Neighborhood Study - Camp Washington

Camp Washington A Neighborhood of the Past, Pushing into the Future

PLAN 1012 Spring ‘20 Jason Keith and Brandon Williams

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Credits

All maps created by Brandon Williams and Jason Keith, with data sourced from CAGIS 2015 History information provided Ohio History Central, Camp Washington Chili, and the Camp Washington Business District Redevelopment and Market Feasability Plan All photos taken by Brandon Williams and Jason Keith

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Table of Contents Come in....

We’re Open

Welcome to Camp 4-5

Neighborhood Impressions 8-9

Branding th

Camp Washington has a unique and intere businesses,of restaurants History Campand residents, the neighb neighborhood would show effort being put in to m

Neighborhood Image 10-11

14-17

Street Lamps and Bench

Guide

ngths

Occupied

SWOT Analysis

Vacant

ay Connectivity

g Building Density

Possible location for neighborhood welcome signage

A pathway or trail along Mill Creek to improve connectivity

Colerain Ave. and Hopp areas of the neighborhood and beautification to attract stores proposed adding street lamps a name creates and image that i shows the neighborhood invest lighting to an otherwise dim are

N

alks/Walkability

p Washington 0 ft munity Board

583 ft

1749 ft

1166 ft

g Community Ties

Senseability Map PLAN 1012 Spring ‘20 Jason Keith Large Industrial lots could pose threat to future expansion

c Character

aknesses

ee Canopy Density

Data Analysis

nce of Welcome

18-19

blic School

N

A threat to future residential development, this is the only large apartment style housing

Urban Design

Colerain Avenue View 22-25

rd boundry

of Retail Business

n

Camp Washington

g Parking ructure

nt Buildings

ed Colerain Ave

eek Accessability

Widening and attention to vehicles has made Hopple St. an intimidating street for walkers and bikers

10”

Camp Washington

ortunities

The only food shopping source in the neighorhood is Family Dollar

1 in. = 20 ft.

e Walkable ations

0 ft

10 ft

Rezoning of Colerain Avenue allows for more restaurants to move into Camp

eats

Issues and Opportunities

Provide walkable destinations for the two large residential districts

Desert Attention

These sections denote spaces where there is little to no tree canopy or cover at all

e Street Growth Multiple access points to

28-30

Site Recommendations

Entrance Sign Locations 31-33 3

Coming

Camp Washington, Cincinnati

Camp Washington is a neighborhood made for the past and by the past, for this reason Camp must rediscover itself and re-imagine what they offer for Cincinnati to remain a relevant neighborhood in the city’s future. Camp Washington has been a neighborhood of doers since their inception. Hard workers in Cincinnati’s agricultural and industrial heritage were made in Camp Washington. The neighborhood has served a vital role for the city in the past, as a leader in pork production during the height of “Porkopolis” and a pioneer in machining from the Industrial Revolution and onward. While it may not appear or feel so today, Camp Washington was once a complete neighborhood of working class families living in a community they could call their own. Much of this changed when the city changed. By the time the highways were planned, much of Camp had already been lost. People moved further out of the city to have their own American Dream and with the addition of the Mill Creek Expressway, the ability to bypass Camp Washington became even easier. During this period Camp Washington gradually declined in size, both in population and building infrastructure. The only thing keeping the neighborhood afloat was the industrial business capacity they were able to retain.

Today Camp Washington is preparing to start a new chapter in their history.

Though the neighborhood has been cut away many times, their resilience is hoping to lead them into a brighter future. Camp still relies heavily on an industrial backing, but the neighborhood is once again becoming desirable for people to live in as well. With an increase in home values, an investment from the creative class and a plan to put the neighborhood back on the map, Camp Washington has a new vision.

The neighborhood has always been home to makers and they intend to stay this way.

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5

Neighborhood Impression

First Impressions of a place leave a lasting impact and vision for a person.

When visiting Camp Washington for the first time we looked for specific aspects of this neighborhood that stood out to us the most, aspects that evoke emotions in visitors. From this we were able to learn patterns of development, neighborhood assets and areas in need of assistance.

