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Mount Washington CDC outlines housing, business‑district and trail projects; city partners detail support
Summary
The Mount Washington Community Development Corporation (CDC) told the Healthy Neighborhoods Committee about a string of community development projects aimed at bringing new housing, activating the business district and advancing a multi‑use trail connection to the Little Miami Trail network.
The Mount Washington Community Development Corporation (CDC) told the Healthy Neighborhoods Committee about a string of community development projects aimed at bringing new housing, activating the business district and advancing a multi‑use trail connection to the Little Miami Trail network.
The nut graf: The CDC said it is partnering with city departments, Homebase, the Port Authority and private developers to stabilize vacant properties, create 54 affordable senior units and improve business‑district infrastructure; staff and partners described financing tools that include quick‑strike acquisition grants, city neighborhood development funds and low‑income housing tax credits.
Wendy O'Neil, president of the Mount Washington CDC, described several ongoing efforts: rehabilitation (white‑boxing) of the Ice And Beer building in the business district with NBDIP support and a future tenant planned for spring; a recently awarded low‑income housing tax credit (4%) allocation for a 54‑unit affordable senior housing project with development partner Seavor Construction funded via a city “quick strike” acquisition tool; and a parking‑lot and placemaking upgrade for the business district that added security cameras monitored by the Cincinnati Police Department.
“We were able to acquire the property through the quick strike grant,” O'Neil said of the senior housing site, and she credited Homebase and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for technical and funding support on multiple projects. Rosa Christofell of Homebase attended the meeting and was cited repeatedly as a partner administering quick‑strike grants and other neighborhood resources.
The CDC described a facade improvement program funded by NBDIP and OSG grant support with eight awards ready to start, and a series of placemaking events (beer gardens, a bike event that repaired about 50 bikes and diverted 500 pounds of e‑waste) aimed at drawing foot traffic to the business district and supporting new retail tenancy.
The CDC and parks advocates also reiterated a long‑term idea to build an off‑road multi‑use trail that would link Mount Washington to the Little Miami Trail. Stanbury Park Advisory Council members and others said they support better activation of Stanbury Park but noted some tribal and archaeological concerns that will require careful study if any trail work touches sensitive areas.
Ending: CDC leaders asked the city to streamline interdepartmental processes and empower DCED to act more directly on neighborhood projects to reduce red tape for volunteer organizations. City officials said the city manager is reviewing process changes; DCED and the CDC agreed to continue coordination and to return to the committee with updates as projects progress.
