A lot of attention is focused on Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood and some even say that it is exemplary of sustainable development efforts. For those of you who do not know about this neighborhood, here is a little background information extracted from Wikipedia.
- Over-the-Rhine is a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, located north of Downtown, south of CUF, south-west of Mount Auburn, west of Pendleton, and east of the West End. Over-the-Rhine is a historic district, treasured for its massive collection of 19th century Italianate structures, By the end of the 20th century, Over-the-Rhine had become one of the most economically distressed areas in the United States. In 1990 the neighborhood had an extremely high poverty and unemployment rate, with the median household income of about $5,000 a year. Since 2006, about $93 million has been invested in the development and creation of the Gateway Quarter, starting with 12th and Vine Streets immediately outside of downtown. The redevelopment project has been largely successful in its attempts to attract empty-nesters and young professionals into the neighborhood.
Kaid Benfield, Director of a Smart Growth Program in Washington D.C. has decided to take the analysis of Over-the-Rhine and step further and is issuing a three part blog, the first of which is titled, Revitalizing Over-the-Rhine (Part 1: The legacy and the challenge). The three part series will descirbe the historical significance of the area, examing current redevelopment activities, and look at the challenges the neighborhood faces before it can become a beacon of Smart Growth.