This past August 5th marks an important milestone for North Avondale. After years of work by dedicated neighborhood volunteers, all of Cincinnati City Council approved the North Avondale Historic District (with the exception of Evan Nolan). This designation represents years of thoughtful discussion, community engagement, and collaboration between residents and the City.
Why does this matter?
Two years ago, the City rezoned much of our neighborhood to allow duplexes, triplexes, and four-family homes where only single-family homes had previously been permitted. Many residents expressed concern about how those changes might affect the long-term character of North Avondale and the owner-occupied homes that have helped define our neighborhood for the past 100 years.
One concern raised by residents was the likelihood of increased absentee ownership. While many landlords are responsible stewards of their properties, neighbors have also seen examples where investor-owned properties are developed with no regard for their historical value or character. Residents wanted to ensure that, as our neighborhood continues to evolve, significant changes and demolitions to homes receive thoughtful review rather than focusing exclusively on maximizing rental profit.
Historic Designation is one way Cincinnati addresses those concerns. It does not prevent homes from becoming multi-unit residences, nor does it freeze the neighborhood in time. Instead, it establishes a public review process for major exterior alterations and demolitions and provides design guidelines for work visible from the public street.
It gives you and your neighbors an opportunity to know when significant changes are proposed for the historic buildings around you. It allows you to provide input before those changes occur. Rather than learning about a demolition or major exterior alteration only after the work has begun, nearby residents now have an opportunity to be informed and participate in the review process. It is a simple but meaningful way to ensure that the future of our neighborhood is shaped with community involvement rather than surprise.
The City has encouraged neighborhoods concerned about preserving their historic character to pursue this designation, and after years of volunteer effort, North Avondale successfully completed that process.
This accomplishment belongs to many people. Please join me in thanking Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney for sponsoring the effort, Volunteer Champion Matthew Cornell, former NANA President Dawn Johnson, Zoning Chair Walter Koucky, and consultants Beth Johnson from Cincinnati Preservation and Beth Sullebarger from Sullebarger Consultants.
It also belongs to the MANY residents who devoted countless hours to attending meetings, talking with neighbors, writing letters, answering questions, preparing educational materials, and advocating.
This designation is an investment in our neighborhood’s future. It helps ensure that as North Avondale continues to grow and evolve, residents will continue to have a voice in preserving the character that has made this neighborhood a special place to call home for generations.
Take care of each other,
Reg