West Chester Township is a community that developed over time and its earliest commercial development, just like the building boom of the 90s, centered on key transportation corridors.

U.S. Route 42/Cincinnati-Columbus Road was one of the first of these corridors, first as a trail, then a dirt road and then pavement. Through all its iterations, U.S. Route 42 and its surrounding commercial district continues to have a distinct character.

A U.S. Route 42 investment plan was presented by West Chester Township Assistant Administrator Lisa Brown to the Board of Trustees July 12, 2022. The plan is a general outline options to emphasize community investment in this corridor, with one of the first steps involving input from the business stakeholders in the community.

“West Chester Township wants to be supportive in bringing added vibrancy to the Route 42 corridor, but this has to be a partnership,” Ms. Brown said. “We’ll be working on next steps with the Board of Trustees who are really focused on finding the best way to support the small businesses in the Route 42 corridor.”

In recent years there has been some public investment in the corridor known as Pisgah. A $9 million road project completed in 2012 enhanced safety and traffic flow. There have also been some recent improvements to corridor branding through signage.

The biggest investment in Pisgah, however, has come from small business owners. There have been 17 new businesses opened since 2018 – nearly all are small businesses.

West Chester Township has conducted two studies with regard to the Route 42 corridor and opportunities for revitalization. A 2002 study included community involvement and established some plans for small greenspaces and landscape throughout the district. A 2010 plan developed with a group of property owners called The West Chester 42 Citizens was humbler and based upon individual businesses investing in beautification efforts. Neither really gained momentum.

“Most of the businesses in the 42 Corridor are small, single-owner establishments and the owners invest all they have in their business,” Ms. Brown said. “The idea of investing one dollar more for signage, paint or landscaping may seem insurmountable to them.”

Unlike other commercial areas of the Township where public investment is possible through Tax Increment Financing (Union Centre for example), the TIF district encompassing Pisgah is fairly new with little available cash for significant public funding. Therefore, funding for projects will have to be determined.

The Board of Trustees budgets $250,000 annually for some revitalization effort on U.S. Route 42, but there have been challenges identifying the best place to invest these funds.

The investment plan introduced by Administration focuses on a series of short-, mid- and long-term goals, but all start with developing a better relationship with the stakeholders of Pisgah.

Some of the highlights include:

• Creating a destination that doesn’t replicate other parts of the community and preserves Pisgah history
• Improving traffic flow and safety
• Improving visibility and patronage of existing businesses
• Creating corridor identity
• Improving corridor aesthetics
• Creating economic development opportunities

This new concept is more about letting Pisgah be Pisgah and enhancing the corridor as a destination for those seeking unique experiences, Ms. Brown said.

U.S. Route 42 property owners interested in playing a part in identifying opportunities are encouraged to contact West Chester Township’s Economic Development Manager Katy Kanelopoulos at kkanelopoulos@westchesteroh.org or 513-759-7325.

History Note

West Chester Township, established in 1823, is preparing to celebrate its 200th birthday. Pisgah is one of several early villages that make up our community. 

In 1812, William and Elizabeth Belch purchase a 230-acre farm and operated a hotel/stagecoach stop called the Belch House in what is now known as Pisgah. Mr. Belch is credited with naming the community Pisgah based upon on the fact that it was the area highest in altitude between Cincinnati and Columbus. The view might have reminded him of a Bible passage regarding Moses going to Mt. Pisgah to view the promised land.

Pisgah was not platted or entered as an official village of Union Township (now West Chester) until 1924.

- From A History of Union Township, Butler County, Ohio by Virginia Shewalter