June 2006
STREETVIBES Two Prominent Community Development Organizations Merge, form Over-the-Rhine Community Housing - Providing Hope for Inclusive Re-Development of OTR housing in 1988. Over-the-Rhine Housing Over-the-Rhine Network focused its development efforts in the Community Housing will be responsible for the combined North Central area of Over-the-Rhine. ReSTOC (Race Street Tenant Organization Coassets of the Housing Operative) was chartered in 1978 by volunteers of Network and ReSTOC, Drop Inn Center, a homeless shelter, to ensure the totaling a net worth of 5.5 existence of affordable housing in Over-the-Rhine. million in property and over ReSTOC was organized as a cooperative where 90 buildings in this neighborhood that spans one the board of owners was controlled by the tenants. ReSTOC developed a strong education program, square mile north of serving as a site for 3,000 volunteers yearly on downtown. Of equal value and more difficult to quantify their Saturday Work Crews and Urban Plunges. ReSTOC had focused its development efforts in are the people who live in the Washington Park area. those properties and the The community of Over-the-Rhine lost thousands of volunteers who over 1000 units of affordable housing over the past have volunteered over the 5 years. The loss comes primarily as the result of years and who continue to ReSTOC office gets a facelift for new merger the section 8 opt-outs where owners like Tom support the efforts of Denhart and Metro Management chose to leave ReSTOC and Over-theOver-the-Rhine — The boards of two the section 8 program that kept their buildings Rhine Housing Network. Roger Auer, board community development organizations, Over-theaffordable for the previous 20 years. Many of president of ReSTOC and now president of Rhine Housing Network and ReSTOC (Race those buildings have been vacated and sold for Community Housing put it this way, “We are Street Tenant Organization Co-Operative), voted development by market rate providers. grateful for support from within OTR and from the unanimously to merge, forming a new non-profit Contrary to the spin of the mainstream broader community of Greater Cincinnati. Beyond community development corporation—Over-themedia that affordable housing led to the problems the nuts and bolts of the work they do year in and Rhine Community Housing. that face Over-the-Rhine, the exact opposite is year out, they lift our spirits The merger became official and provide renewing energy.” true. As we steadily lost affordable housing in the this month. community over the past 5 years, open air drug Auer said he feels good about Like its preceding markets and gun violence steadily increased. As the talents of both boards. organizations, the mission of people were forced out, drugs and violence moved “The combined skills of our Over-the-Rhine Community in. board members and the Housing is to provide In 2001 the corporate sponsored supportive communities they affordable housing to residents Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation are affiliated with including the of Over-the-Rhine. The (3CDC) was created and Over-the-Rhine was religious, business, resident organization will play a key identified as one of their 3 areas of focus. 3CDC and education communities role in the development efforts has acquired about 80 buildings and vacant lots, allow us to receive input and of the neighborhood. spending more than $8 million during the past support from a broad range of With a staff of 16, perspectives. That feels good.” couple of years on acquisitions and board-ups. A Over-the-Rhine Community Walter Reinhaus, President similar strategy used by ReSTOC in the ‘80s to Housing will continue to secure and stabilize buildings for the sole purpose of the Over-the-Rhine provide housing to all existing of community control of affordable housing, Community Council believes tenants of both former the merger will be good for the Housing organizations. Mary Burke, community. “The merger the former director of Overseems like a natural or obvious cont. on page 8 the-Rhine Housing Network idea given Sharon Jones, Over-the-Rhine will serve as executive director Community Council the history of the new organization. Her and leadership style is one of collaboration and has a closeness of the two dedicated staff to build a strong team. Andy Hutzel organizations. It seems especially the former executive director of ReSTOC will so in these times of limited serve as the Operations Director. Both Mary and resources and increased Andy’s leadership roles will allow them to focus reporting requirements. more time on their areas of responsibilities and Additionally, the community will strengths. be able to go to one office to “We are excited about our future and the access a wider variety of housing potential for inclusive community development” and services. “ Burke said. “Bringing together the expertise of our About the former organizations two organizations bodes well for the future of Over-the-Rhine Housing Over-the-Rhine and the opportunity for a mixed Network was formed in 1983 as income community. We believe that we can model a resource for housing for our city the way to develop a mixed income development organizations in the community where all residents are valued.” neighborhood and began New board members of OTR Community Housing developing its own affordable
Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless