Indianapolis-based Core Redevelopment has placed the winning bid for the former SCPA / historic Woodward High School in OTR.

 

 

More info about Core here:

http://www.blogotr.com/otr/core-redevelopment-set-to-buy-historic-former-scpa-building/

 

 

More about the sale with quotes from Danny Klingler and Jim Tarbell here:

http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/cincinnati/Indianapolis-developer-to-buy-former-SCPA-building/-/13549970/17376278/-/u9xi0k/-/index.html

 

 

This is great news!

I just saw this. I couldn't be happier this building is going to see new life in the form of residential conversion. Should bring a nice amount of residents to that side of town. I'll be excited to watch this development.

Wowowowowowow!

 

I thought that would either sit vacant for years or become a charter school. This is incredible!

This is great news. I've often looked at that building and thought it would be awesome to see some loft-style apartments or condos in there. Hell, I'd seriously consider getting a place there once I'm done with grad school. I just hope the design of the apartments is more creative than what was done at the Emery.

Anybody familiar with this developer?

Core converted a baseball stadium in apartments. This should be easy.

That's great news.  I can't wait to see what they do with this building!

Interior / exterior photo tour:

 

http://www.blogotr.com/otr/photo-tour-of-the-old-scpa-historic-woodward-high-school/

 

Great pics. I can't wait to see what they do with this building. The character and detailing looks far more intricate than the Emery and look how well that building turned out!

 

Wonder what will become of the gyms and pool? Pool probably filled in and gyms turned into 2-story loft apartments?

^-a gym could be kept as a fitness center.  I bet the pool is leaving though...

 

Would be awesome if they could set it up like this where there are bars and movie theaters: http://www.mcmenamins.com/427-kennedy-school-home

No reason the pool couldn't be fixed up and offered as an amenity for residents. How many other downtown / OTR residential developments can offer an indoor pool? That gym looks enormous, but it would make an awesome fitness center, and could be divided to form an event space.

I would be extremely suprised if the pool makes it. The expense of reconstruction and operating it for a relatively small number of units would be quite high. Not to mention insurance costs, etc.

What if someone contracted to run a for-profit gym there?

Interesting idea. How is Snap Fitness doing downtown? Independent gyms are very difficult now that gym's (now being last 20 years) have become so commercialized and are almost all just a handful of chains.

 

If Snap Fitness is doing well, perhaps you could see another gym, But with the athletic club, YMCA, Snap, a handful of yoga & Pilates places, a crossfit on 7th, downtown & OTR might not be in a place for more.

True, but snap is a postage stamp, and the athletic club is men only. I wonder how the gym at Adams landing does.

 

On a separate note, how great are those rookwood water fountains? I call a unit that incorporates one!

I thin the parking lot fear is a little overblown.  The property already has about 75 parking spaces.  If the building ends up with 200 residents an additional 100~ spaces won't be a big deal. 

^I agree with that. Is it really only 75 spaces though? I was walking by there the other day and noticed parking spots numbering in the 90's. I know some of the spots are compact only or awkwardly located to squeeze them in, and admittedly I didn't count the spaces. Also, the park next door is a huge selling point for that location. If you look at the ballpark that the company is converting into apartments, the entire baseball field is left as open space. I don't think we have to worry too much about a parking lot covering that park.

The park used to be row houses.  They were bulldozed for the park sometime around 1935. 

 

I am worried that because of "security concerns" they might build an all-new fenced lot in place of the park.  The American Can's lot is fenced in.

There is currently a haphazard configuration of 100 spaces. And that could most likely be improved upon. Of course, they will probably want to offload some of those a bit to allow for landscaping etc. But I agree, it's not like they have zero parking now.  They were able to accommodate a fully-functioning school for quite some time without paving over the field in the process.

I agree that the fears of losing the park are overblown. Still good to let it be known that the park is important to the neighborhood. We'll see what Core has to say if/when they choose to say it publicly.

They should try to use this project as an example of doing residential without a 1:1 ratio.  Do 1:2 and negotiate with Zipcar to put one or two cars adjacent to the property. 

The park is definitely endangered.  First of all, it is not really a park.  It is just leftover space from when demolition happened and neighbors of the site improved it.  The story I heard is that the neighbors cleaned it up and then got CPS to take ownership because they wanted it to stay used as a community asset. 

 

Now this greenspace will be in private hands and it will probably be fenced off and used for parking and other private uses such as tennis or just as private park.... not open to the public. 

There's also a parking lot across from 13th Street that could possibly be rented/sold to the developer (currently owned by a private company).

