The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council unanimously adopted the following motion at our Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, January 14th:
The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council’s motion of November 12, 2024 is revised and replaced by the following:
The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council (HPNC) values the historic nature, architectural integrity, and pedestrian scale of our Neighborhood Business District. While we welcome new investment, we believe that keeping the current zoning regulations (CN-P-B and UDOD #4) intact and undiluted is integral to preserving what is not only a neighborhood gem but is also a Greater Cincinnati treasure.
HPNC supports and encourages the redevelopment of the underused parcels that currently have single story, non-contributing structures at 3434-3442 Edwards Road, 2719-2725 Erie Avenue, and 3439-3449 Michigan Avenue, subject to the following:
- The proposed seven story buildings (85-90 feet) are too tall and, therefore, are unacceptable. Michigan Terrace (3500 Michigan Ave.) is not a relevant precedent for the proposed buildings’ height.
- Unless explicitly stated otherwise below, a maximum height of 50 feet (as required by the current CN-P-B zoning), with minimal height variances (less than 10%, or 5 feet), is required for all new buildings.
- A variance for a new, five story mixed-use building at 2719-2725 Erie Ave. is acceptable, but the new building should not exceed the height of the A’Laise building (61 feet, +/-).
- A new, four-story mixed-use building fronting 3434-3442 Edwards Rd. and 3439-3449 Michigan Ave. with minimal height variances (less than 10%, or 5 feet) is acceptable.
- A Planned Development (PD) for a “boutique hotel” use is acceptable with the height restrictions, as defined above.
- Parking and loading spaces for all buildings and all uses in a new PD shall follow the requirements in Chapter 1425 of the Zoning Code of the City of Cincinnati.
- All signage and exterior lighting in a new PD shall follow the CN-P requirements in Chapter 1427 and Chapter 1437 UDOD #4 of the Zoning Code of the City of Cincinnati.
- The PD shall follow all sound and noise ordinances applicable to CN-P-B zoning districts.
As a reminder, for those of you that have an opinion on this matter, please attend the virtual Public Staff Conference on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025 at 6:00 PM. The meeting can only be attended via Zoom and you must register to do so. The city's notice and the city Planning Projects webpage also contain the link to register; there is also a shortened version: bit.ly/Hyde-Park-Square-PD-PSC. We suggest you download Zoom in advance so you can join quickly.
It is very important to attend the meeting, but please also reach out to the appropriate city officials via email as soon as possible to share your feelings. As you do, please feel free to CC HPNC (hpncpres@gmail.com) to make us aware.
- City of Cincinnati Planning:
- City of Cincinnati Zoning:
- City Council:
Also, a number of neighbors have put together a website (savehydeparksquare.org) to share opinions and information about the development.
City Public Staff Meeting Registration (Zoom)
