College Hill CURC's focus for several years has been on its lengthy business district. The community has elected to shrink and condense the district. CHCURC's plan is to target the center of the district, where it intends to build new buildings. The buildings will have retail on the first floor, and new green housing units on the second and third floors. A City of Cincinnati grant for $1.3 million is allowing CHCURC to acquire key buildings in the district along Hamilton Avenue as a first step in making its plans come to fruition.

In 2009 CHCURC was able to further their research and plan for those mixed-income green units with the help of the Operating Support Grant. Research included:
• the whys and hows of building green through achieving certification with LEED, the Energy Star label and the National Association of Home Builders and various green communities throughout the country.
• the financing from city, state and various foundations
• local and national green resources
• And to then focus on the specifics of the College Hill site with market, affordability, and property studies, potential developers, design work, and continued input from the people invested in making this plan come to life.

The 2009 Grant allowed CHCURC to hire the Executive Director who had previously been a volunteer, and a consultant who proved to be invaluable in putting these plans together.  We look forward to seeing College Hill's future transformation!