John Yung traces Cincinnati's dramatic comeback over the last decade, and gives credit to the Center City Plan developed in 2002 by HR&A and Cooper, Robertson & Partners for laying the groundwork for the city's subsequent revitalization.
Yung looks back ten years to a city shaken by civil unrest and with a downtown in decline, in order to contrast Cincinnati's dramatic turnaround over the past decade. "In ten years time, the city center has experienced a resurrection from what appeared to be a near death experience. Fountain Square now attracts concerts and events, The Banks has become reality, Over-the-Rhine is being revitalized before our eyes, and it seems like every day there is a new project, a new store, a new cultural amenity, or a new festival choosing the downtown area."
Although others have credited Mayor Mark Mallory with leading the city on a path of progressive urbanism, Yung looks to the Center City Plan [PDF] as having laid the foundation for the current resurgence. According to Yung, oriented around four key initiatives, "What the plan did is lay out a vision and way forward for the city to
begin restoring the vitality of its largest economic center."
Writing in The New York Times, Keith Schneider profiles the Queen City's re-emergence "as a hub of civic and economic vitality." Noting the convergence of market trends such as the University of Cincinnati's growing prominence and energy industry investments for the city's economic strength, Schneider observes that the city, "is experiencing a strong revival in urban core business and
residential growth, much of it prompted by development along a scenic
river that state and federal water quality data show is cleaner and more
ecologically vital."
FULL STORY: The Triumph of Cincinnati’s Center City Plan
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$1.6 Billion for Ohio River Bridge Included in Latest Federal Grant Announcements
The Biden administration this week spanned the country to announce over $2 billion in grant funding for bridge projects.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
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Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Colorado Bill Would Tie Transportation Funding to TOD
The proposed law would require cities to meet certain housing targets near transit or risk losing access to a key state highway fund.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
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