Neighborhood Impression

Upon first arrival to Camp Washington, visitors are met with a neighborhood of the past. Camp Washington is many things, as shown in this wordle, but through our findings we notice how large the roads and defining edges of the neighborhood are. Camp Washington is largely split in half by Hopple Street, creating two different halves, one that is largely industrial and another that has potential to grow into a vibrant living community.

Camp Washington Wordle Adobe Illustrator

Many buildings and structures stood out to us in Camp Washington, and our imageability map shows just that. It identifies the physical places and structures that stood out to us the most, as well as the themes that we saw around the neighborhood the most.

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Neighborhood Imageability Hand Drawn, ArcMap

Neighborhood Impression We took what we learned from our first few visits to Camp Washington and put together our overall neighborhood image, highlighting five major aspects of the neighborhood : nodes, paths, edges, landmarks and districts.

Major

Minor

Node Path Edge Landmarks

Districts Industrial Residential Commercial Rail

N Neighborhood Imageability Hand Drawn, ArcMap

0

500 ft

1000 ft

1500 ft

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Neighborhood Image This map was designed by visually identifying empty green spaces and vacant lots around Camp Washington.

The purpose was to find areas that would be suitable for potential green space developments. Another crucial part for the map was to locate the already developed green spaces as well. Overall, this map gives a clear visual of the empty spaces as if it were seen from Google Earth.

Proposed Mill Creek Park

Valley Park

Private Park - KAO

Potential Developed 0

10

500 ft

1000 ft

1500 ft

N

Sensability Mapping: Lack of Green Hand Drawn, ArcMap

Neighborhood Image Vacancy in Camp Washington was apparent at the first visit. The map shows buildings in Camp that from the outside appear to be is disrepair or vacant. The map conveys the need for this neighborhood to improve their overall image as well as hold building owners to higher standards of property maintenance. We learned that this had been a problem for quite some time and that the Camp Washington Community Board has been active in bringing these owners to court for poor property maintenance.

Arlington Street

Crosley Building

Colerain & Hopple

Occupied Vacant Sensability Mapping: Vacancy Hand Drawn, ArcMap

N

0

500 ft

1000 ft

1500 ft

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The Past and the Present Camp Washington is very much a neighborhood of the past, and quite an important past that has attributed to the success of Cincinnati. Even though the neighborhood feels a bit dated, there is still much for Camp Washington in the future. We hope that learning from the past and the current state of the neighborhood, this will lead us to the answers of the future.

Time in Camp Washington

17 93

John Riddle

18 46

Mexican-American War

18 50

Porkopolis

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New Jersey native and army colonel John Riddle moves to into the frontier and settles in modern-day Cincinnati. He worked as a blacksmith and placed shoes on houses for the US garrison at Fort Washington. Purchased the first property on modern-day Camp Washington land. His property sat adjacent to the historic Brighton House. If his home existed today it would sit on what is currently I-75.

U.S. at war with Mexico and plains north of Cincinnati serve as a training camp for war. Settlements begin appearing more.

Cincinnati earned the nickname of Porkopolis in the early 1850s. Rail-yards are able to constantly supply a steady flow of hogs. At the center of production was Camp Washington. At peak production 450,000 hogs were slaughtered each year. By 1871 many meat packing factories used the Union Stockyard as central location for meat packing in the neighborhood.

Rail Enters Camp

Camp Washington gets annexed and the development of the rail yards began. This was a project that was built and added on to until the 1980s.

Today the rail yard is a major edge and landmark in the present day neighborhood.

Industrial Build Up

Industry in the neighborhood shifted to manufacturing with companies like Powell Valves, Andrew Jergens Company and Proctor and Gamble.

Crosley Radio Corporation

Powell Crosley, opened the Crosley Radio Building on Arlington Street. It served as a radio station, offices and factory production for radios, fridges and cars.

18 69 19 10 19 23 15

19 29 19 37 19 45 16

Depression Hits Camp

The US Great Depression started in 1929 and lasted up until the end of WWII. When the depression hit, many businesses and factories left Camp Washington and so the neighborhood’s peak population of over 11,000 low to medium income working class families began to decline.

