Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation (@ WalnutHillsRF) posted this image on Twitter with the caption: @FiresideWagon's new home has come together. Look for a grand opening announcement VERY soon! #WeAreWalnutHills

 

neilworms[/member] from the Cincinnati random development thread.

 

Couldn't think of a place to put this but:

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2014/09/02/baldwin-building-conversion/14972357/

 

The old Baldwin Piano building is going to be partially converted into apartments.  The building is a touch isolated but pretty close to everything - its a nice location.  Quick bus ride to downtown/otr and walk to Mt Adams too.

Somebody finally leased the old LAGA building...

 

 

Deal of the Week: Laser Spine leases landmark office building

Sep 5, 2014, 6:00am EDT

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

Property Name: 644 Eden Park Drive

 

Tenant: Laser Spine Institute

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/print-edition/2014/09/05/deal-of-the-week-laser-spine-leases-landmark.html

Awesome! that building was too unique/cool to be empty for so long. Thrilled it's full.

Huh, I had no idea it was even empty.  How long has that been the case? 

I think 3-4 years?

LAGA was in and out of there pretty quickly as I recall, maybe less than two years or so.

​EXCLUSIVE: Walnut Hills leaders think sale of this building will spark more growth

Sep 29, 2014, 2:43pm EDT

Chris Wetterich Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

The long, French-style building at 1527 Madison Road may not be imposing. It sits near the street’s intersection with Woodburn Avenue, with the mighty Saint Francis DeSales Catholic Church casting an imposing shadow.

 

But leaders in Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills hope a deal struck to rehabilitate what they call “the French building” will spark further redevelopment in two neighborhoods increasingly seen as the next Cincinnati area ready to take off in an era of urban reinvestment.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/09/29/exclusive-walnut-hills-leaders-think-sale-of-this.html?page=all

Awesome! that building was too unique/cool to be empty for so long. Thrilled it's full.

 

I didn't know it was empty.  It's one of the best buildings in the city from the early 2000s. 

EXCLUSIVE: Developers to spend $9 million on major Walnut Hills project

Oct 8, 2014, 2:34pm EDT

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation and Model Group are partnering on a multi-phase redevelopment project that will transform the Walnut Hills business district.

 

The project, Trevarren Flats, will start with a $9 million redevelopment of three buildings along East McMillan Street into 30 market-rate apartments and first-floor commercial space. Kevin Wright, executive director of the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, said this project will be a catalyst for redevelopment of the neighborhood.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/10/08/exclusive-developers-to-spend-9-million-on-major.html

Wow!  That is great news for Walnut Hills!  Too bad the Kroger across the street is just a big wall.  With this, the redevelopment of the Windsor School, and also the Grand Baldwin redevelopment just down Gilbert, there is a lot of positive momentum ($$$) going for Walnut Hills!

That Kroger will close after the new one opens in Corryville (so around 2017). Ideally, it would be torn down and a similar development of street facing infill will take its spot.

This is awesome. Two great buildings seeing new life and a string of ugly one story buildings torn down for something properly scaled for the neighborhood. It seems like the momentum has picked up like crazy for Walnut Hills. Looks like they need a streetcar now to serve all this new stuff.

Good news, though a lot of buildings should have been saved but were torn down like the original greaters location (look at google streetview).  Another notable spot is the ENTIRE BLOCK where the old Paramount Vodka advert building was (and the food truck festival during MPMF).  How long will it take to fill those in?

 

While the Walnut Hills redevelopment foundation has some good ideas, that much demolition was totally short sighted and taking a quick look at the "Townhouses" they've since put in to replace what was lost, doesn't inspire much in me that the replacements of those buildings will be of quality design :(  My biggest critique of them is that they don't think the neighborhood would ever regain its status of being a second downtown, to which I respond, they are wrong.  This neighborhood has the bones of a "Wicker Park" which was similarly downtrodden, but was saved early enough that its pretty much a major node in Chicago again after going through 40 years of decline, and another 20 of revitalization with the last frontier the funature stores by Ashland finally being renovated into more productive uses (mixed use from single use large furniture stores).

 

The same could have happened in Cincy if managed properly :( - at the very least it will still be an okay neighborhood, I just feel it could be so much better given the shell of what's there!

 

That Kroger will close after the new one opens in Corryville (so around 2017). Ideally, it would be torn down and a similar development of street facing infill will take its spot.

