The Campbell County river city of Bellevue continues to attract upscale residential development, and now a hotel may be in the works.

Bellevue City Council has approved a $9 million project that calls for Omega Design Build Group of Cincinnati to build a 32-unit condominium and townhouse project at Taylor and Eden avenues. Some of the units will sell for as much as $300,000 with the penthouse condos atop twin, five-story buildings priced in the $500,000 range, said Bellevue City Clerk Don Martin.

Engineering and design is being done. Martin said he is not sure when construction or pre-sale of units will begin.

"People are really starting to realize that Bellevue is the place to be," he said.

Elsewhere in Bellevue, Edgewood-based Ashley Development has broken ground on City Views, a project of seven single-family homes along O'Fallon Avenue that will sell for as much as $1 million. The views of the Ohio River and downtown Cincinnati are stunning.

Martin said another townhome development is in "the very preliminary stages" and details are not available. He also said there is talk in the city that a hotel may be proposed near the medical building that is off Fairfield Avenue.

CASH FOR BUSH: Three Northern Kentuckians are helping to line up contributions for the Feb. 26 fund-raiser for President Bush in Louisville.

Kenton County GOP Chairman Greg Shumate and John Mocker of Boone County, the chairman of Lally Pipe and Tube Co., are on the host committee, which means they each must raise $20,000 for the event.

Corporex chairman Bill Butler of Covington is an event vice chair and responsible for raising more than $20,000 and possibly as much as $50,000.

A GOLFING GHOUL: People will always remember the late Dick Von Hoene as television's "Cool Ghoul" and later as host of Northern Kentucky Magazine on Insight Communications' Channel 6. But those who really knew Von Hoene will never forget his love for playing golf.

During his funeral service Monday at Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Von Hoene wore a red golf shirt. There was also a rendering of a golf hole and at least one golf ball in the casket. Friends said it was a fitting tribute to a great guy who loved the game.

THEY SAID IT: "We have the three judge-executives, who I refer to as the three kings now. And we have a new one, Ralph."

Gov. Ernie Fletcher, during a speech last week to the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, in recognizing Gary Moore of Boone County, Steve Pendery of Campbell County and Dick Murgatroyd of Kenton County, who helped run his local campaign. Murgatroyd has left county government to take a job in Fletcher's administration and has been replaced by Ralph Drees.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com