[{"_1":2,"_95":-5,"_96":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6017046,"mediaKeyId","5778755-20e9eff6e315e64697099754008fc2c0","parentId",5778755,"title","Port outlines single‑family work, land bank purchases and home‑repair programs across city neighborhoods","audioSeconds",2484,"startMs",4872000,"endMs",7356000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778755-20e9eff6e315e64697099754008fc2c0&start=4872&end=7356","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6017046/Ohio/Port-outlines-singlefamily-work-land-bank-purchases-and-homerepair-programs-across-city-neighborhoods","mediaUrl","author","City Council of Cincinnati OH","date","2025-06-03T00:00:00Z","article","The Port of Greater Cincinnati provided the Equitable Growth and Housing Committee an update on single‑family housing and land bank activity, detailing acquisitions, renovations, sales and homeowner repair programs across multiple neighborhoods.

Phil Denning, speaking for the Port, said the agency and its managed entities have built and sold roughly 210 houses in the city over the last eight years and now manage a 194‑house portfolio acquired three years ago (the CARE portfolio). Denning said 60 of those houses were vacant at acquisition; to date the Port has sold 47 from the portfolio at an average sale price “just under $150,000.” He described acquisition and renovation work to stabilize units and tenants, with targeted assistance (rent forgiveness and repairs) provided to preserve family stability while vacant units were rehabbing for sale.

Denning outlined neighborhood projects: Avondale (three phases with homes for sale income‑restricted at 80–120% AMI under ARPA rules); Walnut Hills (infill new builds and modular examples); Sedamsville (a complex portfolio acquisition of 65 parcels — 41 vacant land, 23 structures — where the Port used state Welcome Home Ohio funds, county ARPA and other sources to stabilize historic assets and prepare for phased rehabs); and a long‑running homeowner repair grant program funded by the land bank to make repairs for long‑time low‑income homeowners (up to $15,000 per household in some programs).

On costs and outcomes, Denning said the Port has spent, on average, about $75,000 on acquisition and roughly $75,000–$80,000 on renovation for the houses sold from the CARE portfolio, resulting in an average subsidy to each sale of about $10,000–$15,000. Denning also highlighted procurement outcomes: the Port achieved roughly 57% minority contractor spend and 71% small‑business spend on the CARE renovations, which he described as exceeding internal targets and supporting small local contractors.

Committee members asked about scale and sustainability. Council members sought more detail about whether renovated properties could be sold first to local renters or residents and whether acquisition costs are a barrier to scaling the model. Denning said stabilization, acquisition price and the availability of subsidy are the main constraints; he identified philanthropy and nonprofit partners as possible options to convert debt and free Port capacity for additional acquisitions.

Denning said the Port is pursuing pilots that include solar installations (some rooftop solar retained by a green bank/Port for five years before transfer to the homeowner), modular construction pilots and novel ownership models such as shared‑equity and community land trusts. Committee members expressed interest in scaling homeowner repair programs and in the Sedamsville redevelopment, where Denning noted the neighborhood’s low market values and complicated regulatory environment (historic district and floodplain/steep topography) limit finance options.

The committee filed the presentation; members expressed support and asked for follow‑up on contractor outreach, sale pricing and options to prioritize local residents in sales.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Equitable Growth & Housing Committee (June 3, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The Port presented a citywide update on single‑family housing activity — including a 194‑house acquired portfolio, neighborhood new‑builds and homeowner repair grants — and highlighted contractor inclusion and pilot programs for solar and modular construction.","taxTitle","Cincinnati Board & Committees, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio","taxId",75954,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6017051,"Committee files modular housing report; staff to issue RFP this fall for pilot locations",4730,102000,4832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778755-20e9eff6e315e64697099754008fc2c0&start=102&end=4832","/articles/6017051/Ohio/Committee-files-modular-housing-report-staff-to-issue-RFP-this-fall-for-pilot-locations","The Equitable Growth and Housing Committee filed a city staff report on modular (prefabricated) housing and heard public comments urging the committee to pursue modular pilot projects to expand housing supply.

Two representatives of the Realtor Alliance of Greater Cincinnati — Ellie Reiser and Heather Koff — addressed the committee during public comment, saying their organization “express[es] our strong support for the modular housing pilot project” and describing modular construction as a way to “reduce costs, shorten construction timelines, and provide high quality homes.” Reiser noted the Realtor Alliance hopes to serve as a resource to “bring developers and financial institutions in the neighborhoods together” for a pilot program.

Director Carter (City staff) told the committee the city had completed an extensive review of modular housing and is preparing an RFP to be issued “no later than this fall.” Carter said key considerations for the RFP include potential locations, manufacturers/fabricators, types of modular units, financing and possible city incentives or gap financing. Carter described the likely focus as a multifamily approach rather than single‑family detached units but said single‑family modular options exist and would be treated like any other single‑family site if pursued.

