The Cincinnati based American Sign Museum is actively making a push to further develop research and understating of American Sign language. The plan calls for moving the museum into a new larger space in January 2012. Tod Swormstedt is the museum director and founder and thinks that with the city’s push to become a national center of innovation for CPG marketing, branding, and digital design Sign Language has a role to play.
Over the past two years numerous Cincinnati developers defaulted on subdivisions and stranded homeowners with 1/2 finished communities. The primary cause is the slowed pace of new construction growth and the tightening of credit.
Cincinnati.com highlights a common practice that allows land developers to form LLC corporations to protect their interests so that in the case that the development fails they can still walk away without major financial loss.
Meanwhile the initial homeowners who purchased the first homes have to live in a partially finished subdivision with little prospect of seeing the remaining lots developed into homes. Vacant overgrown lots, they say, are having a negative impact on their home values making it difficult to sell their homes. One consideration when purchasing a home is how many open lots are there? This fact can have an impact on your home value for years to come if it is not built on.
500 residents in East Hyde Park are being told that, according to the Multiple Listing Service of Greater Cincinnati, they live in Oakley. That’s because the Hamilton County Auditor map lists the 500 homes in Hyde Park, but the Multiple Listing Service (or MLS), what Realtors use, puts the homes in Oakley. So homeowners who bought homes in Hyde Park now have to sell their homes with Oakley addresses according to Fox 19.
Realtors are required to market homes according to how the MLS service classifies their home. 490 homeowners have signed a petition to the Hyde Park Community Council and the Oakley Community Council to address and resolve the discrepancy. Lawmakers said they can amend the council community boundaries map if both community councils agree on the changes and put it in writing.
The easiest solution would be for the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors to amend the MLS system to include a new suburb code called ‘East Hyde Park’ that would cover these homeowners.
Every now and then a client presents we with an interesting fact about Cincinnati. As a native of Cincinnati I am always intrigued by the city’s history. When I cam across this list complied b Cinicnnati USA I wanted to post it and share it here on the blog. The list includes famous citizens, entertainers, educators, food facts, and interesting points of history. Visit the Cincinnati Facts Page for more facts. Here are a few fun facts from the page:
1835 First bag of airmail lifted by a hot air balloon.
1849 First city in the U.S. to hold a municipal song festival – Saengerfest.
1850 First city in the U.S. to establish a Jewish hospital.
Neil Armstrong – first man on the moon who later served as a professor of engineering at the University of Cincinnati from 1971-1979.
Cincinnati-Style Chili – Between Skyline Chili, Goldstar Chili and other Cincinnati chili restaurants (more than 140 in all!), Cincinnatians eat more than 2 million pounds of chili each year topped by 850,000 pounds of shredded cheddar cheese.
The Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District proudly announces the opening of the Cincinnati 2010 computer/TV recycling program. In an effort to properly and safely dispose of TVs and and computers Hamilton County is setting up drop-off days for its residents.
The program will begin Tuesday, June 1 and run through Wednesday, June 30th.
Hours are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4 pm, and on Saturday, June 19th from 9 am – 2 pm.
As a reminder, this program is for Hamilton County, Ohio residents only. If you have any questions contact Susan Schumacher the Assistant Solid Waste Specialist at the Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District at 513-946-7734.
Recently the artist Shepard Fairey launched an extensive art show in Cincinnati and as part of the exhibition he created murals on the sides of some buildings in and around Cincinnati. One of the murals was recently painted over because the property owner was upset by the images contained in the “Duality of Humanity 4 Pike Street”.
I wanted to offer some insight and opinion on murals and property values. Frankly – it depends. It depends on the neighborhood, it depends on the mural content. There are some instances where murals ad tremendous beauty and value to neighborhoods and showcase the diversity and vibrance of the culture. In some cases murals can be a distraction. If you or your community are planning a mural hire a professional and make sure you have buy in from the entire community and especially the building owner!
If you are looking for volunteer opportunities this May 2nd then you must look into the Cincinnati Give A Day program. There are 18 different volunteer projects taking place all over the city. They cover urban renewal projects, mural painting, volunteering for the Flying Pig, and working with the elderly.
Take a few moments to learn more about the projects and sign up and volunteer. It is a great way to give back to the community. Already there are over 300 participants and so many projects still need more hands so get involved and make a difference. Help out Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, the Peaslee Center, Starfire and many more worthy organizations. Click on Cincinnati Give A Day for more information.
The University of Cincinnati recently created a map of the more prominent blogs currently discussing urban issues in Cincinnati. On this chart are a number of prominent architecture and real estate blogs including Cincinnati Living Online. As a local Realtor I think it is important to follow the conversations taking place that involve our market.
Click on the image to visit the interactive URL and see how each of these blogs interact and the nature of their content.
In order to attract more business development Symmes Township has established two community reinvestment areas to attract new businesses and construction projects. The commercial/industrial CRA property tax abatement is up to 10 years for new construction or renovation, with up to a 50 % exemption and a minimum $5,000 in costs. The residential remodeling and new construction CRA property tax abatement has a term of 10 years, with 50% exemption, and a market value cap of $100,000 on the improvement value. There is a minimum of $2.500 in costs for single family residences and a minimum of $5,000 in costs for 2-4 unit structures.
The CRA should bring new businesses to the township which will add additional economic diversity to the area. At the moment there are three business taking advantage of the program: ‘All About Kids’, Grand Sands, and Cornell Crossing. Apply for the Symmes Township CRA by following the link and completing the application.
Most residents do not know it, but it is against the lay to throw your yard waste into the garbage. It is an Ohio State law enacted because yard waste takes up almost 20% of the landfill space statewide.
With fall clean up creeping up on us, everyone should be thinking about alternate places to take their fallen tree branches and all of their leaves. Individual townships have cleanup days where they collect yard waste as well. Check you local township calendars for information. The City haws arranges free drop off locations for fall yard waste.
Drop Off Locations:
3320 Millcreek Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45223
Bzak Landscaping
3295 Turpin Lane (off Rt. 32),
Anderson Township
(Bzak Landscaping is also open during the week from 7:30 am – 5 pm but will be closed Labor Day.)
Kuliga Park
6717 Bridgetown Road,
Green Township
Rumpke Landfill
Struble Road and Colerain Avenue
Colerain Township
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