton County Land Reutilization alone received nearly $17.7 million in grants for demolitions for dozens of properties, announced this week.

It includes the now burned out Carrousel Inn, which The Port acquired in 2021 after a series of legal struggles with a former owner and after the property deteriorated.

Down the street, the former Drake Motel is also now owned by The Port and sitting in disrepair. It closed after a raid in 2013 forced tenants out and ended with its then-owner in handcuffs.

The Port said Tuesday the combines sites make up 6.5 acres and will be used "to create an industrial-specific building with an advanced manufacturing end user to bring high-paying jobs to the community."

First, though, a spokesperson said it will have to remove asbestos and demolish the existing buildings.

The Port said it is working with several jurisdictions to revitalize what it calls the Reading Road Corridor, "currently surrounded by various defunct parcels/structures that could be reinvigorated through the strategic use of public and private investments."

The state money requires demolition money be spent by May 1, 2023, according to The Port.

City leaders say the 'missing piece to the puzzle' in connecting several parts of Bellevue could be coming with the city's largest-ever development.

The seven-acre, city-owned property on the Ohio River is bounded by Fairfield Avenue to the south, Berry Avenue to the west and Lafayette Avenue to the east. The city approved a development agreement with Neyer Properties during a city council meeting Aug. 10.

Bellevue City Councilmember Ryan Salzman said hes excited to see the impact the project will have on the city.

"For the citizens of Bellevue, and the people coming to visit here, it really is, its going to be transformational," Salzman said.

Whats to come? Plans call for 239 multi-family housing units, 21 single-family homes, a 104-room hotel, a 425-space parking garage and 15,500 sq. ft. of office and retail space. City leaders say 190 jobs will be created when the development is completed.

Salzman said theyre working with Neyer Properties to ensure the development connects well to the Fairfield Avenue corridor.

"It should fit in very well," Salzman said. "Developers have said how committed they are to preserving sight lines and view lines. Its going to be a taller building but theyre not asking for anything in excess for what is currently allowed in Bellevue."

Dan Neyer, CEO and president of Neyer Properties, agreed.

"This will be the largest development ever in the City of Bellevue," he said. "With our focus on mixed-use projects throughout the Tri-State, this development fits in well with how we can help the community be the best that they can be.

Tax increment financing and industrial revenue bonds will be used to fund part of the project, according to Bellevue City Administrator Frank Warnock. With the property closing, the city will receive around $2.5 million. Mayor Charlie Cleves said during the Aug. 10 meeting that those funds would be used to retire existing bond debt.

Developers are hoping to break ground by late 2023 or early 2024. Construction is expected to be finished within three years.

Homeowners expressed concerns during the Aug. 10 council meeting in regards to excessive speed and traffic. City leaders like Salzman said theyre focused on working hand-in-hand with Neyer Properties to address those concerns.

Were going to have our staff, our elected officials going to be taking great care to ensure the comfort of the residents, and businesses that are here, but also the new residents and businesses were bringing in too, said Salzman.

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Plans for a housing development in Avondale are gathering overwhelming support from city officials and residents in the area. If successful, the project could significantly boost homeownership in the neighborhood.

Titan Real Estate Group is looking to bring 18 single-family homes to the currently vacant, city-owned lot on Alaska Avenue. The developer is also looking to build a street that connects Alaska Avenue with Harvey Avenue to boost walkability in the area.

City officials were briefed on the project in Tuesdays budget and finance committee meeting. The committee will vote next week on whether to support selling the property to Titan Real Estate before passing it on to city council. Members of the committee responded enthusiastically to the proposal, as well as Avondale residents who came out to voice support during public comment.

This is an important project for Avondale, said Linda Thomas, a member of the neighborhood advocacy group Avondale 29. "We are looking and have been working hard to drive homeownership in Avondale. We know that homeowners--having a higher percentage of homeowners in any neighborhood increases the vitality, the health, the stability of the neighborhood."

Homeownership rates in Avondale are low, around 20% according to Census data from 2015 to 2019 highlighted by the Avondale Development Corporation, a partner with Titan Real Estate in the project. That is partly why the project has been garnering support. Also, supporters of the effort say this will be a productive way to use land that has been vacant for about a decade.

Its like a subdivision feel, and thats why we wanted to bring the single-family detached development rather than townhomes, said Jodi Funke, president of Titan Real Estate Group. [A]nd so, each one will be completely separated. Youll have your own yard, front and back. And thats the reason why we chose thisjust because Avondale already has a lot of density

Thirteen of the houses will be market rate at about $350,000 to $375,000 each. The remaining five will be affordable houses reserved for households with at least one person with disabilities.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

Major housing developments coming to Mount Auburn have longtime residents frustrated about the green space they say they are losing. They are also worried about the influx of new residents coming in to the neighborhood because of these large housing developments.

Douglas Walton is one of several Mount Auburn residents who object to the incoming townhomes and apartments on Bigelow Street. The properties are being built by Camden Homes and Uptown Rental Properties, respectively.

Walton says before these housing developments came, Bigelow was a quiet, pleasant dead-end street with just a few single-family homes.

"Bigelow used to be one of the best dead-end streets in the city to walk on, which is why I used to walk on it all the time, because it was so nice," Walton said. "It had nice views and it had nice green spaceIt was just a nice, beautiful-looking dead end street."

However, since the developments came, residents complain that trees have been knocked down and the grass has been torn up. They say there is also less room to park.

Cora Blakey lives next door to the Uptown Rental Properties development. She isn't happy with her new view.

"It's been an eyesore, Blakey said. And I'm even more fearful that when it's done, it's going to become an even greater eyesore."

Walton, Blakey and another one of their neighbors, David Barnett, all voiced concerns about how big the developments are particularly the Uptown Rental Properties apartments. That project is expected to have almost 200 units on land that once held just three single-family homes.

"[F]or us that have been here for a while, there's not really much of a benefit for us to have such a big project sitting right behind our homes, Barnett said. Especially when you take into account the amount of land they cleared out, the amount of trees they destroyed."

City Council member Meeka Owens is the chair of the citys climate, environment and infrastructure committee. Owens acknowledges the residents' concerns, as losing green space can lead to a host of issues.

"It has not only health impacts on asthma, heart disease, diabetes, air quality, all of these pieces," Owens said. "But it also has economic impact when we're ruining neighborhoods, if you will, with infrastructure that may not be beneficial to everyone in that immediate area."

She also says rising temperatures is another risk of taking away greenery.

Uptown Rental Properties says it will create a walkway from Bigelow Street to Short Auburn and restore some of the greenery impacted in the construction.

"We've committed to improving that whole walkway to the extent that we can on our property," said Patrice Burke, the vice president of development for Uptown Rental Properties.

She also noted that the company is donating an acre of land to residents over on Walker Street as a conservation effort.

Camden Homes responded to complaints saying it plans to plant some trees on its site, and will try to preserve the trees already there.

A statement from the companys owner and founder, Dutch Cambruzzi, reads in part:

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution in support of a state senate bill that would empower individual tenants and other bidders when buying foreclosed homes.

Ohio Senate Bill 334 would prevent large out-of-state companies from buying foreclosed single-family homes in large quantities. Supporters hope the bill will reduce property issues that frequently arise among out-of-state landlords in local communities. They say it would also protect housing conditions for renters and homeowners in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Council member Reggie Harris, one of the council members who introduced the resolution, said the bill would help level the playing field for marginalized individuals looking to buy foreclosed homes that have also captured the interest of national companies.

"People in the community, non-profits who are invested have an opportunity to match the bid in the purchase. And this is a really great sort of systemic way to begin to think about this problem because we don't want to remove investment from the community. We want to make sure it's the right type of investment," Harris said.

Council member Jeff Cramerding introduced the resolution alongside Harris. Cramerding spoke on why out-of-state landlords can be harmful for the citys real estate market.

"Predatory property owners swoop into neighborhoods, buy up a tremendous amount of houses," Cramerding said. "This decreases our homeownership rate. It also artificially inflates home prices. And when they come in, they often rip out. a lot of the character that makes houses unique. That makes Cincinnati unique."

