By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BOND HILL - Cincinnati City Council moved a step closer Monday to signing off on a deal that to help redevelop the dilapidated Huntington Meadows complex on Langdon Farm Road into 300 single family homes.

Council's finance committee voted 3-1 for a contract proposal that would give $13.7 million in taxpayer money to two churches to redevelop the 60-acre site. The fate of the proposal will be decided on Wednesday when it comes before City Council for a final vote.

During a three-hour meeting Monday, members of the finance committee learned the details of a retooled contract between the city and Allen Temple AME Church and Tryed Stone Baptist Church. The two churches want to raze the 58 buildings currently at the site and build the "Villages of Daybreak." The $18.1 million project of homes ranging from $125,000 to $250,000 would take six years to complete.

Council members asked how the $13 million in city money would be dispersed and what protection the city would have under its contract with the developers. Concerns were also raised that the price tag on the homes might be too high.

City administrators told the committee there have been several changes in the contract proposal introduced a week ago, including a change that would give the city the first lien and mortgage on the land should developers default on the agreement. The city previously had been offered a second lien.

City Manager Valerie Lemmie said it was critical the city be able to take ownership of the land if the development didn't pan out.

"The city has a great risk in this project," said Deborah Holston, the assistant city manager. "We went to great pains to really tie down the developer. We believe (the contract) is structured right."

The contract calls for the city to give the developers a $10 million conditional grant this year for land acquisition and another $3.5 million over the next two years for the installation of roads, sidewalks, landscaping and utilities. The city would not disperse the first $10 million until the land is cleared through demolition and developers complete an environmental study and create a plan to address any problems with the soil.

Conditions of the grant include:

• The developers devise a minority inclusion plan for the project by Feb. 21

• A homeowner outreach plan that includes homebuyer education and counseling be completed by April 1.

• No more than 35 percent of the housing units can be "attached" townhouses.

• The city would receive 90 percent of all lot sales until the first 150 lots are sold.

• The developers will invest $450,000 in the project.

City officials said the grant amounts would not be forgiven and would become a loan if developers fail to perform as expected.

Council member John Cranley, who cast the dissenting vote, suggested that council explore the possibility of bidding out the project to see if a better deal could be obtained from another developer.

Holston said the city could not bid out the project because it did not own the land.

Monday evening, about 50 people from Bond Hill, Roselawn, and Paddock Hills attended a informational meeting at the Bond Hill Recreation Center to learn more about the development. There was almost no opposition to the plan from those in the audience.

"If anybody is not for it, I don't know where their heads are at," said Timothy Anderson, a resident of nearby Paddock Hills. "I can't think of a bigger eyesore than what's down there right now - a boarded up project."

Sam Nellom, a former Bond Hill Community Council president, said the proposal would bring new residents and new businesses into the community.

"We've bottomed out. Now, we are on the way up," Nellom said.

Councilwoman Laketa Cole, who organized the meeting, applauded the deal saying the city has the potential to get a $53 million return on its investment from sales and taxes.

Rev. Arnold Culbreath, pastor of Tryed Stone Baptist Church, expressed his excitement to the audience and dismissed negative talk about the project.

"You're always going to have naysayers who think we are in this for the money. But it's not about the money," Culbreath said. "It is about having influence in what happens in the community."

Rev. Donald Jordan, pastor of Allen Temple AME Church, said it is unprecedented to have two African-American churches working on a development of this scope. Jordan said he favors taking any profits made from the development and reinvesting it back into the community - perhaps in the form of a scholarship trust for youth.

"People always criticize the black church that we aren't doing nothing," he said. "Now we are."

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