Locals’

Guide to
Metro
Living
•••
July
2008
 CONDOS KENTUCKY RIVER CITIES & BEYOND
The Kissing House
524 Liberty Hill, $225,000

A n incredible historic
COVINGTON ON THE HILL COVINGTON IN THE CITY residence updated with
LIVING JUST GOT EASIER! PIKE STREET LOFTS-Function and Design modern amenities for today’s
3 magnificent floors and attached 2 car come together. Great Room and magnificent
sophisticated urbanite.
garage and then we threw in a FANTASTIC IKEA kitchen with one-half bath on main
VIEW FOR YOUR PLEASURE. Well designed floor, Spacious bedroom and small study area
with full bath, closts and laundry on upper
with 2 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths with private
kick-back space on the lower level. Views
floor. Off-street parking and only 2 blocks to Spacious living areas offer
restaurants and entertainment. $146,000 ambiance through-out
from all 3 floors. Only $488,900. and special incentives. Call today and include a gourmet
FLORENCE “eat-in” kitchen, 2 full
Just a little suburban and yet close to “stylish” baths, hardwood
shopping and entertainment. Quiet street floors, walk-out patio,
with no outlet. 2 bedrooms, study, great ample natural light, 3
room and equipped kitchen. Deck for bedrooms & more!
grilling out. Tara at Plantation Point offers,
pool, walking trails, lakes and restful stops
at the gazebos. Immaculate, neutral decor For more info contact:
possession at closing and a 1-car garage. Christine Schoonover
619.7502

GERRI JONES ABR, SRS Residential Specialist

513.476.8133 - gljones@zoomtown.com - www.gerrijones.com
Licensed in OH and KY
Each Office Independently Owned & Operated
metropolitan

15% OFF
A C C E S S O RY

SALE
Good through
August 2, 2008

Joseph Williams
Home
550 Reading Road
Cincinnati, OH 45202
CITYLIVING

513-721-3600
02
 CITYLIVING • 05 •
Start recycling today!
Get a bin and use it, Cincinnati!

Landlords and Neighbors

Taylor brothers built Gaslight Property via service
Get your FREE recycling bin!
Call 513-591-6000 or sign-up
By Christine Mersch • Photos by Kurt Strecker
at www.cincinnati-oh.gov.
• 07 •

Bril iant Ideas

Shining the light on outdoor lighting options
By Chris Charlson • Photos by Kurt Strecker
• 11 •
Live in an apartment? Use
our downtown drop-off boxes!
• City of Cincinnati Parking Area located at
Court Street and Cutter Street
• City of Cincinnati Parking Area

Hot Dogs in the City

Helping pets enjoy your urban lifestyle
located at Third Street and Butler Street

• City of Cincinnati Parking Area

located at McFarland and Central Avenue

By Tana Weingartner • Hamilton County Public Library near the

library book return at 9th Street between
• 13 • Vine Street and Walnut Street

Tour of Living Returns

Transforming downtown into a ‘24/7 town’
Visit www.cincinnati-oh.gov to learn what items can be recycled

By Chris Charlson • Photo by Kurt Strecker

• 14 •

Contain Your Urge to Garden

Spreading green around your corner of the city
By Julie Hotchkiss

• 15 •

City Notes
Real estate blogging gets real serious
By Christine Mersch

811 Race St. Fifth Floor, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 • 513-665-4700

Fax 513-665-4368 (sales/accounting) 513-665-4369 (editorial)
letters@citybeat.com
Editor and Co-Publisher: John Fox
General Manager and Co-Publisher: Dan Bockrath
CityLiving Sales Manager: Brian Kitzmiller
Sales Account Managers: Rebecca Angelastro, Lisa Czerwonka,Tony Frank, Betsy Hodges,
Jenn Owens,Adam Runyan and Max Yamson HOLLISTER PROPERTIES
CITYLIVING

CityLiving Section Editor: Christine Mersch

Art Director: Sean Hughes 513-471-1530
Production Artists: Jason Kidwell and Patty Robisch www.244-RENT.com
ON THE COVER: Dave Taylor and Rob Taylor of Gaslight Property (photo by Kurt Strecker) “GLBT Friendly”
03
 CITYLIVING

04
/mo.

