The Cincinnati Beacon - Developers don’t have a voice in Westwood

Friday, July 18, 2008

Developers don’t have a voice in Westwood

When Jose Guzman purchased a building about a year ago, the plan was to renovate it and convert it to living space for low income Seniors, aged 62 and older. Additionally, Guzman planned on including in his rehab—at no additional cost to the City—a facility suitable to house a police substation. Unfortunately, when the Westwood Civic Association voted down the project, they didn’t even speak with Guzman to learn the details of the project.

"We were going to give (police) over 2,000 square feet complete with free internet and surveillance,” said Guzman. “(We thought) their presence would definitely help decrease the crime rate in that area and attract more of our elders that could bring steadier income into the City.”

Without ever hearing the details of Guzman’s plans, Westwood sent the following notice to City Hall:

From: Jim and Irene McNulty
To: “Grace, Dawn” ; Michael Cervay ; Roxanne Qualls ; Cecil Thomas ; Chris Bortz ; Chris Monzel ; David Crowley ; Jeff Berding ; John Cranley ; Leslie Ghiz ; Y. Laketa Cole
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 11:26:02 PM
Subject: Rental Rehab Program

7/13/08

Attn: City of Cincinnati Community Development Department-

On July 8, 2008 the board of directors of the Westwood Civic Association voted to oppose the application for the Rental Rehab Program for 2570 Harrison Ave. (Imperial House Apartments)

I have already contacted the owner, Mr. Guzman, by email to inform him of the vote.

As you know, Westwood has a large number and percentage of apartments, and a high vacancy rate. The market in this part of town is saturated with multi-family housing. The Rental Rehab Program for this property would not be a fit for our neighborhood at this time. We are working toward a higher ratio of single-family owner-occupied homes in Westwood.

We are working on our new strategic plan for Westwood, and you can be assured that this housing goal will be a major part of the finished plan.

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to continue our close working relationship with your department to make Westwood and Cincinnati the best they can be.

Sincerely,

Jim McNulty
President
Westwood Civic Association

Guzman said he never heard anything about his proposal until the email from Westwood saying it got shot down. That, and the time “a nasty city inspector” came to the renovation location, “stating that he was going to shut us down just because he felt like it.”

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JE says:
18 Jul 2008 at 03:05 pm | #

Community Councils and Civic Groups are given too many promises which the commmunity development depts can’t back up in any of our lifetimes… It only leads to dissapointment and community development programs need to be reformed to become more “honest” about what they can and cannot actually do for a community! Just because a community has a community plan doesnt mean every dream on that plan is going to come true. What is wrong with senior living or Bed and Breakfast places? Community groups are very greedy in most cases and need to become more open and understanding to developers and try to find ways to help them instead of going against them! Alot of the time its only their Egos that are wanting to oppose instead of trying to make the developers project better by cooperation.

says:
19 Jul 2008 at 06:27 am | #

The only way Westwood could have had any credibility on this project is to have had Guzman at their hearing, and to have let him respond to any objection. Then, if the group still disagreed, at least we would have to say it was an “informed” disagreement.

WEanon says:
19 Jul 2008 at 12:59 pm | #

Was the building originally a single family structure? Just because they voted to oppose shouldn’t mean they have the last say ... didn’t work that way for the WE when the slimeballs D4S and his brother the Mayor colluded to bypass community oppositon to the POS Citylink ...

JE says:
19 Jul 2008 at 01:04 pm | #

Dean any idea who the city inspector was?

JE says:
19 Jul 2008 at 01:24 pm | #

Did he apply for any building permits? The inspector does not have the right to shut him down “because he feels like it” There is a process it must go through in the building and zoning dept before he is formally “rejected” The Community group does not have the authority to shut him down alone.(Neither does city council) What is the zoning on this property? Does anyone know?

Dewey says:
20 Jul 2008 at 07:13 am | #

"Did he apply for any building permits? The inspector does not have the right to shut him down “because he feels like it” There is a process it must go through in the building and zoning dept before he is formally “rejected” The Community group does not have the authority to shut him down alone.(Neither does city council) What is the zoning on this property? Does anyone know”

What the hell is the matter with you? Introducing logic into one of My Main Man’s pieces is like putting make up on a pig. It just confuses them…

says:
20 Jul 2008 at 07:27 am | #

This article is about how the Westwood Civic Association voted down a project without even talking to the people about their idea.

So, Dewey, your response doesn’t make sense. (You do understand logic, right?) I did not say anything about how or whether B&I took any action. I never said anything about the details of zoning changes. So it seems you are confused.

I do know, however, that if someone wishes to change zoning, neighboring properties within a certain number of feet are notified. And, I believe, the issue gets taken up at a Community Council. Zone changes can be blocked by well organized and vocal neighbors and neighborhood groups.

Westwood is the most organized community, and City Hall has a record of bowing down to their will.

Kevin LeMaster says:
20 Jul 2008 at 10:59 am | #

As I see it, the problem with being in constant contact with Guzman and meeting with him is that he lives in Florida. It doesn’t excuse the WCA from not keeping him in the loop, but it certainly makes it more problematic.

says:
20 Jul 2008 at 11:49 am | #

These community councils have no legal standing in the governance of Cincinnati. They are tolerated because the politicians can use them to get votes and to justify action of the government. The council has given them implied authority without accountability. This is a definite case of mob rule under color of democracy.

This fellow and other landlords are fighting an hidden foe: racism! They want people to own their property because it gives government more control over property owners. The people that rent usually don’t have the money to buy property. Western Hills is awash with rental properties and are notorious for the square four family buildings as being , in the past, a secure investment. There was no problem when the renters were typical west side white people. Now there are black people who have only one tenth the wealth of the average white guy, in other words , they are poor.

What is troubling is the issue of the people in the building department making the statements that were relected above:

[bThat, and the time “a nasty city inspector” came to the renovation location, “stating that he was going to shut us down just because he felt like it.”b]

THIS IS NOT AN ABERRATION; TOO MANY REPORTS OF THESE THREATS HAVE OCCURRED AND BEEN REPORTED AND CITY COUNCIL ALLOWS IT TO GO ON JUST LIKE THIRTIES GERMANY AND RUSSIA!

Each council member should be made to answer for this conduct as they have given unfettered authority to these little tyrants. Some council members, like Cecil Thomas think that the building department is doing a good job with these tactics. Hitler benefited from similar actions by the brown shirts until they got to be an embarrassment and Hitler had their leaders assassinated in the Night of Long Knives. If Cincinnati could only be so lucky, but Hitler, unlike council, had guts .

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Friday, July 18, 2008