City Councilmember Evan Nolan has launched a new “Community Investment Subcommittee,” designed to direct city resources toward historically underserved neighborhoods—starting with Bond Hill. Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney serves as the subcommittee’s vice-chair.
The initiative marks a focused push to ensure that communities like Bond Hill, long overlooked for major development, finally receive meaningful investment. Nolan emphasized that this subcommittee is not simply about new projects but about creating a sustainable process for identifying neighborhood priorities and channeling city funds effectively.
A cornerstone of the effort is the allocation of $6.5 million designated for Bond Hill redevelopment. The funding stems from a tax abatement refund from Mercy Health, which was required to repay the funds upon vacating and selling its Bond Hill building on Reading Rd. by the Brigid Kelly Lateral. Hamilton County purchased the Mercy Health site to house its Jobs & Family Services offices.
At the subcommittee’s first meeting, held on Oct. 30 in City Council Chambers, Nolan said his approach begins with listening to residents rather than imposing a pre-set agenda. “I don’t have an agenda myself other than we need to build more housing—that is a stated goal of this city,” he said. “More housing, and that includes more affordable housing.”
The meeting drew dozens of residents and community leaders who shared ideas for how the funding should be used. Among the top priorities: converting vacant land into senior housing, single-family homes, and mixed-use developments to strengthen the local tax base.
Vice President of the Bond Hill Community Council, Laketa Cole, spoke about the neighborhood’s legacy and the significance of this moment. She recalled that Swifton Commons once stood as “a sense of pride for the Black community here in Bond Hill.” Now, she said, the focus must be on rebuilding that pride through growth and opportunity. “Empty storefronts and empty lots have to be turned into usable space for the next generation,” Cole said. “We want our tax base to grow.”
Nolan said the subcommittee’s first goal is to gather data and develop a clear picture of the current landscape in Bond Hill. “It is not to discuss any particular development on any particular property,” he said. “We really want to talk about the lay of the land.”
The Community Investment Subcommittee will include input from residents, neighborhood associations, non-profits, local business owners, and city departments. Nolan hopes this structure will ensure that development aligns with the needs of the residents most affected.
The move aligns with Nolan’s broader vision for equitable growth across Cincinnati. During his successful 2025 campaign to keep his seat on City Council, he spoke about the importance of updating the city’s long-standing master plan to promote fairness in how resources are distributed. “We need to grow equitably,” Nolan said during a prior interview. “That means neighborhoods that have been left behind must be part of Cincinnati’s future.”
Residents expressed cautious optimism following the meeting, noting that Bond Hill has often been the subject of promises that failed to materialize. This time, many said, the city’s direct engagement feels more substantial.
With the new subcommittee now active, Bond Hill stands at the forefront of Cincinnati’s push to invest in communities that have too often been forgotten. Nolan says this is just the beginning of a city-wide strategy that could eventually extend to other neighborhoods facing similar challenges.