 

As terrible as that Kroger is for the urbanity of the neighborhood, its totally a selling point to be literally across the street from a grocery.  If the Tri County Mall folks who run Kroger's store designs adapt to the future which other divisions of the same company (see the Ralphs in downtown LA) have it would behoove them to redesign this in an urban friendly format.  Pie in the sky dreams, but change has to come for that grocery to remain competitive, particularly if Cincinnati gets more small scale botique groceries, which it seems "Picnic and Pantry" as well as the new one at Findlay Market are.

 

Here's a good illustration of what could happen, compare the upper right of what the Chicago Southport Jewel Grocery looked like in 2007 versus now - the old Jewel was suburban the new is urban: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9483546,-87.6640605,3a,75y,222.66h,88.87t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sRj2i_Fu4mQQAB63tsjAWfA!2e0!5s2007-09

 

I was looking around on Google Streetview and when you look back to around 2007 compared to 2014 it is incredible how much was demolished along McMillian and adjacent streets.

 

Were these buildings in such bad shape they were un-saveable? Or was it some sort of "urban renewal" project with money handed down from the state to clear old buildings?

I was looking around on Google Streetview and when you look back to around 2007 compared to 2014 it is incredible how much was demolished along McMillian and adjacent streets.

 

Were these buildings in such bad shape they were un-saveable? Or was it some sort of "urban renewal" project with money handed down from the state to clear old buildings?

 

The buildings were beyond being saved.

I was looking around on Google Streetview and when you look back to around 2007 compared to 2014 it is incredible how much was demolished along McMillian and adjacent streets.

 

Were these buildings in such bad shape they were un-saveable? Or was it some sort of "urban renewal" project with money handed down from the state to clear old buildings?

 

The buildings were beyond being saved.

My understanding is that's while some were beyond repair others they could only get funding to demo and not money for stabilization. My opinion they weren't creative enough threw up there hands and gave up.

 

I am just really excited about this news in Walnut Hills.  The neighborhood, especially south of McMillan and East of Gilbert, is really a beautiful area.  Yes there needs to be some repairs, etc.  But it really is a neat neighborhood with homes, large apartment buildings, and some vacant lots that can be built on.  Yes, a lot of work needs to be done to repopulate this small area, but with these buildings coming back to life, 78 units (eventually) right on the strip with maybe a new bar or two, in addition just a few blocks south adding 92 Units on Windsor Street, I think it will be more attractive to the young population and could spur a lot more development.

 

You hope there is no displacement, but I think somewhat similar in a way to OTR, a lot of these buildings are completely vacant.  Will be interesting to see how it all plays out in the end.  But, good news for the city of Cincinnati!

I was looking around on Google Streetview and when you look back to around 2007 compared to 2014 it is incredible how much was demolished along McMillian and adjacent streets.

 

Were these buildings in such bad shape they were un-saveable? Or was it some sort of "urban renewal" project with money handed down from the state to clear old buildings?

 

The buildings were beyond being saved.

My understanding is that's while some were beyond repair others they could only get funding to demo and not money for stabilization. My opinion they weren't creative enough threw up there hands and gave up.

 

 

There actually were two buildings with Paramount Vodka ads on adjacent blocks, facing in the same direction.

 

 

 

I am just really excited about this news in Walnut Hills.  The neighborhood, especially south of McMillan and East of Gilbert, is really a beautiful area.  Yes there needs to be some repairs, etc.  But it really is a neat neighborhood with homes, large apartment buildings, and some vacant lots that can be built on.  Yes, a lot of work needs to be done to repopulate this small area, but with these buildings coming back to life, 78 units (eventually) right on the strip with maybe a new bar or two, in addition just a few blocks south adding 92 Units on Windsor Street, I think it will be more attractive to the young population and could spur a lot more development.

 

You hope there is no displacement, but I think somewhat similar in a way to OTR, a lot of these buildings are completely vacant.  Will be interesting to see how it all plays out in the end.  But, good news for the city of Cincinnati!

 

This is totally good news, I just wish the people managing it had better vision and understood the concept that A) cities around the country are revitalizing intense urban neighborhoods like Walnut Hills  B) In most cities that have neighborhoods like it they are extremely desirable  C) Cincinnati is very much behind most of the other cities that have neighborhoods like this in recognizing their value only now is it starting to realize this  D) Thus, monies should be used for stabilization and not demolition as the revitalization of this area is inevitable and its potential value with some TLC is extremely high.

 

If you look in earlier threads, you'll find that even buildings that were in Okay shape like the original Greaters building were demoed because well they don't have their original facade so lets make it a park.  Dumb move considering that within walking distance is one of the city's best parks (of course this is a city where people still drive 2 blocks in OTR instead of walking).  Streetwalls are more important than pocket parks in neighborhoods that already have access to such things.  Cincinnatians have a weird obsession that puts parks over its high quality but decayed urbanism, its part of a systemic problem in the mentality of the place.