Flood Hits Cincinnati

This event lead to massive loss of businesses in the Camp Washington neighborhood. Some could argue this was the nail in the coffin for the hope of rehabilitation after the Great Depression.

World War II

World War II ends and rapid suburbanization hurts the economy and people of Camp hard. Businesses move out of the Valley for suburban locations and residents move to new suburbs in the Western Hills area.

Plan of 1948

19 48

Camp Declining

19 88

American Sign Museum

20 12

The 1948 plan initiated the construction of the highway that enters Cincinnati and gave Camp Washington the eastern boarder it has today. The highway, to date, has become another hurdle in the way of Camp’s progress for economic rehabilitation.

By the late 1980s, Camp was still seeking commercial and resdiential revival, but the industrial sector was still made up of 200 firms supporting 7,000 workers.

The American Sign Museum opened a 19,000 sq. ft. showroom in Camp full of American signage from the 1870s up to present day.

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Data Analysis

Race

6.5%

.5%

Demographics

Asian

74%

From our demographics, we can tell that Camp has remained at stagnant growth over the last ten years and that the current population reflects a large White and AfricanAmerican population in their late 20s to early 40s. A generation that still has a lot of time left.

Other

19%

White

African American

1,687

Population

1,571

1,431

1,394

1,343 2010

2018

2016

2014

2012

Demographic data provided by ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles

People of Camp

The average person of Camp Washington is not making a ton of money, but is above a level of poverty. Most of them don’t work in their neighborhood but stay in the tri-state area working in hourly wage style jobs, unlike many blue collar jobs offered in Camp.

Income $27,669

s 2010

$32,250

s

$30,227

s 2016

15%

Data provided by ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles

2018

Healthcare

Occupations 14%

Accommodation/ Food Services

10%

Retail Trade

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Waste Management

Data provided by OnTheMap

From data we observed, a large amount of the population of Camp Washington doesn’t actually work in the Neighborhood.

The majority work outside of Camp which would explain the type of occupations taken by residents.

3,306

8.5%

43

857

Data provided by

OnTheMap

Data Analysis

27% Vacant

661

2018

673

2014

Home Openings

Homes in Camp consist of a large majority of pre-1939 builds, a time when the neighborhood was really growing. Many of these homes have remained vacant for years, along with the stagnant population.

Camp still has a lot of future ahead of it and we see the vacancy as opportunity for controlled growth and renter ownership.

704

2010 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Data provided by ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles

700

800

D L O S Data provided by ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles

18% decrease in home value since 2014

Housing Future 51% increase in home ownership since 2010

While the neighborhood of Camp Washington has appeared stagnant in many indicators, housing in Camp Washington is shifting. With a rise in home ownership and decrease of home value, opportunity for renters and new residents to become permanent is on the rise.

s Data provided by ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles

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Urban Design

After visiting Camp Washington and doing extensive research on its history and who calls it home, we analyze the built environment of the neighborhood.

To do so, we study the figure ground, linkages and place typologies including architectural, landscape and streetscape elements. This gives us a better understanding of where the problems and opportunists are in the neighborhood.

Urban Design Observing Camp Washington from only the built envrionment gives the viewer and ability to notice street and block layout. This keys us in to how the neighborhood developed and what space is truly available to use. We observed the buidling density within the residential blocks of the neighborhood but a large majority of the neighborhood is put into large industiral blocks that are not as easy to redevelop.

Building Foorprint Camp Washington ArcMap, CAGIS2015

Observing the land use in Camp Washington shows trends in development of the neighborhorhood. A large portion of Camp is dedicated to the rail yards (grey), another large portion to industry (purple), and roguhly a quarter of the neighborhood split between two residential pockets (yellow) and commercial lots (red).

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Land Use Camp Washington ArcMap, CAGIS2015

Urban Design Neighborhood connectivity is extremely important to understand how people move in and out of this place. From our research we were able to find the areas in the neighborhood where congestion is worst and where traffic is concentrated.