Senate Bill 334 was introduced earlier this month by State Senator Louis Blessing III of Colerain. The bill is now up for review by a budget committee.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

The City of Cincinnati is preparing to announce its decision on whether to approve the sale of a distressed property in North Avondale. If approved, the property would go to an organization serving young mothers.

The Rupel House on Reading Road is currently owned by The Port. The Port has been planning to sell the house to the Rosemarys Babies Company so the organization can turn it into transitional housing for young mothers.

"The idea is to get them out on their own without government support, said Elaine Bobbey, a board member of the organization. We want them to be self-sustainable. We want them to have a job. We want them to have training, and to be able to support themselves."

Rosemarys Babies argues its vision for the house will bring it to productive use by providing housing and services to young mothers in need. However, opponents who live in the area argue that their vision is not in line with the communitys master plan. Those detractors say they want to reuse the house in a way that will have more commercial purposes.

Sarah Koucky, the president of the North Avondale Neighborhood Association, is one of the opponents of the idea of the transitional house. She said residents outlined plans for that area that conflict with having support housing at the property. Koucky also said she and other opponents feel there could be an even better use of the house that is more relevant to the needs of North Avondale. Koucky said she and other opponents are frustrated the city and The Port havent be been more forthcoming about their activities in repurposing the house.

The city has not been transparent," Koucky said. "So we dont know, weve been trying to ask. Tell us whats going on, we want to know so we can have an open discussion in our neighborhood.

The Port issued a statement in response to the complaints saying:

"The Port has been fully supportive of Rosemary's Babies mission and intentions with the historic Rupel House property in North Avondale. After a thorough underwriting process, we gave a six-month deadline to verify construction, financials and business sustainability. Those requirements were met, and we wish Rosemary all the very best moving forward."

The city is expected to announce its decision on whether to support the sale of the house to Rosemarys Babies by the end of Monday.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

Two developers received funding from the state to bring affordable housing to Northside. The state funds come after a long fight from residents demanding that affordable housing be built at the site of the upcoming development.

The development, Vandalia Point, will be located at the Vandalia Triangle surrounded by Vandalia and Hamilton Avenues as well as Blue Rock and Apple Streets. The lot situated in the heart of Northside has been vacant for years, once used by a truck company. Soon, it will be the home of 52 affordable units ranging from studios to three bedrooms. The units will be reserved for residents making up to 60% of the areas median income. Urban Sites and Over-the-Rhine Community Housing (OTRCH) are partnering in the effort.

They have been so receptive and have worked so hard to accommodate, said Bree Moss, president of the Northside Community Council.

Urban Sites and OTRCH have made multiple appearances during community meetings to gather feedback from residents about the features they would like to see included at the site.

Something that the residents of this community have said that they value is one step closer to fruition," Moss said. "So were really grateful and excited about that.

Urban Sites and Over-the-Rhine Community Housing are receiving low-income housing tax credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. The partners needed to receive the credits in order to buy the property from the current owner, PLK Communities, to create affordable units at the site. PLK originally planned to build market-rate housing at the lot but residents pushed back.

Were very excited because rental prices have gone up significantly over the last 10 years in Northside. Theres a lot of artists in the neighborhood and folks who work in the service industry who have long called Northside home who have been priced out, essentially, said Becky Smolenski Finnigan, former president of the Northside Community Council.

Smolenski Finnigan hopes bringing more affordable housing will revive the Northside community.

This will restore some of that affordable rental property that weve lost and hopefully allow families who have always called Northside home to either move back into Northside or stay in Northside," Smolenski Finnigan said.

Over-The-Rhine Community Housing issued a statement saying:

OTRCH also said it will continue to appear at Northside Community Council meetings to seek input for their designs.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

Montgomery Quarters developers said three brands have secured their spots for retail space at the mixed-use complex through signing leases at the property.

Hellmans Fine Mens Apparel will move its location in Historic Montgomery over to a storefront in the development. Bru Burger, a burger restaurant chain, and a Latin restaurant called Livery will also be opening locations at Montgomery Quarter.

Neyer Properties and Brandicorp are partnering in building the development on Montgomery Road at the end of the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway. Matt Grever, the chief operating officer of Brandicorp, said they are looking to bring in restaurants that are newer to the area. However, despite being new, it is key they have proven track records of success in other markets.

Both Bru Burger and Livery are well-run restaurant concepts that have a good history to it, Grever said. We certainly want to bring people who we know are successful restaurateurs that can operate a business. We are very excited about the fact that Livery will be new to the market.

Jeff Chamot, the director of development for Neyer, said the brands are part of the first phase of amenities for Montgomery Quarter. There will also be offices for Fifth Third and a public park scheduled to open in August.

Theres a DORA there as well in that district between Montgomery Quarter and Downtown, Chamot said. So people can come and park and stay, eat, spend time there, but also walk to Downtown Historic Montgomery.

The connection between the two districts is the result of a partnership between the developers and the city of Montgomery. After phase one, Neyer said locals can also expect events and concerts in the park, apartments and construction of a Hilton Hotel. The hotel will break ground in the fall; the apartments will open early next year.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

As Hamilton prepares for the grand opening of the long-awaited Spooky Nook, city leaders said Thursday they are just as excited about another big investment across the bridge.

During a State of the City address, officials announced a $300 million investment that will transform the Cohen Recycling center into one of Hamilton's largest-ever developments. Hotels, apartments, a grocery store, office space and restaurants are planned for the 40-acre riverfront property.

"As excited as we are about Spooky Nook, the other side is twice as big in terms of investment," said Aaron Hufford, chief of staff for the City of Hamilton. "We're thrilled to be working with a developer on that site. Can't wait to see the transformation over there."

City leaders also announced a $50 million development that will bring a new purpose to the abandoned Beckett Paper plant one block south.

"Going to preserve many of the large buildings," city manager Joshua Smith said. "It also has townhouses included in some areas new construction mixed with construction that has been around for 140 years."

Hamilton homeowner Tyler McCleary said the announcement brings a lot of excitement to a community that loves its city.

"From the way the community is, it's a proud community historic. A lot of great people there, and a lot of great families," McCleary said. "If that goes in and the whole thing gets revitalized, what they've done here in downtown, the result will be amazing."

Third Eye Brewing Company is also investing more than #3 million into a new facility on Route 4. The location will house a 10,000 square-foot production facility and 6,000 square-foot taproom with a covered outdoor patio. The project is set to open in 2023.

"OTR is great, spent a lot of time down there, but I imagine that kind of feel with the restaurants and bars, and that kind of thing coming up here," said McCleary. "It's the place to be."

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A development in Downtown Cincinnati received a vital show of support at City Hall.

The budget and finance committee at City Hall unanimously voted in favor of a tax abatement for the Fourth and Pike Apartments across from Lytle Park. The city projects the development will cost more than $19 million.

Eagle Realty Group, a subsidiary of Western and Southern Financial Group, is remodeling the building into 30 refurbished apartments and making several other improvements to the 50-year-old property.

"The amount of tax revenue coming into the city by virtue of this project is going to grow and it's going to grow significantly," said David Nevers, the vice president of public relations and corporate communications for Western & Southern Financial Group.

If city council approves the abatement, the developer would get a 52% tax break for 15 years. It would also pay fees to Cincinnati Public Schools and streetcar operations on top of about $100,000 a year in taxes.

"The continuing growth and enhancement of that corner of the city is not only going to benefit the residents and the businesses in that area but that's going to be an attraction for the entire community," Nevers said.

The budget and finance committee expressed concerns over the abatement request when it was first presented last month. There were concerns over figures in the proposal. Ultimately, members expressed their support, saying the development would bring more people Downtown who would also contribute to the income tax base.

"We want a city where if you work irrespective of what you make you can afford to live in Cincinnati," council member Greg Landsman said. "And we are heading in that direction."

