SUMMARY
The heart of Cincinnati is arguably Over-the-Rhine, a compact neighborhood built largely by German immigrants into a center of cultural and economic vibrancy. In 1850, it was bursting with 43,000 people. Old-world churches and biergartens figured prominently in characteristic Federalist and Italianate architecture. More than any neighborhood, the area reflected the promise of 19th-century Cincinnati, one of the most important manufacturing cities in America.

CONTEXT
In the interwar period, it was a destination for Appalachian populations. Then, after World War II, as was the case for many post-war American cities, urban decay followed. A victim of misguided federal urban renewal initiatives and suburban flight, the neighborhood continued to deteriorate. Accented by issues of race and class, Over-the-Rhine witnessed violent rioting and looting in 2001, and shortly became journalistic shorthand for “institutional racism” by national news media. In the wake of this portrayal, the neighborhood continued its decline, and the city—once ranked among the most livable in the US—began showing up at the bottom of surveys. A Forbes magazine report rated Cincinnati 39th of 40 major metro areas for singles life. Hamilton County experienced net population loss during the 1990s and early 2000s—one of the worst performances of any major metro area in the country. By 2003, Over-the-Rhine had less than 7,500 people, few with opportunities. The neighborhood hit rock bottom.

Meanwhile, many American cities were discovering the vital link between a vibrant

urban core and municipal success. Would Cincinnati rebound? Concerned citizens joined city officials to develop the Over-the-Rhine Development Plan. Their recommendations confronted challenges associated with “disinvestment, the loss of population and economic activity, crime and the perception of an unsafe environment, concentrations of poverty, and the lack of community cohesion in a racially and economically diverse neighborhood.” Investment began to flow during a new chapter of renewed hope and intent. At the same time, the National Historic Trust for Preservation designated Over-the-Rhine one of its 11-most endangered places in the country.

NARRATIVE
Rebirth of Over-the-Rhine is told from the perspective of several business and social entrepreneurs during this renaissance. The core structure is chronological, interspersed with relevant archive footage that advances the narrative. These charismatic characters have staked their personal and professional futures on the fortunes of Over-the-Rhine. One invested significant capital in a long dormant brand with both local and international caché; another has injected an uber-hipness into a tired restaurant industry; a third has reinvented social services, with surprising results; while a fourth is living in a 60,000 square-foot defunct brewery in a bold real estate gambit. A colorful cast in a unique American neighborhood, these individuals have a passion to revitalize Over-the-Rhine. Will they succeed in bringing it back?