We see that the block size and location of traffic form a neighborhood of good walkablity in most parts.

Street Heiarchy Local Primary Arterial

Intersection Density Low Medium High

Pedestrian Walkability Walkshed Origin

1/4 mile boundry

N Linkages in Camp Washington ArcMap, CAGIS2015

0

500 ft

1000 ft

1500 ft

23

Urban Design: Place Typologies Mixed Use/Residential Hopple St Sidney Ave

Colerain Ave

This typology encompasses two aspects of the built environment in Camp Washington, mixed-use and residential. Much of the neighborhood’s mixed use development occurs along Colerain Avenue, yet it remains fairly empty. Traffic in this southern portion of Camp is condensed into two arterial roads, Spring Grove Ave and Colerain Ave. Along with this, one of Camp’s two residential districts is in this typology.

Consisting of older homes mainly, Sidney and Henshaw are home to a majority of Camp Washington’s residents.

Rachel St

Henshaw Ave

Jessamine St

N

200ft

0ft

Township St

Typology Model

Colerain Avenue Section

0 ft

10 ft

20 ft

2-Lane 2-Lane Traffic Sidewalk Sidewalk Traffic 15'-0" 9'-0" 9'-0" 15'-0"

Henshaw Avenue Section

1 in. = 20 ft.

1 in. = 20 ft.

0 ft

48'-0"

Colerain Avenue Elevation

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1 in. = 20 ft.

400ft

10 ft

20 ft

Sidewalk

12'-0"

2-Lane Traffic 18'-0"

2-Lane Traffic 18'-0"

60'-0"

Sidewalk

12'-0"

Urban Design: Place Typologies Zone Clash

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Neighborhood Impact After visiting Camp Washingotn and spending time analyzing its many facets and characteristics, we want to lay out our analysis and how we see the future of the neighborhood moving Seeing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the neigborhood mapped out spatially we were able to give our best reccomendations for Camp Washington’s future.

Identifying the Issues and Oppurtunities

Flexing

SWOT Analysis

Strengths Highway Connectivity Existing Building Density

Possible location for neighborhood welcome signage

A pathway or trail along Mill Creek to improve connectivity

Sidewalks/Walkability Camp Washington Community Board Strong Community Ties

Large Industrial lots could pose threat to future expansion

Historic Character Adressing

Weaknesses

A threat to future residential development, this is the only large apartment style housing

Low Tree Canopy Density Absence of Welcome Signs No Public School Railyard boundry Lack of Retail Business Capitalize on

Opportunities Exisiting Parking Infrastructure Vacant Buildings Rezoned Colerain Ave Mill Creek Accessability

Widening and attention to vehicles has made Hopple St. an intimidating street for walkers and bikers

The only food shopping source in the neighorhood is Family Dollar

Create Walkable Destinations

Countering

Threats

Rezoning of Colerain Avenue allows for more restaurants to move into Camp

Provide walkable destinations for the two large residential districts

Food Desert Public Attention

These sections denote spaces where there is little to no tree canopy or cover at all

Hopple Street Growth Residential Diversity Industrial Lots

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Multiple access points to I-75 allow easy entrance/exit to neighborhood

SWOT Analysis

Adobe Illustraotor, ArcMap

Identifying The Identifying the Issues andIssues Oppurtunities Lack of Green Space Camp Washington has the least amount of green space and tree canopy out of all the Cincinnati neighborhoods.

Fortunately there are available spaces of land to develop on for this purpose.

Retail Desert Camp has many business fronts that sit boarded up, however, these can be used to bring in new essential businesses that could benefit the neighborhood and bring life to its vancant retail buildings

Vacancy This has been an issue facing the neighborhood since the Great Depression.

Some buildings are collapsing and are in dyer need of renvovation.

However there are ways to bring people to these buildings again.

Food Desert

Inability of Expansion Camp struggles with the inability to expand beyond is current boarders. Interstate 75 to the east, railroads and the Mill Creek to the west, the viaduct in the south, and a bottleneck effect by the Mill Creek and Interstate 75 to the North. These physical barriers make it impossible to expand.