 

Much of the potential value of the neighborhood was wasted with several of those demos.  Some buildings weren't too much of a loss, but too many IMO were and it will hold back the redevelopment of the area.

 

---

 

To put a bit of positive spin, I'm super happy about whats going on in East Walnut Hills, saw a banner with a sign for Luxury apartments, and most streetfronts were filled.  The only thing that needs work on that end of town is the inward facing building  for the tool company that takes up like 2 blocks of potential development.

^ Was East Walnut Hills ever in the shape that say, Walnut Hills proper is in currently?

 

I agree you can't get those buildings back and they lost a lot of their value.  However, I think it will still eventually be a great development for the neighborhood and hopefully they don't need to demolish any more buildings.

 

It really is a large district and if it can get repurposed it will be a great asset to the city.  Especially as OTR, downtown and Mt. Adams are not affordable for a lot of younger professionals just starting out now.  With proximity to downtown and Mt. Adams, it should make for a really nice option.

The only thing that needs work on that end of town is that silly tool company that takes up like 2 blocks of potential development.

 

Except those of us redeveloping property in the core that use shulhoff pretty regularly.  While I get it could use some updating to its facade I see no reason to disparage a local business that helps the many small developers and rehabbers.

Except those of us redeveloping property in the core that use shulhoff pretty regularly.  While I get it could use some updating to its facade I see no reason to disparage a local business that helps the many small developers and rehabbers.

 

Fair enough, wish it was less of an inward facing development though.  I've edited the post to make it more critical of the design of that business than the business itself which is what I was going for - its completely unfair to judge a business as a whole without using it and I'm sure it has many loyal customers.

I always kind of liked Schulhoff even though it's a completely inappropriate use for a site on a prime street and its wild west boomtown aesthetic is equally absurd.  Nevertheless, that kitschy quality about it, and the fact that there's walls with murals and not chain link fences with razor wire make me at least respect their attempt to be a good neighbor.  Ultimately a better location for them would probably be somewhere closer to Gilbert and MLK, or the already industrial side streets near I-71, but as it stands it's not bad.

^ Was East Walnut Hills ever in the shape that say, Walnut Hills proper is in currently?

 

Not at all, in fact for many years it was a perennial this area will come back soon kind of place.  What was weird about it though was you had this gorgeous business district densely built with decent condition buildings but nothing but empty storefronts - Aaron Renn even covered how weird it was a few years back (look under DeSalles Corner): http://www.urbanophile.com/2010/06/06/the-neighborhoods-of-cincinnati/

 

 

Another area like that btw is where Pike Street meets Madison in Covington - so much potential there too - there are signs of that area turning around but nothing that's been set in stone.

East Walnut Hills really just needs a couple more bars and restaurants to make it more of a destination and a place where residents want to hang out. Myrtle's, the craft beer bar, and a couple of other developments should start this shift toward a sustainable businesses district. Art galleries can only provide so much.

^ Was East Walnut Hills ever in the shape that say, Walnut Hills proper is in currently?

 

Not at all, in fact for many years it was a perennial this area will come back soon kind of place.  What was weird about it though was you had this gorgeous business district densely built with decent condition buildings but nothing but empty storefronts - Aaron Renn even covered how weird it was a few years back (look under DeSalles Corner): http://www.urbanophile.com/2010/06/06/the-neighborhoods-of-cincinnati/

 

 

Another area like that btw is where Pike Street meets Madison in Covington - so much potential there too - there are signs of that area turning around but nothing that's been set in stone.

 

Yeah because Covington keeps electing total nut-jobs like Steven Frank, who was on the radio today promoting construction of a sprawl extension of I-471 south from NKY to meet up with the I-75/71 junction south of Walton, KY.  Yes, you have a representative of one of the most intact historic areas in the U.S. turning his back on his own city for the promotion of more suburban crap. 

 

^ Was East Walnut Hills ever in the shape that say, Walnut Hills proper is in currently?

 

Not at all, in fact for many years it was a perennial this area will come back soon kind of place.  What was weird about it though was you had this gorgeous business district densely built with decent condition buildings but nothing but empty storefronts - Aaron Renn even covered how weird it was a few years back (look under DeSalles Corner): http://www.urbanophile.com/2010/06/06/the-neighborhoods-of-cincinnati/

 

 

Another area like that btw is where Pike Street meets Madison in Covington - so much potential there too - there are signs of that area turning around but nothing that's been set in stone.

