BY LISA DONOVAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati City Council's decision to block Hamilton County's proposal to put a juvenile jail in Bond Hill is an "unfair restriction on the use of the property," one county official said this past week.
Now the county is gearing up to take the city to court.
This week, county commissioners are expected to hire an attorney and file suit in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court over the matter, said County Commissioner John Dowlin.
In October, council denied the county's request for a zoning change that would allow the facility to go in at the old Millcreek Psychiatric Center for Children, near the intersection of Paddock Road and Towanda Terrace.
In April, council passed an ordinance aimed at keeping such detention centers out of residential neighborhoods. The ordinance, authored by Councilman Charlie Winburn, limits the facilities to manufacturing districts and parts of downtown.
Bond Hill residents argue that a jail would hurt real estate values and neighborhood revitalization.
County officials say the county-owned property is an economical alternative to building a jail. The 60-bed juvenile center would house low-level felony offenders.
"It won't be harmful to the city of Cincinnati or the neighborhood," Mr. Dowlin said.
"For 20 years there was a facility there that treated deeply psychotic children that didn't have the security that we propose using," Mr. Dowlin said, referring to the empty Millcreek complex. Mr. Dowlin argues that the desire of the county for the land supersedes local zoning.
Asked about the basis for the suit, Mr. Dowlin said: "Obviously I'm not the lawyer here, but I think . . . this is an unfair, unreasonable restriction on the use of the property," he said.
Cincinnati City Councilman Tyrone Yates said the suit was expected.
"I do think that the battle from the city side as a matter of law and politics is uphill, but the correct public policy decision rests on the side of the city," Mr. Yates said. "The last thing the Bond Hill community, which is struggling, needs is a new jail facility," he said.
Mr. Winburn said the neighborhoods should have the right to "self-determination."
"It's so unfortunate they want to waste taxpayer dollars to destroy the Bond hill neighborhood," he said.