Landlords and Neighbors I
Gaslight Property via good service
Brothers Rob (left) and Dave Taylor in front of
the Roseanne Building, one of the many Clifton
properties owned by their Gaslight Property.
The Taylor brothers have built
BY CHRISTINE MERSCH • PHOTOS BY KURT STRECKER
CITYLIVING
n 1991, Dave Taylor looked in the newspaper and saw a
house advertised for sale for $1. Intrigued, he visited the
Northside house, met the owner at McDonald’s and ended
up buying the place for $3,100.
A University of Cincinnati student at the time, Taylor was
studying economics. He and his friends moved into the
Northside house and started renovating it. They would often
fix issues themselves, learning along the way the best tips
and tricks on how to effectively rehab a home.
A short time later, Taylor bought the house next door for
$10,000 and kept the first house to rent out to others.
He continued buying properties and renting them out. Soon
he and his father bought Clifton View, a group of apartments
they still own at 2085 W. Clifton Ave. The large apartment
complex has balconies with views of downtown and a swim-
ming pool.
“That took us to a new level,” Taylor says. “We’ve had that
for almost 10 years.”
Taylor continued expanding the business and eventually got
his brothers involved, starting Gaslight Property along the way.
Today he mostly works on maintenance and Rob Taylor is the
company’s manager.
CITYLIVING
“You can depend on them,” says Rob, when asked how it is
working with family. “But you can also tell them when they’re
CONTINUES ON PAGE 06 05
 rental properties is typically priced lower, he says, and some
newer properties (like ones owned by Towne Properties) on
average start at a higher price point.
Because of their prices, Rob says that typically only 15 per-
cent to 20 percent of their renters are students. Most of the
people who live in their apartments and houses work at UC or
one of the hospitals in the area.
The brothers agree that their high level of service is what
sets their company apart from others.
“Every business is about relationships,” Dave says. “You
have to give people the service they want. We see our tenants
all the time out on the streets. It’s not like you can hide from
them, even if we wanted to.”
“Tenants often recommend us to their friends,” Rob says.
“The secret is to get good people.”
Throughout our conversation, both brothers mention their
properties on Lowell Avenue, including Whitfield Gardens. This
was an area in Clifton that was overlooked and underused for
many years. A majority of the buildings were in disrepair and
had started to fall apart.
These were properties that needed a lot of maintenance,
but the Taylors looked at them as a good opportunity.
They started buying up properties and currently own about
75 percent of the apartments on Lowell. They fixed up the
buildings, completely gutting six of them and overhauling oth-
Before and after: ers.
“This was a huge investment, but it paid off,” Rob says.
Two similarly styled “We’ve had neighbors thank us, mention us in the Clifton
houses in Clifton Town Meeting (community council). There’s no question this
owned by Gaslight benefited the community.”
The Taylors say they’re pleased when they get to re-use his-
Property, with the torical materials or update old houses with unique architec-
one on the left still ture.
being rehabbed. “I enjoy any time we work with something with character,”
Dave says. “I like to bring that back, like to recycle historical
Most of the Taylors’ materials.”
units feature updat- Rob mentions a fireplace mantel that’s now in his house
ed kitchens and after it didn’t work in another property. Dave says he enjoyed
the Tudor Court building (404 Ludlow Ave.) because of its
appliances (below). older architecture as well as The Jonathan at 451 Ludlow Ave.
that used to be a hotel and years ago was as a resort for the
wealthy who lived downtown.
Dave also talks about renovating Cliftwood, a 50-unit prop-
erty at 3304 Jefferson Ave. on the corner of Bishop Avenue.
The building had been in one man’s family for years and had-
n’t been properly maintained.
The woodwork was covered by paneling, so the brothers
worked to restore it to its original look. They removed the pan-
eling and found most of the woodwork intact.
The main drawback to being in their business, Rob says, is
being on call at all hours of the day to help fix problems. He
tells a story of how on Father’s Day he got a service call from
LANDLORDS AND NEIGHBORS: FROM PAGE 05 one of their renters. He then had to spend all day on the
phone looking for a plumber to take care of the issue.
Still, “service is really important to us,” he says, “so I did
wrong,” he adds with a laugh.
it.”
Dave’s main job continues to be concentrated on purchas-
Gaslight Property offers a range of rental spaces, including
ing new properties. In fact, he’s so well-known that real estate
studio efficiencies and one- to five-bedroom apartments. They
agents often bring him properties they’re looking to sell.
also have houses for sale from time to time. The brothers
Together, the Taylor brothers own approximately 1,000 total
have a group of people help them out with maintenance tasks
units, many of which are concentrated in the northern area of
and rehabbing projects but do most of the day-to-day manag-
Clifton. Rob estimates
ing themselves. There
that they own approx-
are only a few prop-
imately 100 proper-
erties where they
ties outside of the
employee an apart-
Clifton area.
ment manager.
“We live here (in
“Karen (Todd, who
Clifton), and we have
manages at the
no intention of leav-
Clifton View apart-
ing,” he says. “We
ments) knows every-
see our customers
one there,” Rob
as neighbors.”
says. “She hosts
Most Gaslight
picnics and get-
Property-owned
togethers. It makes
apartments and
it real nice for the
houses have monthly
people who live
rents in the $400-
there.” ©
$600 range, which
CITYLIVING

Dave says is a good

niche to be in.
Student housing
owned by other
06
CITYLIVING
As with this house in Newport, outdoor lighting
can increase a house’s safety and curb appeal.
Bril iant
Ideas
Shining the light on
outdoor lighting options
BY CHRIS CHARLSON • PHOTOS BY KURT STRECKER
A fter just installing that amazing landscaping, deck, pool or
patio, why allow it to disappear when the sun goes down?
Outdoor lighting can improve the look of any home, add an
element of security or just make that summer party one to
remember.
Any number of local retailers and design firms offer lighting
choices from the ultra-elaborate to simple elegance.
Illuminating accents
For residents looking for a temporary answer to lighting,
local retailers sell an array of hanging electric, oil or candle
lanterns to brighten up any outdoor party or gathering. Instead
of the ever-popular citronella candle, specialty store Outside,
located in the Gateway Quarter of Over-the-Rhine, offers some
unusual illumination choices. Owner Terry Lee says that, while
the store sells only lantern-style, tea light or oil driven offer-
ings, the statement makes for one of individuality and style.
Utilizing recycled tin gives the pieces an artwork quality, Lee
says, but reasonably ranging in price from $20 to $50 depend-
ing on the size gives buyers the advantage. He says cus-
tomers can make their outdoor event memorable and fashion-
ably illuminated using some of the store’s imaginative options.
A number of the lanterns have an Indian or Moroccan
design providing an exotic flare, he says. As they use tea
lights for illumination, Lee suggests they’re not really designed
CITYLIVING
to be a lighting source but more as an aesthetic for outdoor
entertaining.
CONTINUES ON PAGE 09
07
 Robinwood
Pet Boarding Kennel
# Indooor/Outdoor Individual Heated Runs
# Country Environment
# Convenient Location
(3 Minutes from NKU; 15 Minutes from Downtown Cinti. and Anderson via
I471 or I275; 20 Minutes from Western Hills; On the way to the Airport)

# Reasonable Rates
# 35 years of Experience
# Grooming Services
# Owners/Operators always on premises

Robinwood is
COOL
like me !!!