City council votes Wednesday on whether to approve the tax abatement.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

An agreement reached between First Lutheran Church and OTR Adopt has sown seeds of hope that the two parties will eventually resolve their longstanding conflict over the historic, though reportedly dangerous bell tower. Still, it will do little to quell the hostility the polarizing situation has fostered between those for and against the towers demolition.

An email from First Lutheran Church sent to WCPO Wednesday says, First Lutheran Church and OTR A.D.O.P.T. have reached an agreement for an independent engineer to investigate, assess, and provide a written report regarding the repairs needed to the First Lutheran Church bell tower.

The statement comes after outspoken church members and supporters of the towers preservation effort have been bitterly divided on whether to have a third engineering firm evaluate the conditions and necessary repairs for the tower. First Lutheran Churchs contracted engineering firm, THP Engineering, argued in a report that the tower would need repairs costing upwards of $3.5 million to address stability and water damage concerns. The church and its engineering team also sought to reinforce the tower in the event of a natural weather event like a hurricane, in part accounting for the steep cost.

However, Cromwell & Associates, LLC, an engineering firm commissioned by historic preservation organization OTR Adopt, countered THPs report by saying the tower only needs basic stabilization measures costing about $400,000. Citing this assessment, OTR Adopt has offered First Lutheran Church financial packages including $400,000 for the bell towers repair using donations from concerned individuals and community stakeholders like the Cincinnati Preservation Association.

OTR Adopt director Danny Klingler has validated the churchs safety concerns and desire to reinforce the structure, but he also said concerns over the towers risk to the public and its potential to collapse were being blown out of proportion.

In past interviews with WCPO, First Lutheran pastor Brian Ferguson once expressed resistance to the idea of having a third party assess what repairs were needed for the tower and how much it would cost. He said he and his fellow church leaders had confidence in THPs assessment and were disinterested in challenging it with another firms evaluation. However, Klingler and several of his contemporaries in the historic preservation space have expressed support for the idea, arguing it could provide an appropriate and affordable solution from a neutral observer.

Paul Muller, the executive director of the Cincinnati Preservation Association, is one of the local experts who has been behind the idea of getting another engineer involved. Muller says the CPA had agreed to contribute $110,000 towards the $400,000 balance to help restabilize the tower with rudimentary repairs.

[T]here are foundations out there that have come forward to us that said, you know, [I]f this comes together and it needs money, we're there, Muller said. That will not work at the $3 million level and I understand that completely. But if there is a repair that's in the range of $400,000, and I think that's what it looks like, that money is easily there.

Even structural engineering has an art component to it, and has a lot of interpretation," said Steve Kenat, another historic preservation advocate. "So if one organization believes that the building can be saved, and the city is okay with saving the tower as opposed to a full-on removal, it seems like that would be more appropriate for what we're trying to do in the neighborhood and preserve the architecture that's here.

Looming above is the question of whether the third engineering firm will be partial to THP Engineerings assessment or the report issued by Cromwell & Associates. There is also the possibility that the additional firm will present new repair and funding solutions that have yet to be put forward by either of the two prior firms. It is unclear at this time if First Lutheran and OTR Adopt have settled on which engineering firm will issue the third report.

Even with this breakthrough, it likely will never obscure the heated, divisive conflict Over-the-Rhine has seen slowly unfold between the congregants and the preservationists as theyve debated over the best solution for the tower. There are several reasons why the conflict has become so contentious.

Members of First Lutheran say they are frustrated that so much of the pushback on their already extensively-considered plans to demolish the bell tower has been coming from people outside of the congregation. Some share Fergusons concerns that the church will run out of money as it endures the legal battle opposite OTR Adopt over the tower.

They also worry about the tower continuing to pose an imminent danger to anyone in proximity to the church. There are several buildings on either side of the church with Washington Park just across the street. Also, a streetcar stop is located on the sidewalk right in front of the building.

This church provides food and clothing, AA meetings, NA meetings, said Linda Ziegler. She is the fourth generation in her family to be a member of First Lutheran Church. Clients from these agencies worship here. And if this church goes away, as we know it, all that goes away, too. [I]t's just ridiculous that we're even at this point.

Ziegler also vocalized her skepticism over OTR Adopts estimate that the necessary repairs for the tower would only cost approximately $400,000. Several people in the congregation share this skepticism, as well as whether this amount of money is even readily available.

That money that [Klingler] has is not being put towards a fix that will benefit the generations down the road. It's a band-aid. And we don't want to put a band-aid on the bell tower, said church member Cindy Schrader.

Congregants also noted they have been out of the building for so long because of concerns that the tower could fall. They say thats meant the church has had to miss out on holding significant community events like holding funerals for prominent, beloved figures and taking part in global causes like the worldwide day of Prayer for Ukraine.

I'm a social worker, I'm not an engineer. I believe we have hired the best folks, and I believe what they say, Ziegler said, speaking of the churchs engineering firm, THP. [T]he belltower to me is not the church. The church is a living thing. And the congregation, if we have to take it down to fix it correctly for the next 100 years, fine. Let's take it down and rebuild it. I think we're getting way too precious about, you know, historical things.

On the other hand, those who have backgrounds in historic preservation and are advocating for the tower to stay intact point out they have their own attachments to the church buildingeven if they are not members of the First Lutheran Church congregation. They argue that the perspectives of stakeholders in Over-the-Rhine should be considered in the plans for the tower because of the churchs historical significance. The First Lutheran Church building has been a celebrated fixture in the neighborhood for almost 130 years. It is a detail about the building preservationists feel should not be taken lightly.

The historic buildings don't belong to the individual who has it in their title right now. It belongs to the whole community. So the whole community, myself included, want to reach out and help preserve that, said Julie Fay, a historic preservation advocate.

Fay, Kenat and a handful of other individual preservationists WCPO spoke with say they have come out offering to donate money to the bell towers restoration. A number of the preservationists expressed their issue with First Lutherans past resistance to input from the wider Cincinnati society. They say that resistance conflicts with the churchs long-stated values of fostering community and uplifting diverse voices.

Preservationists also said some of the churchs biggest frustrations in the bell tower have been self-imposed. They point out that the citys buildings department didnt mandate that the congregation stay out of the building despite the towers acknowledged stability issues and said there is money already available for the church to make the necessary repairs.

[T]he building code allows existing buildings to maintain their own integrity from the original time that they were designed, Kenat said. "This building is 130 years old. It's sustained the test of time."

Kenat said the church can focus on using donations to make basic stabilization measures now, and add more cosmetic changes and reinforcements later.

Kevin Pape, president of the preservation organization Over-the-Rhine Foundation, said he also offered to donate money to the towers restoration and echoed Mullers comment that money already pledged for the steeples repair could still be paid to the church.

Pape said the church buildings architect, Charles Crapsey of Crapsey & Brown, had a good reputation for having built several other similar churches across the country that are still in good condition. He also said that he has been partial towards Cromwell & Associates assessment of the towers condition after having talked to other engineers who have looked at both reports. However, he had joined calls for another engineering firm to come in and make another, more objective assessment.

Let's look critically at both of them evaluate strengths or weaknesses, and then determine a course of action, Pape said. [T]he outcome needs to work for the congregation as well as the building itself[W]e're all invested in a solution that works for the church

The fact that both sides are so invested in the outcome of the tower, and have so fiercely defended their contrasting ideas on the best solution has captured the fascination of onlookers to the conflict. However, its the more personal jabs lobbied against the leaders on both sides that have only deepened the suspense.

Frustrated supporters of keeping the bell tower intact suggest Ferguson and First Lutherans leadership have been obstinate and aloof to the full breadth of their options for preserving the tower. On the other hand, Klingler has weathered even more pointed attacks on his character and track record in rehabilitating buildings by way of his organization. Some church members like Schrader and Ziegler vocalized their suspicion of Klinglers intentions for preserving the tower and for resorting to a lawsuit to do so.

I think it's disingenuous of him to talk about how interested he is in restoration," Ziegler said. There's a very real possibility, if he, if this continues, that the Church will, in fact, be destroyed. And then what?

