Northern Kentucky took center stage during the Kentucky gubernatorial race, a housing study revealing Boone County has more available jobs than housing, and an over-budget Boone County animal shelter construction project were among the top stories of the year for Boone County reporter Douglas Clark.
Beshear & Cameron square off at Northern Kentucky University
Kentucky gubernatorial candidates Gov. Andy Beshear and Attorney General Daniel Cameron met for a debate on Oct. 16 at the George and Ellen Rieveschl Digitorium on the Northern Kentucky University campus, harpooning each other’s platforms – while attempting to demonstrate to voters why they were the best choice to lead the state.
The candidates fielded questions from panelists on various topics, including labor, public schools, education, abortion, death penalty expansion and healthcare.
More Boone County jobs available than housing, report finds
Boone County is creating more jobs than it has housing for those workers, the Northern Kentucky Housing Data Study revealed. Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton Counties’ fiscal courts, as well as CVG Airport, funded the analysis.
Boone County is growing with regard to the logistics, transportation and manufacturing cluster, but a housing gap remains for lower-income workers supporting those expanding sectors, study organizers said.
Other study findings include:
- Boone County is deficient in smaller, less expensive rental units, as well as one and two-bedroom ownership units.
- New construction in Boone County for homeownership is concentrated in single-family subdivisions targeting three and four-plus bedroom households earning between $75,000 per year and $150,000.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center breaks ground on a new facility in Union
Representatives from the healthcare provider joined City of Union officials, donors and a host of well-wishers for a groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 17 at 2015 Children’s Way in the Union Promenade mixed-use development under construction on U.S. Route 42.
The one-story building, which will be named the Cincinnati Children’s Brandon and Kelly Janszen Union KY Building, will be visible from the highway’s intersection with Sweet Harmony Lane and once completed in the spring of 2025, will deliver a combination of pediatric primary care and specialty care, officials said.
The initial cost of the project, which includes the purchase of land for the development, is estimated at $22.5 million.
Specialty clinics planned for the local facility include:
- Adolescent Medicine
- Dermatology
- Diabetes
- Gynecology
- Human genetics
Boone County animal shelter project over budget by $280k
Citing issues encountered amid the work, the cost of the Boone County animal shelter construction project will exceed the budget by approximately $280,000.
The Boone County Fiscal Court voted 4-0 in October to approve the change orders at the Burlington construction venue totaling $280,000. A change order is the approval of any change in scope to a project, Webster said.
The approved increase was driven by the following issues encountered during the project, Boone County Administrator Matthew Webster told LINK nky.
- Sanitary sewer re-design and relocation ($92,000).
- Access Control/ Camera System / Security System technology Integration ($90,000).
- Kennel and cage system ($40,000).
- Asphalt ($26,000).
- Fencing/site security ($32,000).
On an $8.3 million project, the county is pleased to hold the construction project cost hike to a 1.5% net increase, Webster said.
Boone County residents raise concerns over apartment complex plan
A developer’s plan for an apartment complex was met with resistance by some Boone County residents. The project calls for Continental Properties to build 312 multi-family units on 20 acres along Paddock Drive between Richwood Road and Stirrup Lane, and Frogtown Connector Road.
As a national developer, Continental Properties has over 125 communities nationwide, Miller said, adding the company is involved with its projects from start to completion.
But just under two dozen residents spoke during a December Boone County Planning Commission public hearing to address increased traffic, the potential for vandalism and crime, decreased property value concerns, noise pollution and compromised quality of life.
The Boone County Planning Commission could vote on the apartment complex plan request at 7 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2024, in the Boone County Administration Building Fiscal Courtroom to advance it to Boone County Fiscal Court for final consideration, officials said.