Over The Rhine: Renovation Vs. Gentrification

Over

The

Rhine

Renovation

vs

Gentrification

Decline

and

Regrowth

Over The Rhine (Historically)

- Started Out as a home for many German Immigrants

-Filled with historic architecture

-Served as a place for low income housing

Controversy

Gentrification?

Gentrification is where city developers take

control of low income neighborhood then

redesigns it so it that the cost of living/style of living only fits those who are upper middle class and above

- The choices of design seem to be that way. For example basketball hoops and deep water pools have been replaced with a dog park

- Also tenants who have been in Over the Rhine for a while have spoken out on how their rent has randomly risen.

- Along with sounding wrong by first description Gentrification has real negative afflictions over an area

Negative Affects

- City Developers have to remember that they are redesigning some ones home

- When changes are made to the neighborhood and the cost of living is raised and residents may not be able to live there anymore

- Homelessness is increased and crime is also due to a lack of home to reside in

- Businesses are suffering because if the product sold doesn't fit the wants of the middle class then they can be closed down

- Residents suffer again when this happens. For example if it is a certain restaurant, 3CDC may have closed the only means of food that can be afforded

- As mentioned before things like basketball courts have been replaced

- Public Items like have sentimental value to residents and with the drop of the hat they're gone

Call To Action

-Those in middle school/high school/ college can make the biggest difference. They are the future of Over the Rhine and everywhere else on Earth.

- It's imperative that teenagers/young adults take advantage of the power they have

Over The Rhine (In More Recent Years)

- In the early 2000s Over the Rhine became notorious for crime and drugs and being an economic distress area

- The narrative told in Over the Rhine was one of danger making it one of the most feared places to be in the United States of America

- After a shooting in 2001, riots began in the neighborhood, worsening the horrid situation

Success

- 3CDC receives a lot of credit for the work done, and many people deem it as a success

Accolades

Accomplishments

- 3CDC has received many accolades from different critics including ULI

- "What 3CDC is doing is nothing short of remarkable" - Thomas Murphy

- Although there are many that exalt the organization, the work of 3CDC does not go without criticism

- 3CDC owns/controls 200 buildings and 169 parcels

- Restored or in process of restoring 107 historic buildings

- Developed or in process of developing 496 new and rehabbed residential units

Redeveloping a mess

- After a while 3CDC took over as the leading organization in redesigning Over the Rhine

-When 3CDC started there were 500 vacant buildings, 700 vacant lots, 1,667 vacant housing units in all of Over the Rhine

-Various strategies were used to redesign the city including, getting wealthier people to adopt a building

- Since 2004 3CDC has invested $255 million in the neighborhood

Something Has to Change

Rise to Action

- Due to the lack of control in the city, something had to be done

-Many city developers stepped up to the challenge and including 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation)

-The Voice of residents is not being heard and 3CDC is making changes without answering to anyone

- Groups like Help for the Homeless are fighting everyday but this is not enough. There needs to be more people speaking up.

If that's you, what do you do?

Why?

- It is our duty as civilians to make sure that everyone can speak for themselves

- There are many ways for organizations to get the message of this presentation

- These people are being ignored by everyone, how would we feel if the same was happening to us?

- Writing Letter, Protesting, Encouraging Community Meetings etc.

- Anything that you can think of to get 3CDC to pay attention to the people being left behind

- I would hope someone would be fighting for my rights and my voice

What Now?

It's up to you to do whatever you want with the information you've just read

A voice that hasn't spoken

The Other Side

Work Cited

- One Strategy that 3CDC seems to be using is redesigning the neighborhood to fit the tastes of upper middle class and the wealthy only

- Therefore 3CDC is being accused of Gentrification

http://truth-out.org/news/item/6042:do-you-have-a-sign

http://urbanland.uli.org/Articles/2011/September/SheridanCincinnati

http://www.3cdc.org

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-21222-renovation_or_gentrification.html

Beloved Public Spots

Businesses

So What?

So are they Gentrifying Over the Rhine?

The Current Residents