The suspicion has led to speculations of Klingler leveraging the drawn-out legal proceedings to impose financial hardship onto the church. Those speculations have fueled fears of First Lutheran losing its own building before a predatory developer could come in and acquire ownership. The speculations have also stirred confusion over OTR Adopts organizational practices and funding model as a historic preservation nonprofit.

Klingler issued a statement responding to the speculations saying: The church is not a vacant dilapidated building that were trying to acquire. Our only goal is for the church to stay in the neighborhood. Not just stay in the neighborhoodstay in the building and us give them the money to restore their tower. Thats it.

OTR Adopts project and press pages on its website lists dozens of case studies and news articles dating back to 2010 about the work it has done to identify vacant, blighted buildings in Over-the-Rhine and pair them with future owners and investors. The goal is for those buildings to ultimately be revitalized for modern use. OTR Adopt coordinates the rehabilitation of these buildings during these transactions.

An OTR Adopt spokesperson said the salaries of its two employees (one of them being Klingler) are funded by the organizations earned income and grants. However, the vast majority of the money OTR Adopt receives from investors looking to acquire blighted buildings in the Over-the-Rhine area goes into paying for repairing and revitalizing those buildings. The representative said only a fraction of the money put forward by investors who are looking to take over ownership of these buildings goes into OTR Adopts administrative costs for organizing the pairings and rehabilitation work.

The organization points to a project it conducted in Corryville as an example of how provides its services and is then compensated by its partners. In 2016, the city had plans to tear down a property at 2648 Bellevue Avenue because it was extensively damaged by a fire. OTR Adopt says it intervened by finding a renovator, Corryville Properties, who could acquire the property and repair the fire damage so the property could be reused.

As a result, the city agreed to put up $38,000 to cover Corryville Properties costs for the buildings rehabilitation; that money would have otherwise been used for the demolition. OTR Adopt said it only received $5,000 for its administrative costs to facilitate the rehabilitation effort.

The organizations tax filings from that year show OTR Adopts total revenue was $338,016 and that its net income was $213,229. However, its functional expenses were $124,787, its liabilities were listed at $191,522 and its income from rental properties was $25,322. Klinglers compensation as the organizations director was listed at $26,000. His salary is listed at comparable rates in the years since while the organizations revenue later declined to the $200,000s and then to about $95,000 in 2019.

Klingler issued another statement responding to those skeptical of OTR Adopts work saying:

Klinglers contemporaries in the historic preservation and redevelopment community shut down the doubts his detractors have been placing on his and OTR Adopts credibility. They said OTR Adopt has a respected track record in restoring severely blighted buildings that are ignored by others and making them viable in the real estate market again. Furthermore, Pape pointed out that Klingler only forges relationships with investors with the demonstrated means to renovate buildings and who can be trusted to follow through.

Other historic preservation advocates acknowledge that Klingler may be seen by some developers and property owners as a nuisance. Like with First Lutheran, Klingler has come out and publicly pushed back against other development efforts like a controversial project at Liberty & Elm Streets and the Logan Street Garage in the name of historic preservation.

However, despite having antagonized powerful figures and institutions through his advocacy work, Klinglers supporters say questioning his motives is unfair and practically inconceivable. In their eyes, Klingler has long proven that preserving Cincinnatis historic districts is his lifes passion through the years he has spent rehabilitating its oldest, yet most promising buildings.

Pape said he and his wife bought a building from OTR Adopt, renovated it and brought it back to contemporary use. He says if it werent for Klingler, the building might have been demolished.

The reality is that he takes on buildings that no one else is willing to take on because they are in such difficult condition. And he is willing to put his money in to secure them, Pape said. Is there a differential in the payout? Sure. But there's also a significant investment that Danny is making taking on a lot of risk for buildings that don't have a market otherwise.

Architect Jennifer LeMasters Wirtz said Klingler was one of the most morally and ethically bound people she knows, and that she takes issue with some of First Lutherans church members disputing the integrity of OTR Adopt.

[I]t doesn't feel as though they're giving him credit for, or taking really the time to learn about how and why Danny formed that organization, OTR Adopt, which was purely to preserve our historic district," Wirtz said. "Does he fight hard? Absolutely, you know. But any person with passion is going to do that."

The next court date in the legal proceedings between First Lutheran and the city versus OTR Adopt is now scheduled for late May. A Hamilton County Court judge is slated to decide on whether to issue a stay order requested by OTR Adopt that would effectively bar any activity with the bell tower until the legal battle has come to a close. Until then, those both for and against the bell towers removal restlessly await the outcome.

I'm just anxious, church member Beverly Kinney said. [T]he church was was an anchor. And it seems like with all the turmoil that's around us today, whether it's the city or the nation or the world, that stability is missing.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

The Cincinnati Reds could become the naming rights sponsor of a floating hotel that would serve as the head boat for a riverfront dock, under a proposal submitted to Cincinnatis Park Board Thursday.

Its the latest in a string of surprising twists for a project that city officials have been unable to complete despite three bidding competitions since 2015 to find companies willing to build and operate a transient boat dock on Cincinnatis central riverfront.

The latest competition, which began in May, resulted in two bidders H. Hafner & Sons and Queen City Riverboats. Each presented their proposals to Park Commissioners Thursday.

The Redlegs Landing concept came from Queen City Riverboats. It wants to convert a riverboat casino into a floating hotel, or floatel, that would be moored in front of the National Steamboat Monument on Mehring Way. Docks would extend west from the four-story riverboat.

Weve been in discussion with the Reds and they want to sponsor that top deck every Fireworks Friday Night, Queen City Riverboats co-owner Don Jones told the board. They have a sponsor already in mind. We have the name Redlegs Landing already here, which is granted should we be the successful bidder.

The Reds did not immediately respond to questions about the arrangement. But Park Board member Susan Castellini, wife of Reds owner Bob Castellini, offered this quick take: Youve just prohibited me from ever voting.

Justin Cooper was also surprised by the proposal. The Hafner & Sons vice president was not aware that bidders could modify their presentations beyond the best and final bids they submitted to the citys purchasing department in August.

Hafner & Sons won that competition with a floating restaurant and boat dock that also would begin at the steamboat monument and extend westward. Queen City Riverboats shifted its location in Thursdays presentation. It originally proposed a head boat anchored near the Roebling Suspension Bridge, with docks that extended eastward toward Cincinnatis Public Landing.

We were told that we shouldnt move it downriver, said Brendan Sullivan, a real estate developer who co-owns Queen City Riverboats with Jones and a third partner. Its a much better location. We just didnt want to offend anybody by putting it there.

Queen City Riverboats submitted the new location as an addendum to its original bid, but it did not provide the Park Board with cost estimates and financial pro formas that would allow the city to compare its proposal to financial estimates in the Hafner & Sons bid.

Cooper told the Park Board he would seek $2.3 million in city funding for his proposed dock and pay the city close to $2.9 million over 20 years in shared revenue from restaurant and dock operations.

The Park Board took no action on the proposals because it is waiting on financial estimates from Queen City Riverboats and legal guidance from the city on whether the new proposal can be part of the companys original bid.

Weve got some sorting out to do, said Park Board President Jim Goetz. I personally dont feel we have enough information today to make any decision on this.

Cooper declined to say whether he would challenge the revised proposal if the Park Board chooses the RedLegs Landing option over his proposal.

Were in it for the long haul," Cooper said. "Were willing to stick this out and hopefully come out on top as the preferred bidder by both the procurement office as well as the Park Board."

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Cincinnatis building department has ordered the Madison House condominium tower to hire an outside contractor with specialized knowledge to restore the structural integrity of concrete and exposed rebar in the parking garage and basement of the 60-year-old building.

The order follows weeks of complaints by Madison House owners about crumbling concrete, exposed rebar and balcony leaks that left some wondering whether the Hyde Park structure is safe.

The owners have been talking to the WCPO 9 I-Team because they were disturbed by similarities between the damage in their building and the collapsed Champlain Towers South structure in Surfside, Florida.

