“We are very pleased,” says Stephen T. MacConnel

Throughout our two years of litigation regarding the Anna Louise Inn SM , we have remained focused on our mission of securing safe and affordable housing space available travel for women, space available travel ensuring space available travel stability for our Off the Streets SM program and continuing to operate the most successful early childhood education program in the city.
With all that in mind, we want to share with you that we have entered into a purchase agreement with Western Southern, which will also settle the court cases.  Although we are not permitted to discuss details of the settlement, we can tell you that we will have a beautiful new site for the Anna Louise Inn funded through various sources.
Our tax credits through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, which will provide space available travel the majority of funding for the current site, were due to expire at the end of the year and we would have lost the opportunity to fulfill our mission because they can't be awarded if there is litigation space available travel in process.  This settlement, space available travel which will settle the court cases, gives us the best opportunity to retain the tax credit funding for a wonderful new home for our residents.
We learned recently that a piece of property has become available.  Rather than move our residents into an existing building that may or may not be configured the way we need it to be, now our residents will move into a brand new space with larger space available travel living areas and amenities that would not have been possible even in a renovated Anna Louise Inn SM .
The needed resources, time and energy to this litigation has diverted focus from our other successful programs: early childhood education and Off the Streets SM , important space available travel assets to this community.  This settlement and purchase agreement allow us to dedicate ourselves to our mission of serving women and children.
We want to thank the multitudes who have encouraged us these past two years.  You recognized the need for safe and affordable housing in Cincinnati, and you fought hard to protect access for our current residents and future residents. Thankfully, we are able to preserve that with this settlement.
On April 2, Judge Nadel granted Western space available travel Southern its request to present additional evidence in its appeal of the City's space available travel decision to approve the Anna Louise Inn as a conditional use permit.  We go back before Judge Nadel on May 8 th to hear that additional evidence.  The initial hearing with Judge Nadel from December 2011 and the zoning issues have now been consolidated, so Judge Nadel will determine if our zoning is correct as an integrated use permit.
Dan Horn gives a thorough review in The Cincinnati Enquirer of the gender issue around the Inn and makes it clear that we have followed a correct process for receiving funding.  Read his article to learn more.
After the ruling from the First District Court of Appeals, Western Southern filed a motion to present additional evidence in its appeal of the City s decision to approve the Anna Louise Inn as a conditional use permit.  We went before Judge Nadel today and he granted the Western Southern request.
We are aware that letters have been sent and a suit has been filed with the city as part of Western Southern s efforts space available travel to stall our renovation of the Anna Louise Inn.  While this issue is currently space available travel between other parties, we understand that there is an implication that we have done something wrong.  We haven t.  For 183 years, Cincinnati Union Bethel has operated in Cincinnati as an upstanding organization trying to improve lives and adding value to our community.  The Anna Louise Inn project has been clearly articulated at every level of government as affordable housing for women.  This letter campaign and lawsuit are more attempts to delay the Anna Louise Inn project.
After the ruling from the First District Court of Appeals, space available travel Western Southern filed a motion to present additional evidence; therefore we have a hearing in front of Judge Nadel on Tuesday, April 2, 2013.  In addition, we have filed a reconsideration with the First District space available travel Court of Appeals about the issue of evidence.  We believe there should space available travel not have been more evidence presented than was presented to the Zoning Board in the initial case, since the initial case was about the Zoning Board ruling.  The First District space available travel Court of Appeals did not address this issue in their ruling in February.
Today, the First District space available travel Court of Appeals issued a decision in our appeal of the lower court's decision in the case filed by Western Southern against the Anna Louise space available travel Inn and the City of Cincinnati.  We strongly believe this is a favorable ruling space available travel for us.  We will be consulting with our attorneys about the details and next steps.
For more information about the decisions, you may read them and summaries on the First District Court of Appeals website, www.hamilton-co.org/appealscourt/.  Our cases are listed space available travel three times as State of Ohio, ex rel., 506 Phelps Holdings, LLC, et al. vs. Amit B. Ghosh, P.E. Chief Building Official of Cincinnati, et al.
