Loveland, Ohio – Beginning on January 30, East Loveland Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Third Street and 200 feet east of Fifth Street for approximately six months to replace the bridge over Bares Run Creek. The bridge is near the East Loveland Nature Preserve. A detour route will be in place.
The contractor for the project, JTM Smith Construction, will post signage for the following detour: East Loveland Avenue – State Route 48 (northbound) – Murdock-Goshen Road – East Loveland Avenue/Dallasburg Road/O-Bannonville Road. Download detour map.
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Clermont County is replacing the bridge. The Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) will replace and upsize the sanitary sewer from approximately 220 to 362 East Loveland Avenue.
The city is receiving a state grant of $722,400 in funding to install sidewalks on both sides of the road between 227 to 356 East Loveland Avenue and relocate the water main around the future bridge wingwalls they will also make storm sewer system improvements, and repave a portion of the roadway.
Project dates are weather-dependent and subject to change.
If residents have questions about the project, please contact City Manager David Kennedy at (513) 707-1454 or dkennedy@lovelandoh.gov.
(Reprinted with permission from a social media post of Jamie Smith)
by Jamie Smith
There will be a planning and zoning meeting at Loveland City Hall Wednesday, May 4th at 7 PM, with a demonstration beforehand at 6 PM to rally against the petition Drees is submitting for an (SPD) proposal.
Jamie’s family is often on the Grailville Farm. “My dogs have their absolute biggest smiles here, as do my kids and I.”
The granting of an SPD would allow them to build over 200 homes on the land that was annexed originally for “low-density housing.” This neighborhood of about 206 homes would sit on the south side of the old Grailville property, between Saint Columban Church and the north side of Grailville (their current offices).
The building of yet another non-distinct neighborhood in Loveland would destroy several historically rich and architecturally beautiful buildings that hold much significance in the hearts of many Loveland residents. Even a stranger passing by, with no knowledge of the importance of the work that was done there, is struck at the beauty of the place.
The women (and men) who started the mission here at Grailville were so dedicated to the righteousness of its cause that many of its early devotees are buried on-site, in the loveliest little cemetery on the north side of O’Bannonville Road.
Some of the reasons I feel very strongly against the actions aimed at adding yet another subdivision to our previously rolling river valley and forested areas are as follows:
1. It is my favorite place in Loveland, exactly as it is, in its natural state. My dogs have their absolute biggest smiles here, as do my kids and I.
2. I and my children have gained much peace and happiness from our exposure to the blessings of the land, water, and sky at Grailville. We have shared this joy with others. This land has kept us healthy physically and mentally. I can feel instant decompression upon starting my explorations there.
3. The place has a beautiful historical significance. You can explore the beginnings of the good that has been done on this land starting with this LINK. The historical films created, however, don’t even begin to touch on the good work that was done up until current times.
4. Not only have many historic buildings of Loveland been destroyed that are tragically gone FOREVER, but the greenspace in Loveland is rapidly disappearing, to the point that Grailville is the “last of the Mohicans.” Losing the large stretch of greenspace that connects fields to the “wilderness” on the north side would have a hugely detrimental impact on local wildlife, as well as on the human beings that regularly seek solace in the fields and woods of its paths.
5. TRAFFIC IN DOWNTOWN LOVELAND
“I and my children have gained much peace and happiness from our exposure to the blessings of the land, water, and sky at Grailville.”
6. GREED over NATURE
7. Absolutely zero benefits to Loveland residents, only more destruction, construction, and overcrowding of our streets….adding to issues of congestion instead of working on solutions.
8. Once this land is developed, the sanctity and purity of the place will be lost forever. We are Loveland, and beginning to look like Liberty Township, a “run-on sentence of subdivisions.” We are a town rich in farming and RR history. Let’s not erase YET ANOTHER part of our heritage. There is enough history at Grailville to erect a small museum to the humanitarian work and personal development that was achieved there and carried throughout other communities in the hearts of members of the Grail.
9. The land is certified organic, which is no small feat.
10. About 10 million reasons this ties into the bigger picture of the environmental crisis: urban sprawl (in turn, increasing urban blight), loss of greenspaces for migratory species, the immediate destruction of the habitat for countless plant and animal species, loss of biodiversity, etc., etc., etc.
11. The thought of losing this place and the PEACE IT HAS BROUGHT MY FAMILY, and having to deal with the congestion of another subdivision literally breaks my heart….and I am not alone.