I think they have a duty to oversee the structural integrity of all high-rises, said Hamilton County Muncipal Judge Berti Helmick, who owns a third-floor unit at Madison House. Surfside was only about half the size of our building. Its not enough to rely upon self-reporting. There should be forensic engineering required of any building over a certain size or over a certain age. Buildings age and we have to be vigilant that the residents housed in these buildings are safe.

The Madison House did not respond Wednesday to two WCPO I-Team requests for comment. Our reports have documented cracked walls, leaky ceilings and rusty rebar in two prior reports on the 19-story tower built in 1961. City inspections on July 22 and July 30 followed both reports.

Madison House resident fears home 'just like Surfside'

Repairs on the way to Madison House

The first inspection led to three violations in a three-story garage attached to the buildings southwest corner. The second inspection led to a more serious order to repair structural members in the garage and basement.

There are deteriorated concrete and exposed rebar in the garage, garden room and basement areas of the principal building and garage, said the Aug. 4 document. Repair or replace deteriorated structural members and otherwise restore the structural integrity of the damaged structural elements.

The Aug. 4 inspection included a new requirement that wasnt found in the July 22 order.

Architectural drawings and building permits are required for this work, the order said. A design professional registered in Ohio is required to prepare the repair solution and inspect the work as a Special Inspector.

Ohios building code defines special inspections as necessary in projects requiring special expertise to ensure compliance with approved construction documents and referenced standards. Cincinnati records say special inspectors are necessary in projects with complexity, size, or special conditions.

Despite the beefed-up orders, some Madison House residents are not yet satisfied.

Its a start, said Edgar Ragouzis, who has battled the Madison House Board of Managers for several years over leaks in his balcony and others.

Ragouzis claims the condo board has failed to reserve enough funding for faade deterioration caused by a lack of water control in windows, decks and enclosed balconies.

They need to be more proactive, Ragouzis said of city inspectors. They need to examine the entire structure, including every patio.

Judge Helmick said the building has safety issues beyond those revealed so far. She received a "mild traumatic brain injury" last October when she fell on a stairway between the building's loading dock and its parking garage. She recently learned the building replaced a loose railing on those stairs with a new railing that does not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Im not the type of person who wants to create problems for the building," Judge Helmick said. "I would wish that they would do this on their own. Certainly, the city should come out and check the repairs and see that they were done in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. I would like them to do that."

Judge Helmick would also like the Madison House condo board to send owners a copy of engineering studies conducted on the building in recent years.

In a five-page memo to Madison House condo owners in July, the board said its engineering firm, SRES Inc., completed an engineering inspection of the buildings faade in March 2020. Helmick said that report should be shared with Madison House residents, along with an engineering assessment of the building's garage, slated for completion this year.

In a perfect world there should be full transparency, Helmick said. It is very frustrating to hear (about problems) piecemeal. I dont want to be placated or condescended to and to be told, Weve decided to blacktop when there are obvious problems with the building.

Cincinnati building inspectors have ordered the Madison House condominium tower to repair windows, walls, concrete and rebar in its three-story parking garage.

But thats only one of the major changes underway in the 19-story high rise, where condo owner Edgar Ragouzis sounded the alarm about structural issues by talking to the WCPO 9 I-Team July 16.

The Madison House Board of Managers announced a faade restoration program for the building, to be completed by next year, along with a new engineering study for the garage and concrete repairs to a basement storage room.

In the meantime, Madison House owners have raised new concerns about the buildings structural integrity while demanding an independent engineering study for the entire building.

This kind of exposed rebar and falling concrete inside our main building did not happen overnight. And this is NOT cosmetic work, but also structural, condo owner Aerin Shaw wrote in a July 25 email to more than 80 owners. I think we have a right to know what condition our building is in, and how much money is being planned to fix it.

The long-simmering dispute is an example of how condominium dwellers have become more vigilant after Champlain Towers collapsed in June, killing 98 people in Surfside, Florida.

Madison House resident Edgar Ragouzis has battled its condo board for several years, leading to a 2020 lawsuit in which the board is trying to foreclose on Ragouzis, while he alleges the board failed to properly allocate reserves for exposed structural concrete.

The Madison House board has not responded to the I-Teams questions. It provided new details on planned building repairs in recent memos that condo owners shared with the I-Team.

In a July 26 memo, the board said it hired the engineering firm SRES Inc. to inspect the buildings faade in May 2020 and perform walk-through visual reviews of the garage each year from 2019 to 2021.

Though the west wall requires significant repairs, the memo said of the garage, it is not load-bearing and not a structural concern.

The memo said an engineering assessment will be completed this year while faade repairs are scheduled for completion in 2022.

The buildings manager, Towne Properties LLC, declined to comment on specific allegations raised by Ragouzis and Shaw. But the head of Townes asset management division told the I-Team the building is safe.

The building has been managed with care for a long time, said Derek Wehman, a Towne Properties vice president. An engineer has been involved in the building, inspecting it regularly since 2004.

Shaw questioned the thoroughness of those inspections while showing the I-Team water-damaged concrete and exposed rusty rebar in the Garden Room, a basement storage room on the buildings northeast corner.

That rebar is cracked, Shaw said, pointing to a quarter-inch separation in one of the metal bars that support the rooms concrete ceiling. You can see the rebar is now weakened to the point where its broken. This is a structural wall.

Shaw said the Garden Room damage reminded her of pre-collapse photos at Champlain Towers.

My unit (is) straight above this. If this goes, I go, Shaw said. Ive seen the simulation of Surfside. It doesnt take too many pylons before the whole building comes down. So, people think, Well, its all OK. Its not OK. One pylon can mean a very devastating thing for this building.

In a July 27 memo, the Madison House board said concrete spauling in the Garden Room was "likely due to the failure of the water proofing system" and "does not compromise structural integrity of the building."

The memo added, "a current structural assessment of the main building has been approved by the board."

Shaw is a marketing executive with a local consulting firm who emailed a complaint to the Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspection last Wednesday. The email included a link to WCPOs July 16 report on the Madison House garage and a 2019 Power Point presentation she sent to the Madison House board about leaks, cracks and broken windows in the garage.

Clearly, as seen in last Fridays WCPO report, virtually NOTHING has been done to repair the structure since 2019, Shaw wrote to city officials last week.

Shaws July 21 email led to a city inspection the next day and three violations against Madison House.

"Minor deterioration of the concrete on the underside of the parking surface with rusted rebar exposed," Inspector Scott Bohnert wrote. "Will issue orders."

On Monday, city inspectors ordered a garage overhaul that includes the repair of deteriorated concrete and exposed rebar, replacement of broken windows and restoration of deteriorated leaning or bulged masonry walls.

Thats not enough to satisfy Ragouzis, who wants a full structural integrity report on the building. Shaw is pushing for a report thats independent and invasive.

The very best that could happen is an independent engineering report by a highly reputable, new engineering company that does a full, invasive engineering study, she said. By that I mean not just tapping on the concrete and saying, Ooh, its fine. You actually have to drill into the concrete. You have to do chemical analysis.

Demolition of the Millennium Hotel is expected to finish in the summer of 2022, but some people are already thinking about the future of the space.

The blighted hotel closed in 2019 before it was sold to the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority in 2020. Then, demolition began in March, and so far things are going as planned.

"No surprises yet," Michelle O'Rourke, CEO of the O'Rourke Wrecking Company, said. "But the project's still early."

O'Rourke said a project like this will take skill and patience.

"In the demolition business, 32 stories and a 23-story side by side is something you don't see every day," she said. "Typically on a building like this in other cities, we've done the implosion method... but this project didn't lend itself to that because of the close proximity to the 8451 building, and there's live utility lines surrounding the utility site that feed the central business district."

But Jordan Vogel, the executive director of Allied Construction Industries, said it will all be worth it.

"This is a region that's on the rise," Vogel said. "There are a lot of good people working hard to make sure that Cincinnati is a tier-one city, and we can't be a tier-one city without a headquarters hotel."

