The Lights going up.

Discussion on Walnut Hills Kroger and other grocery store related stuff has been moved to: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,10268.0.html

Check out The Cincinnati Street Food Festival, October 13th from 11am to 5pm in Walnut Hills. Should  be an interesting and fun event. Check out the FB page for more info!

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/490789527600899/

 

 

 

City to Lease Walnut Hills Buildings for Redevelopment

 

Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation (WHRF) and Model Group have agreed to a 40-year lease of properties at 961-975 E. McMillan Street with rent waived and a $1 purchase option.

^ That's awesome.  961 is such a glorious building, and to see it sitting in such disrepair has been really sad. 

Great news, it would be nice to get a bunch of momentum built up in WH to really bring it back to life!

 

progress

http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2012/10/lease-agreement-brings-eden-park.html

 

 

Not on E.McMillan, but in Walnut Hills. This place is going to be awesome. Really looking forward to the beer garden.

^^The Walnut Hills FB page said the brick was power washed, which is an inappropriate, corrosive treatment that should not be used on brick.

^^The Walnut Hills FB page said the brick was power washed, which is an inappropriate, corrosive treatment that should not be used on brick.

 

looks better to me... They have professionals doing the work. I am sure they know what they are doing.

http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2012/10/lease-agreement-brings-eden-park.html

 

 

Not on E.McMillan, but in Walnut Hills. This place is going to be awesome. Really looking forward to the beer garden.

 

Great news!!!

^^The Walnut Hills FB page said the brick was power washed, which is an inappropriate, corrosive treatment that should not be used on brick.

 

Power washing can be fine when done carefully, though on soft non-glazed bricks it must be done with a lot of care.  Generally mild soap or just plain water with a fan nozzle is best.  It's sandblasting that should never ever be done to masonry. 

 

Video update on the Cincinnati's oldest standing firehouse!

 

http://vimeo.com/51001902#

 

 

Both McMillan and Taft have now been converted.  Firehouse Row is being shopped to apartment developers, including to those from outside of Greater Cincinnati.

Rode my bike up there this week.  It will take a lot of work to completely clean up that area, but I'm hopeful that the previously announced Model Group plans for 30 some market rate apartments across from the Kroger will make a dent.  Walnut Hills and Corryville should both really be the next busy, strong neighborhood business districts. Corryville has seen a lot of investment in the last 2 years.  Let's hope Walnut Hills gets the same.

Anyone able to get pics of the street with traffic going two ways?

 

Feel good story about Walnut Hills:

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20121111/NEWS0105/311120024

 

 

Love me some fire house subs, haven't had one in about 3 years.

The owners of Core Clay on Gilbert Ave have bought the Brewhaus on McMillan and Park. If you're in the Cincinnati area feel free to drop by the Walnut Hills Happy Hour tonight to check out their refreshed beer menu and other new digs: http://www.facebook.com/events/164198050390079/

^I was there last week with a friend. Their burgers are great and they have a decent beer selection now. I recommend checking it out.

and more more good read:

 

http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20121114/NEWS01/311140024/Passion-place-road-recovery

 

Latest update on the stabilization of the fire house.

 

http://vimeo.com/53809966

'http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20121204/BIZ/312050018/-180M-could-be-headed-to-city-neighborhoods?source=nletter-nletter-breakingnews

 

"The city of Cincinnati is creating a new fund to spark up to $180 million in improvements in city neighborhoods.

 

Called Focus 52, it will be funded with bonds and $4 million in non-tax revenue. The first neighborhoods to benefit will be Madisonville, Walnut Hills and College Hill, according to Economic Development Director Odis Jones.

 

“We’re teeing those up now,” he said. “We want to drive transformative projects in neighborhoods.” "

Some really great new for Walnut Hills and these great buildings!

 

http://www.walnuthillsrf.org/?PHPSESSID=32f97dcaf9d3a0abe3dd8be0a6a0dc45

 

"Walnut Hills Projects Awarded Historic Tax Credits"

 

The Ohio Development Services Agency announced today that two Walnut Hills projects have been awarded Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits, paving the way for these milestone neighborhood renovation projects to move forward...

