Fay Apartments

In making a change, you have to start somewhere. For the Fay Apartments, an apartment complex so large it has a Cincinnati neighborhood designation, change began with a 36 million dollar remodeling job from top to bottom. They didn't just do a cosmetic job, they upgraded the buildings with green features. They landscaped the grounds. They also officially changed the name to the Villages at Roll Hill, the name of the hilltop area before the civil war.

The complex is a low in income development where residents pay based on income and only 10% of the population are non-African American. It's not for everyone, but if you are low income and need a new start, it could fit your needs perfectly.

I've been on the Fay Apartments grounds only once a few years back when my son and I were canvassing door to door. They were closing and boarding up buildings in preparation for the original attempt at remodeling, which fell through due to the financial downturn. In general the grounds were neat and clean. Still I remember feeling uncomfortable, thinking of all those past years of reported crime.

The good news is, since the renovation and reopening as the Villages at Roll Hill, crime has dropped. Although I still can't imagine walking the neighborhood after dark, change is happening.

Shopping and entertainment
It's an apartment complex, so of course there are no shops or entertainment in the neighborhood. As they're on the west side of town, anything a resident needs is a convenient 10 to 20 minute drive away.

Schools
There are no schools on the premises, but the the Village at Roll Hill offers year round first and second shift day care on site.

Recreation
They have a clubhouse, playground, baseball diamonds and a basketball court on site. There are programs for seniors, a Saint X sponsored Big Brother program, a parenting skills program, high speed internet access and more activities on the premises.

Mt. Airy Forest is minutes away, offering picnic areas, a disc golf course, a bridle trail, arboretum and hiking paths.

Medical facilities
The Villages at Roll Hill are about a 15 minute drive to west side medical facilities and 20 minutes from hospitals near town.

The Fay Apartments, a large complex of subsidized housing in North Fairmount, has long been a trouble spot in Cincinnati, ridden with crime, drugs, and disrepair. Previously known for having the most number of police runs per capita, the Fay Apartments was a bad place to be. After a multi-year and multi-million dollar renovation, as well as a name change to the Villages of Roll Hill (the neighborhood is still called Fay Apartments), things have changed. The number of housing units was reduced and along with it, the crime. While the Villages of Roll Hill are still low-income housing, the community has a new lease on life.

The redevelopment of the Fay Apartments was designed to make the community safer, greener, and more livable. The Villages of Roll Hill offers low income residents an onsite childcare facility, onsite parking, and a convenient location on the bus line. The community has been upgraded with newly renovated and rebuilt buildings, as well as fresh landscaping, central air, security cameras, and internet access.

While the redevelopment of the Fay Apartments may currently be an improvement over the previously existing community, only time will tell if the new attitude continues. Will the Villages of Roll Hill return to the old ways of the Fay Apartments. We'll have to wait and see. Overall, unless you are looking for subsidized housing, there are more attractive and affordable neighborhoods in Cincinnati to live in. The Fay Apartments really is just a large complex of low income housing and doesn't offer anything outside of that.