The Avondale Development Corporation (ADC) is in the early stages of implementing its Quality of Life (QOL) plan, the neighborhood’s roadmap for managing growth in one of the city’s hottest neighborhoods to the benefit of existing residents and businesses and those who choose to locate here.
The QOL plan took two years to develop, during which ADC engaged more than 250 neighborhood residents and stakeholders in one-on-one interviews, hosted a visioning session that drew more than 300 participants, and convened six weeks of working group meetings. In 2018, Uptown Consortium, Inc. (UCI) commissioned a study of Avondale’s housing stock with Dinn Focused Marketing, which UCI shared with the ADC to help shape the housing portion of the QOL plan.
The QOL plan—which has been unanimously approved by the Avondale Community Council, the City of Cincinnati Planning Commission and Cincinnati City Council—will serve as the official master plan for Avondale. It is built around the themes of Safety, Sharing Success, Building Partnerships and Housing, and touches on all aspects of life in Avondale, from street layout and retail needs to schools, parks, social services and opportunities for economic advancement.
“Avondale seeks balanced growth,” April Gallelli, Quality of Life Project Manager for ADC. “Our residents are pro-growth. We welcome investment and new companies and new residents. It just has to be balanced in benefiting the existing neighborhood and residents and as well as those who seek to come here.”
ADC is in the early stages of implementing the QOL plan. The organization is currently working with landlords to improve living conditions and implementing protective strategies for residents, especially the large senior communities. ADC is actively securing work for residents and making sure community members know their rights and are aware of available helpful resources.
“The Avondale community embraced the plan because they know it is their plan,” said Gallelli. “When ADC kicked off the plan, the QOL team was overwhelmed with the amount of support and the number of people who were willing to engage. Even children were excited to participate and brainstorm ideas for how to reach the neighborhood’s shared goals.”
While QOL is a 10-year plan, ADC understands it needs to be flexible to address changes with Avondale residents and businesses. ADC will continually seek volunteers and feedback to ensure that change occurs responsibly and with input from owners, renters and community stakeholders in a way that is fair and equitable.
ADC is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 to help improve the quality of life for residents of Avondale, the largest African American neighborhood in Cincinnati. To get involved with implementing the QOL plan, contact April Gallelli at agallelli@growavondale.org. More information about the QOL plan is available at www.growavondale.org/qol.