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Redeveloping Madisonville: Thinking forward

548 views · Published 6 February 2015 · 2:31 · Indexed 6 October 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2015 · News & Politics

MADISONVILLE, Ohio (Deborah Dixon) -- A recent crime report has Cincinnati leaders bragging, particularly in Madisonville where the neighborhood is proud of its statistics.

But, this story is not about numbers, it's about a community with a dream.

Renovations are going on at the Old Bank Building at Madison and Whetzel, the business district.

Downstairs there is room for a restaurant, over the next few years the center of Madisonville is expected to have apartments, stores and a coffee shop.

It's what the community said it wanted two years ago.

Its people who change neighborhoods, said Sara Sheets of Madisonville Redevelopment Corporation. Real Estate is key to revitalization, energy, passion of people in neighborhoods taking control of the future."

Robin Horstmeyer's business and home are in Madisonville. .

"As a long term resident, I heard about great things coming for a long time, said Horstmeyer. This is the first time all these years things are really happening."

A drop in crime helps things happen. Crime in Madisonville is down 25 percent over last year.

Thats a huge drop, part of it has to do with the building on Whetzel, declared a nuisance this year, because of all the bad things happening here.

The community helped it happen, ending years of everything from drug abuse and shots fired to building code violations and bed bugs.

"You have an engaged community willing to be involved, city works on problems you can do anything, said Cincinnati Police Captain Jeff Butler. This is an example of that."

Madisonville works at more than development, it works at building the community's character with events such as Friday Night Music on Madison, Happy Hour in the Summer, the 5K Run, last year's Jazz and BBQ Night was a huge hit.

Follow Deborah Dixon on Twitter @crimestopperdeb, and LIKE her on Facebook.

Redeveloping Madisonville: Thinking forward

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