Recent Cincinnati Enquirer articles describe plans to fix up Mt. Lookout Square. As a resident of Mt. Lookout, I am very happy that neighborhood businesses and residents are working to improve the focal point of the community. When shopping for a home, it was important to me to have businesses to walk to (a specific requirement was good coffee within walking distance, and Lookout Joe’s follows through). The square has so many things going for it – practical grocery and drug stores, vibrant nightlife, and some unique businesses such as “Sprouts” flowers, a game store, and a used book store. But it does need some sprucing up – most importantly a safer and more appealing pedestrian environment.
Here are the keys to success for revitalizing Mt. Lookout Square:
- Traffic calming measures – reduce the number of lanes of through traffic to one lane on both sides of the square. (Think of Columbia Parkway through Mariemont). Use bulb-outs at pedestrian crossings and add pavers to identify pedestrian crossings. Similar decorative treatments to the sidewalks would add nice character.
- Create an appealing focal point in the center of the square and remove the ugly concrete barriers around the outside.
- Create more efficient parking by replacing the parallel parking spaces with diagonal parking. (Similar to Hyde Park Square).
- Add more greenery – street trees and landscaping.
- Appealing street furniture – benches, lights, bike racks.
- Get money to implement the plan! The business district may be eligible for National Trust’s Main Street program.
Here are links to Mt. Lookout spruce up planned and Fixing Mt. Lookout Square.