 

Until we hear SOMETHING from the developers, everything is just speculation. There is no "probably" because we don't know what their plan is for this space. I think it is important for the neighbors to emphasize the importance of the publicly open area, but at this point it's just speculation.

Also, does anyone else see incredible potential for a green roof, partially vegetated roof, or at least a rooftop deck on Woodward? Just look at the enormouse flat roof that exists! Slap a few nice railings on there and you could have incredible views of Downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine. This would most likely raise the value of the building much more than an enclosed park adjacent to the building. People go crazy for those views.

I'd like to see a Mercer Commons-style building go where the playground is now, with buildings fronting Sycamore and 14th, and a parking garage hidden in the core. Then, the massive parking lot between 14th and Woodward Streets could be turned into a park, attached to the existing Ziegler Park. (Yes, I'm ignoring the fact that these properties have different owners.)

I definitely think Zipcar should and could be used as leverage by developers to build less parking and instead provide Zipcar spaces nearby and/or free memberships for a year.  Would be interesting if that would work in Cincy. 

I'd like to see a Mercer Commons-style building go where the playground is now, with buildings fronting Sycamore and 14th, and a parking garage hidden in the core. Then, the massive parking lot between 14th and Woodward Streets could be turned into a park, attached to the existing Ziegler Park. (Yes, I'm ignoring the fact that these properties have different owners.)

 

It's much much much more likely that the parking lot would become a building then ever become a park.  Outside of Riverfront Park, the City isn't really in a position to create NEW parks out of non-park land.

Speaking of that block, Peaslee has to be one of the ugliest buildings in all of OTR.

^Peaslee building was actually an annex to an old school building.  The old school building was demolished but the annex was left.

^Peaslee building was actually an annex to an old school building.  The old school building was demolished but the annex was left.

 

Who designed the Peaslee addition, Jskinner?

I saw old blueprints once, but I can't remember. 

160 apartments proposed for old SCPA building

After years of uncertainty about the future of a historic school, an Indianapolis developer is proposing 160-plus apartments for the former SCPA building in Pendleton, according to a community leader.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130107/BIZ/301070142/160-apartments-proposed-old-SCPA-building

a few more details of what may be presented tomorrow

 

http://www.blogotr.com/otr/core-redevelopment-to-unveil-plans-for-old-scpa-tomorrow/

 

The way I see it, I would rather have a higher quality, smaller park than a low quality  large park. I would love a large, high quality park in this space, but unfortunately parking is important, especially for a development this size.

I've heard the developer is planning 1.5 parking spaces per apartment.

 

Also, a friend who lives in Pendleton said every residential unit gets 2 neighborhood parking spaces each. So that's 380 permits for street parking plus 240 parking spaces.

 

I think it should be one space each or something.

From the meeting today at the library.

 

The plan is about 170 apartments. Zoning code requires ~250 parking spots. They are proposing 230 parking spots that are enclosed and gated. The 230 number comes from one space per bedroom. A lot of community uproar about that. People didn't understand how development works sometimes (suggesting an underground garage like Washington Park, or putting parking into the basement, etc). 40-50% of existing green space would be converted to parking under their plan. The remaining 50-60% would be green space and most likely a small dog park and a softball field. This encompassed majority of the time. It was brought up that there was on-street permitted parking and he seemed hesitant to use any of that because he emphasized that people want to feel safe walking from their car to their apartment. There may be a small compromise made, but it doesn't seem likely that a lot of the proposed parking will go away. Maybe some.

 

Swimming pools will be eliminated (he said that the pools haven't been used for decades and would be a huge liability being on the fifth floor).

 

Auditorium I didn't catch. I believe he is open to preserving it if someone is willing to rent the space out.

 

There will be a new roof installed. He is open to having a green roof or solar panels (provided funding is there), but admits he has no familiarity with it and there is very little access to the roof (a small 18" opening is all that provides the access).

 

The apartment complex will have a gym (for residents use only).

 

One of the gyms will be converted to apartments with an elevated running track somehow working into the design (they didn't have renderings of that yet).

 

Cheapest rent will be about $750/month.

So, I guess that even without the ridiculous zoning requirements, he'd still want all that parking?

I thought theaters were revenue generators.....

Theatres are revenue generating if they have a valid business model and good programming. Which the SCPA does not have. And with The Emery around the corner and what they will be doing at the old Greg's Antiques building, the area seems to be tapped out on theatres... unless it could be a movie theatre?

He plans to turn the auditorium into apartments. He pointed out a number of empty and underutilized theaters in downtown and OTR, obviously the Emery is the best example. Also a 1980's renovation and the massive early 1990's arson removed nearly all the historic features of the auditorium.

