Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor

Since 2004

Tag: parking garage

  • Lauren Enda: Respect the citizens of Loveland enough to allow us to vote on the parking garage plan

    Lauren Enda: Respect the citizens of Loveland enough to allow us to vote on the parking garage plan

    Lauren Enda lives in Loveland at Hidden Creek

    by Lauren Enda,

    My name is Lauren Enda and I am a resident of Loveland. Like many Loveland residents, I am concerned about the proposed parking garage and its effect on our city. The largest municipal project in Loveland’s history has not involved public opinion though it will affect the residents of Loveland for years to come. My concern is based on the following:

    1. The residents of Loveland have not had a real voice in this conversation since it began in 2019. Residents will be forced to live with changes caused by the garage to the city’s character and natural environment that attract so many to the area. Residents should vote on whether the project should proceed. If the location, design or economics are unsuccessful, the garage would be a blight on our quaint downtown, degrading the town’s ambiance. Residents would be stuck with it for years.

    2. The Loveland parking situation has not been properly studied. No data exists that outlines whether more parking is required. The city has provided no evidence, other than anecdote, that we have a parking problem. How can we possibly come up with a solution when we don’t know if there is a problem?

    3. Cost estimates that the City Council is using could be grossly underestimated based on construction cost increases seen elsewhere. There are no actual quotes. The opinion of the firm who created the almost $7 million price tag clearly states that they have “no control over the cost of labor, materials, or equipment, or over the contractor’s methods of determining prices.” With the current COVID pandemic, we have seen that inflated costs and severe shortages are the norm, not the exception, which could cause a large overrun of the budget, adding even more to taxpayer’s burden. There is a new idea to use the $1.3 million Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to help cover some costs of this project. This fund is still needed by struggling businesses in Loveland. Why not help businesses that are failing instead?

    4. An environmental impact study has not been done. Paved surfaces are one of the major causes of flooding. Increased storm strength and the numbers of storms will also make runoff and flooding worse. Some towns are removing parking areas to increase green space which absorbs water runoff. Why has the City Council not requested an environmental study?

    5. A huge, expensive parking garage is a long term, permanent solution for a problem that may not exist. Loveland is not a big city. The garage will sit empty for much of the year when it is rainy, snowy and cold, and in the evenings and nights when businesses are closed. However, the eyesore will not disappear when no one is parked there. Accompanying lighting will be on 24/7, adding to light pollution that detracts from the beauty of our natural spaces that draw people to Loveland.

    6. There is no guarantee, data or proof that this garage will decrease traffic in the downtown area or that it will create and retain good paying jobs. In fact, most of the traffic for Loveland will still traverse the downtown area from the west to access the garage. Only rural traffic from the north and east will access the garage without entering the downtown zone. It is a very expensive and intrusive plan for unknown benefit.

    I am not against additional parking in downtown Loveland if it’s required. I am against a burden placed on residents without their approval for a project that has not been evaluated for cost, necessity, environmental impact, job creation, or traffic abatement. Residents deserve to know what criteria and data were used to make this project a priority for Loveland. As citizens, we need verifiable information, and we need to be part of the conversation.

    Loveland is not, and does not wish to be, an urban center. The proposed garage will negatively and permanently alter the look and feel of Loveland’s most prized asset – our natural, historic downtown. Let’s open the conversation. I ask that City Council respect the citizens of Loveland enough to allow us to vote on the parking garage plan.

  • Tim Butler: “I humbly ask for your support for the next four years on City Council.”

    Tim Butler: “I humbly ask for your support for the next four years on City Council.”

    by Tim Butler

    Four years ago, you trusted me with your vote to City Council. Now I humbly ask for your support for the next four years on City Council. With over 32 years of living in and raising our family in Loveland, I have a strong commitment to speak for our citizens. Our family is invested in the success of Loveland. We started a successful track and cross-country program which launched the running careers of hundreds of Loveland’s boys and girls. Our family has invested its time, financial resources, and energy in the creation and operation of Mile 42 Coffee in downtown Loveland. Our roots are firmly planted in Loveland. 

    We have a great city. Our downtown is vibrant and unique with its access to the bike path and the Little Miami River. We have a strong community spirit. We have successful local businesses. With our growth comes inherent challenges. 

    We are at a point where the decisions made by your City Council will affect the character, look, and feel of Loveland for future generations. Here are a few key areas where Council’s decisions will impact Loveland going forward: 

    • The first is zoning and development. Our Council has approved the rezoning demands of developers which increased the density of development and will contribute to further congestion. I listened to your fellow citizens and voted against this rezoning. Council will face similar zoning and development questions over the next four years. 
    • Second is how we manage traffic and parking downtown. Our Council is considering a multi-million dollar parking garage and we do not know whether it is even financially sustainable. The location of the garage will cause overcrowding in the busiest part of our downtown. There are other options we can explore before we change the landscape of downtown for the next 30 years with a garage which may not even solve the problem. I have consistently asked Council to explore these options and explain to our citizens the financial impact of the garage and the availability of alternatives. 
    • The third is ensuring we fully involve our citizens as we make these and other decisions, including annexation of new property into the city. Unfortunately, our Council has not been fully transparent in this decision-making process. 

