Downtown Cincinnati Inc. gets six new board members

The Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District (DCID) elected six new board members at its annual meeting.  The new board members represent a diverse collection of Downtown interests and will help guide and implement the 2010-2013 Services Plan.

The DCID is a Special Improvement District (SID) that was created by Cincinnati City Council in 1996 and given approval by Downtown property owners within the boundaries of Eggleston Avenue on the east, Central Parkway on the north, Central Avenue on the west (including the Centennial buildings), and the river on the south (excluding the two stadiums).

According to Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI), the SID generates funds through a special assessment on property owners within the defined area.  These funds are then contracted with DCI to provide safe and clean services including the Ambassador program, marketing and communications services, and stakeholder services including business assistance, residential advocacy, and information gathering/dissemination.

The specific improvements are guided by property owners and the nine-member board that is made up of six stakeholders, two representatives from the City of Cincinnati, and one representative from Hamilton County.  In the past much of the focus has been on clean and safe operations that include the highly visible Downtown Cincinnati Ambassadors.  The six new board members, and their representative duties include the following:
  • Class A Office Building Representative: Lydia Jacobs-Horton, Director, Global Facilities and Real Estate, Global Business Services,  Procter & Gamble
  • Class B/C Office Building Representative: Jack H. Goodwin, Partner, Miller-Valentine Group
  • Diversified Representative: Andy Barlow, General Manager, Central Parking System
  • Diversified Representative: Roger Thesing, President, Thesing Real Estate Services
  • Retail Representative: Rich Cappel, Co-Owner, Cappel’s Inc.
  • Building Owners & Managers Association Representative: Steven Richter, Manager Atrium Two Building and Director, Asset Services, CB Richard Ellis
"This is an outstanding leadership team for DCID," said David Ginsburg, President and CEO of Downtown Cincinnati Inc.  "We’re looking forward to working with the new board to implement the 2010-2013 Services Plan that was so enthusiastically endorsed by our stakeholders. It is an exciting time for downtown, and I'm confident that the DCID public/private partnership will continue to thrive under the leadership of this new team."

The 2010-2013 Services Plan recently received approval from property owners within the defined areas of the district.  The vote passed with more than 70 percent approval - signaling to some that a strong interest and support exists for a higher level of services within Downtown Cincinnati.

"During a turning point in downtown history and during uncertain economic times, the downtown property owners demonstrated their continued support of the DCID by their approval of the 2010-2013 Downtown Services Plan," commented Rick Kimbler, Managing Partner of NorthPointe Group and outgoing DCID Board Chair.

Writer: Randy A. Simes
Photography by Scott Beseler
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