BY TANYA ALBERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
About 200 people's claps and some boos filled a Northside recreation center Tuesday as residents let city council know what they think of a proposed parkway through the neighborhood.
A few people from Mount Airy and College Hill spoke in support of a parkway that would connect Colerain Avenue and other west-side streets more directly with Interstate 74.
But the vast majority who spoke at the public hearing live in Northside and were opposed.
They called the project first proposed in 1947 a "monster," a "concrete jungle" and a "dinosaur."
"For 30 years, the people of Northside have been saying 'no, no, no.' I just want to ask tonight, 'What part of the word no does City Hall not understand?' " said Mike McCleese, who spoke on behalf of the Citizens Against the Colerain Connector.
Northside residents say the project known as the Colerain Connector would lower property values, destroy green space and fragment the community.
The proposal has four solutions to traffic problems, and two of the "build" options are creating the controversy.
One alternative is a limited-access ramp connection. It would cross over Colerain and Virginia avenues and merge into Colerain north of Leeper Street. The other would connect I-74 to Kirby Road with a parkway on the hillside above Virginia Avenue.
There is a "no-build" option and an option that would avoid major construction by making improvements such as widening intersections. Mr. McCleese and others told council members they would prefer to see creative solutions that don't include building new roads. A few expressed support for a parkway.
"I've always thought this made sense," said Tom Luken, former councilman and congressman who said he lives on the border of College Hill and Northside.
Some are waiting for more information before taking a stance. "We want to come to a conclusion in a way that would provide the least amount of harm and bring the biggest benefit to the businesses and residents of Northside," said Richard Jameson, Northside Business Association president.
No decisions were made at Tuesday's public hearing called by two city committees.Councilman Todd Portune said he and Mayor Roxanne Qualls introduced a motion asking the project be abandoned for good. Councilman Charlie Winburn said he also supports that idea.
