What does the "beautification" of a historic landmark truly cost? Piatt Park, the oldest park in Cincinnati, is currently at the center of a heated debate that pits urban redevelopment against the grassroots community members who use the space to provide food, clothing, and most importantly humanity.
Before diving into the politics of this shift, we must address the language used in this debate. While city officials and developers often use the word "homeless," at Zaiear, we choose the term unhoused. Technically, these members of our community are not homeless; Cincinnati is their home. They share this town with us. They are simply without a house, and that distinction changes how we view their right to exist in public spaces.
The Vote for Redevelopment
On April 16, the Cincinnati Park Board voted to approve a plan granting the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) a lease on Piatt Park. This move effectively hands over management of the historic space to a private developer.
According to reporting by WVXU, 3CDC Executive VP of Development Katie Westbrook justified the intervention by focusing on the area’s "vacancy."
"I think that the misuse of the park has really been enabled because of the vacancy around the area," Westbrook stated. "The loss of office workers and the transformation of those buildings to residential that is taking several years. There's a lot of drug use; just generally unwanted behavior."
In this context, 3CDC reportedly used photos of people handing out food to the unhoused as evidence of "misuse."
psl.cincinnati Instagram Post:
The Community Strikes Back
While 3CDC sees a "vacant" problem, local organizations see a vibrant, necessary community hub. Project Save Lives (PSL) and The TRIIBE Foundation have used Piatt Park as a frontline for service, transforming the space into what TRIIBE calls "PotLuck Day."
Triibefoundation PotLuck Day energy:
Community leaders are pushing back, explaining that their service isn't something that can simply be "moved" to a less visible corner. Sappha, a member of the TRIIBE Foundation, released a statement clarifying why these roots in Piatt Park are essential to the people they serve.
Siri Amani in 2018 said:
"Ppl are really trying to get US to move the location. Like that’s the only solution lolNah, I’m down for extending out into other areas TOO.But please understand we WILL be using Piatt Park still.And this is why:Most places we move will definitely charge for us being there anyway lol. But that aside, what we all have to understand about people experiencing homelessness is this;We have the privilege of instant communication. Understand it took us about 2-3 months, and a LOT of driving around talking to ppl, visiting camps, and shelters to get everyone on board for ONE spot. And we still missed many!This is our 5th month of doing potluck and the people who need it the most have made it apart of their routine. They know that once a month, they can get everything they need right across the street from one of their only safe havens in this city... "
Sappha’s Facebook Statement:
Collaboration Over Dehumanization
This brings us to a fundamental question: What is the point of beautifying a city if you don’t want to take care of the people living in it?
Development and community service do not have to be enemies. Some organizations focus on the skyline; others focus on the people on the sidewalk. Both are vital missions for any healthy city. However, trying to dehumanize one side to justify the progress of the other solves nothing.
Cincinnati has a massive opportunity here for collaboration. We can make our city great, both the architecture and the people but only if we stop treating the unhoused as "vacancies" and start treating them as neighbors.