*We board CATS and other pets too!

Call now for your reservation: 859-781-2352
Mention this ad for a 10% discount!
Robinwood Kennel • 102 Robin Lane • Cold Spring, KY 41076
www.robinwoodkennel.com
CITYLIVING

08
BRILLIANT IDEAS: FROM PAGE 07

“That’s exactly what these are for, just for occasion-driven

lighting,” he says.

Enlightening landscapes
For a more permanent solution to lighting, those willing to
make a larger financial commitment can contact lighting spe-
cialists such as Cincinnati Landscape Lighting located in both
Sharonville and Sycamore Township. Owner Dave Johanning
says the firm designs, installs and maintains lighting both
commercially and residentially.
He says his job involves more than randomly installing
lights around the property; he also meets with clients and
comes up with a design to enhance their landscape and
home. As a designer, he often utilizes timers, lasers that
change beam direction, color filters and a variety of different
wattages of lights to give yards and homes that wow factor.
He says do-it-yourselfers or inexperienced contractors often
make the mistake of just placing a single light to illuminate an
object.
“Lighting is a phenomenon that’s different than anything
else,” Johanning says. “You’ve got to light an object in every
direction that you’re going to view it otherwise not everyone
will be able to appreciate it. It’s just the law of physics. We
can’t change that.”
Besides enhancing the look of a property through curb
appeal, Johanning says lighting also adds an element of secu-
rity to a property since a well-lit yard deters crime. In addition,
clients look to lighting a property for safety reasons, making
steps and walkways more visible to guests.
As each job is tailored to individual clients’ needs, he says
after 40-plus years in the business he never tires of his work.
Average prices for jobs range anywhere from $2,500 to
$10,000, with the more elaborate ones in excess of $50,000.
Johanning says most of his clients decide to light their yard to
simply enjoy it longer.
“Well, you spend a lot of money on landscaping that just
goes away when the sun goes down,” he says. “It also
enhances the property and gives it better curb appeal. It
extends your outdoor living time so you can be outside longer.
You can go out and enjoy your yard when it’s lit rather than
just until night falls.”

Budget beams
People looking for a more year-round solution on a limited
budget can visit discount or hardware stores for both installed
and do-it-yourself options. Lowe’s sells outdoor wall and porch
mounted lighting along with walkway, spotlights and security
lighting for homes.
Sales associate Adam Pauly says options include both
direct wired lighting that puts out between 60 and 120 watts
and solar lighting that puts out about 7 watts. He says lights
range anywhere from $10 to $70 depending on the features
Dave Johanning, owner of Cincinnati Landscape Lighting, says homeowners
such as dusk-to-dawn options and higher voltages. For more
intricate lighting needs, Lowe’s offers professional installation, “spend a lot of money on landscaping that just goes away when the sun goes
though many options are also available for the do-it-yourselfer. down,” so why not use lighting to increase the use of your yard?
“Some of the lighting is pretty easy to install,” Pauly says.
“Some of our landscape lighting is actually solar powered so
it’s just a matter of taking it out of the box and putting it in
the ground.”
Many residents simply want to increase security at their ply need to use common sense when installing and using any
home through lighting solutions, Pauly explains. He recom- type of lighting both indoors and out. For safety tips, he rec-
mends one of their more popular items, motion sensitive ommends people don’t overload their circuits. You should also
lights that come on instantly to deter intruders. As for aesthet- check for frayed or worn wires, and always follow the manufac-
ic lighting, he says the store offers a number of choices but turer’s directions for installation.
they’re not necessarily designed for security. With temporary lighting such as candles and oil based
“We sell units to line your walkway,” he says. “It’s not going lamps and torches, he says parents need to recognize a fire
to provide them much light, it’s really just an accent light.” apparatus isn’t a toy and monitor their children for safety. He
says if a child starts a fire, the law views the parent as the
responsible party.
“We at the fire department just encourage common sense,”
A final word of caution Prather says. “By the way, we encourage citizens grilling out at
When it comes to safety issues involving outdoor lighting, their home to keep their barbeque grill at least 15 feet from
CITYLIVING

Cincinnati District Fire Chief Fredrick Prather says people sim- their house so they don’t burn down their house.” ©

09
 A life less ordinary.

For more information

513-241-1281
Take I-75 S to Ezzard Charles. Turn
left on Ezzard Charles, go 1/4 mile.
Turn left on Laurel Park Dr.