Committee members and staff discussed implementation considerations. Chair Mark Jeffreys emphasized that design choices matter and said modular projects can be built to fit neighborhood architectural character, countering concerns that modular means “ugly boxes.” Questions by council members included site size needs (Carter said sites up to an acre may be appropriate depending on unit type and density) and financing implications; Carter said modular projects can change underwriting and insurance considerations but generally remain treated as commercial development with construction and financing requirements.

As requested by the chair, Carter and staff will identify candidate sites and work through financing mechanisms in the coming months. The committee then moved to file the modular housing presentation and report.","After public comments in support from the Realtor Alliance, the Equitable Growth and Housing Committee filed a staff report on modular housing and was told staff intends to issue a request for proposals no later than this fall to pilot modular housing at one or more city sites. The RFP will consider locations, financing tools and city incentives.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6017056,"Committee recommends approval of Westwood Neighborhood Plan after yearlong community process",2195,441000,2636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778755-20e9eff6e315e64697099754008fc2c0&start=441&end=2636","/articles/6017056/Ohio/Committee-recommends-approval-of-Westwood-Neighborhood-Plan-after-yearlong-community-process","The Equitable Growth and Housing Committee on Oct. 11 recommended that City Council adopt the Westwood Neighborhood Plan as the neighborhood’s guiding comprehensive plan document.

The plan, developed with a community steering committee and consultants over roughly a year, lays out five themes — business district development; community pride and connections; community and family resources; housing; and transportation and circulation — and a set of near‑term and longer‑term actions, including specific funding requests.

Jesse Urbanzak, Department of City Planning and Engagement, said the steering committee and staff engaged “probably 200, 300 people throughout this entire planning process” through community conversations, surveys, stakeholder interviews and three large Saturday public meetings. Brandon Krailing, vice president of the Westwood Civic Association and co‑chair of the steering committee, described broad outreach including door‑to‑door engagement and stakeholder interviews that shaped the five theme areas.

Steering committee members and neighborhood groups outlined tangible near‑term asks during the presentation. Stephanie Collins of Westwood Works highlighted three ongoing Town Hall District projects: (1) acquisition of the Westwood Theater with a development partner expected to close in late summer; (2) a Town Hall Flats project combining commercial space and housing; and (3) a community budget request to extend existing streetscaping through the remainder of the Town Hall business district. The presentation also identified the former Mercy Health site on Glenway as a potential location for mixed uses and a new CRC recreation center, and several redevelopment opportunity areas behind Cincinnati Urban Promise and at McHenry and Harrison targeting mixed housing types.

Speakers emphasized housing preservation and increased housing types. Sarah (associate pastor at Westwood United Methodist Church and executive director of My Neighbors Place) said the plan supports “all types and kinds of housing for all people,” and asked for tools to help long‑term homeowners and local landlords maintain buildings. The steering committee’s housing recommendations include programs to support landlord maintenance, pathways to homeownership and new housing types such as cottage or modular units.

On transportation and circulation, plan authors proposed a network of pedestrian and bike routes that would move nonmotorized users off high‑speed thoroughfares, improve sidewalks where they are missing (notably on parts of Westwood Northern Boulevard), and better connect to parks including Mount Airy Forest.

Committee chair Mark Jeffreys praised the plan’s tangible asks and asked staff and presenters to return with next steps on specific items, including maintenance plans for vacant properties such as the Paramount under the city’s vacant building ordinance. Vice Mayor Kearney and other council members noted administration participation in the planning process — planning, DCED, CRC, parks, Metro and other agencies were present during development — and that the plan had already been circulated and approved by City Planning Commission.

After discussion about next steps and budget items, the committee took a roll call vote and registered affirmative votes from the members present. The committee action was to recommend that City Council approve the Westwood Neighborhood Plan as the neighborhood’s guiding comprehensive plan document; staff and presenters were directed to provide follow‑up on specific budget asks and implementation steps.

Neighborhood leaders urged the committee to follow through on the plan’s implementation items and to partner on projects already underway, including community engagement for the Westwood Theater and potential funding to support the Mercy Health redevelopment.","The Equitable Growth and Housing Committee voted to recommend City Council approve the Westwood Neighborhood Plan after a year of community engagement and steering committee work. The plan lays out five theme areas, immediate funding asks and a 10–15 year vision for the city's largest neighborhood.","actionData","errors"]

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Port outlines single‑family work, land bank purchases and home‑repair programs across city neighborhoods

Committee files modular housing report; staff to issue RFP this fall for pilot locations

Committee recommends approval of Westwood Neighborhood Plan after yearlong community process