Sorry if there is already a thread on this - but I don't know what this is called so I wasn't sure how to search for it.  Does anyone know what is going on in Evanston - I believe just south of Dana Ave on the west side of 71.  There is a cluster of homes that I believe are located on a disconnected portion of old Duck Creek Rd that had been broarded up for a while.  Yesterday while driving home I notified that a number of them had been torn down and it looks like there were still some more that would be demo'ed soon.  Anyone know what's going on there?  :?

It's in the Random Cincinnati Developments thread.  It's called The Keystone, and it's an office development by Neyer.  Part of it will also include improvements to the adjacent park and a landscaping project along Dana.

 

Look within that thread and you'll find all of what's known so far.  The most info on it is probably on the most recent page (I think it's page #8).

 

There's no thread for it.  I've been thinking about starting one but I wanted to hold off on it.

 

Thanks Grasscat.  I knew you'd be all over it - I just didn't know were to look  :-D

PRidgeFlyer...I decided to go ahead and make a topic out of it.

 

Just for the sake of continuity, I'll start the thread off with what is known so far.  All of this appeared in the Random Cincinnati Developments Thread.

---

June 25, 2005

 

Office buildings on the horizon:

 

The Pointe, on Dana Ave. just west of I-71.  Two buildings, 350,000 square feet.  Owned by Dana Residential Investment, LTD, and the site has a couple of industrial structures on it.

 

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=333.msg38643;topicseen#msg38643

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October 21, 2005

 

As mentioned in this post, there are plans to build an office building on Dana Ave. just west of I-71.  Called The Pointe, it will be 380,000 square feet and will include a parking deck.  In order to do this, councilman Cranley has proposed extending the Evanston NBD Urban Renewal Plan boundaries west.  This would allow the city to use tax increment financing to fund the project's construction.  This motion has been passed along to the city manager for a report, and will come up again in city council's 11/9/05 meeting.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=333.msg55787;topicseen#msg55787

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January 12, 2006

 

The office development I mentioned in this post is called The Pointe.  On this map, you can see the site.  The goal is to add the area bounded by Evanston and Dana avenues and I-71 to the NBD Urban Renewal Plan.

 

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=333.msg70162;topicseen#msg70162

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January 29, 2006

 

Apparently, "The Pointe" is actually "The Keystone".  Neyer proposes to develop 446,000 square feet of Class A office space on top of a three-story garage, with an outparcel for a restaurant.  This would be near the intersection of Dana and Realistic avenues.

 

Therefore, the city needed to look at amending the Evanston NBD Urban Renewal Plan to allow this land use.  It was contended that the office could possibly bring as many as 2,000 employees to the region, and that their need for services could be provided by new businesses springing up in the immediate area.

 

Neyer would also help the community by aiding in improvements to the adjacent Evanston Playfield.  This would include new play equipment, restoration of the swimming pool and historic pool house, a walking trail, and parking.

 

The Evanston Community Council approved this on October 20, 2005, after only one meeting with Neyer, feeling that it would be of great benefit to the immediate area and that it wouldn't use eminent domain, which was one of their fears.

 

The city should let this rezoning go through, no problem.  There is no timetable for when this project may get off the ground.

 

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=333.msg73575;topicseen#msg73575

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February 12, 2006

 

Here's the site plan.  I realize it's pretty hard to read since it's a copy of a scanned document:

 

SUMMARY: 1) Improved access to park, pedestrian crossing with lighting, fencing, signing at Evanston Ave.  2) New and expanded childrens' play area  3) Upgraded pool facilities  4) Potential new bus shelter and plaza with identity signage  5)  Repositioned football/soccer field removes baseball/softball field from field of play  6) New walking/fitness trail  7) New retaining walls providing improved access to basketball courts  8) Future Dana Avenue boulevard/streetscape improvements  9) Community gateway sign  10) Proposed east park entry plaza and kiosk at shared parking area on Realistic Ave. (Keystone Way)  11) Project identity sign

 

Fugliness, as seen from I-71:

 

The ordinance to receive $2500 from Neyer to do a blight study and to amend the Evanston NBD Urban Renewal plan passed unanimously.  The city, the Evanston community, and Neyer are on board on this.  I don't know the scope of the study or the timetable we're looking at, though.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=333.msg76859;topicseen#msg76859

 

And now to the new stuff.

