Northside funding request would eliminate South Block blight

The Northside Business Association (NBA) has applied for $125,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds through the 2010 Neighborhood Business District Improvement Program (NBDIP) to spur redevelopment of what it calls a "de facto" junkyard in the neighborhood's South Block.

The property, at 1610-1612 Hoffner Street, has had 17 complaints for code violations, blight and litter since 2006.

The NBA hopes to rehabilitate the building into a commercial storefront with a second-floor apartment, with parking on the adjacent lot.

The $175,000 project would be completed by December 2010.

Improvements already made to the South Block have led to $950,000 in private investment, the business association says.

NBDIP, administered through Cincinnati Neighborhood Business Districts United, has $2 million in CDBG and City capital funds to disburse for the 2010 program.

So far, 33 requests – at nearly $4.8 million – have been submitted, including a streetscape for W McMillan Avenue in Clifton Heights, a streetscape along Burnet Avenue in Avondale, and streetscape improvements around Eighth Street and State Avenue in Lower Price Hill.

Previous reading on BC:
City to sell South Block land for parking (12/20/07)
Northside looks to acquire South Block parking (11/13/07)
CPC to consider Northside bakery Friday (10/18/07)
Austrian bakery, parking for South Block? (10/3/07)