Goal, Strategies and Initiatives

As we strive to capitalize on our history, architecture and neighborhood experience, our urban communities are among our most significant assets. Therefore, Northern Kentucky will restore our urban core to a position of prominence.

Seven strategies for achieving urban renaissance:

1. Increase the availability of market-rate housing by 3,000 units in 10 years
2. Create a catalytic development corporation to stimulate redevelopment of urban areas
3. Increase the rate of home ownership and quality, affordable housing options
4. Expand arts, retail, dining and entertainment opportunities
5. Improve access to and use of the Ohio and Licking rivers through a network of parks and green spaces with walkways and bike paths that connect the river cities
6. Reduce crime and improve safety through collaborative law enforcement efforts
7. Ensure each neighborhood has a strong, active association that increases civic engagement

Latest Developments on Related Initiatives

Catalytic Development Funding Corporation (CDFC)   www.soapboxmedia.com CDFC
The Catalytic Development Funding Corporation was established to invest and leverage funds in the Northern Kentucky urban core. The Fund has met its goal of $10 million and will begin making investments in 2013. The CDFC is led by board chairman William Butler, founder and chairman of Corporex Companies Inc., and vice chairman Charles Scheper. Jeanne Schroer, an urban planning and real estate financing expert, is the executive director of the Fund.

Increase Home Ownership
Vision 2015's staff monitors and supports the work of Northern Kentucky’s chapter of Protect My Kentucky Home (PMKH), a regional coalition of organizations such as the Brighton Center, Legal Aid and Catholic Charities formed as a result of the foreclosure crisis. PMKH meets quarterly at the Center or Great Neighborhoods of Covington. While this group works throughout Northern Kentucky, the negative impacts of foreclosure and vacancy have greatly impacted our urban core. Protect My Kentucky Home reported that while the number of families served declined from 532 in 2009 to 464 in 2010, the number of homes “saved” from foreclosure increased slightly from 253 in 2009 to 260 in 2010 across the three reporting agencies. This data also would indicate that while foreclosures are not making headline news as they once did, this is an issue that continues to play a role in our neighborhoods and our regional economy. The Covington Business Council Foundation has become the Urban Partnership of Covington and is working in partnership with the City of Covington and others including Vision 2015 and the Catalytic Fund toward the eventual creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) in Covington’s urban core, business districts and neighborhoods. This work is occurring in tandem with the recently publicized Center City Action Plan. The Urban Partnership addresses a number of the strategies under Vision 2015’s Urban Renaissance goal to restore our urban core to a position of prominence in the region.