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T01.VN CRIER FEBRUARY, 1978
Mariemont, Ohio
VOL. 3 NO. 4
The Continuing Condominium Controversy As reported in the December village to a ciM The 1970 census also referred to police and fire issue of the Mariemont Town reported a population of 4,400. protection. Being a city would Crier, Developer and Mariemont That figure was recently adjusted probably not mean an increase in resident Charles Hawk's plans to to 3,900 by OKI, an estimated the number of policemen, but it construct 194 condominiums on loss based on national trends. This could affect the fire department in 21 acres of land east of population question prompted the both eQuipment and manpower. It Mariemont have met with taking of a local census headed by could even affect fire insurance resistance from the recently the Village Fire Department. rates. Fire Chief Jess Applegate formed citizens group, Villagers According to Village Solicitor, suggested that an increase in for the Preservat ion of David Parker, this would give population could affect the fire Council a better lever to judge the rating of the village. Mariemont. The main plot of the population auestion. What figure Developer cnarles HawK, controversy is this: Hawk has would eventually be used is not himself a Mariemont resident1 petitioned the Mariemont Village really known, either ithe 1970 says the condominiums woula Council to annex the land and to census figure, the OKI estimate increase the village treasury with include condominium zoning into or the Village's own census. A additional taxes derived from the village building code. The new U.S. census will be taken in them. The development would be resisting citizens group, VPMJ was 1980 as well. The local census planned to attract retired P,eople PUBLISHED AS A formed primarily by resiaents now being taken would serve from Mariemont, Indian Hill and COMMUNITY living ad1acent to the land in another purpose. It would let_the other areas. The cost of the units SERVICE BY THE guestion. Council's Planning and Police and Fire Department Know would run up to $125 000. The MARIEMONT Zoning Committee was given a just how many people live in a retired residents would vacate VILLAGE ASSEMBLY particular dwelling ... "should a three month period to investigate homes that could be bought by both sides of the controversy tragedy occur to the village or a families wanting to live in Marie• other avenues of consideration before making its decision on the single residence, we wou@ know mont. If necessary, smaller con· that can only be discussed and petition. That period ends on how many people we have to dominiums to attract families estimated. Carol Benton, recently February 20. If council has not account for" according to Parker. could be planned if it is desired. Whatever the outcome of the "I'll develop it the way it's laid out appointed chairperson of the acted on the petition by that date, it is automaticall1. defeated. "I do censush annexation of the land and in a first class manner ... Village Planning and Zoning not foresee that 1t will be resolved and t e eventual population whatever I say you can put in Committee, said the committee that way," said Carol Benton, increase would obviously bring the writing and I'll guarantee it," said has only scratched the surface of those considerations and will be Planning and Zoning Committee village closer to, if not within, city Hawk. status ... which fact raises even That's just what the Planning attempting to weigh the possible Chairman. council's investigation tnrougn more questions. "Is this really and Zoning Committee did ... in benefits and/or ramifications that the Planning and Zoning what Mariemont is all about.1 the form of a letter to Mr. Hawk would be realized by the asking him to clarify and confirm condominium development. Mrs. Committee has gone much farther having_ this kind of development?' than trying to answer the asks Dr. Stephen Bates of the certain points and questions: 1. Benton said that this situation can concerns of the residents of Villagers for the Preservation of His guarantee of no construction affect all of Mariemont, not just District One who would be Mariemont. "For a city _to be traffic on Mt. Vernon Avenue; 2. those residents adjacent to the immediately affected • primarily financially successful, a popula• His plan for security control; 3. His l)lanned development area . those living on Mt. Vernon ana tion of 10,000 is needed,' states plans for general maintenance of Therefore it should be the concern Pocahontas Avenues. For Mayor Art Davies, "Ci~ status the complex; 4. His guarantee of of all Mariemont residents. "Don't example, would the annexation, would bring new responsibilities," the planned unit development; 5. make up your mind on emotion," the construction of the 194 units according the David Parker. His willingness to allow right turns said Mrs. Benton. "Wait for and and their eventual sale, increase Parker stated that it could mean on Wooster Pike from the weigh all the facts before coming the VIiiages population beyond an increase in the care and development's first phase to a conclusion." The Town Crier agrees. Con· that of 5,000 ... thereby changing maintenance of Route 50, a main (thereby alleviating heavy traffic · on Mt. Vernon. Hawk's original tact your village councilman. Ask the status of Mariemont from a state highway. Parker plans called for only an emergency questions. Let them know how access from Wooster that woula you feel: either yes, no, or I don't be locked with an iron gate) and 6. care. The Town Crier feels that Hawk's rlans to restrict every resident does care or they would not have chosen to live in commercia traffic on Mt. Vernon. As of the writing of this article this unique community •.. one of (mid-January) this letter had not the most successful planned com· been answered by Hawk. munities in the United States. Following is a list of the Village However, Hawk told the Town Crier that he had just received the Council members and the distric1s additional information and plans they represent. Your district can that he needed in order to respond be found on a map in the back of and that he would do so your Mariemont Directory. District One: Don Hopkins, immediately. Obviously, these letters can District Two: Carol Benton, District only answer questions that relate Three: Clarence Erickson, District to areas that can be included in Four. John Payne, District Five: the plans of the development at Neil Ritze, District Six: Bob its outset. The questions of Naugle, Mayor: Art Davies. Thomas A.. Singer population and city status open up