A new hotel placed on the same lot as the Millennium Hotel has been discussed, but nothing is set yet. Vogel said an 800-room hotel would need to be planned.

"Right now, if you think of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, they are selling out to 2024, 2025 and beyond and they're trying to sell to big conventions to bring them here," he said. "We're working hard to be the city that we all aspire to be."

No matter what the next steps are for the space, though, O'Rourke said she's looking forward to what comes next.

"It's exciting, and we're excited to see what the future brings for this site."

Early interest in a bidding competition for a riverfront boat dock has encouraged the city of Cincinnatis purchasing department to consider a deadline change to give bidders more time to prepare proposals.

The current June 17 deadline could be pushed back a week or more as the city works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine the scope of its existing permit for a riverfront dock, said Bobbi Hageman, chief procurement officer for the city. That question was one of several raised by representatives of eight companies that attended an informal bidders conference June 3.

Im thrilled with the turnout, Hageman said. It showed me that what we did was correct.

When the city issued its request for proposals May 20, it marked the third time since 2016 that public bids were invited to build or operate a riverfront marina. After those efforts failed, the Cincinnati Park Board sparked controversy last November when it endorsed a no-bid contract to solve its boat-dock dilemma. Critics complained a proposal by Queen City Riverboats would block access to the Public Landing. Parks Director Kara Kish asked the city to launch a formal bidding process.

Queen City Riverboats owner Don Jones was among the potential bidders who asked questions at the June 3 meeting. So was Andy Storch, owner of Storch Marine. Both told the WCPO 9 I-Team in recent weeks they were not likely to bid.

The sign-in sheet for the bidders conference included representatives of Hafner Marine, Grand Majestic Riverboat Company, River City Marina, Prus Construction and MKSK Studios, an architectural firm. Hageman said another potential bidder has been in touch with the city, giving her confidence that proposals will be submitted.

Its a huge win for the city, she said.

Grand Majestic CEO Joe Baer isnt so sure about that.

Honestly, I believe its going to be a long time before we see any docks on the riverfront, said Baer, a veteran riverboat captain who asked several questions during the June 3 meeting about the scope of the citys permit for riverfront docks from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

You just cant use a pleasure-boat permit to bring in a commercial boat or even to run a restaurant off of it, Baer said. The Corps actually has to approve there being a floating restaurant.

Steve Schuckman, manager of the Park Boards planning and design division, said the city intended to pursue whatever permits it will need after determining which bid it wants to pursue. Baer was not convinced.

Thats not how the Corps of Engineers works, Baer said. Why should I go and spend all the money to get drawings, to get artist renditions within a three-week period on the idea of a 'maybe?'

Hageman said the citys purchasing department might delay the deadline for a week or more to bring more clarity on the permit issue. Baer thinks a delay to the end of August would be necessary for bidders to know what they can include in their proposals.

Were looking for concepts at this point, said Brook Cashion, a supervising management analyst in the citys purchasing division. The intent was to leave it open because if we limit it and we spec the concept for you, then really all wed be asking for is price. We want proposals to be creative use your expertise as people who do this for a living for us to help design it.

The Cincinnati Park Board has launched its third attempt since 2015 to bring a public boat dock to the Cincinnati riverfront, five months after scuttling a controversial proposal that could have reduced access to the Public Landing.

The Park Board issued a request for proposals May 20, seeking new solutions by June 17. At least two potential bidders complain that's not enough time to respond, while a third hasn't decided whether to submit a proposal.

"I certainly hope that we get a responsive bid. I cant promise you that we will," said Kevin Flynn, a Cincinnati City Council candidate and former Park Board member who championed last year's unsolicited proposal by Queen City Riverboats to build and operate a dock at the Public Landing.

Flynn still thinks that solution could have worked if the city had used the proposal as a starting point for a negotiated contract.

"Honestly, I think that this is one of those things where we are going through the process because people raised hell," said Flynn. "But it's going to involve somebody putting their own capital into the project. Thats what we had in December. We had a partner that was willing to supply its own infrastructure and operate the dock at their own cost for 20 years. That was no small commitment."

RELATED: Park Board hits rough water with riverfront boat dock

The RFP invites bidders to use the Park Boards $1.7 million budget to design, build and operate a dock that can hold at least 20 private boats at a time, along with police and fire equipment. The document describes a preferred dock location between the Public Landing and John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, adding: The location shall not interfere with commercial cruise lines or the Public Landing boat ramp.

The new bidding process marks the second time the Park Board has shopped for dock builders. A 2016 bidding process ended with the selection of a construction manager and a $3.6 million price tag for a dock at the foot of Main Street. By 2019, the estimate soared to $5 million and a second bidding process ended with no satisfactory bids from dock operators.

When Queen City Riverboats owner Don Jones made an unsolicited offer to build and operate a dock last November, the Park Board endorsed the idea unanimously. But criticism over the docks location and the financial terms of the deal led Parks Director Kara Kish to request a formal bidding process.

In a May 6 interview with the I-Team, Jones expressed frustration that it took more than four months for the city to invite new proposals and said he was leaning against participating.

Ive spent so much money just trying to figure it out, and you cant get answers, Jones said. Anybodys welcome to bid. I dont think anybody will because it costs a lot of money to do these things. So, Ive given up hope that its ever going to happen.

Jones later released a statement saying he will seriously consider bidding on this project.

BB Riverboats owner Alan Bernstein told the I-Team in December he would submit a bid if the Park Board offered the chance. Now, he says the citys deadline doesnt give him enough time to put a proposal together.

Were just coming out of COVID and were trying to recover, Bernstein said. Were working double and triple time to try and get our operation back into order. So, with the schedule that they put in there, I dont think theres any way I could do it even if I hired someone to take the project.

Andy Storch has also thought about partnering with others on a riverfront dock proposal. But now that hes seen the 30-page RFP, the owner of Storch Marine doesnt think hes qualified.

Generally, I would say that the specified scope of services will make it difficult for anyone to provide a proposal by the due date, Storch said. I am reaching out to design, build, and installation companies with the necessary experience on similar projects. But again, it is unlikely that well qualified companies will have time to digest and make proposal.

The RFP is a sharp departure from the 13-page proposal Jones put forward last fall. It called for the city to pay Queen City Riverboats $1.7 million and handle all permits for its 1,280 linear feet of docking. It called for Queen City Riverboats to cover all costs above $1.7 million and receive all revenue from docking fees and a floating restaurant. The proposal included a 20-year lease agreement in which the city would gradually transfer ownership of the dock and receive $1 per year in rent.

The citys new proposal calls for revenue sharing between the city and the winning bidder and establishes dozens of requirements for companies that would design, build and operate the new dock. Those requirements include compliance with Ohios prevailing wage rules and awarding at least 2% of all contracts to minority-business enterprises and 4% to women-owned companies. The citys RFP says the winning bidder will be responsible for securing all permits and calls for the dock to be monitored round-the-clock with staff available to respond to any emergency within 30 minutes.

Bernstein said the terms outlined in the citys RFP would lead to a better deal for the city.

The location is much better, he said. They make it very clear you cannot impede the Public Landing.

Bernstein also likes the revenue-sharing approach in the new RFP, which calls for bidders to propose a revenue-sharing structure to include mooring services and any ancillary services offered at the dock.

Its very unfair to ask the taxpayers to underwrite that whole operation, Bernstein said. They dont talk about the formula, but they definitely talk about a revenue share, which starts to get some money flowing back to the taxpayer.

The city is hosting a bidder's conference June 2 at the Public Landing and requiring bidders to submit questions in writing by June 7. The RFP doesn't spell out a timeline for the selection process, but calls for the dock to be built and operating by August 21, 2022.

The Blair Lofts project was set to start this month, but community leaders in Avondale are left asking why construction still hasn't begun.

The two-phase development at Reading Road and Blair Avenue is supposed to bring 64 affordable housing units to a neighborhood that hasnt seen newly built affordable apartments in 15 years.

The income requirements to live in the apartments will be as low as 30% of the average median income, meaning some residents could get an apartment for as low as $425 a month.

