Wednesday, September 29, 1999
City cash could save hotel for the poor
BY MARK CURNUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The city of Cincinnati is expected to approve $2 million to help a nonprofit organization buy and renovate the Fort Washington Hotel downtown.
The Fort Washington is one of three remaining sources of low-income, SRO (single-room occupancy) housing in the central business district.
Advocates fear dozens of people would become homeless if the 112-year-old building were demolished or sold for market-rate development.
Councilman Charles Winburn, who in July introduced the motion to subsidize the Fort Washington, anticipates the majority of council will support the project.
“What I see right now, I would be shocked if the votes were not there to maintain the Fort Washington for the working poor,” Mr. Winburn said Tuesday.
City Manager John Shirey signed a report earlier Tuesday that recommends using federal funds the city will receive in 2000 and 2001 to support the project. The report will be pre sented to council today. Then it will be sent to two council committees for Tuesday meetings, and it could wind up in full council for an Oct. 6 vote.
The nonprofit group Save the Fort Washington Inc. would need to come up with the remaining $3.4 million for renovation.
“With support of the administration, coupled with support of members of council, we believe this will go through,” said David Little, campaign manager and spokesman for Save the Fort Washington. “It's a huge boost in our credibility as we pursue other funding from private trusts and foundations.”
The organization was co-founded by Steve Gibbs, executive director of the FreeStore/FoodBank, and Suhith Wickrema, director of the local prison reform group Justice Watch.
The project has also received support from many ministers, including the Rev. Canon Stephen M. Bolle of the Christ Church Cathedral and the Rev. James Bramlage, pastor of St. Peter in Chains Cathedral.
The Fort Washington, 621 Main St., has 70 rooms and 100 low-income and working-poor residents. The housing is affordable — a month's stay there starts at $175 — but the rentals are not subsidized.
Advocates for the homeless say the city has lost eight of these boarding houses and 1,200 SRO units in the past 20 years.
Other SROs are still available downtown at Metropole Apartments in the 600 block of Walnut Street and the Dennison Hotel in the 700 block of Main; both buildings have more restrictive admission policies. The Fort Washington has the most liberal, allowing people with felony convictions to rent there.
The Fort Washington's owners for 14 years, Frank and Sandra Fieler, are retiring but had given the nonprofit group until November to come up with the purchase price and rehabilitation money before putting it on the open market.
Children's center will be named for Sabin
Children's consolidates services to treat related disorders
Cabbies try to dodge danger
Police seek 3 who fled after cabbie's killing
Web site spreads blessings for pets
Christian school in city 'a natural'
City cash could save hotel for the poor
Growth gets blame for dwindling aquifer
I-71/75 bids to reopen
Thirsty Tristate gets rain
Anti-lice ammo
How to eradicate head lice at home
Don't make yourself sick
Woman advocates use of natural hormones
GET TO IT
Miss these premieres, you don't miss much
Shakespearean actor portrays reluctant legend
Bauer denies infidelity rumor
Boone orders more studies on sewer plant
Condo owners sued over family-size cap
County to let administrator OK small deals
Covington vying for Weed and Seed cash
Dayton picks police chief
Doctors: Ex-guard insane
Girl recants; conviction quashed
Housing authority taps new director
MainStrasse businesses want new rehab program
Nurse sentenced for taking patient's morphine
TRISTATE DIGEST
Youngsters get a sample of how politics works
