Bond Hill

Bond Hill is a neighborhood that has seen a lot of decline over the latter decades of the 20th century. Today, there are efforts to revitalize the community with construction of new housing along Langdon Farm. Housing in Bond Hill tends to be quite affordable, but there are many run down homes in areas that may be less than safe. Crime in Bond Hill continues to be an issue.

Bond Hill is home to the very popular Maketewah Country Club. I know many people who play golf at Maketewah, which has the reputation as the "friendliest club in town." The membership at Maketewah is diverse, as is the Bond Hill neighborhood it is situated in. The Bond Hill community is fairly racially balanced, making it a more diverse neighborhood than some of its surrounding communities.

Shopping in Bond Hill is not what it used to be, but there are still a few places to go in the community, many of them centered on African American culture. Back in the day, Jordan Crossing was a bustling mall, called the Swifton Shopping Center. I can remember my mom taking me there to shop when I was little. Over the decades, as the neighborhood declined, so did the occupancy of the mall. Located across the street along Reading Road is Woodward Career Technical High School, part of the Cincinnati Public Schools.

Bond Hill is also home to The Cincinnati Gardens, located along Seymour Avenue. The Gardens was once the premier event venue in Cincinnati and was the 7th largest venue of its kind when it opened in 1949. All kinds of events have been hosted here from boxing to hockey, to the NBA All-Star game and various live concerts from the Beatles to Madonna to Metallica. Today, the Gardens is host to many high school and youth hockey games. Today the Gardens is home to Cincinnati Rollergirls (roller derby), the Cincinnati Kings (indoor soccer), and Cincinnati Commandos (indoor football).

Overall, Bond Hill is a decent neighborhood with some issues, but changes seem to be making a difference in the community. It is centrally located with easy access to Interstate 75 (its western border) and to Interstate 71 via the Norwood Lateral, Route 562.

Like many Cincinnati neighborhoods, Bond Hill is changing, mostly for the better. Over the years it has remained a neighborhood of mostly small working class residences, apartments and townhomes. There are also a few hidden streets lined with beautiful old showplaces, a number of newly constructed homes and a scattering of businesses.

There are several areas of new homes, including a housing development on Langdon Farm Rd. that was the 2011 location of Citirama, the city's urban home showcase. Bond Hill Is easily accessible via State Route 562, the strip between I-71 and I-75 that locals call “Norwood Lateral.”

Bond Hill has a nearly balanced White/African American racial mix and a small “other” population. There are a few problems with crime, but the Bond Hill Community Council and Neighborhood Watch work with the police to curb criminal activities.

Local Businesses.
There's a Walgreen's at Seymour and Reading and a few shops in Hillcrest Plaza. When Kroger left a few years ago, Sav-a-Lot Groceries filled the void. Captain D's, McDonald's and Ritchies Fast Food have remained open for years. There are 4 bars in Bond hill, including Sonny's All That Jazz on California Ave.

Bond hill has a few unique businesses and organizations, like the factory that produces Graeter's Ice Cream, Restore - One of the city's two Habitat for Humanity home materials resale stores, St Aloyisius Orphage and Glad House: behavioral services for children of addicted parents.

Jordan's Crossing
Jordan's Crossing used to be a full service shopping center years ago. These days it houses 9 retail and service businesses; Community Action Agency and 3 other non profit organizations; 6 churches, including Jordan Crossing owner, Allen Temple A. M. E.

Parks and Recreation
-Bond Hill City Park is on California Ave.
-Roselawn City Park is on Seymour Ave.
-Cincinnati Gardens, at the edge of Bond Hill in Norwood, has been holding concerts and sporting events for decades.

Education
Cincinnati Public Schools
-Bond Hill Academy- pre-8, 1510 California Ave.
-Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies- Pre-8, 1908 Seymour Ave.
-Woodward Career Technical High School-9-12, 7005 Reading Rd

Private or Charter Schools
-Horizon Science Academy Charter School (horizoncincy.org)
-Phoenix Community Learning Center (thephoenixcommunitylearningcenter.org)
-Pace High School (pacehigh.org)
-St. Aloyisius 4721 Reading (staloysiuscincinnati.org)
-National College, 6871 Steger Dr.(national-college.edu).

There are no hospitals in Bond Hill, but there are several medical facilities less than a 15 drive away.