Tiny homes for veterans planned for Madisonville

 Notes

Meeting started at 6:45 p.m.

The environment was relaxed and friendly. Community members began preparing for the meeting at 6:30 p.m. with light discussions. Shortly after, the meeting began with a call to order, the Pledge of Allegiance, the treasurer’s report and the public administration announcement. The meeting ended at its set time of 8 p.m. 

Officer Monique Martin from the Cincinnati Police Department:

Martin told residents to be mindful when having packages delivered to their homes. Sometimes companies will give you a notification about arrival time. Let your neighbors know if you’re having a package delivered because sometimes they are stolen off of porches, he said.

Reported crimes in past 28 days

• Two auto thefts
• Two robberies
• Two aggravated assaults
• One homicide
• Six personal/other thefts

Dispatch directive patrols have been implemented to get officers out of their vehicles as an “on-foot” directive to engage with citizens and businesses:

Number of on-foot directive patrols in 2026:

• January: Three directive patrols
• February: Three directive patrolsMarch: Seven directive patrols., 7
• The police department plans to maintain a heavy presence this summer, but officers are  being mindful to not be overly present.

Audience question to Martin:

 “Are you getting a positive response?”

• This question was in regards to directive patrols and reported concerns of disruptions from kids at the Madisonville Public Library.

           Martin:

 “Yes, except for kids at the library.”

• Proposed the plan of being proactive with youth without overpolicing.
• Two complaints have been made so far. He said that it is not enough for the police department to make a decision yet. There’s a need for community members to provide more feedback on what can be done to provide safety for both kids and residents.
• Martin said the kids at the Madisonville Library are hanging around and playing, but not to the extent of an emergency.

Librarian:

 “Young kids play around, but not to the extent to bring in higher authorities. Nothing has been done that consists of breaking into cars.”

•  Asked the audience to build rapport with kids to prevent antagonizing responses from them. Antagonizing them makes them worse, the librarian said.

Audience member statement: 

“The library is a public plaza.” 

• Martin proposed a roundtable to discuss the best outlet for the kids of Madisonville. Evanston has been developing programs. 

Audience member question: 

“ Is funding available to create programs for teens?”

• Opportunities have been presented to discover activities and locations for WIFI outside the library.
• Audience members questioned why programs have not been implemented to engage kids after school. They suggested basketball.

Bryan Servizzi, Madisonville Recreation Center manager:

• Expressed the need to follow policies to ensure teens are protected from the general public within recreation centers.
• The pool will be open June 4 through Aug. 10. A shutdown is planned afterwards for repair. No set date for pool to reopen.
• Rec @ Night teen program will take place every Saturday this summer.
• Swim lessons are available for youth.

Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Kari Bloom:

• Proposed a collaboration of corporate, police, nonprofits and rec centers to create a system for kids involving the “ Big Dogs” to do the administrative heavy lifting to get things going. 
• Bloom expressed the desire to meet kids beyond the court system in employment opportunities and community centers.

Pam Wilder, Shroder High School

• Testing time

• She said testing for graduation creates stressors for students and adults.
• Shouted out Cincinnati Recreation Commission for baseball fields.
• Staff and teacher  appreciation day will be May 4. Invites everyone to get involved to uplift educators.

Madisonville Public Library: 

• Summer Reading Program: Camping community happens starting this Saturday. The community is asked to come together.
• Six-hour homeownership workshop at the library to apply for grants. Certificates last for a year. Lunch included. 

Audience Concern: Change in the culture in housing in Madisonville that is said to cater to young professionals without children instead of to families. 

Artsville: 

• Survey and listening session for Black Lives Matter project at Artsville. Details coming soon.  
• Audience member: St. Vincent de Paul is open to helping people with gas and electric bills. 

Tiny home project

• Tiny Home for Veterans project. Total cost: $2.02 million

• Hamilton County ARPA Grant: $1 million.
• Support pledged to date: $150,000.

                                         ($20,000) 4/15/2026

• Pledges due by June 30: $750,000
• Grant has been given tentatively if they raise $750,000 by June 30.$2 million is still set to be raised by the end of this year. 
• The plan is to rent tiny homes to single-person or two-member households, with the focus being on military veterans.  
• Madisonville is set to be the first Cincinnati neighborhood to introduce tiny homes.

TIF Fund

• Vote: A vote was presented in the room to approve or disapprove the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) fund for sidewalk repairs on Madison Avenue to Preston Avenue ($192,000). Plan approved, 15 approved; no one disapproved.

Judge Kari Bloom:

• Citywide Curfew
• Federal law states kids are not allowed to be put into jail if it’s too late after curfew. 
• Learn more about Juvenile Court at https://juvenile-court.org/judges-and-magistrates/
• Family-engaged probation was presented with the plan to learn parenting styles and gain understanding of children’s behavior.
• Addresses the need for a Madisonville Community Court to address issues from within the neighborhood.  

The meeting ended at 8 p.m. 

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcincinnati.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

Find more Documenters’ notes here.