Projects draw praise; 'playing politics' allegation

Mayor John Cranley didn't spend too much time inside City Hall this week.

Instead, he was on a four-day tour of city neighborhoods, surrounded by community leaders, as he announced project after project -- $38 million worth to be exact -- that will be built with money from the sale of the Blue Ash airport, historic tax credits, a special taxing district and the refinancing of streetcar bonds.

While it was a bonanza of good news -- there's no argument that a grocery store in Avondale is desperately needed or that an old railway on the East Side would make a great recreational trail -- it was also seen as a calculated political move ahead of his 2017 bid for re-election.

Cranley drew up the list of projects after talking to several members of council, incorporating some of their priorities. Many of the projects have been vetted in past hearings, Cranley said.

"All the negotiations were done behind closed doors.  The mayor alone was meeting with community members," said Councilwoman Yvette Simpson, who is weighing a mayoral run against Cranley. "That is what we don't want. That was a big problem with the park levy; there was no community input."

And that, she said, "breeds animosity because some neighborhoods never got a chance. We don't want to pit neighborhoods against each other."

So was it political? Cranley said absolutely not.

"I don't view it as political, I view it as keeping my word," said Cranley, who campaigned on a platform of investing in neighborhoods. "These are communities who have been waiting for help."

As for Simpson's remarks, Cranley retorted: "She is good at finding money for the streetcar, but not for neighborhoods. Talk is cheap."

Cranley's press conferences come both as the city is finalizing its fiscal year 2017 budget. Under the city's charter, the city manager proposes a budget and the mayor then proposes his own changes. The council then gets final say.

Cranley's approach was unusual in that, rather than just offering suggestions, he hosted community leaders (and invited all council members) to a string of press conferences at which he offered his budget changes. The projects will be sent to council by the beginning of next week and council will be given the opportunity to vote on each one separately, Cranley said. The budget is due to the state June 30.

Some council members suggested Cranley should have involved council members more in choosing which neighborhood projects to champion.

"Nobody is saying these are bad projects, but council should have had a chance to weigh in," said Councilman Wendell Young, a Democrat like Cranley and Simpson. "They will have to get through the budget, but it may be difficult for some of them."

He cited November's failed park levy as a cautionary tale, suggesting Cranley's approach may backfire.

"One of the reasons the park levy failed was that it looked like the big projects were Cranley's ideas," said Young, who opposed the park levy. "All the ideas were his and in a sense you're seeing the same thing here."

Christopher Smitherman, a council ally of Cranley, said it was the members complaining about Cranley who were being political.

"This is a red herring hearing by people wanting to run for mayor," he said.

For some projects, like Wasson Way, the Avondale Town Center and Westwood Town Square, city council has in the past voted to support them but didn't provide money.

This isn't the first large-scale neighborhood investment plan. In 2012 former Mayor Mark Mallory created Focus 52, a program that directed $27 million to neighborhood projects that were publicly vetted by the city's planning commission. Cranley cut the program in fiscal year 2015, re-directing casino revenue to the general fund to avoid a deficit.

Thursday, in front of a boarded-up building on Race Street that would become 25 renovated apartments under the plan, Cranley unveiled $4 million for affordable housing. It was his fourth press conference in as many days.

"We have room to grow a city with everyone. That is when it really becomes a city," Cranley told the dozens of people gathered.

Mary Burke Rivers, executive director of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, publicly thanked Cranley and Vice Mayor David Mann, saying "Thank you so much. I want to say we love you right now."

All members of council were invited to each press conference, Cranley's staff said. Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld announced a renovation of the Oakley Recreation Center. Councilman Wendell Young was at Cranley's side in Avondale. Councilwoman Amy Murray attended two, but said she wished she could have been at all of them.

Sara Sheets, executive director of the Madisonville Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, praised the wide range of projects.

"Neighborhoods are where we spend most of our time," she said. "They are where we teach kids how to ride bikes, where we meet our friends in coffee shops, where we have backyard barbecues, where we create our memories.

"We are so lucky to have diverse neighborhoods with character and personality," she added. "Some of them just need a little help to reach their full potential."

For Madisonville, where she also lives, she said the infusion of cash will help rebuild the business district. Under the plan, the neighborhood would get a mixed-use development at Madison and Whetsel.

"It will complement small businesses already here and improve quality of life for the thousands of people who call Madisonville home," Sheets said.

Pete Witte, a West Side activist, was thrilled to see the rollout.

“After these many years of overt investment in Over-the-Rhine, the Central Business District and The Banks, it’s about time the neighborhoods where people actually live get some investment from the city,” he said.

About the projects

Oakley Recreation Renovation: $3.5 million

The city will commit $3.5 million toward a new recreation center on the East Side. It will replace an existing facility on Paxton Avenue in Oakley, which is a re-purposed restaurant.

Avondale Town Center: $2 million

Part of the Avondale Town Center will be torn down, with the rest moved closer to the street. It will get a full-service grocery store, a laundry -- the first in Avondale -- a dental office, a health clinic and apartments.

Bond Hill development: $3.2 million

$3 million will be given the Port Authority for development with the caveat that they must partner with the Bond Hill community leaders on capital projects in that neighborhood. The city will also provide $200,000 a year for the next five years for what will be called the Community Economic Advancement Initiative.

Alaska Commons: $450,000

The city will buy the Alaska Commons site in Avondale from National Church Residences to make sure the neighborhood has a say in the site's future development, possibly using it for a future Citirama site. The money will also help National Church Residences build housing for homeless people in South Cumminsville.

North Avondale development: $750,000

This money will be used for the redevelopment of property at Reading and Paddock roads, which is already owned by the county landbank.

West Price Hill business district: $2 million

The city will work with Price Hill Will to to develop a mixed-use project in the business district, though no site has been chosen yet.

College Hill Station: $4 million

Saint Francis Group will build a new development at Hamilton Avenue and North Bend Road, which the city has already invested in,

Westwood Square: $4 million

This will be used to create a community-gathering space and park, which will incorporate streetscaping, traffic calming and pedestrian accessibility.

Wasson Way: $12 million

The recreation trail will go 7.6 miles from Victory Parkway to the Little Miami Bike Trail, with this money being used to buy the a 4.1 mile portion of the trail from Norfolk Southern.

Madisonville apartment/office/retail: $4 million

This mixed-use development at Madison and Whetsel will include 300 apartments, retail and office space, and parking.

Over-the-Rhine Affordable Housing: $2 million

This money will be used to continue affordable housing, plus bring new affordable housing and market rate housing to all city neighborhoods. Exactly where has not been determined,

Affordable Housing: $2 million

These projects haven't been identified, but will be used for affordable housing projects across the city.