Camp Washington Stakeholder Charrette

CAMP WASHINGTON STAKEHOLDERS CHARRETTE

Table of Contents Profile of Stakeholders...........................................2 Recorded Interviews.............................................12 Discussion Material..............................................16 Strategies..............................................................26

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Large Businesses Small Businesses Residents Cultural Institutions

CAMP WASHINGTON Stakeholders 2

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Large Businesses

CAMP WASHINGTON Stakeholders 4

Meyer Tool, Inc. is a very innovate high-tech supplier to the gas turbine engine industry. They have had their headquarters in Camp Washington since 1973. Meyer Tool, Inc. employs about 500 people in the Cincinnati area and they are one of the few industries still occupying the neighborhood.

KAO Brands is a global manufacturer of premium beauty care brands. They have had their headquarters in Camp Washington since 1988 and employ 450 people at their Cincinnati firm. It has been rumored that they are looking to move out of Camp Washington into the Central Business District.

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Small Businesses

CAMP WASHINGTON Stakeholders 6

Camp Washington Chili has been a popular restaurant in Camp Washington since it opened in 1940. They have been the most popular business since then in the neighborhood’s business district.

The chili parlor brings a lot of tourism and national attention to the neighborhood.

Schenz Theatrical Supply, Inc. has been providing theatrical makeup, costumes, and supplies to high school, university, community, and professional theatre companies since 1965. They have been located on Colerain Ave. in Camp Washington for over 45 years.

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Residents

CAMP WASHINGTON Stakeholders 8

The Camp Washington Community Council was chartered in 1981. The City of Cincinnati officially recognizes the Council as a civic organization. They provide an open forum for residents to express their concerns, issues, and ideas to improve Camp Washington.

The population of Camp Washington is approximately 1,343 people according to the 2010 census results.

About 20% of the population is between the ages of 25 and 30 years old. The racial makeup of the community is 918 Caucasian to 404 African American to 50 other.

The per capita income of the nieghborhood is $10,881.

Only about 100 people have college degrees.

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Cultural Institutions

CAMP WASHINGTON Stakeholders 10

The American Sign Museum was opened in 2012 by Tod Swormstedt in Camp Washington. The museum occupies a former parachute factory in the north end of Camp Washington and they strive to provide education on the history of the sign industry and its contribution to American commerce and landscape. They hope to encourage further mixed development in the industrial area.

Sacred Heart Church has had a presence in Camp Washington since 1969. Although few of their members come from the neighborhood, they attract thousands of visitors to Camp Washington during their large ravioli dinners.

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Large Businesses Small Businesses Residents Cultural Institutions

CAMP WASHINGTON Recorded Interviews 12

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Residents

CAMP WASHINGTON Discussion Material 14

What are the issues you would like to see addressed in your community? - I would like to see the residence and non-residence who are drug dealers GONE from the neighborhood. There are several section 8 houses whose inhabitants are really nasty: they need to be GONE (I know it sounds harsh, but there it is). We also have a major litter problem. I have no idea how to tackle that, but it is so upsetting to see garbage constantly thrown by kids and adults.

What physical improvements would benefit the neighborhood the most? - I think the most pressing physical problem or blight are the abandoned houses. Paul is doing amazing work, rehabbing, but I wish he could have the funds to do several houses a year. I think we could bring in more young families if there were more houses available and in the works.

What does the community lack and could benefit from? - We lack interesting, creative businesses. Most are manufacturing, nasty fast food and Deveros. We could use coffee shops, a grocery, a (nice) bar and other things that would attract young people to live here. Deveroe’s is just nasty and has been the source of crime, lets level that who area, shall we?

What about your neighborhood’s past or your neighborhood’s future seem bright or outstanding and why? - There is so much going for this neighborhood! We have amazing architecture, are centrally located, affordable housing and a great community council. We have Paul and Joe whose energy is contagious. We have a long history of the Camp Washington Community Board fixing up houses. We have many lovely families who have been here for decades. More young families are moving it, but it takes living next to nasty people at times. This is a wonderful community, the more houses to be fixed and loved, the better it will get.

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Large Businesses Small Businesses Residents Cultural Institutions

CAMP WASHINGTON Discussion Material 16

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Large Businesses

CAMP WASHINGTON Discussion Material 18

Meyer Tool, Inc. • More beautiful neighborhood • Needs places to eat lunch • Camp Washington has come a long way in the last decade KAO Brands • Fill vacant buildings • Bring new residents and businesses

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Small Businesses

CAMP WASHINGTON Discussion Material 20

Camp Washington Chili • Improved walkability • Isolated from potential costumers • Brings in people (positive) • Nationally known (positive) Schenz Theatrical Supply • Vacant buildings across the street • Doesn’t specifically serve the neighborhood but it’s good that it’s there • Improved walkability • Isolated from potential customers • Has been a staple business in the NBD

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Residents

CAMP WASHINGTON Discussion Material 22

Camp Washington Community Council • Fix the drug problem • Improve section 8 housing • Find solutions to the litter problem • Fill abandoned homes • Find money for the community council to do more rehabs • Attract younger families • Attract interesting/creative businesses • Needs to be nicer dining (mostly fast food currently) • Needs to be a grocery store • Deveroe’s is a problem because it attracts crime • In need of a “nice” bar • Amazing architecture • Centrally located • Affordable housing

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Cultural Institutions

CAMP WASHINGTON Discussion Material 24

American Sign Museum • Improved Sidewalks • Improved transportation • More exciting Valley Park • Way finding signs • Big buildings • Interesting history Sacred Heart Chruch • Neighborhood used to be more of a community • Congregation drives into Camp Washington (not a resident of the neighborhood) • Doesn’t foresee population growth • Low population • Neighborhood is in good condition

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Large Businesses Small Businesses Residents Cultural Institutions

CAMP WASHINGTON Strategies 26

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Large Businesses Small Businesses Residents Cultural Institutions

CAMP WASHINGTON Strategies 28

Priorities • Decrease litter • Decrease vacant buildings • Increase interesting/exciting businesses • Alternate transportatio

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Large Businesses Small Businesses Residents Cultural Institutions

CAMP WASHINGTON Strategies 30

Strategies • “Electric” Valley Park (bike rental) • Pedestrian islands on Hopple St. in order to easily transition to “Central Parkway” • A grocery store in Deveroe’s building • Bike path/lane connecting north and south • More creative businesses in NBD (coffee shops, bars, higher end restaurants, etc.)

• NBD infill • Bus Rapid Transit going through neighborhood on Spring Grove Avenue.

Construct a streetcar, or incline, along Straight Street to connect the neighborhood to the University of Cincinnati and surrounding uptown communities. This project would include a tunnel or bridge to eliminate the Interstate-75 boundary.

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