West End, Cincinnati

West End is a neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio.

West End is a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, located north-west of downtown, east of Queensgate, west of Over-the-Rhine, and south-east of Fairview.

The historic West End was largely razed in the 1950s as part of a series of urban renewal projects, including the construction of Interstate 75.[1]

The West End is the location of City West, the largest housing development project in Cincinnati since World War II.[2] The project transformed the once low-income area into mixed-income development.[2] In 1999 many of the blighted, cramped buildings were leveled to make way for new townhomes with ample parking.[2] In 2007, part 1 crimes were down by 30% when compared to 1999.[2]

Controversy erupted in 2005 when plans were announced to open a $15-million "one-stop" social services facility at 800 Bank Street.[3] The project, known as CityLink, would be the largest such facility in Cincinnati.[4] Some argued that it would increase crime and poverty in the West End, decrease property value, and undermine the redevelopment there.[4] Some even accused the city of trying to relocate the poor from the thriving Over-the-Rhine neighborhood to the West End.[4] However, proponents argued that the West End's central location makes it easy for the poor to access.[4] A lawsuit to stop the CityLink project failed, as did the subsequent appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.[3]

Cincinnati's West End neighborhood contains a large collection of historic properties, including the Dayton Street Historic District.

The West End is served by a branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Gratz, Roberta Brandes (Sep 1, 1994). "The Living City: How America's Cities Are Being Revitalized by Thinking Small in a Big Way". John Wiley & Sons. p. 70. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Demeropolis, Tom (April 25, 2008). "City West project recreates West End". Business Courier of Cincinnati. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Court decision go-ahead for Cincinnati's CityLink". Business Courier of Cincinnati. March 24, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  4. ↑ "West End Branch". Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Retrieved 12 June 2014.

External links