City Plan for Cincinnati
Encyclopedia
The City Plan for Cincinnati is a set of plans to guide the development of Cincinnati. The earliest such plan was the 1907 Park Plan created by George Kessler
. Every 20 or 30 years since then new comprehensive plans have been created as the city has grown.
, a nationally-known landscape architect, was hired to create a park plan for the city. His plan, however, dealt not only with the 18 parks and 17 public squares/recreational areas contained in it, but, as historian Zane Miller wrote, it was "to inspire civic patriotism by encouraging the construction of monumental public and quasi-public buildings in an impressive downtown setting, to bring all the neighborhoods of the city closer together by improving cross-town and downtown commuter circulation, and to mitigate the problems of traffic congestion and children playing in the streets."
, a Cincinnati lawyer, Ladislas Segoe
, an immigrant planner from Hungary, and George B. Ford and Ernest P. Goodrich
, of New York the owners of the first American planning consulting firm. The plan was long range, seeking to reduce the influence of machine politicians on the city government. The plan built on previous transportation, park, and utilities plans. The 1925 plan called for the construction of the Western Hills Viaduct and what is now Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
. It was unique in controlling the growth of new subdivisions by requiring installation of utilities prior to approval.
Of the 135 structures existing in Cincinnati parks today, nearly half were produced during the period from 1929 to 1943.
The original plan was for the United City Planning Committee to raise $70,000 and the City to ad in $30,000. Donations were sufficient that in the end the city did not contribute anything.
The 1925 Plan has two parts: Zoning (1924) and Capital Improvements (1925)
The Charter Party
and Murray Seasongood
came to power shortly after the 1925 plan was adopted. Both were seen as reactions to boss rule in Cincinnati.
also let the development of the 1948 plan. This plan was part of the urban renewal movement and attempted to modernize the inner city. It extended the scope of the plan to include Kentucky and Indiana as well as new topics, such as employment. The 1948 Plan was well timed to take advantage of the US Housing Act of 1949.
Volume I: "Strategies for Current Physical Development"
Volume II: "Strategies for Comprehensive Land Use"
Volume III: Details plans for vision from volume II
Volume IV: Goals, policies, projects
It will include:
Housing and Neighborhood Development
Economic Development and Business Retention
Transportation and Transit
Health, Environment and Open Space
Land Use
Historic Preservation
Urban Design
Utilities and Infrastructure
Institutions
Intergovernmental Cooperation
Fiscal
George Kessler
George Edward Kessler was a German American pioneer city planner and landscape architect.Over the course of his forty-one year career, George E. Kessler completed over 200 projects and prepared plans for 26 communities, 26 park and boulevard systems, 49 parks, 46 estates & residents, and 26 schools...
. Every 20 or 30 years since then new comprehensive plans have been created as the city has grown.
1907 Park Plan
In 1907 George KesslerGeorge Kessler
George Edward Kessler was a German American pioneer city planner and landscape architect.Over the course of his forty-one year career, George E. Kessler completed over 200 projects and prepared plans for 26 communities, 26 park and boulevard systems, 49 parks, 46 estates & residents, and 26 schools...
, a nationally-known landscape architect, was hired to create a park plan for the city. His plan, however, dealt not only with the 18 parks and 17 public squares/recreational areas contained in it, but, as historian Zane Miller wrote, it was "to inspire civic patriotism by encouraging the construction of monumental public and quasi-public buildings in an impressive downtown setting, to bring all the neighborhoods of the city closer together by improving cross-town and downtown commuter circulation, and to mitigate the problems of traffic congestion and children playing in the streets."
1925 Comprehensive Plan
Cincinnati was the first city in the United States to have a comprehensive plan approved by City Council. Sponsored by the United City Planning Committee and paid for by donations, the plan was started in 1922 and finished in 1925. It was let by Alfred BettmanAlfred Bettman
Alfred Bettman was one of the key founders of modern urban planning. Zoning, as it is known today, can be attributed to his successful arguments before the U.S...
, a Cincinnati lawyer, Ladislas Segoe
Ladislas Segoe
Ladislas Segoe an immigrant from Hungary to the United States, was a pioneer in urban planning. He worked with Alfred Bettman on the City Plan for Cincinnati.-External links:*...
, an immigrant planner from Hungary, and George B. Ford and Ernest P. Goodrich
Ernest P. Goodrich
-References:...
, of New York the owners of the first American planning consulting firm. The plan was long range, seeking to reduce the influence of machine politicians on the city government. The plan built on previous transportation, park, and utilities plans. The 1925 plan called for the construction of the Western Hills Viaduct and what is now Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
The Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, originally Cincinnati Union Terminal, is a passenger railroad station in the Queensgate neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States...
. It was unique in controlling the growth of new subdivisions by requiring installation of utilities prior to approval.
Of the 135 structures existing in Cincinnati parks today, nearly half were produced during the period from 1929 to 1943.
The original plan was for the United City Planning Committee to raise $70,000 and the City to ad in $30,000. Donations were sufficient that in the end the city did not contribute anything.
The 1925 Plan has two parts: Zoning (1924) and Capital Improvements (1925)
The Charter Party
Charter Party
The Charter Party of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, is a minor political party. The party is Cincinnati's third party. Members of this party are called "Charterites."-History:...
and Murray Seasongood
Murray Seasongood
Murray Seasongood was a Jewish American politician, who served as the Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1926-1930. After his tenure as mayor, Seasongood was appointed as professor of law at Harvard University. He was named as one of the 100 Greatest Ohio Citizens in 1974.- References :...
came to power shortly after the 1925 plan was adopted. Both were seen as reactions to boss rule in Cincinnati.
1948 Comprehensive Plan
Alfred BettmanAlfred Bettman
Alfred Bettman was one of the key founders of modern urban planning. Zoning, as it is known today, can be attributed to his successful arguments before the U.S...
also let the development of the 1948 plan. This plan was part of the urban renewal movement and attempted to modernize the inner city. It extended the scope of the plan to include Kentucky and Indiana as well as new topics, such as employment. The 1948 Plan was well timed to take advantage of the US Housing Act of 1949.
1980 Comprehensive Plan
The 1980 plan was done in three volumes and a fourth summary volume.Volume I: "Strategies for Current Physical Development"
Volume II: "Strategies for Comprehensive Land Use"
Volume III: Details plans for vision from volume II
Volume IV: Goals, policies, projects
The Banks
This is an urban neighborhood planned for the Cincinnati Riverfront. Planned in the late 1990s, it includes two sports stadiums and the National Underground Railroad Freedom CenterNational Underground Railroad Freedom Center
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a museum in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio based on the history of the Underground Railroad. The Center also pays tribute to all efforts to "abolish human enslavement and secure freedom for all people." Billed as part of a new group of "museums of...
2009/2010 Plan
The City reformed the Planning Department in 2007. In 2009 it launched an effort to create a new plan. It has set aside half a million dollars in 2009-2010 for the effort.It will include:
Housing and Neighborhood Development
Economic Development and Business Retention
Transportation and Transit
Health, Environment and Open Space
Land Use
Historic Preservation
Urban Design
Utilities and Infrastructure
Institutions
Intergovernmental Cooperation
Fiscal
External links
- http://plancincinnati.org/
- http://design.asu.edu/apa/proceedings01/GERCKENS/gerckens.htm
- Lessons from a pioneer in planning, Steven Wright
- Early Urban Planning V 9, Volume 9 By Legates & Stout, Richard T. LeGates
- The American planner: biographies and recollections By Donald A. Krueckeberg
- Cincinnati Parks History (City of Cincinnati)