Hinutech

The Hamilton Journal News reported today that the Elder-Beerman store downtown will be closing this spring displacing 75 employees and leaving yet another hole in Hamilton's already-struggling economy.

This is bad news for the city. Over the 5.5. years that I have called Hamilton home, I have seen a city that is going through an identity crisis. Steeped in tradition, most of the locals hold on to a time when Hamilton was a manufacturing powerhouse thanks to its proximity to the Great Miami River. Those days are gone, and Hamilton has failed to reinvent itself.

Hamilton has so much potential to be a great city. We are located on a beautiful river. We have a branch of Miami University. We are 15 minutes from Oxford, and many Miami University faculty call Hamilton home. We have a population of people who are dedicated to this town (the people from whom we purchased our home lived here for 30 years...they moved 2 blocks away because they love the neighborhood so much).

Hamilton could reinvent itself much in the way that Cincinnati's Northside has. Hamilton could use its diminished property values and vacant buildings to become a destination for artists. With the support of Miami University and The Fitton Center For Creative Arts, Hamilton could embrace musicians, sculptors and painters. We could learn from San Antonio and create a river walk that becomes a destination for people. We could become known as a hub for small businesses (we already have 2 incubators - BizTech and VORA Technology Park) and take advantage of our proximity to Cincinnati and Dayton. We could do so much here, and I am hopeful that the City Council and community leaders can do something to turn Hamilton around. With so many assets, it would be a shame to continue wasting our amazing potential.