Contextual Framework for Mill Creek District
Focus Points Establish Better Bus Stops for Residents
Incorporate Vine Street
Research better Interchange for Vine St./Paddock
Use Property Along Rail Lines for New Development
Assess Property Ownership along Mill Creek
Create New Access Points to Mill Creek
Organizational Framework
Our organizational framework not only gives us a direction in which to focus our research, but it can be applied to current problems and opportunities the neighborhood has. To the right, shows a number of focus points to guide our research and development for the study period.
When improving access within the district and to the Mill Creek, key metrics like mobility, public transit, and land accessibility are points that will lead us to make a well informed decision on the best course of action to improve access to the creek.
Neighborhood Demographics The Mill Creek was once a crucial access point for settlers & industries of Cincinnati.....today, its state has been dilapidated due to technology advancements in transportation, neglect to its ecological integrity, and programming for development away from the human scale.
Population Shifts (1980 to 2019)
Carthage No Change
Elmwood
28%
Winton Place
21%
(1980 to 2019)
Carthage
3.6%
Elmwood
31.7%
Winton Place
2.4%
Unemployment Rate
What’s Changed?
Data provided by Social Explorer and Census.gov, based on 1980 & 2000 Census Data and 2019 ACS Estimates
Dropping Living Standard Shifting Populations
22%
Poverty Rate (% below poverty level)
As a result of this decline to the Mill Creek, the neighborhoods that surround them suffer as well. Creating a better access to, and therefore use of, the Mill Creek will allow for these places to thrive once more.
Transportation Changes
Cincinnati
(1980 to 2019)
Carthage
3.8%
Elmwood
1.1%
Winton Place
.5%
Cincinnati
10.4%
Cincinnati
2.5%
Means of Transit (car/public transit/walk)
Elmwood
Winton Place
Carthage
1980: 81.5%/7.4%/10.1% 2000: 85.5%/3.9%/7.2% 2019: 81.9%/9.2%/0% 1980: 86%/8.4%/2.7% 2000: 80%/11.9%/3.4% 2019: 86%/4.3%/4.1% 1980: 87%/3%/8.3% 2000: 89%/5%/3.6% 2019: 92%/2.1%/2.4%
Historic Norms
Potential Strategies for Future Success
Install Time
Cost
Install Time
Cost
Longevity
Longevity
De-Channelizing
Shared Lanes
Disruption
Disruption
Disruption
Install Time
Cost
Install Time
Cost
Longevity
Longevity
Pocket Parks
Crosswalks
Disruption
Disruption
Disruption
Install Time
Cost
Install Time
Cost BUS ONLY
Protected Lanes
Install Time
Cost
Longevity
Longevity
Install Time
Cost
Longevity
Pedestrian/Bike Bridges
Install Time
Cost
Longevity
Kayak Launches
Tunneling
Disruption
Disruption
Disruption
Longevity
Informational Signage
Evaluating Most Suitable Sites Conversion of Lot on Township Ave
Protected Bike Lane on Spring Grove Ave
Fully Connect Mill Creek Greenway
Acquisition of Clifton Ave Sites Fully Connect Mill Creek Greenway
Fully Connect Mill Creek Greenway
Redevelop Catalytic Sites Adjacent to Mill Creek
Redevelop Catalytic Sites Adjacent to Mill Creek
Redevelop Catalytic Sites Adjacent to Mill Creek
Focus on Development and Multi-modal Transportation Along Vine St Corridor
Focus on Development and Multi-modal Transportation Along Vine St Corridor
Focus on Development and Multi-modal Transportation Along Vine St Corridor
Create Pocket Parks and Green Corridors Throughout the Community
Create Pocket Parks and Green Corridors Throughout the Community
Create Pocket Parks and Green Corridors Throughout the Community
The lots of land along the Mill Creek on Township Ave will act as a catalyst for continued investment in the Mill Creek Greenway. The space here would allow for greater physical, active access to the creek, continued of the Mill Creek Trail and an investment opportunity for private development.
The Ivorydale portion of our neighborhood creates an obstacle to the continuation of the Mill Creek Trail, as a result a project has been created along Spring Grove Avenue to create a green corridor that mimics the greenway. Due to a large deal of right of way and limited intersections, the trail can find continuation on this road.
Strategies
Strategies
The collection of sites along Clifton Ave present a unique opportunity to create and expansion of the Greenway project. The sites will assist in extension of the Mill Creek trail, restoration of natural creek bed and provide a means of traffic calming at one of the busiest intersections in the district.
