Large housing development planned for California

Sep. 16, 2013 

Written by The Enquirer

 

A new neighborhood of up to 70 houses and 250 apartments has been proposed in a hilly area next to a city-owned golf course in Cincinnati’s California neighborhood.

 

Crestview Hills-based Harbour View Holdings is seeking zoning changes to build the new development on 41 acres at the intersection of Sutton and Two Mile roads, near Interstate 275. Part of it is on excess property from the California Golf Course that the city sold last year.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130916/BIZ/309160098/Large-housing-development-planned-California?nclick_check=1

I am assuming this lot: http://goo.gl/maps/CKdGx. It's on the city's borders. Good to see something new come to this neighborhood.

This is pretty awesome to see all the way around:

 

http://m.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/10/01/columbus-developer-to-build-apartments.html

 

Also nice to see Columbus developers starting to invade, as I think Columbus is one of the most forward thinking cities in the Midwest (they have better than expected infill projects too).

 

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I just noticed they had offices in Santa Barbara too, man that town is gorgeous :)

pretty awesome news, especially with them saying they are focusing on bike parking and transit

This is pretty awesome to see all the way around:

 

http://m.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/10/01/columbus-developer-to-build-apartments.html

 

Also nice to see Columbus developers starting to invade, as I think Columbus is one of the most forward thinking cities in the Midwest (they have better than expected infill projects too).

 

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I just noticed they had offices in Santa Barbara too, man that town is gorgeous :)

 

This brings the total to 1,200 new apartments being added to the CBD (not including everything happening in OTR).

Model Group rehabbing a bunch of apartments in Pendleton:

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/10/02/26m-development-coming-near-horseshoe.html?s=image_gallery

The Changing Face of Westwood

Westwood & the Focus 52 plan

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130929/EDIT03/309290011

A new craft beer store is coming to OTR. From Google Maps, it looks like they might be going into the old Lucy Blue's at 12th and Walnut.

 

http://www.halfcut.com/

Is there a thread on UO for discussing Cincinnati's subway tunnels? I'd love to learn more about ideas and proposals to re-purpose the underground stations and tunnels. I know there are real constraints to using them for rail... but perhaps they could be re-purposed for other uses? Curious to hear people's thoughts... but I'm not sure which thread this is best suited for.

^ This thread: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7694.0.html

Is there a thread on UO for discussing Cincinnati's subway tunnels? I'd love to learn more about ideas and proposals to re-purpose the underground stations and tunnels. I know there are real constraints to using them for rail... but perhaps they could be re-purposed for other uses? Curious to hear people's thoughts... but I'm not sure which thread this is best suited for.

 

There are no limitations on using the tunnels for urban rail. This has been studied extensively, and the tunnels can handle both streetcars and light rail. However, the stations would need elevators to comply with ADA, and ventilation standards are much higher today. With three-car trains, you might need longer platforms.

 

Christ Hospital places final beam for its $265M expansion: SLIDESHOW

Lisa Benson Managing Editor- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

Two construction workers bolted in place the final steel beam at Christ Hospital's Joint and Spine Center under construction in Mount Auburn.

 

More than 1,200 workers have been part of the project to date, but today it was Donovan Pennington and Eddie Franklin who got to put the finishing touch on the steel superstructure. A crowd of employees, hospital officials and project officials were on hand for the topping off ceremony. You can see images of the event by clicking the photo to the right.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/10/25/christ-hospital-places-final-beam-for.html

Great!  Now can the start rebuilding all those houses they destroyed for their overflow construction parking lot?  I can't stand that hospital.  I have a card in my wallet that says, "If I'm in an ambulance, do not take me to Christ Hospital."  They're right in the middle of an urban area and couldn't be more suburban in design.  I used to live on Hollister and tried walking there once...terrible idea.  Good Sam does a good job at balancing cars and pedestrians.  That's my hospital of choice.

To add insult to injury, the last time I walked by there I noticed that they were remodeling a 1950s brick box.  An f-ing 1950s brick box when they destroyed half a block of Queen Anne townhouses!

Does anybody know more details about this condo project at the corner of Shaw and Observatory, in Hyde Park? http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/10/28/developers-building-large-luxury.html?page=all

 

I created a map (attached) showing what I think are the buildings they acquired (but I'm not sure because the article doesn't specify exactly which properties were acquired). Sounds like their plan is to tear all those 5 buildings down to build new condos.

^45 units, all significantly larger than condos throughout the city (averaging over 4000 square feet each) aimed at older Hyde Park residents looking for a more urban lifestyle. At least, this was the plan last time I heard of it.

 

And I believe CR Architects are involved.