The project in Walnut Hills along McMillan that won over $1 million in tax credits is planned to be 30 market rate apartments with storefront space.  It includes the original Graeters (which I think was already discussed on this thread).  REALLY hoping that gets started within the first 6 months of the year but I have no idea what the time table is.  The project is a partnership between the Model Group and Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation. 

 

Also, went to the brew house recently, looks like good things are going on there! Really good draft selection and the food wasn't bad either. 

 

More information about the new project:

 

http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/10813.walnuthillsohtc.aspx

 

"Out with the old, in with the old, at least in the historic neighborhood of Walnut Hills, where historic preservation and community development got a major boost along with some harsh reality checks..."

 

 

Really sad to see the Graeter's building go...

Ugh, don't these guys understand the importance of streetwalls, I mean here is an intact strech of intensely urban buildings and they have put their suburban thinking cap on and are just giving up on it.  While there are some good things the WHRF is doing, this is not one of them.

 

I wish the fricken port authority wasn't focused so much on a suburban shopping center, WH is far higher priority based on where trends are going on a national scale.

I don't understand how they proceed fixing it up if they can't make it work financially, Neil. Any ideas? I agree that it's very important, but how do you make it work?

Really sad to see the Graeter's building go...

 

Damn.  If we can't even get preservation of historic Cincinnati buildings accomplished by appealing to their sweet tooth or stomache, we are doomed!!

The building was destroyed a long time ago when the brick facade was removed. There was no hope saving it.

The reasons for not saving it sound legit to me, there's not much point if it's just an empty and compromised shell with no other redeeming value.  We can't save everything of course, nor should we.  The important thing to do is make sure the net result is a positive contribution.  In other words we don't want to end up worse off, like getting something smaller, of poorer quality, less urban, or just a parking lot, etc.  Even losing a magnificent building is ok if what replaces it is even more magnificent.  Some of the most sumptuous cathedrals in Europe replaced what was already a beloved and much admired building, and that's fine.  I realize it's not so easy nowadays, and that the proliferation of parking lots, uninspired modernist schlock, and plain bad architecture are a big reason preservation as well as NIMBYism has exploded, but I don't think it's unreasonable to hold developers responsible for at least that much due diligence. 

The reasons for not saving it sound legit to me, there's not much point if it's just an empty and compromised shell with no other redeeming value.  We can't save everything of course, nor should we.  The important thing to do is make sure the net result is a positive contribution.  In other words we don't want to end up worse off, like getting something smaller, of poorer quality, less urban, or just a parking lot, etc.  Even losing a magnificent building is ok if what replaces it is even more magnificent.  Some of the most sumptuous cathedrals in Europe replaced what was already a beloved and much admired building, and that's fine.  I realize it's not so easy nowadays, and that the proliferation of parking lots, uninspired modernist schlock, and plain bad architecture are a big reason preservation as well as NIMBYism has exploded, but I don't think it's unreasonable to hold developers responsible for at least that much due diligence.

 

They are going to replace it with a courtyard, it will be a lower use.  Eden Park is with in walking distance, and IMO its one of the cities best parks.  There is no reason for this use for that location, particularly being next to one of the best places in the whole city to catch a bus downtown.

 

Form based zoning, of which WH is an early adopter will help make things better in the long run, but still a lot of challenges ahead for that neighborhood - this is one of them. 

 

btw, I had also learned that a rare art deco courtyard apartment next to the Krogers was also demoed.  A look at the sat photos on google updated this year of that area are very sad, there are already too many holes in what was once an incredible urban fabric, there doesn't need to be any more.

It's my understanding that the Graeter's building is essentially falling in on itself. Collapsed flooring, roof, etc.  WHRDF attempted to save the facade but found nothing under the stucco. Its simply not cost effective to save the building unless an entity with more cash comes to the table as a partner. You would think Graeter's would be interested in saving their old home.

