A while back we wrote about the Humphrey Road Sidewalk project and are pleased to have an update to post here. Symmes Township has decided to move forward on the project and they began initial surveying Friday. We met with township Treasurer Phil Beck along Humphrey Road and talked with him about the direction of the project and the impact on the residents.

The direct impact on the local residents is undeniable. The sidewalk will provide easy and safe park access to upwards of 75 homes connecting families to each other in a pedestrian friendly way.

Spring time in Cincinnati, depending on the year, is also Cicada time. Mt. St Joseph University has a map tool that is allowing community members to report where they see Cicadas. Looking at the map it is interesting to see the clustering around certain areas such as Loveland, Indian Hill, and Mariemont..

The University benefits because as the community sends in Cicada sightings they gather useful data in their research. We benefit because we know when it is time to cover up our new bushes and trees to protect them. Be a part of the community and report your Cicada sightings.

Forbes Magazine published a study that shows Cincinnati has the 9th best commute in the nation. The survey looked a number of factors including traffic delays, average commute time, and public transit / carpool use.

The Queen City’s public transportation system services a very small percentage of the population. Those who use it are traveling mostly by bus, within the city, and not to and from the suburbs. Traffic isn’t quite fluid, but at 27 hours in annual delays per traveler, it’s still better than average for cities of its size. As gas gets more expensive and economic woes in Ohio continue, expect to see more carpooling long before an expansive train system is needed. Right now, only 9% of commuters carpool, one of the lowest rates in the country.

There are ways that we can make our commutes more efficient, and one trend that seems to be emerging is moving back into the city. The cost of the commute from the exurbs is beginning to add up and there are some attractive living options in closer-in neighborhoods. There are a few other factors pointing to this trend and we will look at one more later this week.

Loveland Bike Rentals has teamed up with Cultural Care Au Pairs to recognize Bike Safety Awareness Month and to promote the bike safety demonstration and group ride taking place Sunday May 4^th, 2008 at 10:30am. Cultural Care Au Pairs is a service offered in the greater Cincinnati area for families seeking in home child care.

The Loveland bike trail is part of the 70 mile trail that follows the Miami River and is paved over old railroad tracks. After the safety demonstration, those present will take a group ride and enjoy a picnic lunch. The event is open to the public and will provide participants the opportunity to meet and talk with some Cincinnati families hosting Au Pairs to learn more information about the agency and its programs.

There is a new community center that will be opening in Cincinnati. The Mayerson Jewish Community Center (JCC) can be found in Amberley at 8485 Ridge Road (at the Ridge Road exit off Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway). This community center has an unrestricted membership and welcomes people of all religions. The fitness center is set to open mid-July 2008 with the grand opening on September 1st, 2008.

The JCC will feature a two-story state-of-the-art fitness center with basketball courts, an indoor track, group exercise classes including aerobics, spinning, and pilates. The center will offer sports leagues for all ages for those more interested in competitive exercise.

There will also be an indoor pool with a water-park as well as a lap pool area and “Lazy River” and hot tubs. Additionally the JCC will feature an outdoor pool.

The center will have a steam room, licensed massage therapists, yoga, nutrition, and other mind-body classes.

For families with children, the JCC will offer a half-day and full-day preschool, after-school care, and camps. There is a program called J-Play where you can drop your child off while using the fitness or spa services.

The JCC boasts a 300-seat theater, and will play host to traveling art exhibits. There will be social, cultural, and educational programs to members of all ages.

If you live in the city of Cincinnati and are considering renovating your home there is good news for you. The City of Cincinnati Department of Community Development has implemented both a residential and commercial tax abatement program to help attract new residents, businesses, and investors and encourage current residents, businesses, investors to improve their current properties. Any property owner may be eligible for this property tax abatement if they purchase a newly constructed home or are renovating their current home. Residential is defined as a single family home or any building with 1-3 units. With this tax abatement program, the commercial category is defined as residential multi-family property containing more than 4 units, office, retail, industrial, or mixed use.

Who Qualifies for the Residential Tax Abatement?

The way this program works is that certain types of improvements that actually add value to the home will qualify, while others will not. Part of the application process helps to determine if the improvements that you are making to the home are simply improving the condition of the home versus actually adding value. Painting your home, replacing your roof, new siding, new windows, new gutters, improved landscaping, a retaining wall, or resealing a driveway will all improve the condition and salability of your home but do not add dollar value. While adding a pool, deck, patio, or more usable square footage or living space to the home will add dollar value to your property and will qualify for the tax abatement. LEED- certified remodeled or newly constructed residential property is eligible for an additional tax exemption based on the certification level. Please click here for more information on LEED homes. The period for tax abatement begins with the date of documented completion of work.