Come show your solidarity. Let’s not let an out-of-state developer take what’s left of who we are! These historic places, YES EVEN OPEN PLACES, FARMS….this is what Loveland was, and part of it always should be! We need to retain a connection to what draws people to love this land.
A statue of a child at Grailville – photo provided by Kevin and Laurie Kiley
Introduction by Kevin Kiley
What’s going on in Loveland this week?
Kevin Kiley
The City of Loveland is currently reviewing an application for a large housing development on the east side of Loveland. This 111 acre parcel of land, a historic property currently owned by Grailville, was recently annexed into Loveland and is under contract to Drees Homes “with an option to buy” for $7.3 million. Drees has requested that Loveland re-zone the site to a special planning district (SPD) and approve an exception to build more than twice the number of homes permitted by current zoning. This same property was offered to Loveland Schools but failed to pass levies in the months preceding the pandemic.
Why does this matter?
Several concerns have been addressed to the Loveland Planning and Zoning Comission on how this new development will impact Loveland, including its effect on traffic, parking, schools, and other taxpayer expenses. This proposed new housing development borders 100 acres of nature preserve now owned by the Clermont County Parks District. A growing number of forward-thinking residents see this additional 111 acres as an incredible opportunity for Loveland to build something amazing for all who live in Loveland, not just a select few.
How can I get involved?
The next Loveland Planning and Zoning meeting is Wednesday, May 4th at 7 PM at Loveland City Hall. Please attend to learn more and show support—help us pack the room. There will be a sign-in sheet in the room for anyone who wishes to speak.
To residents and elected decision makers of Loveland
by Laurie Kiley
Laurie Kiley
As I sit to put my feelings about the development of the Grailville property into writing, Joanie Mitchell’s lyrics are stuck in my head…
Don’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
While I am a tree hugger in my soul I am also realistic that as humankind continues to evolve nature will always be at risk. We must be diligent to make personal choices—and choices as a community—that result in the greatest legacy for those who come after us. We cannot be shortsighted.
That being said, my biggest concern here today is actually about accountability. Loveland residents elect our Council to have privileged access to information on our behalf. We expect that they are making decisions holistically and with the future in mind well beyond their tenure.
As accountable Council members, we implore you to not make easy compromises today that lead to deeper issues for our community tomorrow. The full impact of every rezoning decision, every parking garage, and every field that is eliminated must be considered.
In our personal lives, it is irresponsible to spend beyond our means or to act now and think later.
Likewise, it would be irresponsible for our Council to make decisions that put Loveland’s future at risk.
The Grail is entitled to sell the property they cannot afford to hold. Drees is entitled to request an exception to maximize its profits and create a space to benefit 209 new households. Loveland Council, however, is not obligated to create new laws to make it possible.
I want to go back to my previous point about encouraging holistic decision-making. Here is a summary of inter-related concerns from my point of view:
The Drees proposal outlines lot dimensions that equate to .16 acres that are 70% covered by house at worst, and .27 acre lots that are 60% covered by house at best. In contrast, Loveland’s current zoning stipulates 1 acre per lot for new development. If Drees accepts current zoning then it’s a done deal and within our regulations.
The traffic studies—limited as they were—confirm that this development would increase traffic through downtown by over 2,000 trips daily. Loveland residents know that the true impact of congestion is felt most a peak times like the school commute, rush hour, and all weekend long when good weather brings visitors to our bike trail for hours of entertainment outside our borders. Council should avoid decisions that worsen our traffic problems before a viable solution has been identified.
Tearing up East Loveland Avenue to install bigger sewage pipes would be necessary and the treatment plant may or may not already be maxed out. Loveland’s taxpayers require clarity and full disclosure about who would absorb the cost to resolve these concerns before any new SPD zoning exceptions are approved.
More houses will result in more tax income and the majority would go to our schools but it would also add more kids and related expenses. This will overburden our situation. If the reputation of our schools degrades then everything else in the ecosystem will start failing also.
If Council is contractually obligated to respond to this SPD then the answer must be “no” until we can thoughtfully consider the big picture.
Yes, “something must be built here”. Let’s build something that benefits the entire community. Let’s build something that will make Loveland even more cherished by its citizens and inspires hope for its future.
Please don’t cite failed levies of the past. There’s no need for blame in any direction. Those levies only indicate that the expectations of the planners and the voters were not in line. Time has certainly moved on, so must we. We need to learn from those experiences and move forward together.
