City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. says that there's little the City can do to stop demolitions in the proposed Sedamsville River Road Historic District, even if it makes the National Register.
Dohoney's report to City Council is in response to a communication from Susan Feldman, co-chair of the Sedamsville Historic Committee, who has asked the City to stop any demolitions for a proposed condominium project until their historic district proposal is reviewed by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office (OHPO) this August.
The review is the first step in getting the district, which includes approximately 60 houses on the northwest side of River Road and southwest of Ansonia Avenue, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The proposed project is called Harbor Lights, a high-rise condominium development that would require the demolition of up to 30 Sedamsville homes - 12 in the initial phases.
Since mid-2007, Arlon Brown and Collins Riverside LLC has bought more than two dozen properties between 2500 and 2900 River Road (BIRD'S EYE) for often inflated prices, which have been difficult for many Sedamsville residents to refuse.
Feldman says that the neighborhood still hasn't seen any plans, and that communications with the developer have been spotty at best.
Brown has already hinted that he'll soon begin tearing down houses.
Because the properties in the redevelopment area are not located within a local historic district, demolitions will not have to be reviewed by the Historic Conservation Office during the permit process.
"If demolition permits are filed, the City would be obligated to consider the applications without regard to historical significance," Dohoney writes.
And listing on the National Register would only protect the properties if the developer is seeking federal funding, which would require a federal - but not a local - review.
Dohoney says that the City's Department of Community Development has had conversations with the developer and that an application for capital infrastructure funding is likely, but these funds would not be from a federal source.
"Should the developer demolish portions of the historic district, however, he would be disqualified from receiving federal assistance for the new construction," Dohoney writes.
So far, no demolition or construction permit applications have been filed.
Feldman believes that demolitions will hurt their chances of making the National Register.
Following the August review by the OHPO, a formal listing on the National Register could take several months.
Photo credit: Cincy Images
Previous reading on BC:
Sedamsville wants demo delay on possible condo project (4/17/08)
CincyPride 2010 + Apologies
1 hour ago
4 comments:
I love that view of Sedamsville. By the way, what was the name of that old school? Was it as simple as Sedamsville Public?
Sorry, it is a bit off topic.
Dan, I honestly have no idea what the name of that school was.
Why is the low single family housing ownership rate not a point of concern to city leaders? The demo of these structures causes the hordes of "left out" Cincinnatians to go begging to the multi-unit barons who need to do nothing to get tenants. Why? No competition for client/tenants. Read the enormous amount of substandard apartments which are being dealt with at his snapshot moment.
Housing policy needs to be changed to where public stipends are allowed to be used for purchase of these structures. Pay people the stipend if they work on the structure, improving it under the guidance of an inspector of some sort. Allow them to stay once completed. Go beyond the $15k demolition expense to do it right. If they do it without pay, give them more equity. For pay, the city keeps the property and sells the mortgage like any other bank would/can.
I'm perfectly happy with these development plans. Brown has given my neighbors good money for their houses. I'm sure he will soon be knocking at my door just like everyone else. The prospect of living next door to people who can afford $500,000 condos doesn't bother me in the least.
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