Hillside Trust working to promote and preserve scenic Columbia Parkway

Published June 2, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
The Hillside Trusthas been working with the city of Cincinnati over the past severalyears on a series of studies and projects that are meant to highlightand preserve Cincinnati’s hillsides in a way that is not onlyresponsible, but practical for all members of the community.

In2007, the Hillside Trust completed a comprehensive study of the city’sscenic views.  In that study the non-profit organization determinedthat there were some 93 scenic views both from the tops of hillslooking down, and from the basin looking up at the hills.

Notonly did that study identify Cincinnati’s most scenic views, but italso recommended some action steps for the city to take in order tohelp preserve the views.

Eric Russo, executive director of theHillside Trust, often cites the uniqueness of Cincinnati’s hills as apoint of pride for Cincinnatians.  Russo says that the preservation ofthe city’s hillsides is not only beneficial to those directly involved,but also is a benefit for the whole region as the hills couldpotentially serve as a tourist draw and differentiate Cincinnati fromother markets.

Since the Scenic View Studywas completed in 2007, the Hillside Trust has been working steadily ona more detailed analysis of the Columbia Parkway and River Roadcorridors.

These corridors serve as major transportation routesalong Cincinnati’s riverfront and are both located along the base ofmajor hillsides.  This location gives both corridors dramatic vistasand scenery that are simply unmatched in most areas around the country.

“Iwould say it’s one of the top 10 scenic urban drives in America,” saysRusso about Columbia Parkway that runs along Cincinnati’s easternriverfront.

The corridor studies have focused on landelevations, allowable building heights based on current zoningdistricts, and building typologies that would work well with theenvironment.  The goal is to encourage the creation of a uniform zoningcode along such corridors so that the scenic views and hillsides arepreserved without restricting development either.

The Hillside Trust has presented initial findings to the Cincinnati Planning Commissionand will report back to the Planning Commission at their June 19meeting that will be held at 9am at the Centennial Plaza Two located indowntown Cincinnati at 805 Central Avenue.

Pending a decisionfrom the Planning Commission, those findings will then move on to CityCouncil for a full discussion and public hearing.

Writer: Randy Simes
Source: Eric Russo, executive director, The Hillside Trust
Photography by Randy Simes



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