Northside: The Urban Village

Engaged Citizens

The Northside neighborhood in central Cincinnati has long enjoyed a reputation of civic activism. It has been a forward-moving community of urban pioneers since the 1970's. Its residents have renovated homes, started businesses, planted public gardens, maintained and created parks and woods, raised millions of dollars for community projects, hosted public celebrations, supported its children andunderserved neighbors, and helped transorm the business district. The neighborhood of about 4,000 households has many diverse and talented people who embrace community building as a team sport.

The Northside Comprehensive Land Use Plan

From the Executive Summary of the plan:

This Northside Land Use Plan provides the community and the City of Cincinnati a clear picture of Northside's vision for the future and the strategies and implementation measures that will be used to achieve this vision. It is also designed as a positive response to the City of Cincinnati's new 2004 zoning code. Hundreds of Northsiders have participted in creating this plan including long time and new residents, business owners, property owners, school principals, parents, and interested developers.

Vision

Northside, located in the Mill Creek Valley in North Central Cincinnati, envisions a future where a diverse community of people live in a neighborhood that provides great housing choices, a variety of work environments and job opportunities, and the cultural and educational opportunities that allow one to live an interesting and nurtured life close to home.

The community strives to be a holistic, sustainable community that provides a unique, tolerant environment for people of any income, race or cultural background. Northside's vision is that of a true "urban village" which can be a model of success for other neighborhoods."

Goals

Northside has created a detailed set of goals and objectives to guide the development and implementation of the land use plan. These are presented in detail in the 'Key Action Strategies' section of this document (P. 24). The four central goals of the plan are:

1) Quality of Life: Ensure a quality of life in Northside where people, young and old, feel safe, nurtured, and enriched.

2) Housing: Create a variety of quality housing choices for a diverse group of people with mixed incomes.

3) Commercial: Create a climate for new and innovative commercial uses in Northside that enhances its historic character, and identify opportunities for mixed-use redevelopments:

  • Respect the historic character of the Hamilton Avenue Business District while providing for new and expanded retail opportunities.
  • Pursue compatible land use and re- development opportunities for the transitional areas identified in the plan.
  • Focus redevelopment opportunities in the area south of Blue Rock for new kinds of commercial, residential, studio and light manufacturing uses and other unique, unconventional live/ work spaces.

4) Greenspace: Enhance, connect and protect the wonderful green-spaces in the neighborhood and the green beltway surrounding Northside.