Tuesday, July 13, 2010

One Cincinnati streetscape funded, another one starts

Cincinnati City Council has authorized the appropriation of $400,000 in surplus capital funding for the first phase of Corryville's streetscape projects, scheduled to begin soon along the 2600-3000 blocks of Short Vine and along the 2900 block of Highland Avenue

Fully supported by the Corryville Community Council, the Short Vine streetscape is considered key to revitalizing the neighborhood's main business district.

A $42 million project has been proposed by the JFP Group for the south end of the business district, including more than 100 units of market-rate housing, a Danbarry 10-screen first-run movie theater, an eight-lane bowling alley, a Martino's sports bar, and a series of parking decks. And for several years, the community has been looking into redeveloping the 7-acre University Plaza site.

But several projects around the area already have come to fruition.

Corryville Crossings, a $24 million project consisting of a 132,000-square-foot Hampton Inn & Suites hotel, a 219-space parking garage, and approximately 25,000 square feet of retail outlots, is currently under construction at 3000 Vine Street.

Late last month, council approved a new 24,700-square-foot Class A medical and administrative office building and 100-space parking structure for the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, to be located at 2929 Highland Avenue.


In Clifton Heights...

Orange barrels, construction equipment, and downed trees signal the beginning of yet another streetscape project, this one in Clifton Heights' Old Towne business district along W McMillan Street.

Phase I of the three-phased project, to be built along W McMillan Street from Clifton Avenue to W Clifton Avenue on its north side and from Wheeler Street to W Clifton Avenue on its south side, will include new sidewalks, curbs, street lamps, parking meters, trash cans, and street trees.

Estimated to cost $440,000, the first phase is scheduled for completion by October.

Phases II and III, covering W McMillan Street approximately between Rohs and Hartshorn streets, are scheduled to be completed in the summers of 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Previous reading on BC:
Empowerment Zone, CRA agreements promise 87 jobs, new medical offices (6/28/10)
Corryville Crossings photo update, 10/29/09 (11/10/09)
TIF funding to finance Corryville streetscape projects (4/22/09)
Corryville streetscape financing considered (4/8/09)
$42M project would bring 100 units, theater to Short Vine (5/18/09)