 

"btw, I had also learned that a rare art deco courtyard apartment next to the Krogers was also demoed.  A look at the sat photos on google updated this year of that area are very sad, there are already too many holes in what was once an incredible urban fabric, there doesn't need to be any more."

 

How long ago did this take place?

 

What appeared to be an apartment building was recently demoed next to Kroger but it was not rare, art deco or have a court yard.

 

What appeared to be an apartment building was recently demoed next to Kroger but it was not rare, art deco or have a court yard.

 

I was just going off of what's on google streetview versus what's on the upclose birds eye view and the more distant satview.  The most current one showed a dirt pile and the streetview showed an apartment building.  It wasn't in good shape, I could make it out to be art deco and it had the structure not all that different than the courtyard apartments of some of the outer neighborhoods in Chicago but the style was newer (most of the Chicago ones are 1920s - castle like in appearance).

It's my understanding that the Graeter's building is essentially falling in on itself. Collapsed flooring, roof, etc.  WHRDF attempted to save the facade but found nothing under the stucco. Its simply not cost effective to save the building unless an entity with more cash comes to the table as a partner. You would think Graeter's would be interested in saving their old home.

 

I understand completely why this is happening, but it still seems like people should work to find creative solutions to problems like these.  I just get the feeling that pepole in Cincy give up too quickly on restoration when in other towns I've seen stuff that looked almost completely gone turned completely around.    I wonder if they've considered talking with Greaters...

Hamilton House Progress Report on Vimeo

 

Video Update on the building next to the fire house being stabilized.

Another building coming back to life.

 

The Trevarren Building Stabilization on Vimeo

 

Huge News!

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/09/16/vacant-walnut-hills-firehouse-to.html

 

 

 

Now don't get me wrong, I understand the need for city investment in projects to jump start additional developments.  However, will someone tell me when Smitherman, who was quoted in the article as being supportive, began to understand this?  Why can he not transfer his seemingly new found knowledge of this concept to the Streetcar?

 

Oh, and way to go City Council for moving this forward.  It's great to see WH getting some love.

Vacant parcels at 767 and 769 E. McMillan will be future parking lots for the apartments.

 

Wasn't this where the old "Paramount Vodka" building was, what a waste!  :x

Now don't get me wrong, I understand the need for city investment in projects to jump start additional developments.  However, will someone tell me when Smitherman, who was quoted in the article as being supportive, began to understand this?  Why can he not transfer his seemingly new found knowledge of this concept to the Streetcar?

 

As Upton Sinclair said, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it."

 

Vacant parcels at 767 and 769 E. McMillan will be future parking lots for the apartments.

 

Wasn't this where the old "Paramount Vodka" building was, what a waste!  :x

 

No. That building is at about 735 E. McMillan a couple blocks down. There is a building next door to the firehouse that I believe will stay standing. They are talking about the huge vacant lot stretching most of a block to the west of the firehouse.

Fireside Pizza to open restaurant in Walnut Hills

10/22/13 at 9:00am by Polly Campbell

 

A restaurant called  Fireside Pizza, owned by Mike Marshman of the Fireside Pizza Wagon , along with Elias Leisring of Eli’s BBQ, will soon  open in Walnut Hills in a former Cincinnati fire station. The project is being introduced in a press conference today at 10 a.m. with officials from the City of Cincinnati.

 

It’s part of the newest entertainment district in Cincinnati, and is intended to kick-start a revitalization in Walnut Hills. The firehouse is at 773 East McMillan, not far from Peebles Corner.

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/dining/2013/10/22/fireside-pizza-to-open-restaurant-in-walnut-hills/

That is huge news! It appears they were in talks the whole time to open up that restaurant. Great addition since ZZ's closed.

I have changed this name of this topic to accomodate all redevelopment in Walnut Hills, not just the McMillan corridor.

 

Also,

 

Here is a story about Walnut Hills in Soapbox.

 

And here is a video done by the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation:

For years I've driven through Peebles Corner and thought, wow this has such potential.  Out with the bad and in with the good!

 

New apartments in Walnut Hills:

 

http://www.fox19.com/story/24958764/city-considers-adding-walnut-hills-school-to-historic-list