Roselawn Community Urban Re-Development Corporation

ROCURC was incorporated in the State of Ohio in 1981, but it was not until 2009 that it applied for 501c3 status with the IRS. Upon achieving 501c3 status in 2009 (retroactive to the State incorporation, 1981), the corporation began a vigorous campaign to create an identity, and a portfolio for funders that would demonstrate its ability to execute projects with high standards of accountability.

In 2009 the Corporation undertook a Three Phase Renovation of its property at the SE Corner of the Roselawn Neighborhood Business District (NBD) Gateway (https://www.facebook.com/197387833627758/photos/a.198419533524588.49937.197387833627758/497086353657903/?type=3&theater). The addition of seating, game tables, umbrellas, LED lighting, and a landscape re-tool, enable ROCURC Garden (certified as a National Wildlife Federation Habitat) to act as a welcoming greenspace for guests in the NBD Gateway. (https://www.facebook.com/pg/Roselawn-Community-Urban-Redevelopment-Corporation-ROCURC-197387833627758/photos/?tab=album&album_id=497009530332252).

One block south of ROCURC Garden, at the historic stone entrance to Robert Wachendorf's Roselawn Park subdivision (Reading Road at Rosecliff Avenue), ROCURC undertook restoration of the signage: historic preservation is a core value. (https://www.facebook.com/197387833627758/photos/a.200976133268928.51071.197387833627758/581028741930330/?type=3&theater)

ROCURC lead neighboring Amberley Village and Golf Manor in the acquisition of three Liberty Tree Memorials in 2009 (The City of Cincinnati's Liberty Tree Memorial is installed in the Eastlawn Garden at Roselawn Park). The following year ROCURC mounted the First-Year Celebration of Liberty Tree Memorials with an Ohio Humanities Council sponsored program, Establishment Debate: Rules of Civic Engagement. The dvd of this performance reprised the debate on religious freedom between Thomas Jefferson (Bill Barker of Colonial Williamsburg) and Patrick Henry (Tony Steer). Copies of this program are housed in the collection of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (https://www.facebook.com/197387833627758/photos/a.198424533524088.49944.197387833627758/198424563524085/?type=3&theater).

This small, volunteer-lead organization brings a different approach to community development by utilizing creative strategies to pursue the same goals as better-funded, traditional CDCs.