Be swept back in time while visiting Old Historic Loveland on this special day. Everything from Jolly Ole’ St. Nick and Mrs. Claus at the North Pole, to a live Nativity scene, to a Winter Wonderland! This is the time of year that Loveland Businesses give back to the community. This complimentary event offered to the community draws over 3000 individuals each year and is Loveland’s way of saying “Thank you for your Business!!”
Loveland, Ohio – At the October 26, City Council meeting resident Todd Osborne chastised fellow residents who had preceded him to the open forum microphone over their views on annexing Grailville and a proposed parking garage in Loveland’s downtown historic district.
To view residents who spoke before Osborne took the podium: go to LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV to view other recently published videos on this subject.
Loveland, Ohio – Resident Larry Schramm went to the City council meeting last Tuesday and told Council that the current city infrastructure is increasingly strained and said the proposed parking garage may be a deterrent to supporting commerce within the city. He called for an impartial traffic study that might lead to an informed decision. Tram said he was joining his neighbors in opposing the annexation of Graville into the City.
Loveland, Ohio – At the October 26 City Council meeting, resident Duane Charbonneau questioned Council on whether there were advantages to the annexation of Grailville into the City.
Loveland, Ohio – At the October 26 City Council meeting, resident Ted Richardson discussed traffic conditions in Historic Downtown and the effect the annexation of Grailville will have.
Loveland, Ohio – Lauren Enda went to the Loveland City Council meeting Tuesday evening to talk about the proposed parking garage in Historic Downtown. Some of the concerns she expressed were about the negative impact she envisions for Loveland’s heritage and quaintness, and the environment.
She proposes that Loveland residents should be allowed to vote at the ballot box on what she describes as a “big city solution” that will take from the town things it will never get back.
She also suggestsed that an environmental impact study should be done to protect the “natural environment we love”.
Loveland, Ohio – On August 14 the Time Stamp band performed 80’s and 90’s rock and roll covers at the Town Fountain and railroad station in Historic Downtown Loveland.
Loveland, Ohio – Downtown Loveland is bringing another event your way hosted by local church Prince of Peace!
On Thursday, July 29th beginning at 6 PM Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (POP) will be hosting “Night at Nisbet,” an event dedicated to supporting those in the community as they pursue their dreams and reach for their goals. The fun-filled night will take place at Nisbet Park, a park located right off the Loveland Bike Trail at 126 Karl Brown Way. The park also includes an amphitheater in which local bands Watchfrogs and Pocket will be performing. There will also be “Open Mic” slots available for students to show off their talents to the community.
Pastor Lily Brondyke who is a POP intern that is currently preparing for her final year of Seminary at Wartburg, will be spearheading the “Night at Nisbet” along with help from the ELCA Open Doors Grant. Pastor Lily will be graduating in 2022 with a Master of Divinity Degree.
Pastor Lily is hoping to make “Night at Nisbet” one of the best POP events yet as she will be completing her internship with POP on August 8th just in time for her final year of Seminary. Pastor Lily will be preaching at both POP services on August 8th. A coffee and cake celebration will be held after each of Pastor Lily’s services so that the community will have the opportunity to wish her well before she leaves. POP will also be presenting Lily with a gift on her last day. If you would like to contribute to the gift you can make a check out to Prince of Peace with “Intern Gift” noted on the memo line or you can donate online.
If you are interested in celebrating Pastor Lily, the beautiful community we live in, and many local talented musical artists take a trip down to Nisbet Park for a “Night at Nisbet!”
Read on below to see all the “Night at Nisbet” details provided by Pastor Lily and POP!
Make a Date To Be Creative And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as we see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 24-25
This past year forced many of us to think about relationships and connections. How do we connect with our communities? How do we form relationships? The COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses, schools, churches, families, and friends to get creative about connection. Eventually, vaccines made it possible for the pandemic to look a little different. Masks and social distancing became optional when vaccinated. Gatherings became safer. But there’s no turning back to an old kind of normal.
At Prince of Peace, creativity became a driving force for our mission of living and loving like Jesus in the world.
We are called to think creatively about how we live and love like Jesus. We are called to consider how we build community and lift up one another. We are called to love and support each other as we pursue our dreams.
Night at Nisbet is about all of this — getting out and loving the communities in which we live. Lifting each other up and celebrating what God is doing in each of our lives. Come together for a night of music, community, and celebration.
