City aims to put on a prettier face

City management proposal targets enhancement of three city corridors.

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By Hannah Poturalski, Staff Writer 2:26 AM Sunday, June 12, 2011

HAMILTON — Major changes lay ahead, as City Manager Joshua Smith hopes to change the way Hamilton is perceived by outside companies, while drawing in young professionals.

Smith detailed to the city council on Wednesday the goal of creating economic opportunity — one of four within the revamped five-year strategic plan. Objectives of the goal include enhancing prime entryways into the city, having a welcoming environment for business development and attracting skilled, creative workers.

Additional presentations to council through June and July will be on the remaining goals of creating a positive image, connecting people, and creating a sense of place.

City staff targeted three entrances into the city needing improvement — East High Street from Ohio 4 to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; Ohio 4 from Grand Boulevard to St. Clair Avenue; and Main Street from Eaton Avenue to the Main-High Bridge.

“The area right now is quite blighted and definitely needs attention,” Smith said of East High Street. “I’ve had comments from area CEOs who say it’s hard from a business end, because by the time they bring a prospect into the corridor, the impression is so bad the decision has almost been made.”

Smith hopes to use economic development riders and the creation of revolving loan funds to relocate and hide utility lines, install decorative streetlights and LED-lighted street signs, revitalize retro and iconic signage, such as at Star Dry Cleaners, and install sidewalks on Ohio 4.

Smith said civic organizations such as Lindenwald Kiwanis of Hamilton and Hamilton Rotary could “adopt” buildings in these corridors to complete landscaping and painting. Pat Millard, Kiwanis president, said he would consider the idea of adopting a building, but it depends on the project, as a lot of Kiwanians are older.

“There are some buildings in need of repair, but they should put pressure on the person who owns it,” Millard said.

Felix and Kim Russo, owners of Holy Grounds Cafe on Main Street, said minor building maintenance and landscaping are low-cost ways to make noticeable change.

“It would be more appealing for people wanting to spend a day walking up the streets,” Kim Russo said.

Felix Russo agreed, saying, “It’s such an easy fix that changes the perception of ‘nothing’s happening here.’ ”

Felix Russo said the city should market Main Street with a “small-town feel,” such as cafes and boutiques. He said it brings about sentimentality for one’s hometown.

Smith said a land-bank program will likely begin in Hamilton as the strategic plan is put into effect.

“Land-bank programs acquire properties that are under-utilized or abandoned, (and then) aggregate those properties together and eventually demolish most of them,” Smith said. “Then you have some land aggregated together to pass on or that can be sold to a development company.”

Phil Morrical III of Morrical Realty on Ludlow Street said foreclosed homes during estate-tax sales are easy properties for cities to acquire for land-bank programs. Morrical said he’s curious if the land-bank program would target commercial or residential properties, or a mix.

“They need to buy complete blocks to be successful and target that area,” Morrical said. “In the past, the city has bought realtor properties and then torn them down, but they were viable properties.”

Morrical said depending on re-marketing of the land, the city should consider involving local realtors to help in the process.

To help fund some of the economic development projects, city staff recommends $1 million allocations of Community Development Block Grant funds be changed.

“Give fewer grants out and allocate resources on the areas we’ve talked about, not only to potentially fund some of the revolving-loan funds or be a partner in funding them, but also to be used toward land banks,” Smith said. “It would be a drastically different allocation of CDBG monies; in my mind, it would be a more strategic allocation.”

Morrical, a member of the downtown Special Improvement District, said earlier this year SID members discussed this topic with city staff and the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

Morrical said the SID’s administrative committee recommended not applying for CDBG during the application round in August if the funding could go toward improving the High Street corridor.

“We’ve been told East High Street would be a top priority,” Morrical said. “I have great faith in Joshua to figure out what needs done.”

Councilwoman Kathleen Klink said as the country’s budget crisis unfolds further, all municipalities will have to make do with reduced CDBG funding.

“The whole CDBG question is a big one,” Klink said. “The businesses (that receive CDBG) need to profit from economic development.”

Other items in the first goal include surveying businesses on ways the city is helping or hindering them, and giving uniform informational packets on city services and financial incentives to prospective businesses.

Kim Russo said more communication is needed between city staff and small businesses. Felix Russo said most of the city’s attention is on riverfront development and attracting young, technology-based professionals.

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