We are excited to support the Community Revitalization Agency in its creation of the Renaissance Village, a development which will revitalize and repopulate the West End. CRA will bring new life to 68 currently vacant and run-down lots and buildings by constructing new homes and rehabbing the century-old brick buildings currently standing.

Because this is such a large undertaking, 2009 has been devoted to the legal, architectural and infrastructure work needed to make this project a reality. Of its many 2009 accomplishments, CRA entered into an agreement with Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) to take over the properites, which are the sites of former Laurel Homes. CRA has also engaged All American Homes as builder of the new construction, US Bank in Indiana will provide financing for the project, and the architectural details have been mapped by Wichman Guenther architects. In 2010, with operating costs supported in part by the Operating Support Grant, construction and rehab will begin.
To the right Executive Director Mark Lenear talks with Patricia about CRA’s development strategy. Also to the right is vacant property at York and Baymiller slated for development in 2010.

The first photo to the left shows some of the existing housing stock that will be rehabbed–with beautiful architectural components of the arched doorways and gray stone stairs still intact, adding historical value to the homes. The third photo shows mostly vacant and blighted row houses, which CRA will rehab, also improving the one home currently occupied without displacing its occupant.
   In addition to rehabbing, CRA will fill in the gaps where homes once stood in order to re-populate the area with families that will invest and take pride in their neighborhood. The forth and fifth images to the left are examples of the vacant lot and an architect’s drawing of what it will look like with a new home. New construction (infill) will mostly be 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 car garage homes. In accordance with the WestEnd Community Council’s wishes, 30% of the new or rehabbed units will be for homeownership. CRA has already pre-sold many homes by reaching out to local church and community groups. The rest will be quality affordable rental units.