Nisbet Park is iconic to downtown Loveland. Situated on the bike path, within walking distance to great local food, drink, and sno-cones, a night at this park guarantees a good time. Some folks walk or run or bike on by, on their way to another spot. Some use the picnic tables for time with family and friends. There’s a playground, a pavilion, bathrooms—basically everything you could need. It’s a great place to gather people.
If you like good music, supporting local musicians, and having a good time with good people, it’s coming here to Loveland. If you are looking for something fun to do with family or friends or are excited about a different, creative ministry in an ever-changing world, pay attention to this event. Night at Nisbet is dedicated to community and local music.
Mark July 29th at 6:00 PM on your calendar because you won’t want to miss this night! Local bands, ‘Watchfrog’ and ‘Pocket’ will be performing. And you’ll probably see some familiar faces on the stage. Open mic slots feature student talent right from our own area!
Night at Nisbet is sponsored by Prince of Peace through an ELCA Open Doors grant. To learn more about ELCA Open Doors, visit here. See you there! Pastor Lily www.popluther.org Prince of Peace Lutheran Church | 513-683-4244 | popluther.org
The photo above is Fire Station 63 In Historic Downtown Loveland
Loveland, Ohio – A Fire Station 63 Relocation Focus Group has been meeting to determine the best site to re-locate the fire station in Historic Downtown and has concluded that the City should build a new firehouse at the site of the old Masonic Temple on East Loveland Avenue.
MSA Design was contracted by the City of Loveland to conduct a study of needs at the current station and search for a possible new location.
When the Focus Group was formed, there was a primary site for the new station that they looked at, that being 227 East Loveland Avenue which is already owned proportionally by the Loveland Symmes Fire Fighters Association and the City of Loveland. The rear portion of the property is also the site of a fire training tower. According to a memo to the committee from City Manager Dave Kennedy on May 20, the “primary drawbacks to the location are that a large portion of the property rests in the floodplain, it is not a flat site, requires a retaining wall and would not facilitate drive-through bays for emergency vehicles.”
The Loveland Moose Lodge is located at 227 East Loveland Avenue. This is also where a fire training tower is located. When the Focus Group was formed, this was the primary site for the new station that they looked at
The fire training tower at 227 East Loveland Avenue.
Two other possible sites sites were evaluated, one on Oakland Road and one at Grailville on O’Bannonville Road.
The preferred property at 220 East Loveland, is currently owned by the Firefighters Association, and was the former home of the Masonic Lodge #258.
MSA Design says in their report about the two East Loveland Avenue sites, “There are pros and cons to each of the two sites. While either site could be used for a new Station 63, it is MSA’s opinion that the newly studied site at 220 E. Loveland Avenue would be the best option as it eliminates the possibility of damage from flooding.”
The former Masonic Temple site is the preferred location for a new fire station. This is the front of the current building from 220 East Loveland Avenue.
The report goes on to say about the Masonic Temple site, “While the size of the property is less than 227 East Loveland, it has two primary advantages; 1) It is not located in the floodplain and 2) It would provide for drive-through bays as the rear of the property abuts O’Bannon Avenue. Also, the site is flat, will not require construction of a retaining wall, and is a further distance from potential visibility issues which occur with westbound vehicular traffic on East Loveland approaching the East Loveland bridge.”
The rear of the Masonic Temple site as seen from O’Bannon Avenue. Vehicles returning from runs would be able to access the bays from the rear of the station
Jumping ahead to the conclusion, the study indicates that both sites are acceptable for the new station. Although both sites are acceptable, and the cost per square feet are proportionate, the advantage of constructing outside of the floodplain, utilizing O’Bannon Avenue for vehicles returning from runs and accessing the bays from the rear of the station, results in Masonic Temple site being preferred for the relocation of Fire Station 63.
MSA’s concept of how a new fire station would fit on the Masonic Temple site.
Another option that MSA Design looked at earlier was to tear down the current fire station and re-build on the existing site.
The assessment of Station 63 completed in October of 2020 was:
St. 63 is well maintained with exception of the roof- needs replaced due to leaks.
Code/Ada issues due to its usability and functionality
Overhead doors are 11×12 and considered small for firehouse doors. (This limits the equipment size to order (standard size vs. custom orders)
14×14 is typical size of new fire station bay doors
Size of bay also an issue: low ceiling and only 3-4 feet between parked vehicles
Living quarters are upstairs; typical firehouses have living quarters on same floor as vehicles
A new station would have bedrooms on the 1st floor with no stairs for fire personnel to go up/down for runs.
