Tuesday, February 02, 1999
Business tug of war in West Chester
As offices move in, retailers move out
BY AMY HIGGINS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
UNION TOWNSHIP — From Beth Thomas' graphic design office on Cincinnati-Dayton Road, she's watched shop after shop pack up and move out.
Given the area's quaint atmosphere, it's a trend she finds unfortunate. Ms. Thomas' professional office may not be traditional for Olde West Chester — but it may be the ideal and one day be the typical.
|
EYE ON WEST CHESTER
|
|
Union Township's Olde West Chester is at a crossroads. Some residents and officials want the mile-long corridor along Cincinnati-Dayton Road to become a hub of specialty shops and other retail outlets. Others encourage a path toward office development.
In a three-part series starting today, reporter Amy Higgins looks at what has happened in Olde West Chester's business district and how its struggles today could lead to future opportunities.
• Monday: A lack of unity among local residents, businesses and officials has hurt Olde West Chester's chances of becoming what some hoped would be its destiny: an enclave of small, successful retail shops and boutiques.
• Today: Professional offices are taking over Olde West Chester. But business owners are looking nervously at the emerging Union Centre Boulevard development and wonder if it will help or hurt their community.
• Wednesday: A national development expert offers his vision of what Olde West Chester could become.
|
The tug of war between retail shops and professional offices here seems to be going to the office developers. Of the almost 40 businesses, there are about 15 shops and about 25 professional offices — for lawyers, accountants, insurance agents and graphic designers. Remaining merchants fear the influx threatens to drive them out, too.
And that's not all. Just a mile or so to the south, Union Centre Boulevard is blossoming with shiny new commercial buildings, and the promise of greater retail development. Depending on your point of view, Union Centre could bring Olde West Chester more business — or sap away its vitality.
Dave Gully, township administrator, said his vision of accountants and insurance agents occupying Olde West Chester dovetails with his vision for the “new city,” a 1,000-acre development straddling Interstate 75 at the Union Centre Boulevard interchange. Plans include a collection of stores, hotels and office space blended with apartment and townhouses.
Olde West Chester merchants eye the development warily, not sure whether Union Centre will bring boom or bust. Their primary fear is that the development is destined to pull traffic and customers away from Olde West Chester, leaving businesses and offices like Ms. Thomas' that don't rely on foot traffic — or really any traffic at all.
Jeff Prohaska said the opening of the interchange last year already diverted enough traffic from his Rare Rabbit gift store that business dipped 35 percent — enough for the store to close up and move out after the holidays.
Mr. Prohaska blames township leaders, in part, for Olde West Chester's failure as a shopping mecca. He said local government should be paying more attention and spending more money in the area that's the heart of the township.
“The focus of the whole township has been at the two ends of West Chester — the Tylersville strip and now at Union Centre Boulevard,” Mr. Prohaska said. “And they're forgetting what's in the middle here.”
Not so, said Judith Carter, the township's director of planning and zoning. She pointed to a study the township recently commissioned on how best to promote and beautify Olde West Chester, and other zoning efforts she hopes will bolster the area. Almost all of Olde West Chester is zoned for neighborhood business, with specific provisions to keep the historic architecture and quaint flavor.
In planning for Olde West Chester's future, the idea isn't for it to compete with Union Centre, but for the two to feed each other. More businesses and retail at Union Centre can only bring more customers to Olde West Chester, Ms. Carter said.
“We're not looking to have one area succeed and the other fail,” she said. “The two are totally separate markets; two totally separate entities that won't compete.”
Matt Bockhorst agrees. Mr. Bockhorst is president of the Union Township Community Improvement Corp., the quasi-governmental economic development vehicle for the area. His office is in Brookside Park, a new professional complex in the heart of Olde West Chester.
“As the economy explodes in the township, everyone is going to thrive,” Mr. Bockhorst said.
But businesses on Cincinnati-Dayton Road aren't thriving.
“There's a lot of history down here,” Ms. Thomas said. “I'm really sad to see so many stores leave.”
Steve's lesson can't be found in schoolbook
Emery Theater may regain glint
School arson steals hands, hearts
County will ask levy for emergency communications system
Tristate delegation likes parts of budget
School signs at fatal crash site have limited effect
Sex-offender notification law needs work
Taft's inner circle ready to take reins
Murderer's apology to no avail
Outsiders spent millions on Bunning, Baesler campaigns
Quindlen urges women to find balance
Study of inmate death to take up to 90 days
Investigation of police broadens
Mom held on $50 K in throwaway-baby case
Clark stresses Bandstand staff
Accused killer's friend saw anger
Business tug of war in West Chester
Clark Montessori may use Peoples
Hand transplant patient upbeat about progress
High school yearbook captures memories
Little-known burgs listed
Mallory leaves Forest Park council
Middletown mall options explored
More money headed for neighborhood schools
NKU offers Black History events
Silverton can't afford to open pool
Special election today on school bond issue
Studies to fix sewer woes Sewer flooding could be priority
Taft High teacher accused of kissing girl
TRISTATE DIGEST