 

Yeah because Covington keeps electing total nut-jobs like Steven Frank, who was on the radio today promoting construction of a sprawl extension of I-471 south from NKY to meet up with the I-75/71 junction south of Walton, KY.  Yes, you have a representative of one of the most intact historic areas in the U.S. turning his back on his own city for the promotion of more suburban crap. 

 

 

Just from what I've been hearing as of late Covington is starting to feel jealous of Cincinnati's resurgence, with rents going up in Cincy its only a matter of time til the NKY cities jump on board the assets are too great and the barriers for entry are lower than they are in the Cincy side considering how intact everything is.  In some cases like Bellevue they already have IMO.

 

I've also seen a fair amount of positive development off of Monmouth Street in Newport btw, really hip new restaurants/cafes opening up though I really wish that they'd make it a two way street like what happened to McMillian in Walnut Hills. (brought it back to topic for those of you who are concerned about such things).

Steven Frank keeps insisting that NKY is more "business-friendly", whatever the hell that means, when in fact it has significantly higher taxes than Cincinnati.  The man is every bit as dangerous as Chris Smitherman or Charlie Winburn. 

 

 

 

If you look in earlier threads, you'll find that even buildings that were in Okay shape like the original Greaters building were demoed because well they don't have their original facade so lets make it a park.  Dumb move considering that within walking distance is one of the city's best parks (of course this is a city where people still drive 2 blocks in OTR instead of walking).

 

 

The fact is that building was not in "ok" shape. It was in terrible shape. Many of the demoed buildings had large holes in the roof (allowing weather in for years).  40 years of complete neglect take their toll. WHRF tried to save all the buildings they could. No developer would touch those buildings, even if they were stabilized. WHRF does not come close to the amount of money 3CDC has. The only way they can save buildings is with private developers. If WHRF had the money 3CDC had then maybe those buildings could have been saved, but they don't. So they can use what little money they have to save the buildings a developer would invest private money into.

My opinion is that demoing these buildings that were "too far gone" to be saved likely speeds up the process of getting the other buildings renovated, but ultimately hurts the character and long-term property values of the neighborhood after a full renovation. Likely some of the "too far gone" buildings were just inconveniently between buildings that really were too far gone and it was a lot easier to demolish them.

 

I'm sad the Graeter's building was demolished.

To jump in with another topic:

 

Interfaith Hospitality Network, a local shelter for homeless families, just opened a pet boarding space in its shelter to keep the entire family together.

 

http://www.wlwt.com/news/new-kennel-allows-homeless-families-to-keep-their-pets/29031014

 

Walnut Hills Area Community Council has been very supportive of IHN, which is a departure from most community councils, I think.  The fact that a homeless shelter moved into the neighborhood, re-purposed an old office building, and has great support from the community speaks volumes about how WHACC wants a neighborhood for all incomes and demographics, not just redevelopment for the sake of redevelopment.

Steven Frank keeps insisting that NKY is more "business-friendly", whatever the hell that means, when in fact it has significantly higher taxes than Cincinnati.  The man is every bit as dangerous as Chris Smitherman or Charlie Winburn.

 

He may be bad, but Cincinnati has leadership position for the entire region, and frankly the first domino of intense urban development has already fallen, and that is OTR south of Liberty, as time goes more dominos for the same product will fall, with North of Liberty and Walnut Hills being next on the list.  Bellvue thanks to good leadership and a small overall population is another one that's fallen, eventually it will make it to Covington in spite of poor leadership - good leadership will just help it get there faster.

 

A good parallel would be Uptown in Chicago, like OTR Uptown had an overabundance of social services in it along with an alderwoman who was a Buddy Grey type, while the neighborhood never got as bad as OTR did, it was a black hole on the lakefront surrounded by neighborhoods that were more developed, eventually the bad leader decided to resign and was replaced by pro-development opponent who ran against her previously (this change came in part due to pressure from new residents settling in the neighborhood, looking for cheaper rents) and now due to economic pressures that neighborhood is improving - the same would probably happen in Covington even if the reasons for its stagnation are a bit different.

It looks like Walnut Hills will be the next to redevelop if only because hype has been generated and a small number of projects have been spearheaded by the WHRA.  Other areas like Corryville, Mt. Auburn, and The West End don't have a non-profit working all day every day on redevelopment.  Also the new MLK interchange will make a big difference.  Right now the I-71 ramps are not a full interchange and they favor Corryville. 

I guess we should just rename this neighborhood Walnut Park, half the freaking neighborhood is going to be parks at this rate!

