Fourth Norwood Historic Home Tour is a success!

The weather was beautiful for the Fourth Annual Norwood Historic Home Tour and Fall Festival and Off Pike Market at Victory Park. The day showcased not only Norwood’s gorgeous old homes, but also new developments and businesses, and our talented community, with performances from Norwood Orchestra, W Monty’s, and the Cable Guys; a storytime with the Norwood Library; and family games and crafts.

Norwood Together coordinated the event with a collection of partners: the Norwood Historical Society, Off Pike Market and the City of Norwood. The event also was sponsored by Jennifer McGillis Realtor, Duke Energy, Huber Lumber Co., Perry Contracting, Inc., Naegele, Kleb & Ihlendorf Funeral Home, and the Acanthus Group LLC. Special thanks to Northwood Cider Co. and The Valley Church, and the dozens of volunteers who kept the day running smoothly.

The tour began with the Norwood Historical Society and the Cincinnati Type & Print Museum before riding to Park Avenue to discover the neighborhood’s history and architecture. We had the unprecedented opportunity to tour an exquisite Queen Anne Victorian home thanks to Linda Prues. Her iconic Norwood was once the Y.W.C.A. 

The walking tour included the history and architecture of Immaculate Conception Church, corner stores, and Dorl Field, originally built for printing employees and families and named for Theodore C. Dorl. “Teddy” was a general superintendent of U.S. Printing & Lithograph Company and president of the Craftsman Club.

We visited the site of the former U.S. Printing & Lithograph Company and the U.S. Playing Card Company, including the Samuel Hannaford and Sons designed brick facility at Park Avenue. The companies shared a restaurant, the land which became Dorl Field, and multi-family units for employees. 

The tour included the police training facility and canine officer, as well as the Happy Hollow Inn, featured in the Bruce Willis movie, Hard Kill, which was mostly shot at the U.S. Playing Card buildings before being demolished.   

Finally, Salvation Army, originally Kemper-Thomas, known for their advertisements, colorized calendars, Vienna art plates, thermometers, and brewery products. The company could arrange room and board for employees at the aforementioned Queen Anne Victorian Y.W.C.A nearby. 

Continue ReadingFourth Norwood Historic Home Tour is a success!

City, Norwood Together receive $30,000 grant for Montgomery Road redevelopment plan

Hamilton County has awarded a $30,000 community development block grant to the city of Norwood to create a redevelopment plan for Montgomery Road. Norwood Together wrote the grant on behalf of the city and will manage the implementation and execution of the grant, which is part of the county’s mini planning grant program. 

Revitalizing Montgomery Road was identified as a key economic priority in the 2019 Norwood Quality of Life Plan, which was created by a grassroots group of residents with help from LISC of Greater Cincinnati. This group subsequently organized as Norwood Together, with support from Interact for Health and Community Building Institute of Xavier University, to work toward the goals of the 10-year strategic plan. With the approval of city officials, Norwood Together wrote the Montgomery Road planning grant. 

Residents and community stakeholders envisioned Montgomery Road as the heart of a thriving, walkable community. City officials agree that Montgomery Road improvement and development is vital to the city’s economic success. The mini planning grant, which is $30,000 of in-kind planning services from Hamilton County, is the first step toward this shared goal. 

“Now the real work begins,” said Mayor Victor Schneider. “This is the start of great days for Norwood.” 

With the grant support from Hamilton County, Norwood Together and the City of Norwood, along with partners including CBI and HCDC, will convene and survey key stakeholders, conduct market research and analysis; assess physical, policy and funding needs; and create a strategic plan for redevelopment of Montgomery Road. The final plan will guide future investment along the corridor from Xavier University north to the Norwood Lateral. 

Norwood Together will begin the work this summer. The grant must be used within the year. 

Continue ReadingCity, Norwood Together receive $30,000 grant for Montgomery Road redevelopment plan