This would increase the turnaround time to get to vehicles as well
New code for stairs: 7-inch rise and 11-inch tread. Current St. 63 stairs are 8-inch rise and 10-inch tread.
Equipment/bunker gear also needs to be stored in separate rooms due to wear by diesel fuel fumes and UV light. Currently, at St. 63 all equipment and bunker gear is stored in the bay with the vehicles.
ADA requirements due to firehouse being a government facility need wheelchair access, which it currently does not have.
Elevator would be expensive to install
ADA also requires a storm shelter which would also be expensive to install
Any renovations done to the building means it would need to be brought up to current codes. Currently, the building is grandfathered in.
Current site is too small. A new building would mean no on-site parking.
It is MSA’s opinion that a single-story substation solution could be achieved on the site at 220 E. Loveland Avenue for, “$2.9 – $3.4 million ($335 – $390 per s.f.) in today’s dollars not including soft costs. It is MSA’s opinion that the cost of building at 227 E. Loveland Avenue as previously studied would be $5.5 – $6.5 million ($330 – $385 per s.f.) in today’s dollars plus soft costs.”
Kennedy told Loveland Magazine today, “I will say that the ability to have rear entry into the station is critical as one of the problems that plaques the current station is exiting and entering the station.”
Kennedy said he plans to make a presentation to Council at their second meeting in July.
Loveland, Ohio – After a small struggle with City Hall, Loveland Magazine is finally able to publish this story. On May 21 in a memo to Council, City Manager Dave Kennedy said, “The Building and Zoning Division has received an application for a conditional use permit for a tap room/restaurant to fill the space at 118 Karl Brown Way. This will be a great additional to the Downtown District attracting patrons to the south side of the district.”
There was also this legal notice published on May 22 in Public Notices Ohio that said:
Legal Notice The City of Loveland Planning & Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on June 1, 2021, at and around 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at Loveland City Hall, 120 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland, Ohio 45140. An application has been submitted on behalf of Matthew Evans for the Loveland Firefighters Association and Hops n Berries. The applicant is requesting Conditional Use Approval for a tap room/restaurant located at 118 Karl Brown Way. Interested persons may appear and be heard with respect to the proposal. Comments may also be submitted in writing to Eva Wisby, Zoning and Economic Development Specialist, 120 W. Loveland Avenue, Loveland, OH 45140 or emailed to ewisby@lovelandoh.gov. Individuals with disabilities requiring special accommodations that are participating in or wish to attend this hearing should call 513-683-0150 at least seven (7) days in advance so arrangements can be made. CIN,May22,’21#4746794
After seeing the public notice, Loveland Magazine made a public records request to Building Department Clerk Becky Noel on May 25 requesting information about the tap room. Noel responded by saying, “I haven’t received anything building permit wise. I believe they are scheduled to go to P&Z on June 1 for conditional use approval. Eva may be able to answer more since it’s still in the zoning stage.”
Loveland Magazine followed Noel’s answer by contacting Eva Wisby with a similiar request. Wisby responded, “As becky said, they are going in front of P & Z for a conditional use approval. I am not familiar with anything other than that. The agenda be posted either thurs or Friday.” Wisby is the City’s Zoning & Economic Development Specialist and Clerk of the Planning & Zoning Commission.
It now appears Wisby had knowledge of the application on May 21. An acknowledgment of receipt of the application was initialed, “ew”.
Because the City Manager said that the City had received an “application” for a conditional use permit for the Tap Room on May 21, and that there is an initialed receipt of it, there remains the question of why Loveland Magazine received the non-cooperative, if not dishonest answers to our public records request. Non-the less below is what we finally know:
The application was submitted by Matthew Evans with Arcanum Architecture. The proposed conditional use is located at 118 Karl Brown Way in the Downtown Historic District and will be occupying the space as a tap room/restaurant. The application was submitted on behalf of the Loveland Community Firefighters Association, Inc. The building is commonly known as the Brown Building.
Front view of “Brown Building” as seen from West Loveland Avenue
Public hearing is Tuesday, June 1 at and around 7 PM in the Council Chambers located at Loveland City Hall, 120 West Loveland Ave.
View of “Brown Building” as see from Loveland Bike Trail
![[VIDEO] Fellow residents chastised by Todd Osborne over their views on annexing Grailville and parking garage](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/todd-osborne.jpg)
![[VIDEO] Larry Schramm: “Current city infrastructure is increasingly strained.”](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/larry-tram.jpg)
![[VIDEO] Duane Charbonneau questions advantage of annexation of Grailville](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Duane-Charbonneau.jpg)
