St. Bernard council adopts Heritage Hill plan referral, hears neighborhood revitalization concepts

St. Bernard's Village Council unanimously adopted a resolution on May 28 referring the Heritage Hill District plan to the Planning Commission after a presentation from Yarding Company planners.

Daniela Beltran, planning team lead with Yarding Company, presented the St. Bernard Heritage Hill District plan, a mini‑planning grant product funded with Hamilton County. Beltran said the plan focuses on the Vine Street business district and advances a compact, walkable vision intended to increase activity and retain local businesses. "We really want to build on small wins," she said, citing storefront beautification, flower pots placed by a corporate partner, and tactical public‑space improvements.

The plan lays out a three‑section geography along Vine Street, with site‑level concepts that include infill residential with ground‑floor retail at 454 Vine; small exterior and landscaping improvements at a vacant strip center at 4425 Vine to attract food and beverage tenants; an amphitheater/step seating concept linking five parcels at 4614 Vine to Vine Street Park; and adaptive reuse of the old police station (now referred to as "Bernie's") as a venue with patio and garage‑bay activation to host events. The plan also recommends housing capacity to sustain retail, strengthened connections between Vine Street and the adjacent park, and a phased action plan to coordinate public and private investment.

Beltran described short‑term items such as murals, seating and programming to activate storefronts and longer‑term options that would require land control or developer partnerships. She said the plan includes potential funding sources at the county and state levels and a recommended action timeline. Council member Jeff Edwards was acknowledged as a task‑force participant.

After the presentation, council placed Resolution No. 9, 2026, on the table, suspended further readings and adopted it by recorded vote (six ayes, no nays). The resolution formally refers the Heritage Hill District plan to the Planning Commission and recognizes the task force that produced it.

Next steps noted during the meeting include Planning Commission review and future work to issue requests for proposals to secure a developer for larger mixed‑use projects outlined in the strategic plan.