Loveland needs to stand up for itself. We need to be bold and brave and involved in order to maintain our character and identity as a community. By NOT approving this SPD our elected Council would give Loveland a huge opportunity to help The Grail and Loveland find an optimal solution to the benefit of all.
Loveland, Ohio – The City and the Loveland Symmes Fire Department are exploring options for re-locating Fire Station 63 currently located in Historic Downtown on Second Street. It houses an engine company, a ladder company, and a medic unit. Station 63 is also home to Loveland’s original horse drawn steamer.
Fire Station 63 in Historic Downtown
The focus group will meet on Monday August 24 to review a “Fire Station 63 Relocation Report” prepared by MSA Design. You can review the report HERE. The report was paid for from “Fire Funds” at a cost of $12,000.
The report recommends locating a new Station 63 at 227 East Loveland Avenue.
Two other locations were studied, one at the corner of Oakland Road and Founders Drive, and the other on a street that may or may not be built connecting Oakland Road to O’Bannonville Road. Both of these alternate locations would have been on a portion of property if the Loveland City School District had purchased land from Grailville for new school buildings. The report says that since the exact locations that might be available for the construction of a new station at Gralville are unknown at this time, neither of these alternate options were studied in great detail.
In the executive summary of their report MSA says in part”
“The Department has been working out of a facility in downtown Loveland for many years. Over time, the suitability of this location has been compromised by increased traffic near the station. Additionally, a great deal of redevelopment has been going on in downtown Loveland, making the current station site a potential economic development opportunity. The construction of a new station would also allow the Department to adjust the size and layout to better serve their needs now and into the future.”
The site proposed for a new facility is east of its current location, at 227 East Loveland Avenue. The site consists of two parcels, one of which is already owned by the Loveland Firefighters Association, while the other is owned by City taxpayers. The Firefighters Association’s parcel houses an existing meeting hall (Fraternal Order of Moose Lodge) while the City resident’s parcel houses the Fire Department’s fire training tower, a public works facility and parking with access to outdoor recreational facilities including the East Loveland Nature Preserve.
The Fraternal Order of Moose Lodge on East Loveland Avenue where a new fire station might be built.
MSA’s report says that a new Station 63 could be constructed on the East Loveland Avenue site for between 5 and 5.8 million dollars ($300 – $350 per s.f.) in today’s dollars. MSA notes the fact that these numbers are given in 2020 dollars and that should be considered when budgeting for a future project.
City Manager Dave Kennedy told Loveland Magazine today that if a new station is built it will be paid for using the City’s Fire Fund. He anticipates that the City will sell bonds, and he does not anticipate a tax increase to pay off the bonds.
Members of the Fire Station 63 Relocation Focus Group are, Kathleen Eldredge, Allison Ellis, and Larry Flynn. Also in the group is LSFD Captain Bruce Hawk, representing the fire department, Councilmen Andy Bateman and Ted Phelps representing City Council, and City Manager Dave Kennedy representing City staff.
A fire training tower is already located on property where a replacement for Fire Station 63 might be built.
Kennedy said, “The Firefighter Association owns (part of) the land, They have indicated that if the City desires to build a fire station on that site they would donate the property to the city as they did the property to build the salt dome, the fire tower, and the nature trail parking lot. In the end the City of Loveland would own all of the land and all improvements provided the committee recommends and the City choses that site.”
The City stores road salt on property where a replacement for Fire Station 63 might be built.
The current fire station sits on part of the land from the old City Hall and fire station that was destroyed in a fire in the early 1970’s and is owned by the City of Loveland
Kennedy said about the current fire station, “Returning the property to commercial use could be a possibility or council could choose another public use. At the end of the day the highest best use for the city with all factors considered would be presented to council.” He added that the proceeds of any sale of the current station and property, “would go back to the fund that was utilized to construct the Fire Station which was the fire fund.”
Kennedy added, “The current fire station is nearly 50 years old and was built to accommodate our volunteer fire department at that time. The Fire Station was built after the city hall and fire station was destroyed by fire in the early 1970’s. Operating out of the fire station is challenging for today’s modern fire service with on duty career firefighters. The station doesn’t provide quick access to apparatus and is challenging to respond from because of location and size of the front apron. Fire apparatus barley fits into the facility and is often damaged due to the size of the garage doors. The station doesn’t have safety and health features that are necessary for the hazards facing firefighters today.”
The City Manager was asked, however did not offer an estimate of when a recommendation might be forwarded to City Council or an estimate of when construction might start if they do.