Camp is also a food desert with the nearest grocery being a small conerstore on Beekman St. We feel it would be benefical for Camp to have atleast two small groceries on the North and South sides of the Neighbohood

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Overview of Recommendations Overview of Reccomendations CAMP WASHINGTON

Extend Mill Creek Bike Path

Introduce Neighborhood Welcome Signage

10�

Camp Washington

Camp Washington

Community clean up of open spaces and streets

1 in. = 20 ft.

Branding and Beautification along Hopple and Colerian

0 ft

10 ft

20 ft

Restoring Vacant Building Facades

Overview of Reccomendations

30

Adobe Illustraotor, ArcMap

Overview of Recommendations Branding the Community Additon of welcome signs at neighborhood entrances Increased neighborhood awareness through visual aids

Improve Mill Creek Access Introduction of a park Extension of Mill Creek Bike Path Increased access to surrounding neighborhoods

Promote Community Outreach

Street Beautification Addition of banners, light posts, trash cans and benches Improve tree canopy along streets Scheduled street clean up Repair potholes in road and sidewalk

Restore Building Facades Improve structural integrity of storefronts along Colerain Ave Incentivize Development

Increase neighborhood activities and events Neighborhood wide clean up Communication boxes placed around neighborhood

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Site Plan:Branding the Community

Camp Washington has a unique and interesting history that deserves to be shared. In order to attract businesses, restaurants and residents, the neighborhood needs to be apparent and attractive.

Branding this neighborhood would show effort being put in to make it better and would beautify the existing infrastructure.

Street Lamps and Benches

Camp Washington

Colerain Ave. and Hopple St. are extremely trafficked areas of the neighborhood and deserve attention and beautification to attract stores and people. To do this, it’s proposed adding street lamps and benches. Adding Camp’s name creates and image that imprints in passerbyers and shows the neighborhood investment, as well providing adequate lighting to an otherwise dim area.

N

Colerain Avenue View

10”

Camp Washington

Camp Washington

CW

1 in. = 20 ft.

0 ft

10 ft

20 ft

0

2 ft

Entrance Sign Locations

Camp Washington

CAMP WASHINGTON

Eastern Entrance: Hopple Street

32

Coming into the neighborhood from Hopple St, the only welcome is from Camp Washington Chili’s sign and from the North and South on Colerain there is no sign of a welcome. Many neighborhoods in Cincinnati have such welcome signs and seeing the important role Camp has played in the city’s history, Camp should have a proper introduction.

CAMP WASHINGTON

Northern Entrance: Spring Grove Ave

CAMP WASHINGTON 1 in. = 1 ft.

4 ft

Mill Creek Site Plan: Reimagined Mill Creek Re-imagined Brandon Williams Camp Washington Mill Creek Recommendation

Austin Nelson Millvale Mill Creek Recommendation

Having nicer metal fencing instead of the tradition chainlink fence will make the park more inviting and encourage more use of the area. It also continues to provide public safety from the busy rail yard.

A pedestrian bridge connecting the trail to Millvale would increase usage of the trail between the two Neighborhoods, making the boarder between the two less prevalent of an obstacle.

Camp Washington

Camp Washington

The addition to the Mill Creek Bike Trail would increase Camp Washington’s access to the Mill Creek. This addition also provides an opputunity for more tree canopy and a healthy running, biking, walking trail.

1inch = 50 feet

0ft

This design features a DNA type weave that runs along the edge of the Mill Creek and Camp Washington. One lane will be specifically for bikers and the other lane for walkers and runners. Light posts with branding banners for the Camp Washington neighborhood will be implemented along the trail to provide lighting at night and welcome visitors to the neighborhood. Tree canopy will be added to provide shade both along the Mill Creek for relaxing and the rail yard for safety. A metal should also be added to further safety precautions.

50ft

100ft

33

Jason Keith keithja@mail.uc.edu (513) 787-9681 Brandon Williams willi5bo@mail.uc.edu (865) 360-3747