BY LISA DONOVAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The battle between the business community and Over-the-Rhine residents takes center stage Tuesday night, when discussions begin in earnest about the fate of Vine Street.
At issue is whether to convert a portion of northbound Vine into a two-way street. That's preferred by the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce.
Several community leaders say it would be better to maintain the direction of the street and make safety and cosmetic improvements.
What the two sides can agree on is this: something needs to be done about the blighted area.
The groups will gather 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Francis Seraph School, 14 E. Liberty St., to discuss how to improve the roughly one-mile stretch of Vine between Central Parkway and McMicken Avenue.
Experts say designers in this decade are reconsidering the 1960s traffic flow designs in the urban core: one-way streets and pedestrian-free roadways set aside for mass transit or strictly vehicles. The goal was to move traffic quickly from a neighborhood to a business district.
"The idea several decades ago was to speed cars through neighborhoods like Over-The-Rhine, and now the idea is to get people to stop," said Dr. David Varady, professor of urban planning at the University of Cincinnati.
It isn't clear whether turning Vine Street into a two-way would have such an impact.
According to a report in July by the year-old Vine Street Task Force, charged with studying street and traffic flow, the artery's direction has been a "significant" issue since 1974 when it was converted from a two-way to a one-way.
Much of the discussion Tuesday will center on the final recommendations of the 20-member task force, composed largely of city and Over-the-Rhine neighborhood and business leaders.
The task force came up with several recommendations:
Immediately convert northbound Vine Street into a two-way road and keep street parking on both sides; "streetscape" improvements, which could range from improved sidewalks to lighting; speed the completion of an urban design plan for the corridor within two years. Convert Vine Street to a two-way street in phases as streetscape improvements are constructed. This approach would take at least five years.
Keep Vine Street one-way, completing an urban design plan, and begin a two-phase streetscape project.
Judith Osborn, executive director of the Over-The-Rhine Chamber of Commerce, said her organization supports a two-way Vine Street because studies show it creates a "traffic calming" that could draw more business. She explained that "mom and pop" stores, such as a grocery or dry cleaner, would be a convenience to Over-The_Rhine residents.
"It would bring back a lot of business and it would be beneficial to the residential area," she said.
Carrie Johnson, treasurer of the Over-The-Rhine Community Council, said the discussion about two-way Vine Street focuses on business. She fears that if the residents are not considered, it could mean a downturn in housing opportunities.
"I'm not against gentrification, but they're concerned about business, they're trying to knock out housing," said Ms. Johnson.
Councilman Todd Portune, chairman of the public works committee that will hold discussions, said he will reserve final judgment until after public hearings.