    As I talk to our fellow citizens, I hear concerns about the direction of our city and some of the decisions made by our City Council. How much development is too much? Are we spending your taxpayer dollars on pet projects? Are we sufficiently planning for the next generation of Loveland’s families so they can enjoy the kind of childhood our own children were fortunate enough to have? 

    Let’s take a breath and engage in thoughtful, analytical growth. Let’s seek out the opinions and gauge the wishes of our citizens. Let’s spend our tax dollars wisely. Let’s think and talk about what is best for the city of Loveland for the next ten to twenty years, so future generations will continue to think of Loveland as a wonderful place to live, work, and raise their families. 

    I ask for your support for reelection to Loveland’s City Council. If you trust me with your vote, I pledge to continue to serve as your voice on Council. Together, we can plan and build the best Loveland for the present and for our future. 

    Meet the candidate nights

    Candidate List and Voter Information

  • Parking garage planning moves forward

    Parking garage planning moves forward

    Loveland, Ohio – City Manager Dave Kennedy announced last Friday that the city received notification that it’s Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) pre-application for $250,000 of grant funding for the downtown parking garage, was ranked as the #1 priority project within the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission. With this ranking, the city has been invited to submit a full application.

    Previously, the city’s grant application for the downtown parking facility was submitted to the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The total amount requested was $2,831,835.

    On August 25, Kennedy recommended that Council authorize staff to move forward with a downtown parking fee study at a cost of $16,000. The study would inventory existing parking and the proposed parking facility. He noted that Desman Design Management would use the occupancy counts to identify peak parking needs for weekdays and then evaluate the differences in seasonal variations, summer, and weekend demands. They will identify and recommend street and lots for paid parking and recommend parking rates. The payment was approved by Council.

    Read more about the planned parking garage in Historic Downtown Loveland:

    [VIDEO] Parking garage coming to Historic Downtown

    On again off again parking garage is ON AGAIN

  • Most read Loveland Magazine stories of 2019

    Most read Loveland Magazine stories of 2019

    David Miller is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of Loveland Magazine

    by David Miller

    We will almost certainly never surpass the 1.3 million readers we had in 2017 (combined on lovelandmagazine.com, Facebook, and Twitter) on the day and the day after the fire in the Historic District. And, we quite frankly never want to surpass that record unless it’s much better news. (Early morning fire destroys 2/3 block in Historic Downtown Loveland)

     

    #1

    The most-read story by a wide margin in 2019 involved the levy the school district put on the ballot. Actually, we only published a few stories that were informational, the Five Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) of the levy vote. We provided public documents, notices of public meetings, etc.

    Interesting is what drove readership… we let our readers tell the story through Guest Columns and Letters to the Editor.

    Letting our readers, and District staff tell the story in balanced thought-provoking columns proved that we had no need to publish “she said-he said” stories filtered through our eyes and we are extremely grateful to those who submitted columns and the reflective social media comments that followed. We published each and every opinion piece we received and only occasionally felt the need to delete some of the social media comments that were inappropriate.

    Topping all of the levy stories was a Guest Column by Juliet Tissot, “We should not thumb our noses at the less fortunate just because we want nice stuff.” We did nothing special to promote Tissot’s column, however, are extremely proud of the Loveland community taking such interest in the subject she raised, because the plight of the “less fortunate” is rarely if ever discussed here in the Loveland area. I hope in 2020 this subject is revisited often inside the institutional framework of school board meetings, city buildings, and township halls.

    LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV also produced several videos of school board meetings where the District and local residents discussed the levy which added to making the levy by far the most looked at topic of 2019.

    #2

    “Public Advised Not to Enter Little Miami River South of Old 3C Highway Until Further Notice” and “Canoe liveries warn of dangerous river conditions this weekend“.

    #3[VIDEO] Parking garage coming to Historic Downtown and Council executes purchase agreement for 1.15406 acres of land on First Street in Historic Downtown

    #4 Buy the original White Pillars home

     

    #5 Loveland Magazine “Local Voter Guide” to issues and candidates

     

    #6 Loveland’s Rails Trails & Ales Festival is Sept. 6 thru 8

     

    #7 Beloved Loveland High School educator: Charles R. Schmidt passes

     

    #8 It only took 8 minutes a story about flash flooding on Loveland Maderia Road.

