Rezoning the Western Hill Sports Mall Site (6.5.26)
The Planning Commission meeting on Friday, June 5th lasted 6 hours. Basically 3 hours for the historic designation for North Avondale and 3 hours on the rezoning of the Western Hills Sports Mall site.
The Commission considered two issues concerning the Sports Mall. They rezoned the site on a vote of 5 yea’s, 0 nay’s, and one abstention. Then they considered the development plan itself. It was ultimately approved 6 to zero but not before considerable confusion on the part of the Chairman.
After approving the zone change, the Commission became so mixed up about how to proceed that they went into executive session. There are questions about whether the process and the requirements necessary to go into executive sessions were satisfied. It could be a problem, if not.
Next, the rezoning of the site must be approved by city council and could be on the agenda when the city council holds their August meeting.
My opposition to the development is based on the seriously degraded quality of life in Price Hill, caused by government policy and programs that have concentrated poverty in the west side neighborhoods and the “nonprofit industrial complex,” that is thriving in Price Hill as a result.
During my public comments, I brought to the commission’s attention a post from the “Next Door” app that had been posted just days before the Commission meeting. It was posted by a woman living less than a mile from the Sports Mall site. Her back porch was set on fire, and she believes it was an act of retaliation. She recounts her experience in her post, below.
I told the Commission that there are thousands of residents of Price Hill who feel the same way about what has happened to the neighborhood. Increasing the density of the neighborhood will only make it worse.
Anna Albi was indignant about my comments. I suggested that the arsonist was probably one of the prostitutes, drug addicts or a mentally ill persons who wander up and down Glenway. Ms. Albi expressed no sympathy for the arson victim just indignation at my suggestion.
Bottom line: the neighborhood needs solutions before adding more people and more problems. Efforts to address that issue have been underway for some months. Unfortunately, with little progress. That is a story for another day.
