Topic: Getting Involved in OTR's renaissance

[mcadrenaline]

Looking for ideas here --

I'm a YP, UC College of Business grad who moved to OTR after upon taking a F/T job with one of the big Cincinnati companies downtown. I've taught myself alot about the neighborhood and it's history and have learned quite a bit from my urban planner friends in DAAP up the road. I'm extremely passionate about the renaissance that is happening in my neighborhood right now and find it extremely exciting and interesting that this amount of growth has happened in a relatively short amount of time. OTR was still largely in shambles when I moved here about 5 years ago and now we have this thriving new business district where the restaurants, bars and shops can't open fast enough. The momentum is truly remarkable.

So my question is this -- how can I get more involved in my neighborhood, other than patronizing the businesses, following the news on UO and elsewhere? Are there any volunteer opportunities within the Chamber or 3CDC or something like this? Any opportunities to help plan events? Just looking for any/all ideas or opportunities out there.

Hope this makes sense! Thanks guys. Feel free to PM me if need be as well.

[thomasbw]

I'd suggest you attend some Brewery District Meetings, they always have volunteer opportunities.

[2LiveCarew]

I second mcadrenaline--I'd love to get involved. My girlfriend and I are moving to Cincinnati (hopefully to OTR, pending finding a good apartment) in June/July, and I'd be interested in whatever's available--picking up litter, sweeping, etc. Pending what my job commitments allow me to do, I'd also potentially be interested in doing pro bono legal work, or administrative stuff, or whatever, if an organization needed that. (Also, assuming I pass the bar--that would be nice.)

[bfwissel]

A good place to start would be the Over-the-Rhine Community Council which meets every last Monday of the month at 5:30pm at the OTR Community Center @ 1715 Republic Street.  From there you could either become more involved with the neighborhood council, or just use it as a way to meet others who are involved in the community other groups that best suit your interests.

If you want to get involved with the downtown community council we meet every second Tuesday at 6:00pm in the Main Branch Library in the Third Floor Tower Room.
http://www.ilivedowntown.com/

[appleaday]

Looking for ideas here --

I'm a YP, UC College of Business grad who moved to OTR after upon taking a F/T job with one of the big Cincinnati companies downtown. I've taught myself alot about the neighborhood and it's history and have learned quite a bit from my urban planner friends in DAAP up the road. I'm extremely passionate about the renaissance that is happening in my neighborhood right now and find it extremely exciting and interesting that this amount of growth has happened in a relatively short amount of time. OTR was still largely in shambles when I moved here about 5 years ago and now we have this thriving new business district where the restaurants, bars and shops can't open fast enough. The momentum is truly remarkable.

So my question is this -- how can I get more involved in my neighborhood, other than patronizing the businesses, following the news on UO and elsewhere? Are there any volunteer opportunities within the Chamber or 3CDC or something like this? Any opportunities to help plan events? Just looking for any/all ideas or opportunities out there.

Hope this makes sense! Thanks guys. Feel free to PM me if need be as well.

You can get involved by volunteering with Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, a long standing non-profit that has been actively developing and managing affordable housing in the neighborhood since 1978. I am their Volunteer Coordinator; every Saturday morning year round from 9 am until noon volunteers from around the city and region come to OTR to pitch it with whatever is needed that week - landscaping, picking up litter, assisting with maintaining common areas of some of our properties, etc. We are the 4th largest property holder in OTR with 93 buildings and approximately 380 apartments - about 550 people call our apartments "home" and all of apartments are rented out below market rate prices so that individuals and families with modest budgets can have safe, decent places to live. www.otrch.org is our website, my contact information is there.

-Brittany

[appleaday]

I second mcadrenaline--I'd love to get involved. My girlfriend and I are moving to Cincinnati (hopefully to OTR, pending finding a good apartment) in June/July, and I'd be interested in whatever's available--picking up litter, sweeping, etc. Pending what my job commitments allow me to do, I'd also potentially be interested in doing pro bono legal work, or administrative stuff, or whatever, if an organization needed that. (Also, assuming I pass the bar--that would be nice.)

Check out www.otrch.org + the response I just wrote to mcadrenaline. I am the Volunteer Coordinator at Over-the-Rhine Community Housing and I am always happy to work with new volunteers, especially people who live in the neighborhood!

[mcadrenaline]

A good place to start would be the Over-the-Rhine Community Council which meets every last Monday of the month at 5:30pm at the OTR Community Center @ 1715 Republic Street.  From there you could either become more involved with the neighborhood council, or just use it as a way to meet others who are involved in the community other groups that best suit your interests.

If you want to get involved with the downtown community council we meet every second Tuesday at 6:00pm in the Main Branch Library in the Third Floor Tower Room.
http://www.ilivedowntown.com/

Does the OTR Community Council meet tomorrow? What should I expect from one of these meetings?

[bfwissel]

Does the OTR Community Council meet tomorrow? What should I expect from one of these meetings?

It does meet tomorrow.  I've only been to one of their meetings, but expect to be there a while (unless you leave early like I did).  I've heard they often go over two hours, but they may have gotten better recently.  They'll have: 1) the police/fire give an update of what's been happening in the neighborhood, 2) have a speaker or two, 3) go over permit requests, liquor licenses, and/or upcoming projects in the neighborhood, and 4) go over any new business brought up by the membership.  Even if you're not a paid member you're free to participate and ask questions when the audience is polled (i.e. police ask if there are any questions/concerns, speaker(s) ask for feedback/questions, council board requests feedback,...).  My experience is more with the Downtown Residents Council, but the meeting format is generally the same between councils (although some neighborhood council group meetings like those in the West End can be a bit rancorous at times).

Note: Unless you are a paid member (I believe it is only a couple of dollars to join and you must live in the neighborhood boundaries), you will be unable to vote on anything (like any potential motions).  If it is your first meeting you'll probably not want to vote on anything anyway until you get more up to speed about what's going on in the neighborhood.

[Quimbob]

^What Ben described is exactly the same as the Northside CC. You have to attend 3 consecutive meetings to vote there, tho.
They also hand out a printed sheet outlining the meeting's agenda so you will have an idea how long to wait till you get to the crap you are inneressed in.

[mcadrenaline]

okay, thanks guys. If I make it up there tonight I'll report back.

I can imagine tonights might go quite long given discussion around the recent teenage homicide, Mercer Commons construction and the whole Music Hall debacle.