Efforts to Re-Purpose Property
The property at the top of the North Bend Road hill, with its panoramic views of the city of Cincinnati, seemed ripe for development. It was first sold in April 1973 to a developer, but plans fell through. This scenario played out numerous times over the next 18 years, with buyers including the Cincinnati Board of Education, who planned to relocate the School for the Creative and Performing Arts to the site; a Columbus evangelist, who planned a retreat center; Faith Fellowship Ministries, later known as King's Mountain, a pentecostal ministry; and a developer who planned to build townhouses, condominiums and single-family homes despite the opposition of neighboring homeowners. But ultimately, no one was able to figure out a way to use the buildings and land.
"Convent Land Sold," Cincinnati Post, April 26, 1973
Sold for $600,000 to a developer
"City schools to Buy Girls Town," Cincinnati Post, March 28, 1975, 1
Cincinnati Board of Education has signed agreement to buy property for $650,000. Plans to move Mt. Adams School for the Performing and Creative Arts there
"Religious retreat center planned," Cincinnati Post, Oct. 1, 1975, 15
Evangelist Leroy Jenkins bought 75-acre complex as site for major church and religious retreat center for nearly $700,000
"Faith Fellowship Plans Programs at Girls Town," Cincinnati Enquirer, December 3, 1976, 3
Nondenominational pentecostal ministry has leased property and will decide by Feb. 28 whether to buy for $700K
"Church group buys Girls Town," Cincinnati Post, April 20, 1977, 15
Bought by Faith Fellowship
"Residents Pack Public Hearing," Cincinnati Enquirer, October 12, 1990, Extra p. 7
View Place Civic Association opposed to zoning change
"Proposal for Property Opposed; Girls Town plan called 'drastic,'" Cincinnati Enquirer, October 30, 1990, Extra p. 5.
Hillside Trust also opposes plan
"Girls Town Zoning Change OK'd," Cincinnati Enquirer, December 21, 1990, 3
Hamilton County commissioners approved developer Jerry McGinty's request to change zoning from single-family to multifamily residential. Currently owned by Kings Mountain Faith Fellowship Ministry, which is selling for economic reasons. McGinty, of Stewart/McGinty Interests Inc., plans to build townhouses, condominiums and single-family homes. Developer had long fight with residents in the surrounding area and the Hillside Trust, a non-profit land conservation group
"$50 Million Complex Going Up in Finneytown," Cincinnati Post, January 29, 1991, 10
Construction to begin in March on $50 million residential devlopment on 60-acre site