Neighborhood News
CT Business Reviews
To help you make choices on patronizing Columbia Tusculum businesses, we have added Business Reviews. These are short recommendations based on the experiences of you and your neighbors. To read these, click here: http://columbiatusculum.org/business-association/ct-business-reviews/
What has your experience been with a local business? Help your neighbors and our local businesses by sending that to website@columbiatusculum.org .
Eastern Avenue Post Office Closing Jan 31
The East End Post Office Station, at 3923 Eastern Avenue, will close, end of business Monday, January 31, 2011. The drastic decline in mail volume has the Postal Service in a fiscal crisis and it had to take action to reduce the size of its retail and delivery network.
Local mail delivery will not be affected by this move. Full retail services are still available in neighboring offices in Walnut Hills, Hyde Park, and Oakley.
If you have a P.O. Box at the Eastern Avenue location, you have or will receive notification about where you can move your mail box.
Sewer Project almost done!
Yes, the sewer project we’ve lived with for nearly two years around Columbia Pkwy is almost done.
The work entry point at Columbia Square across from Allyn’s is now closed and work there complete. They will come back to do some additional restoration to the site.
You’re seeing these work sites in progress as of Feb 28:
> Shaft at Hoge and Widman. Should have road opened by end of March.
> Widman between Hoge and Delta. Complete end of April or May, based on what they find & the weather
> Stanley between Columbia Parkway and Woodbridge. Work started on FEB 21, continuing for 2-3 weeks. Restoration will be done when the entire area is done in the Spring.
> Eastern Avenue between Delta and Stanley. Closed while installing a new manhole beginning FEB 21, continuing about 8 weeks until about end of April.
> City Streetscape along Stanley between Columbia Parkway and Eastern. Final items will be completed when Neyer removes the detention basin along Stanley Pub.
Additional work is planned for areas south of Eastern Ave and continuing back to the river.
These construction areas are access points for a major $34MM MSD project to separate storm water and sanitary sewers in this area. We previously had one combined sewer system. During heavy rains, major storm water run-off could overwhelm the sewer, resulting in overflow with untreated sanitary sewage going straight into the Ohio River. Not good! So, our current inconvenience will result in major improvements to the health and well being of the Ohio River. See Jan 27 Community Press while it remains posted for details: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/eyeontheeastside/2011/01/27/columbia-parkway-sewer-project-almost-done/
Columbia Square update
Molly North of Neyer,Inc., Columbia Square’s developer, updated CTCC on Square tenants and plans for further development at the October CTCC meeting. The top two floors of the main office building have been leased to Ipsos Qualitative, an international market research company, moving approximately 100 jobs to CT. They plan to open in March, 2011. Moksha Yoga plans to open before the end of 2010 next to Anytime Fitness.
Columbia Square, an 80 Unit “market rate” apartment complex is being considered for the opposite NW corner of Delta and Columbia Pkwy. An early part of the development process would be to get a statement of support from the community council. CTCC will review existing area apartment complexes to collect input to present Neyer with desireable/undesireable features as part of an overall letter of support.
Columbia Tusculum gets new bike path
A new Ohio River Trail bike path segment is nearly complete. It goes from the Lunken parking lot to Carrel St, and Carrel St continuing along Kellogg Ave to Congress St. The first segment leaves the Lunken Airport parking lot at Wilmer will pass behind the MSD plant and the Fulton Historic Cemetary coming out at Carrel St. This segment (blue route below) will include an interpretative panel describing neighborhood history in this area. (Click on map for a larger view.)
The Carrel to Congress segment (red route) was built this summer to take advantage of HUD funds available for a limited time. It drops down Carrel St. to Kellogg Ave. and will include a traffic signal at Carrel & Kellogg to allow cyclists to safely cross to the bike path that will follow the south side of Kellogg. From Kellogg & Congress St, cyclists can join the existing bike path (in yellow) that passes behind Riverview East Academy and on to Schmidt’s Field.
The City responded to our request to also have cyclists routed through Eastern Ave and our historic district and business district. Signs will be included showing an alternate route (in orange) for riders wishing to take this slower route and visit our historic area.