Odd. That is such a nice building too: http://goo.gl/maps/9fAPl

A little sad because those 1940s apartments are pretty affordable due to their size and age.  This is definitely an up-scaling of the demographics, but I just hope this ends up bringing more units online than what are taken away.  There's lots of single-family areas of Hyde Park that would seem to be much better suited to densification than this.

 

Here's some neat before and after shots from 1940-1942 that show the site.  Shaw used to dead-end just south of Erie before it was extended to connect with Linwood.

 

Before:  http://drc.libraries.uc.edu/handle/2374.UC/717389

After:  http://drc.libraries.uc.edu/handle/2374.UC/720737

 

Before:  http://drc.libraries.uc.edu/handle/2374.UC/717390

After:  http://drc.libraries.uc.edu/handle/2374.UC/720736

 

 

Oh man, love Then & Nows.

New apartment development kicking off in Northside

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Mayor Mark Mallory, along with officials from Milhaus Developers, Northside Community Council, Northside Business Association and Cincinnati City Council members will celebrate the start of construction for a new apartment development in Northside.

 

The project, the name of which will be unveiled Wednesday, is located at the former Myron Johnson lumberyard where Blue Rock Street intersects Hamilton Avenue.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2013/10/new-apartment-development-kicking-off.html

I put together a map of the vacant and surface parking parcels near the urban core that I think are most well-suited to be developed. Curious to hear people's thoughts. In particular, the plots of land that interest me most are the Bengals practice field and the parking lots around Union Terminal. I'm not aware of any proposals (past or present) for development of those parcels, but I think it would be so good for the city/county to take advantage of their envious location and proximity to major attractions. The Bengals practice field would be ideally suited for a tall signature tower: perfect location and views. The parking lots around Union Terminal would be great for mid-density (maybe up to three stories, to not detract from Union Terminal) residential perhaps with some retail/office mixed in.  Thoughts?

 

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=207284248635169421742.0004c3dd9307332e45ab9

Reminds me of this ol' plan:

 

^^the link is just sending me to a map of the US with no markups...

Copy and paste into your browser.

Thanks!

Cool map.  I can't see the Bengals ever giving up control of those practice fields, though.  At least not while there is so much other land nearby that could be developed.  Also, some of what you've highlighted is currently in use by various industries.  Not that the land couldn't be put to higher use, but converting surface lots that serve no use but parking should be the city's priority.

I fixed the link (sorry about that!).

 

Northside apartments get a name

 

A long-awaited development at Hamilton Avenue and Blue Rock Street in Northside will be called Gantry, Indianapolis-based developer Milhaus revealed Wednesday morning.

 

A gantry is a frame or platform, often used in connection with railroads, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary.

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/developingnow/2013/10/30/northside-apartments-get-name-gantry/

 

Gantry:

 

What's 3CDC doing with the former Butternut bread factory?

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier  

 

 

Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. quietly purchased the former Butternut bread factory in the West End last month, but the nonprofit real estate development and finance organization is mum on its plans for the property.

 

A 3CDC affiliate, Interstate Holdings LLC, purchased 747 W. Fifth St., 805 Fifth St. and 401 Linn St. for $1.85 million in October, according to Hamilton County property records.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2013/11/whats-3cdc-doing-with-the-former.html

 

What's 3CDC doing with the former Butternut bread factory?

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier  

 

 

Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. quietly purchased the former Butternut bread factory in the West End last month, but the nonprofit real estate development and finance organization is mum on its plans for the property.

 

A 3CDC affiliate, Interstate Holdings LLC, purchased 747 W. Fifth St., 805 Fifth St. and 401 Linn St. for $1.85 million in October, according to Hamilton County property records.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2013/11/whats-3cdc-doing-with-the-former.html

 

That is right across the street from the old Hudepohl Brewery.  That whole area is extremely close to downtown, has lots of parking, etc. It's really ripe for development.

^ It's also very poorly connected to downtown.  There's a miserable tangle of ramps, overpasses, and limited sidewalk connections.  There's got to be a better way to cross I-75 as a pedestrian or cyclist than 3rd Street, which is the "least unpleasant" way to go now. 

It's ripe for the Drop Inn Center!

It's easy to get to. I drive by everyday to avoid the daily River Rd backup. It is somewhat isolated, but right next to UPS and the Museum Center storage building.

 

A scrap yard was cleared out nearby years ago. Plus the jail is now empty. I'd say it's a substantial amount land for something. Light industrial, maybe. Plus big piles of coal to stare at. The elevated rail line is nearby and is loud as heck.

