Small-business owner tells council she was blindsided by Sharonville Square purchase and fears displacement

At the Sharonville City Council meeting on Sept. 30, Charlotte Nicole Von Stein, a resident and small-business owner, criticized the city's purchase of Sharonville Square property and urged council to listen to residents.

Von Stein told council she had not been notified and said the city purchased the building that housed her studio. "You purchased the building that my studio was in knowing well that my studio was there as well as 3 to 4 other businesses," she said, adding she and other small-business owners were not given notice and have been frustrated by the prospect of being displaced.

She cited purchase-price ranges residents had observed for several properties and described the financial strain on small operators: "That's a lot of money. And you haven't even begun to tear these buildings down or repurpose them or whatever you're doing. So as a resident, that's very frustrating to me. As a small business owner, that's very frustrating to me because I don't have that in my pocket." Von Stein urged council to read residents' online feedback and to "listen to your people. They are trying to help."

Mayor Hartman responded later in the meeting, saying the city purchased the Sharonville Square property after the prior owner did not renew certain leases and that some leases in effect when the city bought the property (for example, the UAW and the BMV) will expire at the end of the year. Hartman framed the purchase as part of the city's 2020 comprehensive plan and land-banking strategy and said residents can review the plan at sharonville.org.

What happens next: No formal council action was taken at the meeting in response to the public comment. Mayor Hartman asked residents to review the comprehensive plan and said city staff will continue to coordinate redevelopment plans; any demolition or redevelopment will follow council direction and applicable notice and leasing processes.