MORE: Avondale community meeting addresses concerns with Blair Lofts project

So why hasn't construction started? Some in the community blamed The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority for the delay by not approving their portion of project financing.

But Port CEO Laura Brunner said they aren't the hold up -- they're waiting for Cincinnati City Council to approve the project. She also says it has nothing to do with the developer, Kingsley + Co. president Chinedum Ndukwe, who was involved in the FBI investigation of council members last year.

"People might perceive that that is the issue or worry that that is the issue or building a case that that's the issue, but the simple fact is that my board's approval of this project at any time right now would not accelerate this project at all, Brunner said.

The Port's involvement in the project includes acquiring the deed for the land so they can then grant a sales tax exemption for construction costs, which will come to about $300,000. The project also has financing through low-income tax credits and tax incremental fund requests to the city.

Meanwhile, Kingsley + Co. is involved in litigation with the Port right now over the Convention Place building downtown on Elm Street. The Port said that is not impacting the Avondale development.

Brunner said she has spoken to Ndukwe in the last few days as well as Avondale community leaders. She's hoping they can all get together and sort everything out.

"So that's where we sit now," she said. "And, I do not understand why there's all this pressure, all of this commentary about us holding it up because even if my board had approved it two months ago, the project cannot move forward until they get their city approval."

Once the city approves the project, it will be presented to the Port's board, which Brunner said usually approves the staff's recommendations.

Dozens of Avondale residents and community leaders took part in a first-of-its-kind engagement meeting Monday night to voice concerns around an affordable housing development.

The Blair Lofts project, which includes 64 affordable lofts on the corner of Blair Avenue and Reading Road, has many long-time residents saying its a long time coming.

This project will set the tone for what fair housing, and decent housing, looks like in Avondale, said Sandra Jones Mitchell, president of the Avondale Community Council.

Mitchell and other city officials said more than half of Avondales residents are at risk of being displaced, and that affordable housing is important.

The development taking place in Avondale, youre going to need five jobs, with some of the houses being built, and two husbands to buy some of the stuff, she said. Its not fair to the people working hard so they can have a nice place to stay.

The Blair Lofts' developers hope to be the answer to the neighborhoods prayers: a four-story, 64-unit complex with state-of-the-art security and maintenance, along with community partners like Cincinnati State to help with college access and Fifth Third Bank for financial literacy assistance.

"Were promoting this so the residents and children can get quality programming to benefit and actually step up out of the affordable housing venue, said Russell Hairston, with the Avondale Development Corporation.

Mondays meeting was an opportunity for residents to ask questions.

My concern is the traffic, Avondale resident Elizabeth Thompson said. Number one. They run through here like the Indy 500 as it is already.

The biggest concern for the project is to discuss whether taxpayer funds should be used in its construction.

One of the biggest challenges to affordable housing is: How are we going to finance it? said developer Kingsley + Co president Chinedum Ndukwe.

This is the first time weve used (tax incremental fund) dollars in this manner, Avondale Community Council president Tony Moore said. Traditionally you use it for garages that the community cant see a direct benefit in.

Another hurdle faced by the project, the developer is asking the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority to fund $15 million in lease revenue bond. That would essentially lower construction costs by eliminating sales tax on construction materials.

However, The Port and the developer are now engaged in an ongoing legal battle.

The Port issued a statement saying, in part: We are hopeful the developer can resolve all outstanding items so the project can move forward on schedule."

Residents said the delay is their biggest concern right now.

"You cant keep treating us like were not human, Avondale resident Ozie Davis III said. Like we dont love this place. I call this place my Jerusalem.

A local real estate developer has accused Sycamore Township Trustee Tom Weidman of soliciting bribes for proposed land deals in Kenwood between 2009 and 2012, according to a Hamilton County lawsuit filed April 12.

Morelia Group CEO Christopher Hildebrant alleges Weidman demanded payments from him after learning that Hildebrant had consulting deals with property owners who sold their land to Sycamore Township.

When Mr. Hildebrant refused to pay the bribes that Weidman demanded, Weidman exacted revenge over a period of many years by using his power as a Township Trustee to prevent Mr. Hildebrant from conducting any real estate development business in Sycamore Township, the complaint states. Weidmans retaliation peaked in 2019, when he prevented Plaintiff Morelia Group, which is operated by Mr. Hildebrant, from purchasing property owned by Sycamore Township for a planned commercial development project.

The complaint comes two months after Weidman sued Hildebrant for defamation in Warren County. That complaint accuses Hildebrant of spreading a vicious lie about Weidman and creating a fake email to support his bribery claims.

The lawsuits represent the latest in a string of corruption allegations that toppled political careers from Cincinnatis City Hall to the statehouse in Columbus. Unlike those cases, these allegations have not led to criminal charges against Weidman.

Hildebrants allegations were investigated by the Ohio Auditors public integrity unit last year. But that probe ended with no charges after Hildebrant invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to answer investigators questions, according to a Case Closing Memo from the Auditors office that was attached to Weidmans lawsuit.

Now that the allegations are public, tension is on the rise in Sycamores local government, where public officials have been threatened with litigation and told to preserve records relating to the dispute. It also complicates the re-election prospects for Weidman, who is expected to seek his fourth 4-year term in office this November.

Related: Critics question Weidman's developer ties in 2019 campaign

I dont know if the allegations are true or not, said Trustee Tom James, who reported Hildebrants allegations to the Ohio Auditor in February 2020. But if he did do it, he shouldnt be there, absolutely not. This may have been years ago, but it still reflects on trust.

Weidman emphatically denies those allegations, said attorney Todd McMurtry, who filed Weidmans defamation lawsuit on Feb. 17. Mr. Weidman cooperated fully with the Auditors investigation, including providing all of his emails and all of the documentation he could muster. And they chose not to proceed with that.

Weidman allegations

McMurtry is the Northern Kentucky lawyer who represented former Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann in a series of defamation lawsuits against the Washington Post and other media outlets.

His Warren County complaint alleges Hildebrant tried to bolster his claims by sending an email to himself that appeared to be from Weidman on Dec. 20, 2011.

The Fake Email is full of lies designed to inflict psychic injury, cause severe emotional distress and defame Weidman, said the complaint. Hildebrant has admitted that he created the Fake Email.

Hildebrants response to the Warren County lawsuit concedes he wrote the email and shared it with Township Administrator Ray Warrick, Trustee Jim LaBarbara and Ohios Auditor.

Weidmans complaint alleges James, LaBarbara and Warrick repeated the allegations made about Weidman to many others. Eventually, unbeknownst to Weidman, these allegations circulated widely in the community, severely damaging Weidmans reputation.

Hildebrant declined to comment through his attorney, Taft Law partner Russell Sayre.

James said he believes he acted properly when Hildebrant first told him about the alleged bribes in January 2020. That led to a second meeting in which Hildebrant showed emails that supported his claims to LaBarbara and Warrick. After conferring with the townships legal counsel, James said he contacted the Auditor, the Ohio Ethics Commission and the FBI. The FBI and Ethics Commission declined to confirm or deny any investigation.

We were all very angry about it if it were true, James said. We wanted an investigation.

LaBarbara said Hildebrant showed him six or seven emails and he said he had more to support his claims. He didnt know until recently that Hildebrant created the December 2011 email, which LaBarbara considered the most damning of all the evidence he was shown.

If that in fact is true, it doesnt look good, LaBarbara said. If its true, he should resign.

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A former Kenton County government building which had a jail on the top floors is being stripped down and made into an apartment building.

RELATED: Developers ask Covington to help close funding gap for luxury apartments at former Kenton Co. building

The 10-story building at 303 Court St. in Covington used to house a jail and government offices, but it has been empty for years. The city is investing $31.4 million in the building, and officials hope it will boost resident's morale.

Covington Mayor Joseph Meyer said two floors will be added to the building to give more views of the surrounding area.

"This is the sort of development and investment that I think all the people in Covington could have pride in," Meyer said. "New people are coming in and in rather large numbers... I like to talk about Covington being a city of opportunity for all of its residents."