Ballet School re-opens & joins growing Eastern Ave Arts District
Ballet Theatre Midwest moved from one historic Columbia Tusculum building to another as of September 2010. Previously located in the old Carnegie library on Eastern Avenue, BTM now resides a block away to the former Spencer Township Hall, 3833 Eastern Ave.
Ballet Theatre Midwest offers both training and performance opportunities for all ages. More information is available at: www.ballettheatremidwest.com or by phone:513-520-2334.
Spencer Hall, built in 1860, was the original township hall for the Columbia Tusculum area (then called Spencer Township), before it was annexed to the City of Cincinnati. This tall red brick building is a Greek Revival temple style. The distinctive building with its low gabled roof, Italianate brackets and tall 12 by 12 paned windows was empty for a number of years. Local historic rehabber John Adams has renovated the landmark in Columbia Tusculum’s historic district. Ballet Theatre Midwest is its first occupant.
Columbia Tusculum’s Eastern Ave is taking hold as an arts district. Joining BTM there is the Irish Heritage Center, New Edgecliff Theater, The Riley School of Irish Music and soon to relocate from Lincoln School on Delta Ave, Laurie’s Gallery-Photography as Art.
The Irish Heritage Center
The Irish Heritage Center of Greater Cincinnati is now the proud owner of the former McKinley School building at 3905 Eastern Ave. Maureen Kennedy and husband, Kent Covey, are leading the building renovation and starting the new center.
Maureen recently told us, “There is space for everything Irish! There is room for Theater, Music, Dance, Lectures, Classes, Clubs, Rehearsals, Art, Children’s Activities, Events, Weddings, Parties, Films, Storytellers, Sing-alongs, Irish Language Classes, Geneology, Glee Clubs, a Library, a Museum, etc.
They returned in June with 2 awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor at the Acting Irish International Theater Festival in Chicago. The Irish American Theater Company was nominated for four out of the 6 given awards: Best Show, Best Actress and two nominations for Best Supporting Actor. They are now officially on the International Theater map. Congradulations to IHC!
Recent events at the IHC include performances of the play, Moll, Irish Ceilli with live musicians and dancing for hours, Bloomsday, a traditional tribute to James Joyce’s book Ulysses with readings, reenactments, song, & music and a Uillean Piper in concert.
The Center is seeking contributions in the form of marketing help, clean up & fix up volunteer time, or donations of supplies or money.
Contact Kent Covey, Managing Director of the Center for questions and offers to help: IrishAmericanTheaterCo@fuse.net or 513-262-9932.
Shepherd Fairey mural on Greener Stock building
Shepard Fairey, artist of the Obama “Hope” poster, installs a mural at Greener Stock as part of his exhibit running at the Contemporary Arts Center. This is a temporary mural and will eventually wear away with time. Click on this link to a Soapbox article by Sean Rhiney for more info on Shepard Fairey and his work.
To view the mural, stand at the Allyn’s Cafe patio on Hoge St. and look across the street. Thanks to Heather Curless of Greener Stock for requesting the mural and making her building available.
Butterfield Alley Renamed Van Volkenburgh Lane
John Van Volkenburgh was a long time resident and champion of Columbia Tusculum, volunteering his time for well over 10 years, starting in 1989. The ongoing development of the Business District and recent groundbreaking of Columbia Square can be largely attributed to his efforts working with the City and local real estate owners to develop solutions in the best interests of neighborhood residents, and the City as a whole.
John passed away in 2005, though his efforts are not forgotten; rather, they have been celebrated more than ever. John was honored in a speech given by Ben Young at the neighborhood’s June 21, 2007 Community Celebration to over 100 residents and business owners.
The change of Butterfield Alley to Van Volkenburgh Lane is to honor John’s many years of selfless efforts on behalf of the community.
Van Volkenburgh Lane runs parallel to Columbia Parkway, from Stanley Avenue, behind BeneFit Studio and Interiors by Kurtinitis, to Columbia Square.