Hamilton County • April 22, 2025
Good morning, Hamilton County. Downtown Cincinnati's renaissance is gaining momentum as Western & Southern takes a $75 million bet on developer Anoop Dave's vision for the former Macy's headquarters. The transformation of this landmark into 341 residential units marks a significant expansion of urban living options, while Dave quietly assembles an impressive portfolio that includes the iconic Carew Tower.
Meanwhile, just 18 miles northwest of our skyline, an environmental success story blooms where nuclear contamination once threatened. UC professor Casey Huegel's award-winning book chronicles how grassroots activism transformed the Fernald uranium processing plant into a thriving wildlife preserve. This environmental victory coincides with the city's new Cincinnati Hillside Initiative, which seeks community input on protecting our signature slopes from erosion and overdevelopment—balancing growth with the natural landscape that defines our region.
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🏙️ Western & Southern backs unknown developer's ambitious downtown revival project. Eagle Realty, the real estate arm of Western & Southern, provided crucial financing for Anoop Dave's $75 million conversion of the former Macy's headquarters into Cincinnati's largest downtown apartment community. The 341-unit residential tower, named 7 West 7th, represents a major endorsement of Dave, who has quietly acquired two of downtown's biggest assets including Carew Tower. Eagle's president Paul Silva cited Dave's thorough planning and track record with challenging building conversions as key factors in their decision to support the project. This development aligns with Cincinnati's commitment to expanding urban housing options.
🌿 Grassroots activism transforms nuclear wasteland into thriving wildlife preserve. UC professor Casey Huegel's award-winning book "Cleaning Up the Bomb Factory" chronicles how ordinary citizens fought to clean up Fernald, once America's third-most contaminated nuclear site. The former uranium processing plant, located 18 miles northwest of Cincinnati, now flourishes as a diverse ecosystem home to birds, deer, beavers, and raccoons. Huegel's work, which has received multiple academic honors, highlights the Midwest's significant environmental activism history and preserves the memory of community members who demanded government accountability. The publication coincides with Earth Day's 25th anniversary celebrations at the university.
🏔️ Cincinnati scrutinizes hillside development with new zoning initiative. The city is partnering with The Hillside Trust to evaluate maps and zoning requirements that protect fragile hillsides from erosion and landslides. Public feedback is central to the Cincinnati Hillside Initiative, with two community meetings scheduled for May and an online survey available. City Director Art Dahlberg emphasized the need to balance community growth with environmental responsibility, noting recent rain has highlighted hillside vulnerability. The city council allocated $100,000 to fund this comprehensive review of building regulations on Cincinnati's iconic hills.
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