Tuesday, June 01, 1999
Eager minds envision eco-village
UC students create plan for Price Hill
BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
If it takes a village to raise a child, a group of University of Cincinnati students are showing their gratitude — they are helping to raise a village.
A group of 20 graduate students in a comprehensive planning workshop course at UC has spread out over a two-mile stretch on Warsaw Avenue in Price Hill, gathering data for ideas for the Seminary Square Eco-Village project.
The project is designed to rejuvenate a stretch on Warsaw Avenue bordered by Grand and Glenway avenues, West Eighth Street and McPherson Avenue that will include a 50-block area mixed with residential houses and businesses.
“This is a first-time experience for some of us,” said student Michelle Smith. “This gets us away from the classroom theory out into the com munity to see the physical side.”
Ms. Smith emphasized energy efficiency as a main component of the students' proposal. This could be revamping a vacant house by installing insulation, removing lead paint or installing a skylight that provides ventilation.
“We have looked at several areas, such as a trash program, housing quality, home ownership, education and schools, parks and recreation and business district,” Ms. Smith said.
The students have suggest ed:
• Extending jogging trails.
• Improvements in park areas.
• Adding a roller skating-skate boarding area to Tank Park.
• Reviving Whittier Gardens at Osage and Woodlawn.
• Creating a community garden at Grand Avenue and West Eighth Street.
• Blocking the view of a transformer in a tot lot with a shield of trees and making an adventure playground.
The students are working with a team of business and community leaders. They will meet with residents on June 9 at the Price Hill Community Center.
Brenda Scheer, an associate professor of planning, said the workshop runs for 10 weeks. The students meet 12 hours a week, she said.
“This is mixing theory with factual data,” Ms. Scheer said. “We always keep our ears to the ground to find good projects like this one to involve the students. We are looking to make a more livable community that also rests more lightly on the Earth, moving in con cert with nature.”
Eileen Branigan Schenk, project director, said the project has received $500,000 from Community Investment Partners (CIP) for planning improvements, including in the Warsaw Avenue business district. “We have included the business district in the village project because it intersects the village project,” Mrs. Schenk said.
CIP is made up of Fifth Third Bank, the Procter & Gamble Foundation, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the United Way & Community Chest.
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