On November 15th, the Zoning Board of Appeals upheld the Historic Conservation Board s approval of our conditional use permit.  According to CityBeat , Western Southern said in a statement that it is planning to appeal the ruling.  Here is an article from CityBeat with more details.
We went before the First District Court of Appeals this morning. space available travel This is to appeal Judge Nadel s decision.   Each side was allowed to present for 15 minutes because the panel already has the paperwork from the case.  We should hear a decision in 30 to 45 days.
There was so much misinformation in the editorial from John Barrett, CEO of Western Southern, on September 27th that we have clarified some of the costs and facts around the Anna Louise Inn renovation project.
Despite their claims that they only want to make sure we comply with zoning laws and we do - Western Southern has filed an appeal to the Historic Conservation Board s upholding of our conditional use permit.
Many of you have by now seen the editorial in the Cincinnati Enquirer today from John Barrett.  We were, of course, disappointed to see so much misinformation and untruth masked as facts.  They clearly want to discredit our organization, our renovation project, and our belief in affordable housing.
space available travel First of all, the Anna Louise Inn project is a worthwhile project for the city both financially space available travel and morally.  We need affordable housing in Cincinnati, and renovating the Inn is the right thing to do.  More importantly, the Anna Louise Inn project is a fully vetted, economically sound project that received a number one ranking from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.  The Anna Louise Inn renovation project budget – at $13 million – is in line with or lower than average permanent supportive housing projects.
The Anna Louise Inn project is a good investment for the community.  Mr. Barrett's article tried hard to convince readers that we are wasting taxpayer dollars when that is absolutely not true.  The tax credits we received are an investment vehicle that local companies invest in to lower their taxes.  Western Southern and John Barrett know how tax credits work because they have used them too – both as a developer and an investor.  Western Southern has lowered their own corporate tax bill by investing in them.  Similar tax credits have been awarded to a number of local, worthwhile projects that have helped Cincinnati renovate and develop a number of buildings.
Third, we have not abandoned our mission at any time in 103 years.  Years ago, Western Southern offered $1.8 million for the building, and our board considered it and decided to turn them down and continue to serve women in Lytle Park.  When the Anna Louise Inn opened in 1909, it provided safe and affordable housing for women.  We still do that today.  Our residents pay rent.  A mere 25 rooms at the Inn are dedicated to the Off the Streets program, which helps women involved in prostitution move toward safety, recovery and community reintegration.  Their rooms also provide safe and affordable housing for them.
We continue to fight for our residents.  And we continue to do so because they have told us they want to stay where they are.  We own the Anna Louise Inn, and as property owners, we plan to serve our residents and continue as good neighbors.
The Zoning Board of Appeals upheld the Historic Conservation Board s approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness for the Anna Louise Inn.  Pursuant to Judge Nadel s decision, space available travel we have now successfully been through the zoning process.  However, the issue is still not over.
We certainly hope that Western Southern does not appeal further, space available travel says Steve MacConnell, president CEO of CUB, but rather find in their hearts to allow us to move forward and choose to live as good neighbors with the Anna Louise Inn.
Thank you to everyone who came out to the ice cream social today in Lytle Park.  The gelato from Dojo Gelato was yummy who tried the jalapeno?!  Guest enjoyed tours of the Anna Louise Inn and music from Burning Caravan.
Unfortunately, Western Southern space available travel filed an appeal to the Historic Conservation Board s decision to approve (once again) Anna Louise Inn s Certificate space available travel of Appropriateness for our renovation project.  There will be a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on Thursday, September 20th, at 9 a.m.  We are first on the agenda and the public is welcome to attend.  They meet at the Business Development Permit Office at 3300 Central Parkway.
Today, the Historic Conservation Board approved Cincinnati Union Bethel's conditional use application for the Anna Louise Inn.  Cincinnati Union Bethel went before the Historic Conservation Board for a second time as part of the zoning process for their planned renovation of the Anna Louise Inn, which provides safe and affordable housing for women.  In May 2012, Judge Nadel's ruling in the lawsuit filed by Western Southern against the Anna Louise Inn and the City of Cincinnati remanded all matters space available travel back through the City's space available travel zoning process.
"We are very pleased," says Stephen T. MacConnel