Tuesday, August 28, 2007

East End Neighborhood Prepares for Celebration

"Foreclosure Cat" house saved, cats rescued,
national art project helps raise funds,
and community garden thrives

Cincinnati, Ohio, August 28, 2007 -- It's just one of those humble little streets that veer down toward the river from the street they used to call Eastern Avenue, now Riverside Drive. But the people who live on Strader Street have much to celebrate. This small East End neighborhood boasts several newly renovated houses, and a community garden nearly a block long. It is also the site of the recent successful rescue of more than 60 "foreclosure" cats and kittens who were found abandoned, sick and starving at 251 Strader after their owner was evicted.

This Thursday, August 30, Strader Street neighbors, gardeners, rescuers and veterinarians will gather to celebrate the saving of the "Foreclosure Cat House," the installation of a new water line for the adjacent East End Veteran's Memorial Garden, the rescue of all the cats, a fund-raising project by nationally known artists creating multi-media portraits of the cats, and the launch of a new adoption website at
www.ForeclosureCats.org.

Saving the Foreclosure Cat house

The house was so nearly destroyed by neglect and by the overwhelming number of sick animals, it was featured in a Business Week story about "foreclosure's filthy aftermath." Neighbors speculated that demolition was the only option.

"I had quotes from three wrecking companies," said Michael Bolan, who purchased the house from Fannie Mae after a bank foreclosure, and is hosting the celebration. "While the condition of the house was sound, the smell was horrific, and I thought it would be impossible to eliminate it." But Bolan, who is fond of houses that are close to urban centers, with open vistas such as the river affords, found a Cincinnati-based company, OdorXit, whose products are designed for such challenges. Now, Bolan says, the house has been saved and, with planned renovations, can be inhabited.

A neighborhood blight is prevented

The rescue operation began when the cats were discovered by a rescuer in early May, apparently weeks after the evicted man walked away from his home without telling anyone about the cats and kittens trapped inside, many sick or injured, without food, water or medical attention. The bank was scheduled to clear out the house, which would have scattered the cats and kittens, resulting in a blight of sick and injured animals, suffering and populating for years, in the neighborhood. Instead, several small rescue groups joined together to organize a community rescue effort. A website, www.ForeclosureCats.org, was created to solicit donations, volunteers, and to accept foster and adopter applications.

National art project will help raise funds and awareness

More than 40 "foreclosure" cats and kittens are still looking for homes, and well-known artists around the country have stepped up to help. From Disney animators to greeting card artists and children's book illustrators, they are creating portraits of all of the foreclosure cats, and donating the work to raise funds and help find foster homes and adopters. The portraits and artists are featured on the newly revamped
www.ForeclosureCats.org, along with photos of the cats, each of their stories, adoption and foster applications and a donations link.

Since the cats are with foster families and therefore not available in one location for public visits, it is hoped that the new website will enable more people to meet the cats and kittens who are still looking for homes. "Some of the cats are running out of time with their current foster families," said Gail Silver, of Silver Bells Rescue, "so we desperately need more foster families as well as adopters."

The East End Veteran's Memorial Garden

Organized and sponsored by the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, the East End Veteran's Memorial Garden is the pride of the Strader Street neighborhood. Joe Corcoran, who lives on the block, and his wife Beth, do most of the work to maintain the garden, including the recent installation of a city water line and freeze-proof faucet that makes care and upkeep significantly easier and more efficient. The water tap was installed two months ago, just in time to allow the vegetation to thrive during the long summer drought and heat.

The garden is dedicated to the memory of Steve Corcoran, Joe's brother and a Vietnam vet, and to all other East End veterans. According to Corcoran, Strader Street is a neighborhood where people walk a lot, and know each other and what is happening on the street. "Most folks I've talked with are pretty relieved that all those cats were saved -- and surprised and pleased that now the house is saved, too. With all that, and the garden thriving and beautiful, we have a lot to celebrate."