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Forest Park pitches 46‑unit Hillsworth patio‑home TIF to county, schools to be made whole
Summary
Forest Park officials presented a 30‑year tax‑increment financing plan to support infrastructure and park improvements for a 46‑unit patio‑home subdivision on a former Whitwood School District site; the district will receive proceeds from the land sale and school levies will be made whole under the plan.
Forest Park city officials on June 24 briefed Hamilton County commissioners on a proposed 30‑year tax‑increment financing (TIF) district to support a 46‑unit patio‑home subdivision on a 12‑acre former Whitwood School District elementary site adjacent to Bruce Ferguson Park.
City manager Don Jones and new economic development director Chris Lewis said the Hillsworth development will be owner‑occupied single‑story ranch homes marketed to empty‑nesters and seniors. “They are gonna be owner occupied. These are not rental properties,” Jones said. He said the developer intends to donate ADA‑compliant playground equipment to the adjacent park and to build pedestrian connections between the subdivision and the park.
Financial and program details include a reported sale price of about $250,000 for the property to the developer; the school district will receive those sale proceeds. Jones said the TIF proceeds would be applied to local street maintenance and repair, park improvements and to help fund recreation facilities, including a possible community center. He said the subdivision infrastructure is the developer’s responsibility and that the TIF will not subsidize home construction costs.
County role and next steps: County administrator Jeff Alito explained that Ohio law requires municipal TIFs that exceed certain thresholds (rate greater than 75% or duration over 10 years) to be presented to the county commissioners for review and that the county may object to the duration or rate; the Ohio Revised Code prescribes a compensation methodology. Alito said county staff will hold follow‑up conversations with Forest Park and bring a formal recommendation to the board, as needed, in coming weeks.
Other details: Forest Park said the district footprint includes the park and surrounding streets; the TIF will be used primarily for local streets and park activation. The developer named in the briefing was Miranda Holmes; Jones said the builder previously delivered homes in Forest Park’s Waycross neighborhood. City officials said they had held two public hearings and that the proposal drew community support in earlier meetings.
Ending: County staff will continue discussions with Forest Park and return with a formal recommendation if legislative action is required. If the commissioners object under Ohio law, the board and the municipality may negotiate compensation according to state code.