    #9 Arrest made for scattering screws and nails on the roadway at SR 131 & Betty Lane

    #10 [Breaking] W. Loveland/Loveland Madeira area is being evacuated (Crews are investigating a natural gas leak at the intersection of W. Loveland/Loveland Madeira. The area is being evacuated and Duke is on scene.) Exact source of natural gas leak still not pinpointed – evacuation still in place

     

  • Pat Ahr: A new candidate vies for Loveland City Council seat

    Pat Ahr: A new candidate vies for Loveland City Council seat

    by Bill and Cyndi Gillings,

    Changes in the City of Loveland are happening rapid-fire. After recovering from a devastating fire in its downtown in 2017, Loveland has reinvigorated its charming historic core by expanding

    Bill and Cyndi Gillings live in the Paxton Woods neighborhood of Miami Township.

    recreation, shopping, and restaurant/bar options. By anyone’s estimation, the city’s growth is on a steep trajectory with its ambitious city master plan, creation of a historic preservation district, and the addition of new venues and events. Loveland is dreaming big.

    “Pat Ahr enters the Loveland City Council race with a “Breath of Fresh Air” campaign that promises better city-citizen communication, equal focus outside the historic core, and fiscal responsibility.”

    Into this exciting phase steps Pat Ahr. A new face on the Loveland political scene, Ahr is a 15-year Loveland resident and retired registered nurse. She is running for a city council seat in the November 5 election, prompted to do so by a few key issues.

    More Conversation, More Kindness

    “I believe that as a city we are not communicating as well as we should,” Ahr says, laying out one of the pillars of her campaign. “I want to include all of Loveland in city discussions.” Ahr believes the current makeup of the city council has lent itself to block voting, and that the city would be better served by having a wider variety of viewpoints represented by elected officials.

    “We need different voices on the council and not just people who agree on every point and push things through,” she emphasizes. “While I think that the council has done a lot to move Loveland forward, they are viewed–as a group–by many in the city as unkind. I want to bring kindness back to the council. We need to treat each other with respect. And I want the community to be involved in this transition to civility.”

    If elected, Ahr will lean on her expertise as a communicator to make sure the public has a seat at the discussion table. This is second nature to her. “As a nurse, you must communicate at multiple levels–dealing with doctors, nurses, patients, patients’ families, and insurance,” she lists. “The communication is endless.”

    Ahr will institute office hours for the public so all citizens can share their opinions and ideas outside the only current outlet for doing so: the monthly city council meeting. “Twice a month, I will hold meetings so the community can talk to me about what is going on in Loveland,” she says. “We’ll meet at a local restaurant or coffee shop, and I will encourage people of all ages to come. We must connect on a different level than just through the information put on the city website or by attendance at council meetings where you have to sign in to talk and where you can’t rebut as you would in a normal conversation. I want to give–and receive–more information than what you can get from that format.”   

    But it’s not just how city council communicates, it’s also what they are communicating about that concerns Ahr. “To date, all the focus of the city has been on the downtown district, but we are outgrowing what we can do there. We need to be bringing in new businesses with taxable revenue comparable to other towns in Cincinnati. And we need to address the unique needs of all areas of Loveland.”

    Ahr points to the Loveland-Madeira Road Corridor as an obvious focal point. “I attended community meetings for the city’s master plan, and I listened to parents talk about how they have to drive to Anderson and Milford to get to places that kids really enjoy–like Jump Zone and entertainment venues like that,” she says. “Could we have a year-round pool? Or a Loveland workout center, like the Y that was planned years ago, to keep people in Loveland? We invite all these people from outside to enjoy our downtown, but we need to look at what people who live here would enjoy.”

    Soothing Municipal Headaches

    After improving communication with the public, Ahr’s second mission will be to address the city’s parking issue. “The city’s third-party master plan designers said we have enough parking in the city and that we just need to educate the public about where it is,” she says. “But now the city has put out an RFP (request for proposal) for a parking garage with $7 to $8 million price tag. And they are guessing at costs. They should have done a preliminary RFP and then put the idea of the garage out to the public as an idea with an accurate price tag on it,” she says.

    “Pat Ahr has lived in Loveland for over 15 Years

    Retired Registered Nurse for 43 years

    Expertise in Brand Management and Marketing

    Regional Marketing Director across the Midwest

    Managed Direct Sales for Multiple Businesses and Organizations

    Understands Government Regulations having Assisted with Buyouts and Takeovers”

    Considering the amount of money a garage could cost taxpayers, it is worth looking at alternatives first, Ahr says. “Let’s follow what the master planners suggested and educate the public on where to park. Maybe create a map we put in restaurants and in holders on the bike trail that would help people navigate the town and figure out where to park,” she suggests. “Try things first and build on the ideas before spending taxpayer money.”