 

https://www.facebook.com/GreenManPark

 

It also highlights the amazing Vinyl sided crap built behind it, I was hoping for properly zoned infill to block that junk but guess what, nope.

That new development is hideous. But I am glad this will be a park. Hopefully it is a "temporary" park that can be built over once demand is there.

 

They demolished a lot of buildings in that area. Use Google Street View at McMillan and Hemlock. Then go east to Chatham. If you use the time machine thing to look at the street view from 2007 to 2014, you'll see the neighborhood lost a lot. Some crappy architecture from the mid-1900s. Some that is a huge loss. Hopefully the demolitions make way for more than just a park and a weekly farmer's stand.

That new development is hideous. But I am glad this will be a park. Hopefully it is a "temporary" park that can be built over once demand is there.

 

Does anyone know if its a temporary park?  The Greaters Building site is also going to be a park and a 10 min walk will get you to what I think is one of the best urban park's in the country Eden Park, does the neighborhood really need more parks?  Look at the Big Dig where a massive ring of parks created a massive dead zone where there would have been activity otherwise, that's what I'm worried about.

 

Though it also kind of irks me that the location of that park highlights an unfortunate building.

They honestly look like place-holders to up property values of neighboring land so that it's morel likely to be developed. Hopefully that's the case.

They honestly look like place-holders to up property values of neighboring land so that it's morel likely to be developed. Hopefully that's the case.

 

But no one seems to have a firm answer that it is the case right?

I don't believe the park is in the master plan for the area.

I don't believe the park is in the master plan for the area.

 

Then why have a donation page on the Cincinnati parks association:  https://www.gcfdn.org/tabid/251/default.aspx?tp=1000&fn=green%20man%20park%20fund

 

Also another park planned, though I'll admit this one replaced a building that wasn't all that significant, and a stub street, but still this is way too many parks for what should be a dense business district:

https://www.facebook.com/events/569470746513975/

That park is idiotic.  It should be an apartment building.  Walnut Hills doesn't need more open space.. it needs more restaurants and businesses and residents.

 

Also, that link was to the Greater Cincinnati foundation's page, not the parks foundation.

^They have so much room for new apartment buildings. This one park is not going to slow progress. Hopefully it can be built upon in the future.

Five ways a Walnut Hills street went from blight to development ready

Nov 14, 2014, 2:58pm EST

Chris Wetterich Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

Curtis Street in Walnut Hills is ready for redevelopment, according to Cincinnati elected officials and business leaders, who say the block has turned a corner in just 90 days.

 

Mayor John Cranley and representatives of Humana; Fifth Third, PNC, U.S. and Huntington Banks; Kroger; the Walnut Hills Area Council; the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation; the Model Group; the Ohio Capital Corporation and Frederick Douglass Elementary School held a news conference Friday morning to highlight changes on the street made by the Neighborhood Enhancement Program.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/11/14/five-ways-a-walnut-hills-street-went-from-blight.html

Yes, Curtis Street needs love! Pic Google maps this summer. Just around the corner are beautiful homes.

Here's the latest city block to be transformed

Nov 20, 2014, 10:36am EST

Jocelyn Gibson, UrbanCincy.com, Courier Contributor

 

The St. James cut through in Walnut Hills has been the focus of a significant amount of attention in recent months. It is a pedestrianized walkway between McMillan Street and Curtis Street that has been a crime hot spot.

 

As Cincinnati's NEP program – a targeted 90-day sweep of code enforcement, law enforcement and beautification – moved into Walnut Hills, Curtis Street and the St. James cut through became focal points of the program.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/11/20/heres-the-latest-city-block-to-be-transformed.html

On the agenda for the Planning Commission tomorrow:

 

"A zoning change from residential-mixed and commercial community mixed to Planned Development District at 3001-3025 Woodburn Avenue, 1520-1530 Lincoln Avenue, and 1521-1523 Gilpin Avenue in Evanston for a 96-unit apartment development by Towne Development Group"

 

This is the block on Woodburn across Lincoln Ave from their other apartment development.

This project is a SIGNIFICANT improvement from their last one in EWH.  These properties are adjacent to each other.  One at Woodburn & Chapel and the new one at Woodburn & Lincoln.

 

 

 

 

Here is a very crappy paste job of their site plan (from the Planning Commission agenda against a google maps image of the neighborhood.  This project is incredibly similar in size and scale as their first project, but is slightly larger, extending further down Lincoln Ave.

 

The Towne Properties proposal is on pages 43-55 of today's Planning Commission packet: http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/planning/about-city-planning-buildings/city-planning-commission/feb-6-2015-packet/