New Prospect Development failed to make emergency repairs to more than a dozen low-income buildings in Over-the-Rhine, and now the tenants want to oust the church development group.

        The tenants filed a request in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court this week asking a judge to replace New Prospect with another company, Model Management, so plumbing, roofing and structural repairs can get finished.

        That's fine with New Prospect's president, the Rev. Damon Lynch III, whose group took control of the properties in January to ensure the tenants didn't get kicked out.

        “It was never our intention to do it forever,” said the Rev. Mr. Lynch, pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church.

        New Prospect intervened after a botched sale of 14 buildings left nearly 100 tenants to fend for themselves. Both the building owner and a potential buyer walked away from the properties after failing to convince the city of Cincinnati to arrange funding for building repairs.

        Tenants feared eviction because they didn't have a landlord and faced utility shut-off notices for heat, water and power. The Legal Aid Society filed a lawsuit on behalf of the tenants, and the court appointed New Prospect Development as receiver until the city figured out what to do with the properties.

        Now the tenants say New Prospect has done little to improve their situation. The city offered $50,000 for emergency repairs but hasn't given the money to New Prospect because the two sides couldn't agree on how to spend the funds.

        Legal Aid also alleges New Prospect failed to account for tenant rents and expenses, didn't post a $5,000 surety bond as required and sent eviction notices to some tenants who paid rent.

        The Rev. Mr. Lynch said his group wanted to reach an agreement with the city to get the $50,000 in emergency funds before starting major improvements. Since talks faltered, New Prospect agrees it will be better for Model Management to take over.

        “If you ask the tenants, they'll tell you what we did through the toughest (winter) months of the year,” the Rev. Mr. Lynch said.

        Cincinnati's director of neighborhood services, Peg Moertl, said a city task force recommends the 14 buildings be sold to private developers willing to make needed repairs.

        Any tenants forced to move could receive money and help in finding a new place to live, Ms. Moertl said. The task force sent the recommendations last week to City Manager John Shirey.

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