From the Desk of Mayor Hardman

In the Summer of 1999, I was running my first race for elective office here in Sharonville. To become more aware of the issues facing our community, I attended a few council meetings at that time. Council decided to take this par​ticular meeting “on the road” to Depot Square. The City had just completed a renovation of the area and wished to highlight the new amenities – decking and planters around the Depot Square building and caboose, brick pavers, and a train gazebo with working fountain. Much has changed in the two decades since then and it has come time for a re-invention of this City focal point. 

With the assistance of Kleingers Group, we are in the thick of the design phase for a re-imagined Depot Square. The Sharonville Cultural Arts Center kindly opened their doors in August for an open house discussion on concept plans for the area. Some of that work is featured on the cover and in this edition of the Hometown Guide. The goal is to continue to leverage our city property in a way that attracts visitors to “The Loop” and thus support the ongoing business interests in this historic portion of our city. We had an excellent response from those in attendance regarding concepts that were liked, not liked, or may need some additional exploration. We encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts regarding these plans with our City staff, myself or other elected officials. 

This is only Phase One in our focus on “The Loop.” As we settle on plans for Depot Square, secure funding to turn those plans into reality, and then begin construction, we will move beyond that corner and into the sidewalks, streetscapes and public parking areas of ‘The Loop.” It is an exciting time for our historic downtown as we strive to maintain the historic elements of this district while meeting the 21st century needs and desires of our residents, visitors, and businesses. All of this is to keep Sharonville THE place to LIVE, WORK and PLAY.