Strategies
BUS ONLY
Pedestrian/Bike Bridges
Tunneling
Pocket Parks
Informational Signage
Protected Lanes
Crosswalks
Informational Signage
Pedestrian/Bike Bridges
Impacts
Impacts
Impacts
.50
1.5
.65
Miles of New Bike Lane
Private Investment Opportunity
Passive Recreation Opportunity
Land Use Shift
Miles of New Bike Lane
Traffic Calming
Connection Between Ivorydale
Improved Multi-Modal Access
Miles of New Bike Lane
De-Channelizing
Private Investment Opportunity
Pocket Parks
Informational Signage
Restore Natural Flow of Creek
Traffic Calming
Creekside Plaza
Mill
ek G
1 inch = 104 feet
way
Proposed Building Mill Creek Railroad
Greenway Path
Amenities Legend Wayfinding
Picnic Table Bicycle Shop
Kayak Launch & Blueway Access, Erickson Park, Chippewa Falls, WI
reen
Clifton Ave
N
Cre
Geographic Wall Design, West Don River, Toronto, Canada
Designated Fishing Area
Ice Cream Shop
Blueway Access
Sawyer Point Park, Cincinnati, OH
Curved Girder Bridge, Neckartenzlingen, Germany
Implementing the Mill Creek Greenway The Mill Creek Greenway Plan gives an overview of how to get started in implementing key sites, as well as prioritization of projects. The goal of the greenway is to create an asset for the community to leverage in redevelopment. The creation of the greenway will not only assist in creek restoration efforts, an increase in public space, and a new form of transportation, but it will assist these neighborhoods and the creek in being reinvented for the twenty-first century.
How to create change Create Pilot Projects
Beginning the greenway with lost cost or temporary projects allows us to learn where success can be found. These pilot project have the possibility to become permanent but are largely used for study.
Create Timelines Setting timelines for small and large scale capital projects will set benchmarks for progress in implementing the greenway.
Start Finish People First Approach Inviting community input in the planning process and during the implementation phase is critical. Creation of action committees that will provide feedback throughout the implementation process.
Prototypical District The creation of a district or region within the larger focus area that implements many of the prototypical strategies will show residents and visitors the capability for change that is possible when the entire plan has been implemented.
Collaborate with Other Plans Mill Creek Long Term Extent Existing Parks Proposed Parks
Permanent Greenway
Proposed Trail Existing Trail
Using other plans as leverage and collaborating with their initiatives will help the Mill Creek Greenway’s implementation come to fruition.
Mill Creek Greenway Implementation Analysis 5
Strengths
1
Weaknesses 1. Difficult Pedestrian access
1. Caldwell Nature Preserve 2. Salway Park
4
2
1
2
3. Mill Creek Conservancy
3. Unbalanced Land Ownership Along Creek
5. Popular Metro Lines
4. Intergovernmental Cooperation
5. Vine Street & Spring Grove Ave
5. Train Track Boundaries
Opportunities
Threats
2. No current multi-modal ride share system
7
1. Industrial land use Blockage in Ivorydale 2. Channelized Portions of Creek
1
3. Negative Connotation
3. Integration of green infrastructure
6
3
4. District Road Connectivity (Grid)
1. Hamilton County Fairground Plans
4
2. Presence of Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)
4. Funding
4. Adaptive reuse of Industrial Structures
5. Community Backing
5. Educational Focus during Redevelopment
6. Equitable Future Development
6. De-channelization
7
7. High Speeds
Phasing Plans Phase I 1-3 years
.60 Miles of New Bike Lane
Actions: Form Partnerships
Land Remediation
4-7 years
1.6 Miles of New Bike Lane
Phase III 8-10 years
2.5 Miles of New Bike Lane
Mill Creek Valley Conservancy
Acquire Neccesary easments/ROW Implement Form Based Codes
Begin De-channelization
Village of Elmwood Place
Village of St. Bernard
Hamilton County Fairgrounds
Construction:
Protected Bike Lanes through Inaccessible Portions of Creek
Form Mill Creek Greenway Business Alliance
Federal Recreational Trails Program Grants
-Used for the development of trailside facilities and linkages, acquisition of necessary easements, associated administrative costs, and new trails.
-Grants intended for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons, prevent or eliminate slums or blight, and address urgent community development needs.
Metropolitan Sewer District
Clean Ohio Fund
-Provides grant money for land acquisition and construction of recreational trails; requires a 25 percent local match
Implementation: Connect Greenway Outside of focus area
Cincinnati Capital Improvements Program
Completion of Bike Path through District
Urban Waters Small Grants Program
Buffer Zones Created through Ivorydale Remove CSO through the Greenway
-Funds are to be used to expand travel choices and enhance the transportation experience; requires a 20% match
Community Development Block Group (CDBG) Program
Land Acquisition for Clifton Ave Site & Township Ave Site
Large Capital Projects (bridges and tunnels for Greenway)
Funding Sources: The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
Research:
Implement Pilot Projects (crosswalks, bike lanes, etc.)
Establish Timelines and Desired Funding Sources
Phase II
Stakeholders/Partnerships:
Village of Elmwood Place
Village of St. Bernard
PeopleForBikes Community Grants