Tax Abatement Limits

For example, if the owner of a $75,000 home makes $25,000 in improvements, the owner is only responsible for taxes based on the home’s original value for a period of ten years. So that would mean that the property owner’s taxes would remain at the assessed value of the $75,000 price but the house would actually be worth $100,000 if the owner were to have the home re-appraised. The portion of the tax by which the remodeling increased the value of the structure may be abated up to a maximum $275,000 market value.

Total Investment Eligible for Exemption (fair market value): $275,000
Assessed Value/Taxable Value is 35% of fair market value: $96,250
Assessed Value Multiplied by Tax Rate (.05694): $5,480.48
10% Rollback: $548.05
Estimated tax abated for one year: $4,932.43

For an application for the Residential CRA Tax Abatement Program, please click here.

The Cincinnati Public Library Downtown Main Library location has recently undergone a major renovation. The library is continually trying to meet the advancing technological and research needs of the public in all age groups. Under the new plan, resources previously divided among five Main Library subject departments were drawn together into the Information and Reference Department. The Popular Library was created by merging the Fiction and Films and Recordings Departments and the Atrium Collection.

An area that was greatly enhanced was the Teen and Student Department. Parents will be happy to know that there is now a program called “Homework Central” which supports the educational needs of Hamilton County primary and secondary students by providing homework assistance in person, by telephone, and via the Internet. There is also an area called “TeenSpot” which features a high-interest collection of teen print and audiovisual material, the latest technology, and an inviting and comfortably furnished floor plan that supports a wide variety of group and independent activities.

The other two areas that were improved with this renovation are the research level resources and services in local history and culture, river history, African American history, and genealogy are provided by the Genealogy and Local History Department, as well as the TechCenter which offers access to a broad spectrum of technological applications.

Want to test your endurance? Sunday, February 24^th is the annual Climb the Carew Tower event to raise money for the American Lung Association for details please click here. Climb the tallest building in Cincinnati a whopping 45 floor climb.

Events with Approximate Start Times:

10:00 am-10:30 am Competitor-Climb up the tower as fast as you can while racing others

10:30 am-11:00 am Superclimb- Race up the tower, back down, and back up again

11:30 am -1:30 pm Casual Climb- Take your time and have fun

1:30 pm- 2:00 pm Half Climb- Climb up to floor 21, a good race for kids

The fees for this race are $50 registration and a $75 pledge minimum totaling ($125) all for a great cause. Have fun!

In his 2008 State of Cincinnati speech Mayor Mallory discussed several factors that will play a part in the growth of the city in 2008 and the years to come. Two key points we took from the speech were the government’s commitment to keeping the crime rate in a steady decline, maintaining current jobs, and attracting new ones. Both are central to the vitality of the in-town real estate market.

The city has made extensive progress in reducing violent and drug related crime through partnerships with CPD, Hamilton County Sheriff and the Ohio Highway Patrol. The Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Mayor’s office continues to press forward with the GO Cincinnati initiative to build and maintain the job and economic base. These efforts will bring in new companies to support the growing economy.

All of this effort and energy is transforming Cincinnati back into the economic center of the tri-state.With this job growth comes a increased need for housing. The tax abatements now being offered make up and coming areas such as Over the Rhine, attractive places to buy a home. The new condominium and loft market in the downtown business district continues to add units and tenants at a rapid pace. In addition this growth will bring new employees looking for suburban residences on both the east and west sides.

After attending the Symmes Township Board meeting last night, it looks as though Humphrey Road is one step closer to having sidewalks connecting Hopewell Park to Misty Morn Lane and possibly all the way south to Pinto, all being funded by the 7 year tax levy that passed last year. Several neighbors from the Misty Morn neighborhood expressed their concerns about safety and the fact that their tax dollars went to build a park within walking distance of their neighborhood, yet they still have to drive their children there because the road is too dangerous to walk on. One neighbor told the story of her husband who jogs regularly who was nearly run over by a car two days ago. Another woman’s daughter, who is of college age, was tapped on the shoulder by a man driving by her as she ran on the shoulder of the road. A resident who lives further south of the Misty Morn neighborhood requested that the engineering study include extending the sidewalk down to Pinto Rd. As homeowners in the area we expressed our support for the project.

The most interesting part of attending this meeting that even non-Symmes residents should take away from this is that it is vital to stay involved in your local government and to attend board meetings about community issues. The passion of the residents who voiced concerns about this raised its priority on the board’s agenda. I am one resident out of the hundreds whose land will be affected by this sidewalk, but it was support of those who attended the meeting that pushed this effort forward.

We will write updates about the progress and point to meeting minutes, always staying involved in the efforts to improve our community.