Cincinnati Experiences a Renaissance Based on Preservation

Associate professor of design Karen Monzel Hughes, in moving from Cincinnati's much-acclaimed Mariemont to the once-struggling Over-the-Rhine, discovers that rebuilding and preserving are both critical facets of preservation.

1 minute read

October 17, 2012, 8:00 AM PDT

By sbuntin


"I have lived most of my life in urban environments that provide experience with two distinct types of preservation," writes Karen Monzel Hughes. "Distinguishing between the two and recognizing the difference is important."

She moved to Cincinnati's re-emerging Over-the-Rhine area seven months ago, after spending 25 years in Mariemont, a John Nolen-designed community just outside downtown Cincinnati that served as a historical precedent for New Urbanism. Monzel Hughes notes that, "[l]iving in a community that clearly values its heritage and the benefits of an intelligently planned town instilled in me an appreciation for the preservation of the buildings as well as the overarching vision of community, the benefits of walkability, and centrality of place. Mariemont is, and always has been, a community with a clear continuity of purpose."

"In contrast to Mariemont, preservation in Over-the-Rhine takes on a different urgency and faces many other obstacles," says Monzel Hughes. "The opportunity for maintaining its rich historic buildings and urban fabric has long since disappeared. The expense of rehabilitating crumbling buildings can be a roadblock to investment just as the poverty and crime that had overridden the area are deterrents to creating sustainable community. However, Cincinnati has taken an approach that is showing rapid and highly successful results."

Thanks to Simmons Buntin

Monday, October 15, 2012 in Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 7, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

May 1, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Person stepping over hole in sidewalk.

Portland Council Tentatively Approves Sidewalk Repair Plan

The proposal would address sidewalk needs in Portland’s District 1 and District 4.

6 hours ago - Oregon Public Broadcasting

6-story building at Honolulu Community College.

Expanding Access to Design Education at Honolulu Community College

Honolulu Community College’s Architecture, Engineering & Construction Technologies program highlights the role of community colleges in preparing nontraditional students for careers in architectural and construction technologies.

7 hours ago - University of Hawai'i News

"Radiation Zone, Keep Out" sign on wood post with red Arizona desert mesa in background

Integrating Human Rights Into Energy and Extractive Sector Transitions

Why just transition efforts must move beyond economic considerations by embedding human rights principles into business practices to ensure equitable, transparent, and accountable outcomes for affected communities and workers.

May 12 - Cambridge University Press

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.