Tuesday, May 18, 1999
Winburn expands plan for Over-the-Rhine housing
He seeks OK for $6M to rehab 30-70 sites
BY ANNE MICHAUD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In the second phase of a proposal to rid Over-the-Rhine of its 300 vacant properties, City Councilman Charles Winburn will raise the idea of spending $6 million on two or three “mega housing projects” in council's neighborhoods committee today.
The city funds would be used to start rehabilitation on 30 to 70 properties, Mr. Winburn said, and property owners would be expected to match more than half the public spending. He estimated developers would invest $12 million to $20 million.
The proposal comes as the councilman received favorable community reaction to an idea last week to give $25,000 grants to renovate each of 40 buildings by the end of December 2000.
Together, the proposals call for $7 million in spending. They must be approved by the full city council.
The Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority is scheduled to present a $9 million request today for its Laurel Homes renovation in the West End.
Mr. Winburn, chairman of the neighborhoods committee, said he wants to ignite a debate about the Laurel Homes funding. He thinks too much money is being spend in the West End.
The councilman's staff has invited the top 10 property owners in Over-the-Rhine to the 2 p.m. meeting, he said.
Last week's proposal met with approval by the Abandoned Buildings Co., a nonprofit group that renovates buildings, as well as the Over-the-Rhine Foundation.
Representatives of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, ReSTOC Cincinnati and the Over-the-Rhine Housing Network expressed a desire to have low-income housing included.
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