Mill Creek Access Plan

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