WEST CHESTER TWP. — Shared business entrances and medians along U.S. 42 with islands of flowers and trees could spruce up this township's oldest business district.

        Those and other possibilities in a $40,000 study outlining recommendations to revitalize Pisgah would be gradually implemented as the Ohio Department of Transportation eventually widens U.S. 42 from two to three lanes, said Jose Castrejon of the Sharonville-based architectural firm McGill, Smith and Pushon.

        “These are suggestions and ideas that can happen for redevelopment of the corridor by either existing land owners or new developers coming in,” said Mr. Castrejon, leading the study for the township.

        “If they implement some of these issues, it will ultimately take the corridor where the business owners want it to go. You don't want to force this down anybody's throat. That's not the intent at all.”

        While merchants overwhelmingly say they are open to improvements, they are holding off on giving it their stamp of approval until a price tag is attached to it.

        They and township leaders still are uncertain how much business and property owners will have to help fund the plan.

        “If they want to make Pisgah a showcase, we are all for it,” said Dr. Eric J. Koren, who has operated his dental practice in Pisgah for decades and owns two buildings there. “I can't wait to see it. But I can't say a whole lot until they put the pedal to the metal there.”

        Pisgah is a three-mile stretch along U.S. 42 linking West Chester to Mason in Warren County and Sharonville in Hamilton County that has waned in previous years. At a 6 p.m. meeting today at Crestview Presbyterian Church in Pisgah, Mr. Castrejon, West Chester Trustee President Jose Alvarez and a Southeastern Butler County Chamber of Commerce subcommittee will unveil the recommendations and seek additional input from merchants.

        The next step will be for Mr. Castrejon to complete a proposal for the township trustees within weeks.

        It will be up to the trustees to decide whether to go ahead with the redevelopment plans, attach a price tag to them and discuss funding options, Mr. Alvarez said.

        The revitalization effort is crucial to Pisgah's vitality, he said. Two previous efforts in the 1990s stalled after an agreement on the project could not be reached.

        “If you go nowhere, if you keep procrastinating and shrugging your shoulders and wringing your hands, then we have condemned the area to further decay,” Mr. Alvarez said. “I think people recognize there are benefits in the end in pursuing a plan.”

        There has been some renewed vigor in Pisgah this year. Tag's Tap Room underwent a cleanup and got a new roof after longstanding code violations landed the owner in court and briefly shut the tavern down.

        The Sunoco gas station, on the corner of Cox Road and U.S. 42, has been vacant for at least three years. But last month, an auto body shop moved in.

Prosecutors defend Twitty grand juror
Rules offer insights on grand jury
Deputy's wife reflects on job's danger
Fox interchange wins some help from ODOT
Fall fashion show put off
Hagan's a candidate with a plan
Hoods again allowed in city
Obituary: West side mourns W.J. Seitz
Sabin planners seek breather
School hopefuls coming
Six charged in attack on bus
Tristate A.M. Report
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Stalking Jungle Jim
RADEL: Something to cheer
Blanket-making teaches teamwork
Pisgah revitalization outlined
Drug charges revived after court decision
Sex offender sentenced to two years
Shooting hearing delayed
Thousands may return to Ohio welfare rolls
Twins battled each other, now ready for life apart
Birth-control change sought
Covington to help fund zone study
Driver rescued from car in creek
Elk roaming outside eastern Ky. fair game
FreshART to raise money, expectations
NKU spearheads drive to improve health
Scout's ouster has mom in knots
Sewer agency is writing rules
U.S. Senate honors top Little League baseball team