City West is downtown living at its coolest. Located just west of downtown, City West features
neo-traditional Towne Homes built by one of the area’s most respected homebuilders, Drees.
CITYLIVING

Qualified buyers enjoy tax abatement for 10 years and special financing programs. Tour the
City West model home today. Homes from the $160’s. www.dreeshomes.com
10
CITYLIVING

DOS
ON
9C

D
SOL
Hot Dogs in the City

RE-
2P

TS
LOF
AN
E URB
TRU
Helping pets enjoy your urban lifestyle
BY TANA WEINGARTNER

AVAILABLE NOW!
N ow that the proverbial dog days of summer are upon us, it’s only fitting
that we discuss man’s best friend. Dogs are a great source of joy and
companionship, but if you live in an urban environment there are a few
issues you should consider to ensure Fido is comfortable, safe and healthy.
FROM $179,000
Sit. Stay. Good dog.
Suburban and country dogs can get away with being rambunctious, but
city dogs have to play by a different set of rules. Stephanie and Mic Foster
opened the Pet Athletic Club (818 Reedy St., Downtown) in 2006. They spe-
REASONS TO LIVE DOWNTOWN!
cialize in helping city dwellers acclimate their pets to city living.
“Dogs that live in an urban environment have to be a lot more calm,”
Stephanie says.
Heavy traffic, excessive noise and unexpected surprises like horse-drawn
carriages are all possible threats that can spook or upset your pet. Foster
believes it’s important that a downtown doggie has a cool disposition and
can “roll with the punches.”
“They have to be a lot more aware of their surroundings and their space,”
she says, adding that this might require some extra training.
513.621.6246
Consult with your veterinarian or trainer for specific methods. If adopting Bill Baum’s www.urbansites.net
or buying, consider whether the dog is predisposed to be high-strung or Urban Sites Properties
more easy-going. Reshaping OTR since 1985

AWE-INSPIRING SPACES!
A key command all downtown dogs must learn is some form of “Leave
it.”
“I actually think it’s the most important thing you should teach your dog,”
Mic Foster says.
Downtown sidewalks can be a smorgasbord of cigarette butts, wrappers,
foods scraps and all kinds of trash. Some items could be poisonous or
cause your pet to become ill. Ensure that your pet understands and com-
plies when told not to pick up or eat things off the street.
“Chicken wing bones are all over and can be really bad for your dog,” Mic
says.
Dogs (city or otherwise) shouldn’t be given cooked bones as they are
choking hazards and can splinter into dangerous shards.
A barking dog can drive your neighbors (and you) nuts. Apartment or
condo living offers plenty of distractions that could potentially send your
pooch into a barking frenzy.
Dogs have superb hearing. Couple that with thin walls and lots of people
coming and going and you could end up with a manic mutt. The Fosters say
this behavior can likely be corrected or alleviated with training.

Leash up! 15 LOFT CONDOS

ONLY 4 REMAINING
When it comes to green space, Cincinnati is full of hidden gems. You
might have to walk a little further to find a grassy patch, but the extra effort
is good for you and your pet. Sawyer Point, for instance, is a great place to
take your dog for a run or to play fetch.
Be a good neighbor. Take baggies or a “pooper scooper” with you to

AVAILABLE NOW!
clean up after your pet. Some popular dog walking spots stock “pet mitts”
for precisely this purpose, so there’s no excuse for leaving behind unwanted
presents.

FROM $199,000
If your dog isn’t used to living in a concrete jungle, Mic Foster says it
might take some additional training to help your pet become comfortable
with eliminating on hard surfaces.
Keep in mind that while you may enjoy a “hug” from your puppy, not
everyone feels the same way.
“In an urban environment you run into so many people in so many differ-
CITYLIVING

ent scenarios,” Stephanie Foster says. “You run into business people who
are wearing business suits, who aren’t necessarily in their living environ-

CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

gatewayquarter.com
11
 HOT DOGS IN THE CITY: FROM PAGE 11
The Revitalization of ment, they’re in their working environment and
so a dog really has to be a lot more well-man-
Lowell Avenue has Begun. nered.”
Places to go, things to sniff
Plans are in the works for two puppy play-
grounds in the downtown area, says Casey
Gilmore, vice president of the Downtown
Residents Council. The group is planning to
build a dog park on Eggleston near Sawyer
Point.
“Currently we’re just trying to raise the
funds for it,” she says, “so if we do raise the
funds, it will definitely happen.”
The Cincinnati Center City Development
Corp. (3CDC) also is sniffing around with the
idea of building a dog park. The group’s
Washington Park extension plan calls for two
Classic living. Classic places. pup-centric spaces.
In the meantime, here are some other
options: Wiggly Field at Voice of America Park
Enjoy Living in Clifton. in West Chester is a bit of hike from down-
town, but it offers a ton of space for romping,
rolling and running. Otto Armleder Memorial
Now introducing newly-renovated, Park on Wooster Pike north of the Beechmont
levy is closer to town and is scenically situat-
freshly remodeled apartments. ed along the Little Miami River.
The dog park at Mt. Airy Forest (on
Westwood Northern Boulevard between
Walking distance to the Esquire Theatre and Montana Avenue and North Bend Road) might
the Ludlow Ave. Gaslight District. be smaller than the others, but its lofty hilltop
location usually means dry paws post-romp.
545 Lowell Avenue Pre-lease Specials Now Available. Water pumps and buckets are also available
here to keep pooches well hydrated.
One Bedroom Apartments - Starting at $595 A few reminders about dog park etiquette:
Clean up after your pet, make sure your pet
isn’t getting too aggressive with other dogs
and read and abide by the posted rules.
Daycare: Not just for kids
Right now there aren’t many, if any, veteri-
nary options downtown. That could be chang-
ing, according to Gilmore.
“The zoning was just changed for the build-
ing on the corner of Perry and Plum Streets to
bring in a multi-level vet clinic,” she says.
Until then, the best way to find a good vet-
erinarian is to talk with your neighbors and
see what they recommend.
If being left behind when you head to work
makes your dog stressed or depressed, con-
sider doggie day-care. My Old English
• New Bathrooms Sheepdog, Rogue, enjoyed her tour of the Pet
• New Hardwood Floors
• New Kitchen Cabinets
& Counters
• New Dishwashers
& Microwaves
• New Quarry Tile
• Balconies
• Free Parking
• And more!
Give us a call at 513-861-6000
www.gaslightproperty.com
CITYLIVING
“Our mission is to preserve and create great
places to live and thrive.”
12
Athletic Club and has been pawing at the door
to go back. The Fosters have loads of experi-
ence with dog care and training and offer day-
time activities such as baseball, soccer and
Frisbee.
Their training staff can work with your dog in
realistic home settings to improve certain
behaviors like staying off the furniture. Best of
all, a mandatory nap time in the early after-
noon helps rejuvenate your animal so he/she
isn’t too tired for evening activities with you.
A little further from downtown, The Pet Spot
(2503 Norwood Ave, Norwood) offers training,
boarding and daycare. Both facilities offer
grooming and webcams.
Jeff Voelpel, co-owner of The Pet Spot,
agrees that city dogs must be well trained so
they’ll get along with other dogs and not annoy
neighbors. He says all dogs are different and
poor behaviors can be set off by a multitude of
factors.
“It’s a brand new dog once you figure out
how to address what triggers a poor behavior,”
he says.
Voelpel employs two professional trainers
who have proven experience working with ani-
mals that are deemed unsuitable for doggie
daycare because of aggressiveness.
The Pet Spot also offers long-term boarding,
which can be a lifesaver following major life
changes or if you’re new to Cincinnati.
“We’ve had some dogs here for up to a
year,” Voelpel says. “You know, if their owner’s
home burns down or if the owner is living in a
corporate apartment that doesn't allow dogs,
it's a great option.”
Go fetch
The “green” movement is in full swing, and
there’s no reason your four-legged companion
should have to miss out. The area’s favorite
green general store, Park + Vine (1109 Vine
St, Over-the-Rhine) offers a selection of envi-
ronmentally friendly toys and products.
The aptly named Earthdog line includes
hemp leashes, collars, bedding and dog toys.
Herbal dog shampoos and flea collars will
leave coats soft, shiny and pest free without
harmful chemicals.
Cleaning up after your pet might seem a lit-
tle less icky when using BioBag Dog Waste
Bags. These 100 percent biodegradable poop-
er bags can even go straight into your com-
post. ©
Neighborhood
Gardens Tour
Thursday, July 24th, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Join us for a fun evening of touring three of our
children's gardens, take a ride on the big tour
bus, and support the Neighborhood Gardens
Program in its 27th year.
For reservations call 513.221-0981; cost $10
Building Community Through Gardening
2715 Reading Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
www.civicgardencenter.org
CITYLIVING
E ver wondered what it’s like to live in the heart of a bustling
city in one of those swanky lofts or ultra-cool condos?
Well, the wait is over for curious residents hoping to be
seduced by Cincinnati urban living.
US Bank presents the 10th annual Downtown Tour of
Tour of
Living Sept. 27, featuring 10 districts: Washington Park,
Gateway Quarter, Main Street, Court Street Market, Piatt Park,
St. Xavier Park, Historic Fourth Street, Fountain Square, Lytle
Park and Adams Crossing/Riverside Drive. The tour allows
people to walk through new and existing unique properties as
well as get a taste of what the city has to offer.
This year’s tour will focus on all aspects of the downtown
Living Returns
lifestyle, says Arlene Koth, vice president of stakeholder serv-
ices with Downtown Cincinnati Inc. She hopes participants not
only recognize the gorgeous architecture but also become
aware of the vibrant businesses, restaurants, shopping and
entertainment all within walking distance of many properties
around the city.
Koth says the tour continues to grow in popularity each
year primarily due to the ever-increasing positive buzz sur-
rounding the city. Organizers hope to attract their goal of
See for yourself how downtown 2,000 attendees this year.
“Initially the tour was started because we were trying to
is ‘transforming into a 24/7 town’ build awareness that downtown actually did have a residential
base,” she says. “It has since grown, so now we have lots of
BY CHRIS CHARLSON • PHOTO BY KURT STRECKER places to showcase.”
