Al Bunker Wraps Up DRC’s Year

In the spirit of the season, I am providing this “Holiday Letter” highlighting DRC activities, accomplishments and events from 2021’s “re-opening” of downtown.

Our Board and Membership meetings continued into the New Year via Zoom. Holding our Annual Meeting in April, amending our Constitution, and conducting other essential business were not easy tasks to complete and record virtually. Thanks to the Board for exercising patience and efficiency in meeting these challenges. Our website continued to post the informative monthly meeting minutes and other timely announcements.

In mid-summer, we resumed our in-person meetings. The construction at the library prevented us from returning to that long-time venue. Instead, we were grateful to hold our Board and Membership meetings at the First Financial Innovation Center at 4th and Walnut Streets. Near the same time, we re-started our socials. The festive DRC Holiday Party at Prime Cincinnati was a fitting celebration and a tribute to the social committee’s work of providing opportunities to reconnect with others during the last six months. Other committees continued to meet and carry-out other DRC activities. A new committee, aimed at attracting younger members, held an evening get-together at a local establishment.

The Purple People Bridge’s temporary closing in early spring denied our access to the flowerpots. We look forward to resuming our flower planting there in 2022. Across E. Pete Rose Way from the Purple People Bridge, substantial improvements were made along the “path to the Taft” thanks to being awarded assistance through the city’s Community Budget Request program. What was for years a shaded walkway that encouraged chronic littering, loitering, troublesome weeds, and challenging maintenance, was transformed into a sunlit area supporting attractive perennial flowers. More plantings by the DRC and the installation of enhanced lighting by the city are planned for next year. The improvements will allow us to provide a reasonable level of care to this increasingly busy pedestrian route.

Some of our members demonstrated their “paint by numbers” skills as they joined Keep Cincinnati Beautiful and other organizations in completing a new mural on Third Street. The tradition of decorating Piatt Park for the holidays continued, but with a change. After many years of storing the DRC’s holiday decorations at Cappel’s, the store owners sold their business in the fall. Fortunately for us, the Covenant-First Presbyterian Church on Elm Street generously offered a storage space. Thanks to Cappel’s for their years of helping us to add a bit of holiday cheer to the Piatt Park neighborhood, and to the Covenant-First Presbyterian Church for their support in continuing this tradition.

We thoughtfully and generously contributed to deserving local charities through our annual Invest In Neighborhood Support Program and the one-time federal Neighborhood Activation Fund. On behalf of the DRC, several Board members assembled and delivered treat baskets to our local first responders in appreciation of their service to our community.

The weekly email newsletter and other timely messages continued through the year to an increasing number of members (over 300) and many other community contacts. Subjects ranged from volunteer, entertainment and recreational opportunities, to downtown development issues, and to crime incidents and vehicular traffic alerts.

The DRC was represented at monthly meetings (virtual and in-person) with police, other city departments, local agencies and Cincinnati neighborhood councils to discuss issues, concerns and possible solutions.

This was the first full year of using the Wild Apricot platform to improve the efficiency of the DRC operations. Advancements were made in corresponding with members, handling membership records, arranging socials and attending to other management needs. In the process, we nearly have become a paperless organization! Thanks for adapting to this new system!

Thanks for your support and participation in continuing the DRC mission of making downtown Cincinnati “…a delightful and convenient in-town residential area for all citizens.”

Happy Holidays!

Alan Bunker, DRC President

DRC Welcomes The Holidays

DRC members filled Prime on Sixth Street to usher in the 2021 holiday season on Monday evening, Dec. 6. Over 100 turned out to share holiday cheer and camaraderie and to greet Santa and Mrs. Claus, who were joined by a couple joyful elves.

Help the Police Keep an Eye on Crime

Capt. Doug Wiesman, Commander of the Central Business Section, is asking that any Downtown resident or business owner who wishes to register their external cameras may now do so with the Police Department. This will help the police investigate crimes or suspect activity that may happen within view of the camera. All information will be kept in strictest confidence. To participate, please follow the link below and feel free to share it.
https://secure.coplogic.com/dors/startreport/160631500

Our Downtown on the Move

Downtown Cincinnati is now home to over 6,000 residents (over 15,000 in the greater market area, which includes OTR, Pendleton and the West End), with more arriving every month as new condos and apartment homes are completed. The Downtown Residents Council works to develop a community atmosphere, conducts projects to improve the quality of life, and voices concerns of residents at City Hall.

We work closely with the Police Department on safety issues and 3CDC on development and promotion efforts.

Help Us Stop Graffiti! Call it in!

If you see graffiti on a building, sidewalk, rack, etc. please help us get rid of it ASAP. The longer graffiti stays up, the greater the invitation for more. Please contact 3CDC Safe and Clean Manager David Vissman when you see graffiti. David will dispatch a team to photograph it, report it to the police and remove it. David’s number is 8598-866-5224.

Ambassador Hotline. To contact a 3CDC Safe and Clean Ambassador, call their hotline at: 513-623-3429. In an emergency, always call 911.

Paving the Way

Moving around downtown safely is an issue that a lot of residents are concerned with. If you think a sidewalk is in poor condition and a possible trip hazard, the best way to report the problem is to use the City’s Citizen Service Request options. That includes calling 513.591.6000, visiting www.5916000.com, or using the Fix It Cincy! app on a smart phone.