WCPO has been doing a multi-part investigative report about how downtown developments are "subsidized". I don't even have the energy to respond to this nonsense. They are also questioning whether downtown can handle all of these new apartments that are going to be developed over the next few years. Well, if Cranley follows through on his campaign promises to stop investing in downtown, you can bet the demand will slow down.

 

http://www.wcpo.com/money/local-business-news/taxpayers-cover-more-than-a-third-of-downtown-cincinnati-boom

And our local media continues the drumbeat of hating the city.

WCPO has been doing a multi-part investigative report about how downtown developments are "subsidized". I don't even have the energy to respond to this nonsense. They are also questioning whether downtown can handle all of these new apartments that are going to be developed over the next few years. Well, if Cranley follows through on his campaign promises to stop investing in downtown, you can bet the demand will slow down.

 

http://www.wcpo.com/money/local-business-news/taxpayers-cover-more-than-a-third-of-downtown-cincinnati-boom

 

I read this article yesterday and just had to shake my head.  They use a projection based on past increases which were very small.  Since momentum has picked up downtown and you have many people on a waiting list, you therefore cannot use this report to project the need for downtown living.  Using that report is just idiotic, but I'm assuming the reporter was going for the doom and gloom aspect of reporting.  Did this reporter work for the Enquirer at any point?   

Yeah, let's completely ignore the FHA and home mortgage deductions while bashing downtown tax breaks...

Actually, he used to work for the Business Courier. WCPO hired good journalists from other publications (Dan Monk and Lucy May from the Business Courier, Kevin Osborne from CityBeat) and managed to turn them into shills for their anti-city narrative. I hope they're getting paid well enough to justify their total loss of integrity.

The recent WCPO narrative seems weird. It really feels like the suburban powers-that-be decided the city had to much momentum and they needed to restore the narrative of decline before things got out of control.

The good news just continues to roll in post-election  :roll:

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131113/BIZ/311130098/Saks-signs-deal-leave-Downtown-Kenwood

I'm not worried about the Saks leaving.  Retail is changing dramatically.  Malls are declining, shopping in general is declining as more people buy things online, etc.

 

I would LOVE to see this building torn down and a high rise replace it. 

Does anybody know more details about this condo project at the corner of Shaw and Observatory, in Hyde Park? http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/10/28/developers-building-large-luxury.html?page=all

 

I created a map (attached) showing what I think are the buildings they acquired (but I'm not sure because the article doesn't specify exactly which properties were acquired). Sounds like their plan is to tear all those 5 buildings down to build new condos.

 

Those are the correct parcels.  It's owned by North American Properties now and being developed by Greiwe Development.

 

This is the same partnership that has "fulfilled Mary Emery's vision" in Mariemont with the 4 phase development near the square.  Their MO is high quality, high density, high price condos near town squares.  While I loved that art deco-ish building at the corner that has come down, I'm certain this will be a great edition to Hyde Park's core.

 

here is what they did in Mariemont:

 

Here is a map showing the properties in relation to the center of Mariemont:

Those condos in Marriemont replaced, I believe, the village's only apartment buildings.  I heard that they were torn down and these condos green-lighted in order to prevent section 8 from ever happening in the village.

 

 

Yea, it's a shame, considering Mariemont was meant to be for the working class.

^ There's a whole bunch of apartments along Murray Avenue and the "Old Towne" section along Oak, Beech, Chestnut, and Maple.  Same with Center Street and Wooster Pike west of the square.  I'd imagine some of those have been turned into condos but certainly not all of them.  All the deep red in this map (which is admittedly a bit out of date at this point) is multi-family.  Condo is purple striped and there's very little of it.  It's certainly an odd and rather coarse transect, but at the very least there's a lot of multi-unit buildings which are pretty old and haven't been substantially renovated.     

 

Catholic Health Partners looking for a new office building.. about double the size of their current building off of 71s. 

 

It says they are looking at locations across greater Cincinnati.  Lets hope they choose to stay downtown and build a tower on a parking lot somewhere... or could possibly fill the office tower proposed at the banks?

 

Regardless, losing this company to the suburbs would be a blow.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/11/15/catholic-health-partners-on-the-hunt.html

They are pretty landlocked. If they had built the garage along Interstate 71 instead of between their building and Staple's, they might have more room to expand. But their building is quite tall and pretty attractive - I would see little reason that it wouldn't be able to be reused pretty quickly.

Wow.  Those infill condos in Mariemont are really nice!

>^ There's a whole bunch of apartments along Murray Avenue and the "Old Towne" section along Oak, Beech, Chestnut, and Maple

 

Sorry about that, I might have been confusing Marriemont and Mediera.