Mountain State Tours: State Capitol

The West Virginia Capitol Complex is an 18-acre historic district centered along Kanawha Boulevard East in Charleston, West Virginia. The complex dates to 1925 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The obvious highlight of the complex is the State Capitol, of which this iteration Read more

Mountain State Tours: Downtown Charleston

Charleston, West Virginia is the capital and the largest city in the Mountain State. Located at the junction of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County, it has a population of over 51,000 with a metropolitan area of 304,000. The growth of Charleston accelerated after the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad was Read more

New Research Tower for Cincinnati Children's

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center will construct a new 15-story research tower on its Uptown campus by 2015, with construction beginning this summer, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The $180 million Clinical Sciences Building will be built adjacent to another Children's tower that was completed in 2007, and will Read more

Mountain State Tours: State Capitol

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The West Virginia Capitol Complex is an 18-acre historic district centered along Kanawha Boulevard East in Charleston, West Virginia. The complex dates to 1925 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The obvious highlight of the complex is the State Capitol, of which this iteration was completed in phases from 1924 to 1932.

West Virginia State Capitol, Charleston, West Virginia Read more

Mountain State Tours: Downtown Charleston

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Charleston, West Virginia is the capital and the largest city in the Mountain State. Located at the junction of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County, it has a population of over 51,000 with a metropolitan area of 304,000.

Charleston, West Virginia

Downtown Charleston, West Virginia.

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New Research Tower for Cincinnati Children’s

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Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center will construct a new 15-story research tower on its Uptown campus by 2015, with construction beginning this summer, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The $180 million Clinical Sciences Building will be built adjacent to another Children’s tower that was completed in 2007, and will add 425,000 square-feet. The building will be completed by Messer Construction.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

 

Rehabilitation of the Elberon

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It’s always great to see an abandoned structure rehabilitated and put to productive use, rather than be demolished or picked apart by scrappers as so often happens in the United States. The Elberon is a good example of reuse.

Located at 3414 West 8th Street at the corner of West 8th Street and Elberon Avenue in the Price Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, the Elberon’s building permit was secured in March 1905 and was soon completed after for $55,000. The apartment complex once housed a grocery store and pharmacy in its first floor retail storefronts. It later became low-income apartments in the 1970s before becoming Section 8.

The Elberon, Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio

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Mountain State Tours: Beckley

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Heading north from the deep overcast skies of Bluefield, I headed north with two friends along the West Virginia Turnpike to the “Gateway to Southern West Virginia.”

Beckley, West Virginia is the county seat of Raleigh County and was founded in 1838 as Beckleyville, later shortened as Beckley. Although coal is no longer king in the region, the area is primed for tourism development with its location just south of the New River Gorge and along two major interstate highways. The town is home to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and the Tamarack.

The city has seen the development of many new federal- and state-funded projects in the past decade, including the new Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse and Federal Building, the Raleigh County Judicial Center and the Beckley Intermodal Gateway. Beckley’s downtown is also seeing an equal amount of private investment, with several new restaurants taking on the dining scene, along with a few cafes and local boutiques.

I started the tour with a view northeastward along Neville Street towards the new Raleigh County Judicial Center. The streets are asphalt with a brick stamp and need frequent repainting. Considering that Beckley was known for its brick streets back in 1910, when they were first installed, traditional brick or at least concrete stamped “brick” should be used. Other than that, the streetscape is clean, functional and attractive.

Beckley, West Virginia

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Mountain State Tours: Bluefield

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After leaving Hinton, West Virginia at sunset, we departed west and south to Bluefield. The town that is called the “Mile High City” due to its elevation, is located in Mercer County along the border with Virginia and was once a prosperous city founded after the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) was completed through the region to connect industrial centers to the burgeoning coal deposits to the north and west.

The importance of coal to the region cannot be understated. For much of the 19th century, Bluefield was nothing more than two large farms and a small settlement that consisted of a mill, church and schoolhouse. The N&W was only completed to what was later called Bluefield in 1883, and the first passenger station in the settlement was nothing more than a discarded railroad car. The settlement, called Summit, was renamed to Bluefield which was reportedly chosen by Mrs. Hattie Hannah for the luxurious growth of chicory and bluegrass in the area. A telegraph office came in 1887 and Bluefield was declared a division point on the N&W.

