Greenhills is one of only four planned “New Deal” communities in the United States and only three were built.  The community is, like many small communities in need of financial revitalization.  Recently a developer was introduced to provide housing to help “increase” property values.  It has been anything but a success as little to no planning or historic consultation was done prior to the building of these homes with detrimental results to the existing fabric of the community.  In an effort to combat the misled development the Greenhills Historical Society recently held a roundtable with some of the areas notable architects, planners and historians.  The list of attendees assembled is a tribute to the Historical Society’s dedication to the cause and the historical significance of Greenhills.  There are a number of political and fiscal issues that MUST be addressed in addition to the design and historical issues.  University of Cincinnati Architecture Department is holding a spring studio dedicated to studying the town and to discuss viable design and planning options for town revitalization.  Professors Patrick Snadon and Udo Greinacher with vast expertise coupled with the creative spirit and hard work the students will provide should be a great momentum builder, in addition to the city manager hiring Historical consultant Beth Sollenberger to do an historical study and consultation (which she has already done) for the survival of the character of the community.  The studio begins the spring quarter so a tremendous amount of community documentation will be done.  Patrick and Udo are very interested in us (CF3) with the number of architects in the club to be involved with the design for new residential units to be proposed for the community.  The potential of the community is staggering, but it will take a monumental effort to realize it.  I did not realize the historical significance of the community until the morning presentations at the roundtable on Saturday.  The individual buildings themselves are not of glamorous design per se, but the fact that they "are" designed and sited within the context of the overall community planning gives them significance as a whole.  All I can say is that it is quite a worthy effort and that we can help to preserve the spirit of the community and it "is" at its core essence "Modern".  Please follow the links to the Historical Society which does a much better job explaining it than I do.  We are invited to have a member walking tour coupled with the community tour to be held on May 19, 2007.  This is a great opportunity to get out and walk the town and learn first hand what makes this place so special.  
 
Mike Keifling
 
 
http://www.greenhillshistoricalsociety.org/
 
http://www.greenhillsohio.org/

The event was pot luck and everyone brought their favorite 50s dish. Everything from a chocolate fountain to pigs in the blanket were contributed. The event was held at Susan and Arlen Rissover's home.

Designed by a local architect, Fred Pressler, the Amberly home is furnished with a great collection of modern designs. Collecting has been a favorite past time of Arlen and Susan.

After many informal meetings a kickoff party was held at Susan and Arlen Rissover's house. Their home was designed by the owner architect Fred Pressler. It was well attended and many influencial Cincinnati modernists came and offered their support for the group.

According to an article by Polly Cramer in the Cincinnati Post, August 12, 1958: "The Pressler Home Combines Functionalism and Warmth."

On a nice Spring day in 2005, Chuck Lohre and Janet Groeber volunteered to help clean up Bellevue Hill Park.

From the City of Cincinnati Park Dept web site, "The whimsical pavilion stands on the site of the famed Bellevue House and incline (demolished). built in 1955, when outdoor dancing was the rage, this free-form stone building consists of a circular domed core with a flat cantilevered roof extending over a recessed bandstand and dancing area. Three mushroom-shaped concrete pergolas, each with a canopy of open grillwork supported by a cluster of columns. One of the last park buildings designed by R. Carl Freund, this pavilion reflects the 1950s and the undeniable influence of Frank Lloyd Wright's late work and the organic approach to architecture." http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityparks/pages/-4662-/

Photo by Chuck Lohre