The building will offer studios as well as one and two bedroom apartments. The building is expected to house about 133 new families when it is finished, which officials hope will be in the summer of 2023. Construction is expected to start in July.

Decades of struggle to save and restore a Southwest Ohio landmark once listed for sale on eBay are nearly over. It happened thanks in part to some Cincinnati-area companies and lessons learned from development here.

"It's probably in the top two of the toughest projects I've done in 43 years" said George Keppler, vice president of construction for Over-the-Rhine-based Model Group and a UC grad. "This is one of the keystones to get revitalization Downtown."

Part of the historic Dayton Arcade is now an innovation hub connecting university students to businesses. Apartments come online soon. The iconic rotunda will be an event space. Businesses are getting ready to move into storefronts on the ground floor.

Think of the Dayton Arcade like a mix of Findlay Market and Union Terminal a complex of buildings with rich history and serious emotional pull that was seriously close to being lost to the wrecking ball.

"We call this the most emotional building in Dayton, Ohio," said David Williams, senior director of development for Baltimore-based Cross Street Partners. "This one always has a story."

Rise and fall

The Arcade, built between 1902 and 1904, was a hub of activity in downtown Dayton for decades. It is really a collection of several buildings, featuring Dutch and Italian Renaissance Revival architecture. The rotunda was a fresh market for decades, with innovative (for its time) cold storage. Restaurants like Charley's Crab and Arcade Seafood opened around the rotunda.

"I compare it to Findlay Market," Keppler said. "It's the same thing with the farmers market to start with, same concepts. Everybody cherishes Findlay Market in Cincinnati and it's the same thing here. Every time we ran into someone in Dayton, they talked about it."

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. A renovation turned into an urban mall in the 1980s, just as suburban malls were drawing business away.

That was the first time Williams set foot inside for lunch in the food court, which was in the basement of the rotunda at the time.

In the '90s, the Arcade opened only for holiday shopping. The rotunda was decked out for the Arcade Holly Days for a couple years. But it wasn't enough to save the businesses or commitment to the building itself.

The Dayton Arcade has spent the last 30 years empty and rotting, the Christmas lights still dangling from the rotunda dome.

A 'complex' fix and surprising discovery

The property shuffled through owners at one point, it was listed for sale on eBay, likely to be demolished for scrap.

"When your buildings are for sale on eBay, when your best-looking buildings are for sale on eBay, that's a problem," said Frances Kern Mennone, director of strategic partnerships for Cross Street Partners.

Ultimately, a task force compared the cost of demolition (and loss of tax credits) to the cost of redevelopment.

"So it was no longer a $12 million conversation; now it was a $40 million conversation," Williams said.

That change in thought process won city support to stabilize it and start work on restoration. But first, financing.

Frances Kern Mennone often spent the entire hour-long drive from her home in Wyoming, Ohio, to downtown Dayton on her phone, finessing the finances to make this renovation happen.

"It's the most complicated project I've ever worked on, for sure," she said. "We had gotten all the financing pieces put together about nine months before we were able to close the transaction."

The project's capital stack is a complex mix of layers of federal and state historic tax credits, new market tax credits, low-income housing tax credits, as well as loans and grants. The project is expected to cost roughly $95 million.

Bruce Katz, director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University, called the Dayton Arcade "the most transformative project in America" in 2019, saying he counted 26 layers of financing in the capital stack.

Work inside started in 2019, too, after the financing was figured out bringing more Cincinnati-area experts to the project.

"We joke that if you were at UC in structural engineering and wanted to do your thesis, this is the place," said alumnus George Keppler. "The structures were phenomenal you're talking 1902, 1904, and some of the things they did back then, I just shake my head and say, 'Wow.'"

Recent UC architecture graduate Michael Rick has been working at the Arcade since shortly after he graduated, designing elements for the refreshed facades and railings throughout.

"I did a lot of drawings, but this is really the first time I've been able to kind of see my drawings come to life," he said.

OTR-based Model Group joined Cross Street Partners and McCormack Baron Salazar as leads on the project.

"Every time we took a wall down, every time we opened up something, it was a problem," Keppler said.

Except one time, it was a serendipitous discovery.

"One of the other contractors mentioned to me that they had found intact, sort of, offices in the North Arcade and I instantly told him to take me to it," said Boyd Williams, plumbing superintendent with Nelson Stark Company. Williams is from Woodsdale, which is a tiny town just south of Trenton.

Williams' dad and stepfather both did plumbing for about 18 months at the Arcade in the late 1980s.

"We were ankle-deep in water with flashlights, because it's pitch black, and we go into a room with a desk with the legs rotting off, and there's a pile of time books on top of the desk that hadn't slid into the water yet," he said. "The first one I grab, open it up and I see my [now] father-in-law's name and my father's name in the sheets."

Williams saved those time books, which range over several months in late 1989. His now father-in-law's distinct handwriting is on the front of one.

"That's how the whole Arcade was when we first went in there," Williams said. "It looked like everybody went home for the day and never came back."

Back to life

There's been no shortage of passion and vision for the Arcade.

"Why is Cincinnati downtown, why is Over-the-Rhine, so special? Because it's just taking advantage of all that great fabric throughout the area," Williams said. "That's what we're capitalizing on here."

The complex's physical scale is massive. Nine inter-connected buildings comprise the complex, totaling more than 330,000 square feet.

Cincinnati-based De Timmerman Ltd, experts in historic window restoration, has restored roughly 800 windows throughout the complex, according to Model Group.

West Chester-based Kleingers Group provided civil engineering, survey, and landscape architecture services.

The rotunda, with its distinct glass dome, has been fully restored. The dome window panes were replaced, new terrazzo tile floor was made custom, and cornucopia ornamentation has been repainted around the ceiling.

"Everything represents Ohio [agriculture]," Keppler said. "What I was told is, because it was so close to the rail system, they had stuff shipped in from California and folks from Indianapolis were coming here back then."

The Hub a partnership between the University of Dayton and The Entrepreneurs' Center is a 100,000-square-foot co-working space inside the old McCrory's five-and-dime building, overlooking the rotunda. It will eventually bring 200-300 students to the Arcade each day, according to Williams.

"It will be lots of activity," Williams said. "But when you're doing that, creating businesses, you also have to find money."

The developers covered the lowest part of the rotunda, which was once the food court, and created The Tank. It is a theater-in-the-round space that can be used to pitch investors on projects, for performances, and more.

There are 126 apartments getting finishing touches now. The Art Lofts at the Arcade mix market-rate and low-income housing, with a focus on working artists who can use some of the gallery, studio, and makerspaces in the complex.

Crafted and Cured, a local favorite specializing in craft beers and cured meats, will be the first commercial tenant on the ground floor facing Fourth Street.

"It used to be a mixed-use development; it is a mixed-use development. First-floor vibrancy is key," Williams said.

Work continues

Phase 2 of the project will start as this phase ends the North Arcade.

It features an iconic Dutch facade on Third Street and the long, classic "arcade"-style corridor. This will soon house a kitchen incubator and fresh food market (think: Findlay Kitchen in Over-the-Rhine), more retail space, more event space, and a hotel or additional housing on the upper floors.

"It's in dire need of getting refurbished, but we're ready to attack that," Keppler said.

"At the end of the day, what's your value proposition?" Williams asked. "What makes Dayton different from Cincinnati? What makes Cincinnati different from Northern Kentucky? A lot of it's that history and, without taking advantage of that, then you're just like everybody else."

Frances Kern Mennone compared the project and its importance to saving Union Terminal from the wrecking ball in the 1980s.

"If communities start denuding themselves of all their cool, unique structural assets, then there's nothing that separates them [from other cities]," she said.

There's been no shortage of enthusiasm for saving the Dayton Arcade.

"Folks were lined up around the block just to get a look at it," Keppler said of one early tour.

Thanks to some additional help, expertise, and passion from Cincinnati, they will soon be able to make new memories inside.