Bluefield, West Virginia

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Revisited: North Avondale, Cincinnati, Ohio

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With a run on great weather and a looming storm cloud in the distance, I walked from my workplace at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and across Victory Parkway to a part of North Avondale that is dotted with large mansions, winding roadways and manicured lawns. I have previously covered North Avondale, but it was centered along Rose Hill Avenue west of Reading Road. This gallery focuses on the residences east of Reading along Winding Way, Lenox Place and Redway Avenue.

North Avondale, Cincinnati, Ohio

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Revisited: Northside, Cincinnati, Ohio

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It seems that I have not spent enough time in Cincinnati, Ohio, with my trips taking me to the highlands of West Virginia, all throughout the hills of Kentucky and the crossroads of Ohio. But one neighborhood that I have not focused enough attention on is mine: Northside. I last visited my neighborhood on an Urbanup Tour back in August 2011, so another tour is well needed considering that spring has sprung quite a bit early.

Northside is generally bounded by Interstates 74 and 75 to the south and east, Spring Grove Cemetery to the north and a hillside to the west. I consider it to be both an eclectic and traditional neighborhood, great for youthful individuals and families alike.

I start the tour, as with the last, with Beech Hill Avenue where I reside. My residence is the bright yellow townhome. In the foreground is a red bricked three story that is finally undergoing rehabilitation – hopefully to a single family home.

Northside Cincinnati Ohio

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Privatize the Library and Save?

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Could privatizing the public library save taxpayers money and result in longer hours, more books and newer computers? Perhaps, according to an article by The Atlantic Cities.

In the article, it cited Santa Clarita, California, who decided to leave the Los Angeles County Library system in 2010. Officials at the time had considered running their own public library system, but eventually voted to let LSSI manage the three libraries. Residents complained, stating that there would be shorter hours, less books and a greater burden to taxpayers.

But in reality, the library system has become a model of innovative public-private partnerships that is being looked at by many other municipalities across the United States. The Santa Clarita library system is now open on Sundays, and there are longer hours for the other six days. In addition, there are now 77 new computers – which at an average cost of $2,000, is no small cost. There are more books, with the article citing that there is an entire collection dedicated to homeschooling parents, and new children’s programs. There is now a laptop rental service. And LSSI is considering building a new library building.

Even better, the burden to taxpayers has been reduced. The city’s initial proposal to run their own library system would cost citizens $5.1 million a year, but LSSI receives just $3.8 million. With that savings, the city has budgeted $4.8 million to the library system, with the additional million dollars going to purchase new books and to fund the new library building.

How does LSSI save the taxpayers and the city money? It cuts the benefits afforded to the library workers by the state. The staff, for instance, was removed from the state pension plan and their retirement is now being funded by 401K, a more long-term and viable solution to solving the looming baby-boomer retirement funding crisis. It also sheds SEIU, the local union, from complete control over the library system. The SEIU stated that Santa Clarita must demonstrate that LSSI mut show overall cost savings, and that the cities looking to privatize must receive three bids. Read more

Micro Brewery Coming to Eden Park?

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Water Pump Station Mt. Adams Cincinnati OhioCould a micro brewery soon come to Cincinnati, Ohio‘s Eden Park? That is possible, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, who reported that the 118-year-old pump station behind Krohn Conservatory along Martin Drive could be sold and turned into a micro brewery.

The 7,000 square-foot structure was designed by famous architect Samuel Hannaford and features a red brick facade and decoration. The pump station for the adjacent resevoir ceased operations in 1908. In 1939, the building was repurposed as a central radio communications center for the city, which lasted until the mid-1980s. It is currently used for storage. The tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The developers, Jack and Bryon Martin, own the Cincinnati Beer Company and hope to brew small batches of beer to sell at local restaurants. A tap room in the building would be open to the public. The project could be funded with state tax credits from the Ohio Department of Development.