By Jenny Callison
Enquirer contributor

EVENDALE - Blight will get another round of scrutiny as this Hamilton County village attempts to forge a plan for economic revitalization.

In a meeting with business owners Tuesday night, village officials agreed to take another look at the condition of business properties within its Reading Road corridor.

The properties were declared "blighted" as part of an urban renewal plan adopted a year ago. Many owners have taken issue with the criteria and the process used to develop the plan, which they contend excluded public input.

Tuesday's meeting was called by Evendale Mayor Douglas A. Lohmeier to address property owners' concerns. The nearly 60 attendees on hand weren't shy about airing them.

Property owner Tim Clarke echoed the sentiments of several others in the room when he questioned the minimal notice of previous public meetings about the urban renewal process.

"I'm trying to understand the realities of the treatment of the citizens of Evendale (in this situation). We usually got a certified notice of anything that affected our property," he said.

Village solicitor Chris Schaefer answered: "It was a mistake on our collective part not to send individual notices."

Other attendees criticized the way that properties within the corridor were evaluated and found "blighted." Criteria for blight designation include age of property, nonconforming use, number of parking spots and situation in a flood plain.

"Will our building ratings be looked at again? About 30 owners have asked that," said business owner Becky Regenold, explaining that her property was evaluated parcel by parcel, not as a whole.

Village officials say that the urban renewal designation for the Reading Road area is essential to their efforts to revitalize the commercial core of Evendale.

Rescinding the plan in its entirety is not practical, said economic development director Linda Fitzgerald, because the village is currently acquiring a piece of property through tax incentives made possible through urban renewal.

Based on the re-evaluation of its Reading Road area properties, the village may alter its urban renewal area. Any such change would be discussed publicly at meetings of the village council and planning commission over the next few months.