Inward Trend in Building Permits?

The EPA just released results of a study of residential construction trends to see if there is a real shift inward, or if most construction is still on the suburban fringe:

...In more than half of the largest metropolitan areas, urban core communities have dramatically increased their share of new residential building permits.
* The central city has more than doubled its share in 15 regions (of 50 studied).
* The increase has been particularly dramatic over the past 5 years.
* Data from 2007 show the trend continuing in the wake of the real estate market downturn.

However, in many regions, a large share of new residential construction still takes place on previously undeveloped land on the urban fringe...

Misc Urbanism Quotes

The present idea of the street must be abolished: DEATH OF THE STREET!DEATH OF THE STREET! – Le Corbusier, The Radiant City (1933), p. 124

Also in the same article:

... the use of streets for children’s play (for example) can seem obviously wrong, and thus the departure of children from streets with the arrival of automobiles can seem an obvious and simple necessity. Only when we can see the prevailing social construction of the street from the perspective of its own time can we also see the car as the intruder. Until we do, not only will we fail to understand the violent revolution in street use circa 1915-1930, we will not even see it. This is why the full scale of the wave of blood, grief, and anger in American city streets in the 1920s has eluded notice. - Peter D. Norton, Fighting Traffic, p. 2

The Congress for the New Urbanism views disinvestment in central cities, the spread of placeless sprawl, increasing separation by race and income, environmental deterioration, loss of agricultural lands and wilderness, and the erosion of society’s built heritage as one inter-related community-building challenge. ~ Preamble, Charter of the Congress for the New Urbanism

Daycamp Sign-Up Starting

Cincinnati Parks offers some great summer daycamps. We have tried a few of them and highly reccomend them. They are a great bargain at about $50 a week. Some of them fill up so even though summer seems far away, you may want to register now.

Mill Creek Restoration

A couple of notes about projects at two different portions of the Mill Creek. I have hiked around both of these areas, and restoration, especially at the area around Caldwell Park will offer a respite in a dense industrial waterway. I am so excited that someone is actually trying to salvage the Mill Creek.

First, at Caldwell Park:

...Mill Creek Restoration Project (MCRP) completed work on a major streambank and floodplain restoration program designed to protect Mill Creek water quality and aquatic habitat and to improve ecological conditions in the southwest corner of Caldwell Park. The recreational park is owned by the City of Cincinnati and located in the Carthage neighborhood.

... included stabilization of 340 linear feet of eroding streambanks and restoration of the adjacent floodplain, located immediately upstream of the North Bend Road bridge over Mill Creek. Prior to the project, site conditions included a degraded floodplain due to other construction activity, and fifteen-feet high, severely eroding streambanks that have caused continued loss of park property and trees. The bank erosion also caused increased sediment loads to the stream, impairing water quality and adversely impacting aquatic life.

...Soil bioengineering is a highly effective method for restoring streambanks and achieving other ecological objectives, including improved wildlife habitat, enhanced aesthetics, and increased shade along the creek. The approach is based on sound engineering, hydrology and ecology, and employs vegetation with good root systems to stabilize the slopes and soils.

... MCRP and its partners contributed $14,780 in inkind services and materials, including fieldwork labor by 54 students and teachers from Clark Montessori, a Cincinnati Public School. Other invaluable Clean Ohio partners for this project include the Cincinnati Park Board and the City Recreation Commission.

Secondly:

Map of proposed trail along Millcreek through Northside:

The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) has awarded a $35,000 grant to Mill Creek Restoration Project (MCRP) to underwrite planning and design costs for the first phase of the City of Cincinnati's Queen City-South Mill Creek Greenway Trail. MCRP is especially honored that a portion of the GCF grant comes from the Joan Jones Portman Nature Enrichment Field of Interest Fund, because of Mrs. Portman's inspiring dedication to the conservation of natural resources.
The “barebones” budget (without major furnishings and trail heads) for the .6 mile Phase 1 greenway trail segment is $265,000. ...

The Phase 1 trail will connect Salway Park, in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Spring Grove Village, to the intersection of Dooley By-pass and Ludlow Avenue in Northside, one block from the Northside business district along Hamilton Avenue. The trail will follow along the west side of Mill Creek and will be constructed this spring. ...

Overall Queen City-South Mill Creek Greenway Trail
When all three phases are complete, the off-road Queen City-South Mill Creek hike and bike trail will span 3.4 miles along the river, from Mitchell Avenue at the Queen City shopping center to the Mill Creek Road bridge in South Cumminsville. The multi-purpose trail (e.g., for recreation, exercise and bike commutes) will connect with existing streets, on-road bike lanes, Metro and Access bus stops, and pedestrian sidewalks. In addition, the trail will link parts of five residential neighborhoods; two business districts; Salway park, a heavily used recreational facility; and the Spring Grove Cemetery together.

...the project will help to regenerate natural resources, including restoring wildlife habitat by planting Ohio native trees. Signage and art will be integrated to highlight the rich cultural history of the Underground Railroad that actively operated along Mill Creek.

...MCRP will offer environmental education and service learning opportunities for thousands of sixth through twelfth grade students.

...MCRP believes that the timing is right for the Mill Creek Greenway Trail Program because there is synergy with other major investments within the Mill Creek corridor, including the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati's capital program that will advance Mill Creek water quality improvements by preventing and reducing untreated sanitary sewage and stormwater discharges to the river from combined sewer overflows....