    The fiscal responsibility that colors Ahr’s opinion on the parking garage flows through her opinions on everything with which the city gets involved. This attention to management, processes, and regulation comes from her experience participating in acquisitions and takeovers of healthcare entities during her 43-year nursing career.

    Take the school levy as an example. While not a city financial issue on the face of it, the school levy concerns Ahr. “Right now, the number-one thing everybody is talking about is the school levy and what is going in where and why we are being asked for so much money. People support schools for different reasons, both emotional and intellectual. I believe in education, but at what cost? I think every family needs to make the decision to support or reject the levy for themselves.”

    That said, she has an eagle eye on what this school decision could mean for the taxpayers of Loveland. “The city must look at infrastructure to support the school,” she reminds. “The City is saying the schools are separate from us, but we need to be working together with them or we will blindside the taxpayers down the road on infrastructure costs, such as road improvements, after and on top of the tax for the schools.”

    On a Personal Note … And An Invitation

    Politics is in Ahr’s DNA. She is the great-great-granddaughter of our nation’s 12th president, Zachary Taylor (1784-1850). A Kentucky native, Taylor was a full-fledged war hero through his service in the Mexican War. He was in office for only 16 months before he died. “He was a president against slavery,” Ahr says proudly.

    As important as her illustrious roots are her present-day kin. She and her husband, Barry, have four children and nine grandsons. That’s right–all boys. “I love them so much,” she says. “And we have one more on the way.” No word on the gender of the new addition, which is okay with Ahr. “I look forward to two surprises in November,” she says.

  • Council candidate asks, “Who’s watching out for Loveland’s resident taxpayers?”

    Council candidate asks, “Who’s watching out for Loveland’s resident taxpayers?”

    by Cory O’Donnell

    Who’s watching out for Loveland’s resident taxpayers? Our city leaders have ventured down a road with a questionable road map. The city is in the midst of possibly the most expensive civic project ever with $7+ million of resident taxpayer money on the line to construct a parking garage. 

    Cory O’Donnell lives in the White Pillars Subdivision and is a Loveland City Council Candidate

    Who would argue the need for a parking facility given the explosion of visitors to the downtown area? Certainly, there needs to be adequate parking to support the masses that want to enjoy the available offerings.  Visitors welcome the day when they don’t have to circle the downtown area for what seems to be an eternity to secure a valuable parking spot. Alternatively, some come to spend their time and money only to turn around and go home…nowhere to park.

    Imagine the business owners that are giddy with the prospect of the resident taxpayers footing the bill to get more cash through their doors.  Who could blame them for the smiles on their faces? Not me; what a gift!

    But here’s where the roadmap leads to resident taxpayer disaster. There is no published plan to recover the $7+ million and make the taxpayers whole. Further, my calculator can’t get to a full lot, 365 days a year for 30 years, that will recover resident taxpayer investment.

    I am far from knowledgeable about developing, constructing and managing a public parking garage. My assumption is our city leaders are well versed in public policy, zoning, codes, and other daily municipal functions, but there are specialists in private development that have the knowledge and expertise to make this happen on a for-profit basis.

    Is it too late to get the proper road map that assures resident taxpayers are not left holding this massive debt?

    P.S.  Our city is already committed to close to $48,000 annually in debt service for the Christman Farm property on Butterworth Road acquired in 2007 which has remained vacant all these years and has disappeared from the city council’s interest. This translates to hundreds of thousands of resident taxpayer’s dollars being flushed down the proverbial toilet for too many more years.

    Can you afford more?  Who’s going to step up to the plate and get the answers?


  • [VIDEO] Parking garage coming to Historic Downtown

    [VIDEO] Parking garage coming to Historic Downtown

    Loveland, Ohio – City Council held a public hearing on August 13, to hear public comments on the proposed purchase of 1.15406 acres of land in Historic Downtown and to construct a parking facility. An entrance to the garage from Rt. 48 is an integral part of the plan presented by City Manager, Dave Kennedy.

    The property includes eleven parcels contiguous to First Street to the west and Second Street/State Route 48 to the east. The parcel total 1.15406 acres.

    Peter and Matthew Ross agreed to a selling price of $550,000 which matched the appraisal obtained by the City. The total “appropriation” cost according to Kennedy, will be $571,150. Council has already authorized Kennedy to purchase the land.

    Council gave the City Manager authority to complete the purchase in May once he completed studies to see if there were such things as environmental or soil problems that would prevent the city from building a garage on the site. These videos are of Kennedy’s report to Council and the public comments they received during the public hearing. After the public hearing, Council debated whether or not to give the City Manager further direction and support for moving ahead with the purchase.

    To built the garage would cost between 6 and 6.8 million dollars in addition to buying the land.

    Here is LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video from the public hearing.

    You can view the slides the City Manager presented below, or by opening this .pdf in a separate window: Ross Presentation.