Much of Over-the-Rhine has been remade, the Cincinnati riverfront has been revitalized and now Price Hill is starting to think its time could soon arrive.There was some groundwork for a neighborhood renaissance laid years ago. Now, new single-family home construction is in the works.After decades of deterioration and decline, Price Hill brims with captivating views and potential.Don Johnson of Cutler Real Estate walked around his old stomping grounds Friday to show us some of it."From this property we're going to have four and on the other side we're going to have six townhouses," he pointed out at the far southern end of Grand Avenue.Dozens of infill lots like the one at Mt. Hope have been bought up for market-rate housing.You heard that right. The market seems to be light-years from where it was just a few summers ago when properties could be had for $40,000 and $50,000."It's a whole different market over here now," Johnson said. "It really picked up momentum."He grew up around here as an Elder grad and handles sales and marketing for the homebuilder, who also grew up around here as an Elder grad.Kim Knoppe made his mark in Columbus and came back to find lots of empty lots and no plan beyond tear downs."And it just struck me that what that area needed was new home construction, something that would lift the entire neighborhood up," Knoppe told us during an interview today.He has control of close to 80 lots throughout the city, including Harrison, Sayler Park, Mt. Auburn and East Riverside Drive.He is still in buying mode and will break ground for new home construction on Hawthorne Avenue in Price Hill next week. The homes will be in the $400,000 range. Knoppe is hoping for a ripple effect throughout the west side. He is candid about the risk, saying he doesn't know if it'll go and that he feels a little like Don Quixote."Read the book, saw the opera," he said with a hearty laugh. "It takes that kind of risk sometimes to turn the table."Knoppe is playing off the success of the Incline District where the Public House is a regional magnet.He grew up on Grand Avenue and now just four blocks away he is planning to construct ten three-story, three-bedroom, two-car garage homes with rooftop terraces."I can't tell you what a warm feeling it gives me to be able to go into my old neighborhood and improve it," he said.We saw the type of breathtaking view he plans to capitalize on with wood beam ceilings, brick fronts and 15-year tax abatements."Young people get good jobs and they move out of Price Hill. And they would love to be there with family and friends. So, hopefully, they'll be attracted to this type of housing as well," he said.One woman in a new condo overlooking the Ohio River told us the neighborhood is ripe for change."It'll take a while," she said and then added, "I love it here."
Much of Over-the-Rhine has been remade, the Cincinnati riverfront has been revitalized and now Price Hill is starting to think its time could soon arrive.
There was some groundwork for a neighborhood renaissance laid years ago. Now, new single-family home construction is in the works.
After decades of deterioration and decline, Price Hill brims with captivating views and potential.
Don Johnson of Cutler Real Estate walked around his old stomping grounds Friday to show us some of it.
"From this property we're going to have four and on the other side we're going to have six townhouses," he pointed out at the far southern end of Grand Avenue.
Dozens of infill lots like the one at Mt. Hope have been bought up for market-rate housing.
You heard that right. The market seems to be light-years from where it was just a few summers ago when properties could be had for $40,000 and $50,000.
"It's a whole different market over here now," Johnson said. "It really picked up momentum."
He grew up around here as an Elder grad and handles sales and marketing for the homebuilder, who also grew up around here as an Elder grad.
Kim Knoppe made his mark in Columbus and came back to find lots of empty lots and no plan beyond tear downs.
"And it just struck me that what that area needed was new home construction, something that would lift the entire neighborhood up," Knoppe told us during an interview today.
He has control of close to 80 lots throughout the city, including Harrison, Sayler Park, Mt. Auburn and East Riverside Drive.
He is still in buying mode and will break ground for new home construction on Hawthorne Avenue in Price Hill next week. The homes will be in the $400,000 range.
Knoppe is hoping for a ripple effect throughout the west side.
He is candid about the risk, saying he doesn't know if it'll go and that he feels a little like Don Quixote.
"Read the book, saw the opera," he said with a hearty laugh. "It takes that kind of risk sometimes to turn the table."
Knoppe is playing off the success of the Incline District where the Public House is a regional magnet.
He grew up on Grand Avenue and now just four blocks away he is planning to construct ten three-story, three-bedroom, two-car garage homes with rooftop terraces.
"I can't tell you what a warm feeling it gives me to be able to go into my old neighborhood and improve it," he said.
We saw the type of breathtaking view he plans to capitalize on with wood beam ceilings, brick fronts and 15-year tax abatements.
"Young people get good jobs and they move out of Price Hill. And they would love to be there with family and friends. So, hopefully, they'll be attracted to this type of housing as well," he said.
One woman in a new condo overlooking the Ohio River told us the neighborhood is ripe for change.
"It'll take a while," she said and then added, "I love it here."
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