PRESS RELEASE

For more information, contact:                                                                                                                           December 27, 2016

 Assistant Administrator Steve Sievers       
 7850 Five Mile Road  Cincinnati, Ohio 45230                                                                                                                                                  Phone: (513) 688-8400   E-mail: ssievers@andersontownship.org

Two Anderson Township infrastructure projects receive state loans for 2017

Towne Center Way, Sanctuary of Ivy Hills subdivision roads to be upgraded

Two township roadway projects recently received state-funded loans through the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC).

The northern section of Towne Center Way will be upgraded in 2017, as a part of Anderson Towne Center changes that allows for Kroger’s expansion and further development. The southern portion of Towne Center Way was improved in 2016 and recently reopened with a slightly different traffic pattern.

In 2016, Kroger realigned the southern portion of Towne Center Way to connect to Wolfangel Road and erected a retaining wall. The $1.4 million OPWC loan would provide for the reconstruction of the northern portion of the road, previously known as the Beechmont Mall Road or Ring Road during the Beechmont Mall era. 

This road was assumed by the township as a public roadway in 2007 and would be upgraded to public road standards to accommodate ongoing and future development in the area.

Several aspects of the road will be improved. Planned upgrades include:

·        addition of a sidewalk,

·        METRO bus stop,

·        improved lighting,

·        storm water system upgrades including roadway leveling and

·        improved turning areas at key intersections.

The zero percent interest loan would allow for a 10-year payoff, and plans for construction to begin in late 2017, wrapping up into mid-2018.

“OPWC funding would allow for the township to make the necessary improvements now, in conjunction with adjacent redevelopment,” said Assistant Administrator for Operations Steve Sievers. “The loan would then be repaid using the tax revenue derived from these and additional new developments in the area,” he added.

“Anytime we can take advantage of programs like this to save the taxpayers money, I’m all for it,” said Township Trustee Andrew Pappas. “I’m glad the state made the program available and that the staff considered it to spur more development.”

For the Sanctuary of Ivy Hills project, the Ohio Public Works Commission will provide a $427,000 loan to facilitate the subdivision roadway rehabilitation project, with Anderson Township paying back the loan within five years at zero percent interest. Construction could begin in August 2017, with the roadwork completed in November. Improved streets include Innsbrook Place, Killington Lane, Wolf Run Court, Crooked Stick Court and Castle Pines Lane.

Public Works Director Richard Shelley noted, “The Ohio Public Works Commission funding enables us to make the improvements in this area now, before further deterioration occurs. By repaying this over several years, we will still have other funds to continue to make roadway improvements in other neighborhoods across our community.”