DORA Overview – Westwood Civic Association

The goal of creating a DORA District in Westwood is to help continue the momentum of revitalization here in Westwood by furthering efforts to make our Westwood Town District a destination, help our businesses prosper, attract additional businesses and future residents, and further activate the recently renovated Westwood Town Hall Park. From a stakeholder perspective, we worked closely on the design of our DORA with local business owners, community groups, hundreds of residents, and nearby churches and schools to garner support. Business owners and every one of our community groups wrote letters of support. We have also worked closely with a number of City groups including District 3 Police, CRC, Parks, DOTE, Community & Economic Development and Public Services. Cincinnati Police District 3 is fully supportive and has developed plans to ensure its success. Further activating the district and the park, they feel, will further reduce crime and increase safety by ensuring more activity and “eyes on the street”. We have defined our proposed DORA area to be a tight, controllable area that does not include any sidewalks bordering churches, schools or residential properties. We have defined our proposed DORA hours based on input from key stakeholders. We are not trying to replicate the Banks, Cheviot or other larger DORAs. We have defined the Westwood DORA to uniquely fit with what Westwood is all about as a neighborhood. More similar DORA models would be those in Loveland or Milford. Based on the input we have received, we have a good sense of most of the issues we need to make sure are addressed. If, however, new ones are uncovered in these sessions, that would be a gift that we can then factor in to enhance our implementation plans. With implementation likely in the winter months, this will give us a chance for a “soft opening” under low volumes to work any kinks out,
followed by more of a grand opening in the spring. Discussions with and visits to other municipalities surrounding Cincinnati that have DORAs gave us confidence, not only in the benefits of a DORA, but also in our ability to introduce and manage a DORA effectively in Westwood. These other DORAs have experienced benefits, but no issues. A standing DORA Management Committee will be formed under the Westwood Civic Association to ensure this remains true for us as well. For some, having a DORA in place has been incorporated into their marketing campaigns and websites to attract additional visitors and development to their business district. Our experience with the temporary ability for restaurants and bars to add sidewalk and park seating, and serve drinks there, due to COVID–19 gives us confidence that a DORA can be implemented without any issues. We experienced zero issues over the nine months when that model was in place. The flexibility provided by that option was a lifesaver for those businesses. A DORA allows such benefits to continue even beyond COVID–19 and provides even more flexibility for businesses than those temporary measures provided. Instead of being served drinks in the park by business employees, customers can walk the drinks over to the park themselves or elsewhere within the defined DORA area. Drinks just need to be put in a specially marked DORA plastic cup. If there’s a long wait at a restaurant, a customer can either wait there, or get a drink in a DORA cup and hang out in the park or possibly browse at retail shops with a drink in hand (for those shops that want to participate) until they’re texted that their table is ready. Signage will be put in place to make it clear where the DORA area ends in every direction. Signage will also be placed in the windows of businesses indicating who is participating in the DORA and who is not. Signage also will include QR codes, with a link to a specific page of the Westwood Civic Association website (westwoodcivic.org/dora) that will provide more information including a map of the DORA, a list of participating businesses and the rules for the DORA. The page will also provide an option for feedback on suggested improvements or issues. Fill out my online form.