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NCST’s work increases access to homeownership, promotes resilient neighborhoods, and advances racial equity by advocating for policy change.
NCST Community Buyer, Homesteading & Urban Redevelopment Corporation (HURC), has been working in the focus neighborhood of Walnut Hills since 2015, in collaboration with the City of Cincinnati, Walnut Hills Community, and Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation. The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority (the Port) manages the HURC, and from transformative housing development to financing redevelopment of historic landmarks, they’re integral in moving this vibrant, urban neighborhood forward.
With the community’s support, The Port concentrated its REACH (Rehab Across Cincinnati & Hamilton County) Walnut Hills program on Morgan Street in the neighborhood’s historic Peebles Corner District, with the acquisition and renovation of four vacant, single-family homes and the addition of six newly constructed single-family homes, representing a $1.5 million housing investment in Peebles Corner. The Port’s Neighborhood Revitalization team engaged the community and responded to their desire to build on its existing assets, such as walkability, quality building stock, and civic engagement.
This vacant, abandoned, bullet-riddled house, built in the late 1800s, is on a corner that was known by the local police as a hotbed for drug dealing. The Port began a complete renovation of the home, and wanted to ensure that historical details, like the banister and spindles on the stairway and trim throughout the house, were kept intact and modern amenities such as a brand new kitchen, plumbing and HVAC were added. During renovation, the back of the home collapsed and was rebuilt. After investing $269,440 in the rehab, the Port sold the home to a family with two children for $270,000.
The Port’s REACH program has accelerated the development of market rate residential housing in Walnut Hills sooner than expected. There are now several market rate, residential developments being undertaken in this focus area, including a mixed use development directly across the street from this home, as well as five market rate townhomes nearby.
NCST’s work increases access to homeownership, promotes resilient neighborhoods, and advances racial equity by advocating for policy change.