The building at the corner of Highland and Dorchester is a former power building and storage facility for the Mt. Auburn Cable Railway.

Developer Russell Moody and owner Jim Pesta seek to convert this vacant, lighted building into 18 condominium units.  The building is 12,320 square feet.  This would make rather small units unless another story is added.

 

The proposal includes indoor parking.  There will be no retail component. 

 

Utilities are adequate at the site.  No construction schedule has been set, as this is just a concept plan and not the final development plan.

 

Zoning in the area since 2004 has been single-family residential. 

 

The site doesn't meet the qualifications of a Planned Development District, as the lot is too small.  However, it is believed that the Planning Commission will waive that requirement due to the benefit that the development would bring to the surrounding area.

 

No opposition has occurred, and a letter of support has been received from the Mt. Auburn Community Council.  The City Planning Commission was due to discuss this tonight.  Some details should come out soon.

 

Bump...no reaction to this project?

I've always wondered if they would come up with a use for that place and I'm glad to hear its condos.  I think Mt. Auburn has alot of potential.  Development has slowly crept up the hillside.  I wonder how they're gonna gonna get indoor parking and  18 condos in that place?  Parking alone will take up half that space.  I would assume some addition would have to be built. 

 

Anyone got a clue on what's going on up the street where that park used to be?  I remember Max saying the city was replacing the park but that's all I've heard and I haven't seen any proposals.

 

 

^ Do you mean in the Keys Hill area in front of the Park Place Townhomes?  I don't know what's going on there other than the park thing you mentioned.  It's been torn up for a while, and every time I've gone by I haven't seen anybody doing anything.

18 units plus parking will not fit.  I just can't see it.  I agree, Mt. Auburn is ripe for development.

Impressive housing stock and amazing growth opportunities situated snuggly between Downtown and Uptown    - Mt. Auburn

 

    I've always wondered if there is any infrastructure left from the cable cars. Not to be confused with electric trolleys, cable cars were moved by a moving wire rope or cable under the street. In that building would have been the steam engines and some huge pulleys and winding drums. There would also have been more pulleys under the street. Cincinnati had three cable lines.

how would the 18 units+ parking be divided since it is only one floor?

To answer the questions how the units plus parking will fit...I don't know.  However, if the concept plan was able to go through then they must have been able to show how it would work.  However, without speaking to either of these guys or seeing plans, who knows?

 

The building takes up the entire lot and is slightly less than 1/3 acre.  I could see how they could jam units in there by adding a floor or even two, but the only way I could see parking is if it was underground somehow.  But the cost to do that wouldn't make the project feasible.

 

Stay tuned, I guess....

 

Sweet, let's hope it gets done.

 

 

 

    The building is 12,320 square feet.

 

    A standard parking space is about 9'x19', with a 24' aisle between two rows of parking. Thus, a parking lot for 18 cars would be 5,022 square feet minimum, or a little less than half of the building.

 

    It would be a tricky building to convert to residential to say the least.

 

    I hear that it was a theatre for a while, and also that it was owned by the Taft family at one time.

Owned by the Taft's?  has anyone checked for buried rare coins?

 

But seriously, that's an interesting looking building.  If the roof structure is adequate (or at least can be strengthened) maybe they can add a story to it.  The existing square footage does seem a bit small for that many condo units plus parking.

I have been inside the car barn when I was looking for storage for a car I had. The place is huge but doesn't have any windows. Unless a story or 2 is added I can't see why anyone would want to live there. Also drug dealers hang out by the public telephone in the front, it wasn't or didn't look very safe to be around there in the evenings.That was one of the reasons I passed on keeping my vehicle there.This could change the entire area if they follow through with it though.

The building was used for car/boat/Hoopty/motorcycle storage recently .I have been inside the car barn when I was looking for storage for a car I had a year ago. The place is huge but doesn't have any windows. Unless a story or 2 is added I can't see why anyone would want to live there. Also drug dealers hang out by the public telephone in the front, it wasn't or didn't look very safe to be around there in the evenings.That was one of the reasons I passed on keeping my vehicle there.This could change the entire area if they follow through with it though.

My guess is that the existing structure will be used for all of the parking plus a lobby and possibly excercise room or similar.  At least three stories would be built atop it for the condo units.  If my theory is correct and the design of the addition is good, I will be very impressed.  I have long been a fan of building atop, within, and/or behind historic facades.

CiNYC, it would be great if what you said becomes the reality.

That would be awesome. 

CiNYC, that would make the most sense.  That way they wouldn't have to retrofit windows in the existing structure.

Here's an update on this project.

 

The project is due for a public hearing regarding the zoning change, which will occur in front of the Economic Development Committee on March 6, 2006.

 

The Planning Commission recommended approval of this zoning change in their December 16th meeting.  The zoning change would change the property from an SF-4 residential to a Planned Development District, thereby allowing for more residential units.

 

The final development plan is expected to be completed by July 2006.  Construction would then begin immediately, pending approvals of those plans (I assume with B&I).

 

This scanned concept plan doesn't provide much.

 

 

In that concept drawing it looks like they've added some extra height. Enough to shoehorn in 18 condo? I'm guessing they just had the architect draw up something quickly for the zoning hearing.

Great reuse project in a cool, old building.  But I cannot see 18 condos plus indoor parking here.  Do you know average sqft of the condos?

I've driven by the place many a times and it appears as if there is another level below the Highland Street side.  There is a driveway with a garage door on the right of the photo at the top of the page.  I'm assuming that is where the parking will be located.  Great project none the less.

I'm going to e-mail the developer and see if I can get some info on the parking, where the access to parking, and what will be from square footage of the units.

Just an update:

 

On Wednedsay, City Council unanimously approved (minus Berding, who was absent) the rezoning of this property as PD No. 42 (Planned Development District).

 

This allows the project to go forward as it is planned, and was probably the major hurdle that this development faced.

 

As far as I know, the final plans will be produced somewhere around July of 2006 and construction would probably start late summer/early fall.

thats very good news.  im very interested to see how these turn out.  the building itself is so interesting and funky looking i think. 

What ever happened with this project?