Allowing people to visit a large sampling of downtown dur-
ing the tour helps to alleviate any negative stigma or trepida-
tion associated with living in the city, Koth says. She adds
that when people see downtown for themselves, they realize
the streets are cleaner and safer than most U.S. cities.
As a result, she says, downtown Cincinnati continues to
witness an influx of various demographics including all types
of race, gender, age and alternative lifestyle groups. She says
besides the young professionals and empty-nesters, the city
most recently has been seeing an increase of families with
children moving in.
She says organizations like
the Downtown Residents
Council, which provides men-
toring programs that pair new
residents with veteran city
dwellers, prove that downtown
residents themselves are one
of the biggest reasons to
move to the city.
Arlene Koth hopes “People really do take
the Downtown Tour pride in living downtown, and
of Living will attract it’s not just a place that they
come and hang out because
her goal of at least there’s something special
2,000 attendees. going on,” Koth says. “They
make things special living
downtown.”
For the first year ever, the
tour will be held on a Saturday
instead of its traditional
Sunday. Organizers changed the schedule this year due to a
conflict with the Bengals-Browns game on Sept. 28.
As additional businesses will be open with Saturday hours,
Koth believes the shift will work to the tour’s advantage as
participants can experience even more of the city’s retail,
restaurants and arts and entertainment facilities. She says
it’s been proven that as developers bring more residents into
the city retail follows with an inevitable influx of businesses
and services. She says as a byproduct there are more people
on the street, which makes both residents and visitors feel
safer.
“We’ve seen our downtown truly transforming into a 24/7
town from the riverfront all the way up to Over-the-Rhine,” Koth
says. “People are out and about in the evening after work.
Additionally, the residential is a really great economic stimulus
for the city, for the Central Business District and for the sur-
rounding areas.”
Featured in this year’s tour will be condos from Parker
Flats, new construction on the corner of Fourth Street and
Central Avenue (see the previous CityLiving section for
“Venture Fourth,” issue of May 14). With 17-foot ceilings, loft-
ed bedrooms and sleek contemporary style, Middle Earth
Developers project developer Glenn Kukla hopes to impress
folks on the tour with the company’s newest condo offerings.
Kukla says one of the most unique features of the building
is a garage-style door that essentially acts as a movable glass
wall. It allows residents to turn their patio into an extension of
their living room on a nice day.
Priced from the upper $200,000s to the mid-$300,000s,
Kukla says the condos offer all the amenities of their counter-
parts normally priced starting at half a million.
“It’s definitely unique,” he says. “For one thing, these are
the city’s first newly constructed true loft condominiums.”
Heavily invested in the downtown area, Kukla says 80 per-
cent of the company’s development is located in the Central
Business District. In the past the developers chose existing
buildings for development, but Kukla says only a finite number
can be transformed into condos. As for taking a risk with new
construction, he says Cincinnati as a city shows great
progress and no signs of letting up any time soon.
“Downtown in 2008 is more vibrant than I’ve seen it in my
lifetime, and the trend is continuing in a positive direction,” he
says. “It’s really exciting being in business during this decade
because of the transformation of downtown because it’s turn-
ing out so wonderfully.”
As featured homeowners during previous tours, downtown
resident Nique Swan says he and his wife Natalie possess a
passion for urban living. This lured them to the downtown area
when they found themselves relocating several years ago.
Residing at The Lofts at Graydon Place, their 1,500-square-
foot loft-style condo boasts exposed bricks, exposed beams
and steel appliances with two full master suites and an office.
While a thriving area now, Swan says moving to downtown
Cincinnati more than 10 years ago presented somewhat of a
challenge. As the area consisted primarily of rental properties,
he says buying a condo downtown was almost unheard of at
the time.
“When we first moved to Cincinnati, the Reds and the
Bengals still played in the same stadium, Fort Washington Way
wasn’t completed, the (new) Contemporary Arts Center was
not here,” he says, “so we’ve seen a tremendous amount of
progress.”
One of the key attractions Swan says is the sense of com-
munity and diversity that exists among downtown residents.
He says as a pet owner he initially worried about owning a dog
in the city but soon found his concerns unfounded (see “Hot
Dogs in the City” on page 11).
He hopes the same holds true for children as the couple is
expecting their first child in the next few weeks.
While he sees some obvious challenges, Swan says they
plan to stay in the location he refers to as Cincinnati’s most
vibrant neighborhood. He encourages those who are unfamil-
iar with the city to take advantage of the tour to see the
changes for themselves.
“I think people have to come to experience downtown and
experience the progress,” he says. “And certainly visiting the
residential properties is a key and a start to changing percep-
tion.”
As a tour participant in 2007, Walnut Hills resident Kelly
Leon says she found the Gateway Quarter in Over-the-Rhine to
be especially interesting in terms of architecture and afford-
ability (see the March 5 CityLiving section for the story
“Opening the Gate”). She says parking for downtown residents
always seemed to be somewhat of an enigma for downtown,
so taking the tour answered all her questions regarding
garages, lots and gated parking.
She encourages anyone in the suburbs curious about
urban living to come down and take the tour even if they don’t
plan to move to the city.
“I know some people love living in the suburbs and having
a big yard and being close to malls and that’s great,” Leon
says. “But I think it would be fun for them to see the other
options that exist for folks that are more interested in the
urban lifestyle.”
The DOWNTOWN TOUR OF LIVING takes place Sept. 27 from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets can
CITYLIVING
be purchased in advance starting July 27 online at www.downtowncincinnati.com or at
all downtown US Bank locations. Tickets are $15, and the first 1,000 sold receive a
$5 gift card valid at 120 different downtown merchants. For more information, call
Downtown Cincinnati Inc. at 513-421-4440.
13
 CITYLIVING
Contain Your E verywhere you look, you can see how popular container
