City reviewing Pleasant Ridge market study

Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. recently updated City Council on the status of the Pleasant Ridge market study and vision plan.

Dohoney says that staff with the Department of City Planning is currently reviewing the Pleasant Ridge Community Council's (PRCC) proposal to make sure it's consistent with City standards.

Though the business district has had many new businesses move in since 2000, it has also seen setbacks such as the closing of the neighborhood IGA grocery store, and later the Ridge Market.

To take advantage of development in the neighborhood and surrounding areas, the PRCC decided to update their 2000 Urban Design Plan by hiring Kinzelman Kline & Gossman to prepare a market feasibility study for the Montgomery Road corridor.

The study, which included input from residents, business owners and other stakeholders, will be used to help guide future business development, tenanting and recruitment.

Among some of the study's ideas:

* A village green with outdoor dining or a large, centralized office or residential building for the "triangle"
* Market-rate housing above ground-floor retail along Montgomery Road
* Development of medium- to high-density residential or a retirement community on the Ridge Club site
* A performing arts venue
* Inter-connected public parking, surface or decked
* Mixed-use infill
* Single-family detached homes on scattered sites
* Relocation and/or expansion of UDF and Mullaney's
* Redevelopment of the Burger King site

Following the departmental review, the study will be passed on to the City Planning Commission for a recommendation, and then on to council for approval, likely next month.

Photo credit: Chris Cousins, Urban Ohio

Previous reading on BC:
Pleasant Ridge study sent for planning review (2/28/08)