Over The Rhine (Cincinnati, Findlay, Sycamore: low income, for sale, sex offenders)

[Humlermw]

Originally Posted by mathteacher09

I do agree with these comments. But at the same time, doesn't it seem logical that areas with higher concentrations of murder rate would have a direct correlation to other undesirable attributes; i.e. drugs, burglaries, etc.

I mean even if it is just drug dealers getting popped, then that still means there are an adequate number of drug dealers and various characters within the neighborhood. Right?

I personally think the murder rate of a specific area would tend to help identify the character make-up of the population.

But let's be honest, if more people were to move into these areas and take the time and effort to fix it up crime would go down. It's easy to point out problems but once it comes time to fix them most just flee to the burbs.

[jstn]

Originally Posted by Humlermw

But let's be honest, if more people were to move into these areas and take the time and effort to fix it up crime would go down. It's easy to point out problems but once it comes time to fix them most just flee to the burbs.

Well that's great in theory. But truthfully, most people do not have enough of a desire for urban living to deal with less desirable aspects. Cleaning up an area is very difficult, sometimes damn near impossible, especially if it is an area that is thouroughly saturated with crime.

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by jstn

Well that's great in theory. But truthfully, most people do not have enough of a desire for urban living to deal with less desirable aspects.

The Gateway Quarter is one of the region's most successful projects and it is that way because of price and promimaty to DT.

That sounds like an intelligent formula.

[jstn]

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

The Gateway Quarter is one of the region's most successful projects and it is that way because of price and promimaty to DT.

That sounds like an intelligent formula.

I'm not arguing or even disagreeing with your point. I'm just saying, so-called bad areas become more desirable all the time, but much more often, they remain bad because people aren't willing to make the initial investment needed to create an influx. I know for my entire 35 years on earth OTR has been considered a less than desirable place to call home for 99.9% of the Cincy metro pop. Cheap housing costs won't change their opinions. Your best hope is to attract the young 20-something professional transplants that don't hold a lasting perception of the area.

[Cincy-Rise]

^ Okay ...

A neighborhood is either on an upswing or downswing...

What category does OTR fall into?

[jstn]

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

^ Okay ...

A neighborhood is either on an upswing or downswing...

What category does OTR fall into?

I would say...upswing.

But let's put in perspective...an ugly woman that has a facelift may be more attractive than before...but she's still not doable until she loses all the excess weight...

Find a way to lose the weight and OTR could be the gem of the QC.

[HuskerDu]

Gateway Quarter sounds silly. I have a feeling that temporary sales pitch will be thrown aside once OTR has been gentrified to the point more people want to live there.

[Joe 4520832257]

Absolutely. The name "Gateway Quarter" is nothing more than a developer sales name. It's the urban equivalent of calling something Oak Creek or Willow Branch Chase or whatever.

But I think it's a great strategy for the time being. Like people have been saying, there are still parts of OTR that are gross. It's very helpful to distiguish the gentrified nice area from the part that still needs lots of rehab.

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by Joe 4520832257

Absolutely. The name "Gateway Quarter" is nothing more than a developer sales name. It's the urban equivalent of calling something Oak Creek or Willow Branch Chase or whatever.

But I think it's a great strategy for the time being.

I'm sure they were thinking the same thing.

[restorationconsultant]

I think a lot of opinion on OTR depend on where you are coming from and your midset, Todays 20 something's who grew up in the burbs find OTR attractive because it is Urban, and not the burbs. Findlay Market is something most cities would "die to have" and in my opinion the only thing holding the neighborhood back is the unavailability of property to buy. 3CDC owns everything and while they have done some great projects, but they own more property than in the greatest of economies they could restore in 20 years. These properies will fall down before they can be restored and I wish 3cdc would start releasing them fo sale, OR, the city would hold 3CDC to the same standard of appearance they hold everyone else to and make them put on roofs, fix windows that sort of thing.

I looked in OTR and every thing I would have bought and wanted to restore was owned by 3CDC. In my opinion the city needs to get away from the idea that only certain 'preffered developers' can revitilize OTR. The city needs to make 3cdc shake loose some of these buildings that are currents 2-4 units sitting vacant for redevelopment as single family homes or mixed work/home development. 3CDC has both 'saved' the neighborhood, but at the same time 'slowed down" its recovery.

It takes people moving in and restoring to 'make' OTR not 2-3 prefferrd developers who can only realistically do so many projects a year.

I would have loved to have bought in OTR there just wasnt anything to buy.