gardening has become. Plants adorn street corners, resi-
dential buildings and businesses all over town.
“There has been so much revitalization recently of town
squares and business districts,” says Cara Hague, a horticul-
Urge to Garden
turist at the Civic Garden Center. “People see what a few flow-
ers can do to perk things up.”
And they’re bringing the idea home to brighten up their own
private spaces.
Container gardening has been around for years, especially
in the suburbs. But the trend is growing, and with the expand-
ing downtown population, gardens for small spaces are experi-
encing a boom, according to Lisa Yunker, proprietor of City
And spread green around your Roots gardening store on Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine.
corner of the city Planting in containers takes many forms, including perma-
nent concrete pots, raised beds or window boxes. Other types
BY JULIE HOTCHKISS of containers are movable and can follow the sun — or the
gardener — from one location to another.
“My favorite part is getting the chance to put them out in
the rain,” says Susan
VonderHaar, a committed
container gardener who’s
also a certified Master
Gardener.
The convenience of hav-
ing beautiful gardens close
by accounts for their grow-
ing popularity.
There are challenges with
container gardening, and
advance planning can make
it easier to gather every-
thing you need to make a
garden in an urban setting.
“Logistics is a huge
issue,” Yunker says, and
her shop helps by loaning
gardeners containers filled
with a suitable soil mix to
get started.
Other things to think
about include:
• Light: Choose plants that
will do well in your available
sunlight (or shade).
• Water: Container plants
need to be watered regular-
ly, and the water source
may be some distance
away.
• Waste: Getting rid of trim-
mings can be a problem if
you are several stories up.
You might want to compost,
but use a bin that won’t
invite critters to your bal-
cony.
• Pots: Many kinds of con-
tainers are available, from
ILLUSTRATION: WOODROW J. HINTON III inexpensive plastic pots
designed to last one grow-
ing season to permanent, weatherproof pots. Consider the
location of your garden space and the kinds of plants you
want to grow.
• Tools: You’ll need a snipper or pruner, a good pair of shears,
CITYLIVING
buckets for moving soil and foliage, watering cans and
scoops, which are useful for setting up your container garden.
When it comes to choosing what to plant, Yunker’s advice is
to look around to see what’s thriving in pots. Budget what you
14
can on hardy plants initially, and then you can add more
plants each season to spread the cost over several years.
Herbs are popular, and vegetables are also becoming a
common choice for small-space gardeners, with many new
varieties adapted for container gardening.
Annuals are often selected by organizations for beautifica-
tion projects, and they can work well in a balcony or courtyard
garden, too, especially if you select types that attract butter-
flies or hummingbirds. Hague recommends taking a look at
perennials — they’re low maintenance, and some perennials
will last several years in a container. Varieties of trees, shrubs
and even grasses are cultivated specifically for containers.
“The possibilities are limitless,” Hague says.
She advises using locally grown plant materials because
they adapt better than imported plants.
Bonsai trees are a special category — they represent the
original container gardening. The key to bonsai is watering,
and Yunker warns, “Even if you get everything else right but
don’t get the watering right, your bonsai tree won’t last.”
Water is the most important element of any container gar-
den. Check plants every day. When the top half-inch of the soil
is dry, water.
If you travel or don’t have time for daily watering, investigate
the self-watering products available, including pots with inter-
nal reservoirs or timer devices that attach to a water line.
Some of these are complicated and require professional
installation, but simpler versions are also available, especially
online, and a gardener who’s handy with tools can install a
basic automatic watering device.
Window boxes with self-watering systems use a combina-
tion of specialized containers, potting mix and moisture-retain-
ing products that work together to take the guesswork out
watering. You’ll see self-watering flower boxes on the second
or third stories of buildings around town.
But water isn’t the only thing the plants need. Anything in a
pot also requires more fertilization to produce blooms or fruit,
since limited amounts of nutrients can get to the root system.
Providing “food” for your container plants begins with the soil
composition. VonderHaar’s preferred soil mix is equal parts
potting soil, compost (that waste can come in handy if you
have a spot for a bin) and perlite/vermiculite.
The nutrients in the compost won’t last too long, though.
Yunker explains that gardeners who use organic fertilizer must
add it regularly because it quickly leaches away. She recom-
mends some manufactured fertilizers, including Osmocote, a
granular fertilizer that she calls a container gardener’s best
friend because it releases nutrients into the soil for 3 to 5
months.
You can also get more from your container garden in both
yield and beauty with companion planting. For example, com-
bining a tall spiky plant in a pot with a midsized, bushy flower-
ing form and draping vines cascading over the sides creates a
pleasing design, and the three species won’t interfere in one
another’s root zones, allowing them to thrive in a small space,
according to VonderHaar.
You never want a “flat mat of green,” Yunker adds. Instead,
create interest with plants of different heights and colors.
For vegetable fans, tomatoes, green onions and strawber-
ries provide the same companion effect. Herbs also work
especially well as companion plants because they can attract
insects that are beneficial and repel insects that can cause
harm. Herbs make fragrant companions for vegetables or flow-
ers.
Yunker and landscaper David White of Outer Space
Landscaping teach a series of popular “City Gardening” class-
es at the Main Public Library downtown. The final class (7
p.m. Aug. 12) is “Rooftop Gardens,” and it just might inspire
you to indulge your green thumb by planning and planting an
inviting miniature landscape that can “contain” that urge to
garden. ©
CITYLIVING
City Notes B
Real Estate Blogging Gets Real Popular
logs have steadily been increasing as a way to communi-
cate news and opinions online. You can sign up to get a
free account and post your thoughts on anything from
fashion trends to public speaking. Most of my friends are now
setting up blogs to communicate with friends about their
upcoming marriage or to post new pictures of their babies.
