Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken went to Race and 12th streets Thursday — near the epicenter of last year's riots — and outlined the city's vision for a “safer, more developed” Over-the-Rhine.

        After years of work and $60,000 in consultants, there are no brand-new ideas or revolutionary concepts in the master plan, officials acknowledged.

        But it nonetheless represents a milestone in the history of a neighborhood that simultaneously represents Cincinnati's Germanic past and the promise of a dot-com future.

        The last Over-the-Rhine master plan, in 1986, envisioned the neighborhood as a haven for low-income people, providing access to myriad social services and downtown jobs.

        The 2002 plan envisions a clean, safe, mixed-income neighborhood with access to jobs, transportation, schools, social services and the arts.

        “There is room for everyone in Over-the-Rhine. We seek not to displace people from this neighborhood, but to add to the diversity of the neighborhood,” Mr. Luken said.

HIGHLIGHTS

The city's plan for improving Over-the-Rhine envisions initial development efforts:    • A “loft district” includes rehabilitation of buildings for housing, office space and studios. The district would be north of Findlay Street between Central Parkway and West McMicken Avenue.    • A housing area in the northern part of neighborhood involves construction of new single- and two-family houses on available lots along Mulberry Street, Clifton Avenue and smaller streets extending up the hillside.    • Improvements in the “Rothenberg area” will focus on a newly renovated Rothenberg Elementary School, including more green space and parking. The area also is targeted for housing renovation.    • “Melindy Square” in the Pendleton area will create about 80 new mixed-income housing units.    • “Washington Park area/SCPA area” encompasses a new elementary school and K-12 arts school. The plan envisions mixed-income housing along Race Street and Republic Street.    • The 1700 block of Vine Street is a focus of retail and commercial activity. The block is being improved.    • Findlay Market markethouse renovation is under way. Buildings around the market are also under way.    • “Pendleton Mews” housing project will provide 20 new single-family units. It will involve new streetscape and lighting improvements.    • South Vine Street area includes several renovation projects for new retail and housing space.

        “The numbers are self-evident. There were 22,000 people in Over-the-Rhine in 1970. There are 5,800 now. There are 400 vacant buildings.”

        James R. Tarbell, the Charterite councilman who's been the leading advocate for the gentrification of Over-the-Rhine, declared Thursday that the debate over gentrification had ended.

        “The difference between this plan and the 47 that preceded it is the width and breadth and depth of support,” he said. “The stars are aligned like they've never been in 30 years.

        “Gentrification does not mean displacement. This neighborhood is three-quarters vacant. It's just a matter of filling in the blanks. But filling in the blanks will be expensive.”

        Just how expensive? The city plans to spend $18.7 million on public improvements in Over-the-Rhine by 2004. The school board and private developers are planning an additional $41 million.

        Many of the plans are already in the works or in the design phase: Findlay Market renovations; new housing at Pendleton Mews, Melindy Square and Vine Street between 12th and 14th streets; facade improvements; the Empire Theater rehabilitation; and various park improvements.

        But others seem more distant. The plan calls for a “Loft District” of apartments, offices, artist studios and light manufacturing north of Findlay Street. It also envisions “some type of new trolly or light rail system.”

        Mr. Luken called on advocates of Over-the-Rhine development to “champion” the plan with their investment dollars, and for those who have opposed development to get on board.

        “We are going to abandon the old battle lines. We are going to abandon the old turf wars,” he said.

        For city planners, the most important achievement of the plan is the consensus-building that led up to it.

        “One of the things this document represents is a strong consensus of what should happen in this neighborhood, and that in and of itself is a harbinger of good things,” said Planning Director Elizabeth A. Blume.

        Linda Brock, an Over-the-Rhine resident involved in the planning effort, said a lot of hard work went into it. At the same time, a note of skepticism crept into her voice.

        “I've been at the table for three years, and I'm very, very tired,” she said. “I just hope it's a plan that's inclusive of all.”

        There was no shortage of enthusiasm for the plan Thursday. Darrick Dansby of the Smart Money Credit Union said, “This is a day that we turn a corner in Over-the-Rhine.”

        He said the master plan emphasizes the basics: building on successes like the Main Street entertainment district and investing in additional parking.

        “For two days in the media, we've been asked, "When will this begin?'” said Jim Moll, of Urban Sites Properties. “It's already begun.”

        Members of the 100-member Over-the-Rhine Steering Committee reviewed the plan Thursday night. It's expected to go to the Cincinnati Planning Commission this morning and to City Council on June 26.
       

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