By Stephenie Steitzer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ironworker Dick Feinauer welds a deck support atop one of the Citirama 2003 homes under construction in Newport. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

NEWPORT - Northern Kentucky homebuilders are once again on Wiedemann Hill, building six new homes to be showcased at this fall's Citirama home show.

Eight homes with stunning views of the Cincinnati skyline and Ohio River valley, ranging from $600,000 to $1.2 million, were sold last year in one of Northern Kentucky's premier home shows.

The show was so successful the Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky will bring it back in 2003 and 2004 to the booming neighborhood, accessible from Newport's Vine Street, association executive vice president Dan Dressman said. "I know those views are prized," Dressman said. "They are the best views on the Northern Kentucky hillside."

This year's homes are located on Watch Hill Lane, near last year's homes, and will range from $750,000 to more than $1 million. The homes will have styles and views comparable to the homes sold in the 2002 Citirama, Neyer Properties development director John Stevens said.

"We're expecting a bigger crowd this year," he said. "We hope to see even greater success this year."

Builders started construction in mid-May, said Jim Cutter, Citirama chairman and owner of Cutter Construction.

Cutter, who is building two homes this year and built two last year, said his homes will have 12-foot ceilings, cantilevered decks, flat roofs, wine cellars, media and fitness rooms. One will have a swimming pool on the roof and another will have a three-car garage.

The home show, which is scheduled for Sept. 12-27, allows builders to showcase their abilities, designs and work to prospective buyers.

Evendale-based Neyer Properties, which has no connection to Blue Ash developer Al Neyer, is targeting "lifestyle buyers" with the Wiedemann Hill homes, Stevens said. He said "lifestyle buyers" are usually dual income earners with no kids or an empty nest who are looking to entertain, not maintain.