Thankfully, The Emery is no longer empty. BUT their efforts are proving how difficult it is to re-open a theatre. The arts community in this town is sometimes hostile to anything that may alter the balance of revenues. We don't need the theatre at the old SCPA. The better use would be some cool/unique apartments.

Theatres are revenue generating [i[if[/i] they have a valid business model and good programming. Which the SCPA does not have. And with The Emery around the corner and what they will be doing at the old Greg's Antiques building, the area seems to be tapped out on theatres... unless it could be a movie theatre?

 

What's the plan for Greg's Antiques building? Very interesting space. I went to their closeout sales.

Theatres are revenue generating [i[if[/i] they have a valid business model and good programming. Which the SCPA does not have. And with The Emery around the corner and what they will be doing at the old Greg's Antiques building, the area seems to be tapped out on theatres... unless it could be a movie theatre?

What's the plan for Greg's Antiques building? Very interesting space. I went to their closeout sales.

 

uhh... I'm honestly not sure I can say at this point. I don't think plans are public. But the building was originally a theatre/movie house. So that should/could give you an indication.

If you'd like to listen to the meeting to hear John Watson in his own words, there is an audio link at the bottom of the OTR Blog's summary:

 

Summary:

http://www.blogotr.com/otr/summary-of-former-scpa-development-meeting-01092013/

 

Audio:

http://www.blogotr.com/otr/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/20130109-184002.m4a

It is amazing how people speculate what a developer should do with a property they just acquired. They have announced it will be converted to residential use.

 

So some want an old gym to be leased out to a fitness center. That is just great for the increased traffic and disturbance to the residents of the building.

 

I don't know how a swimming pool got on the 5th floor but it is obvious to me that will go. The one plan for preserving a running track around a gym for resident's use is commendable but I believe once the engineers/architects get done with their analysis that will disappear also due to noise, effect on unit space, etc.

 

Those huge hallways and staircases in the pictures already tell me they occupy much of the gross space of the building, reducing the net apartment space. I will not be surprised if somewhere they announce tearing out the stairways and installing elevators with a much smaller footprint. There will certainly be a huge cry then about destroying the architecture.

 

But it is up to the developer to determine their best course of action. Sure anyone can contribute ideas and suggestions. A lot depends on how they will market the property, urban living with close proximity to the streetcar no car required, or upscale with lots of amenities. Not enough has been divulged yet to determine.

 

 

It is amazing how people speculate what a developer should do with a property they just acquired. They have announced it will be converted to residential use.

 

So some want an old gym to be leased out to a fitness center. That is just great for the increased traffic and disturbance to the residents of the building.

 

I don't know how a swimming pool got on the 5th floor but it is obvious to me that will go. The one plan for preserving a running track around a gym for resident's use is commendable but I believe once the engineers/architects get done with their analysis that will disappear also due to noise, effect on unit space, etc.

 

Those huge hallways and staircases in the pictures already tell me they occupy much of the gross space of the building, reducing the net apartment space. I will not be surprised if somewhere they announce tearing out the stairways and installing elevators with a much smaller footprint. There will certainly be a huge cry then about destroying the architecture.

 

But it is up to the developer to determine their best course of action. Sure anyone can contribute ideas and suggestions. A lot depends on how they will market the property, urban living with close proximity to the streetcar no car required, or upscale with lots of amenities. Not enough has been divulged yet to determine.

 

 

 

Not always the case. The community should have a big say here. Too often, developers are more concerned with the bottom line. With this, and many other developments, it's the difference between making a huge profit or making a decent sized profit. When it comes to what the community gets in those 2 scenarios, the differences can be jarring.

Not the biggest priority, but any word on the Rockwood water fountains? I take it they will be part of the extra wide hallways but I'm curious if some end up in an apartment's kitchen or bedroom.

The way he made it sound, the classrooms would remain as is except for the walls making up the hallway. I think they will demo the hallways and make the rooms bigger/hallway smaller.

 

He seemed adamant about keeping the historic character of the building. I imagine this means all of the rookwood tiles would remain.

 

Also, this meeting was not required. He came to the community and very openly said, "what do you want". He was very straighforward and I think he really does want to do right by the community.

This entire episode demonstrates the need for a new plan and capable leadership to address the issue of parking around Main Street and Pendleton. Better utilization of existing parking facilities and investment in a well-placed garage or two could solve many current problems that are sure to only grow as this area continues to attract new residents and visitors. Insufficient/poorly allocated parking can diminish a neighborhood's potential. If more streets become permitted for residents, businesses could suffer and that would be the start of a vicious cycle.

 

I think the Peaslee bldg, Woodward lot, and Ziegler Park will receive greater scrutiny from some neighbors.