Thinking about the focus of CityLiving, I started wondering if
blogging could help people with rehab projects and develop-
ment issues.
BY CHRISTINE MERSCH
Get personal
Scott Duebber uses his Room 113 blog
(room113.blogspot.com) to keep track of the progress he and
his wife made while rehabilitating their newly-bought older
house in Price Hill. Duebber started the blog in 2005 to com-
municate with his out of town friends and found he really
enjoyed writing. So he kept up with it, posting multiple
updates during the week.
“House rehab is not the theme of my blog,” Duebber says.
“I write about a little bit of everything: my wife, my son, my
unborn daughter, my faith, the Reds, politics, music. So natu-
rally, when working on a house, it became a topic.”
After growing up in middle-class suburban neighborhoods,
both Duebber and his wife wanted to live in a more “urban”
area. They chose a turn-of-the-century Victorian home in
College Hill and spent time rehabbing it until two criminal inci-
dents made them take another look at their neighborhood.
First, a man attempted to rape a woman outside. Shortly
after that, a different man beat up his girlfriend on the street.
Duebber and his wife inserted themselves into both situa-
tions, and worked with the police to try to resolve the crimes.
“Over the next few months, as we contemplated what we
were doing living
there even though
we could afford a
home in a ‘safer’
neighborhood, we
“There seems to be a resurgence of urban- ultimately came to
mindedness, and I’d like to think I’m helping the conclusion that
… we needed to
to advance that community of thinkers.” go where more
people needed
someone who
— Kevin LeMaster, BuildingCincinnati.com would respond to
their cries for
help,” he says.
“And after looking
at houses in a vari-
ety of city neighbor-
hoods, we very much agreed on East Price Hill. And the fact
that it’s a beautiful old house with plenty of room for our fami-
ly didn’t hurt our decision.”
The Duebbers submitted an offer on their current house in
June 2007, but their move-in date was delayed after finding
significant termite damage at the inspection. The contractor
worked to fix the situation through the summer, and the family
officially bought the house in August.
Duebber says they pulled late hours working on the house
for six straight weeks. They were finally able to move in the
first week of October.
“We didn’t buy this house because we thought it would be a
good financial investment,” he says. “We bought it because it
was where we thought we needed to be (geographically) and it
has the space to be a lifetime home for our family. Once we
get it all finished this will be our dream house.”
The blog serves to document the Duebbers’ rehab work and
to keep their family and friends updated on the progress.
Duebber says he receives words of encouragement and of
caution from both friends and those they don’t know.
Duebber says he does wonder if a blog post or subject is
too personal to be posted online for all to view. He’s even
thought about making the blog “invite-only” for more restricted
access.
“But if I restricted access, or shared less than I do, it
wouldn’t be the same,” he says. “I’m an open book in real life
and I’m an open book online, so at least there’s some consis-
tency there.”
As for other bloggers, Duebber says he does keep up to
date with Kevin LeMaster’s Building Cincinnati blog (www.build-
ing-cincinnati.com) as well as a few other local city Web sites.
They help keep him updated on other projects that are going
on in the area.
Citywide blogs
Whereas Duebber writes about his thoughts and opinions
on his personal rehabbing projects and other key events in his
life, LeMaster keeps his blog focused on reporting about real
estate developments all over the city. He first started his blog
in December 2006 but became more serious about his
updates about eight months in.
“I’ve been involved with urban-themed message boards
since 2002, when I joined SkyscraperPage,” LeMaster says.
“That led to Urban Ohio. I found myself producing a lot of con-
tent for that, which made me realize that I had all of this great
stuff that might make a good Web site instead of being scat-
tered all over the place.”
He says he’s been interested in architecture and urban
form for years.
“I always tell people that it’s funny that I do what I do
because I don’t have any background in writing, development,
planning or anything even related to the content of my site,”
he says. “I just kind of fell into it.”
Still, Building Cincinnati is gaining popularity, judging by the
amount of reader feedback LeMaster receives. People often
communicate with him about rehab projects they’ve finished.
Community groups ask him questions about a building in the
area, and developers inquire about recent events in a certain
neighborhood.
“I really encourage the engagement,” LeMaster says. “Not
only is it great content for me, but I also get to meet all kinds
of interesting people, see places others never get to see and
get stories out there that otherwise might never see the light
of day.
“There seems to be a resurgence of urban-mindedness, and
I’d like to think I’m helping to advance that community of
thinkers,” he says. “So if I can help raise awareness and
spread the word of the good, and sometimes the bad, in this
city, then I think I’m making an impact.”
Other companies and organizations have noticed
LeMaster’s work as well. Brokers and developers in the
Gateway Quarter invited him on a tour of their buildings,
including Trideca Lofts. He describes the event as a win-win —
he was able to write about something new and interesting,
and the Gateway Quarter got some publicity.
Nationally, LeMaster has been recognized by sites such as
Cyburbia (a site that posts news, message boards and other
information for urban planners and those interested in city
planning) and Placeblogger (a site that highlights “place
blogs,” which are about a specific place).
As for the downside of blogging, LeMaster says for him
there’s always the possibility of getting burned out on writing
so much content.
“Fortunately, I love my topic,” he says. “And I’m my own
boss, and I really have a vision for how I want to build the
CITYLIVING
site. That keeps me motivated.”
CONTACT CITY NOTES: cityliving@citybeat.com
15
 spring into urban design at bova mon & thu 10-8pm
tue-fri 10-6pm
sat 10-5pm
closed sundays

dining living sleeping working accessories

ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS

BEDROOM FURNISHINGS

OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS

CASUAL CHAIRS

ACCESSORIES

LIVING ROOM

TABLES

LAMPS Visit our 25,000 Sq. ft. Showroom harper’s station

11349 montgomery road
For The Best Selection Of
CITYLIVING

513-247-9100
MORE Contemporary Furniture In Cincinnati. bovafurniture.com
16