 

It looks like they're preparing for site prep, though the project is not officially a go.  Neyer has recently applied for demolition permits for the following properties.  These are at the south end of the office site, south of Oesper Ave.  Like PRidgeFlyer mentioned, these are the one's you've probably seen boarded up from I-71. 

 

Here's a map...you can see what structures are on the site.  The redevelopment area is bordered by Realistic, Dana, and I-71.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=39.144557,-84.460391&spn=0.004676,0.008605&t=h

 

3586 Realistic Ave.:

 

3588 Realistic Ave.:

 

3590 Realistic Ave.:

 

3592 Realistic Ave.:

 

3594 Realistic Ave.:

 

3596 Realistic Ave.:

 

3598 Realistic Ave.:

 

Neyer project would revitalize Dana exit with offices, retail

Laura Baverman

Staff Reporter

 

Neyer Properties is clearing land at the Dana Avenue exit off Interstate 71 for a $70 million, 460,000-square-foot office complex.

 

Called The Keystone, the project consists of two 200,000-square-foot buildings, a 60,000-square-foot building and an outlot for retail space -- all atop a three-story parking structure. When full, the complex could bring up to 2,000 jobs to the Evanston community.

 

Click on link for article.

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/02/27/story3.html

Hehehehhe Realistic Drive.

 

How appropriate.

I know grasscat already posted the site plan and rendering, but it might be easier to see in this PDF

 

 

 

 

So this is what is going on there.  All this time I saw those boarded up homes which I thought were in Norwood and been meaning to post a thread asking why the buildings were boarded up.  Over the past two weekends I noticed that the buildings were coming down and it raised my interest higher.

 

This is great news IMO, this stretch is very visable and it is expanding office space in the inner core which is important.  I know my wife's company has been outgrowing their digs in Mason and he just bought a home in Indian Hill so I am sure a location like this would interest someone in that position.  While the buildings aren't cutting edge at least they don't look like Pictoria/Cornerstone crap.

I stripped out the plan & image.

 

 

Thanks for the new renderings.  Those old ones I posted were terrible.

 

I was over there the other day.  About half of the houses were down, but there were some still standing along the north side of Oesper.  I think a couple of them were even still being loved in.

 

I'll get around to posting the pics one of these days.

 

BTW, what happened to the development on Dana that was suppose to happen.  It was in between I-71 & Victory Parkway.  Wasn't some strip mall going up there?

I'm not sure where you mean.  Do you mean on the other side of I-71 from Walnut Hills HS?

No I thought there was a planned development on Dana west of I-71 heading toward Xavier?

Are you talking about Dana and Montgomery?

 

Oh you mean where the plant that blew up a few years ago. I have no clue about what's going on lately with that.

If it is the old BASF site at Dana and Montgomery you are talking about, here are a couple of old articles about it, but nothing new....

 

From 2000 http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2000/03/05/loc_former_basf_site_to.html

 

From 2003  http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2003/09/29/story8.html

 

 

Maybe this Keystone project will have some spillover effect and get something going on this site.

^ There used to be a sign about shops going there, but it quietly disappeared. 

There was also a story a year ago about someone wanting to sell Norwood Plaza and have it redeveloped with a hotel and some other stuff.  That and the BASF land are the only ones I can think of.

That looks like an office park from 1985.  I think there are already some glass buildings like that along 71 North. 

The development still must comply with the BASF povisions.  This is what killed the project in earlier days - insurance.

Well if they look like 1985 than Cornerstone at Norwood must look like something from 1975 ;)

Well if they look like 1985 than Cornerstone at Norwood must look like something from 1975 ;)

 

Cornerstone is just too ugly for words! 

Has anyone here owned property for development and or developed property except for us?

i love how 71 is depicted in that photoreal digital rendering.  the buildings do sort of remind me of the buildings north of 275 on 71...one used to be quantum or something...just more glass.  oh well

^You mean the RCA building?

i dont know what it is now but at one point it was quantum.  there are two or three of them...all ivory in color.  i guess they are actually off of kemper

I dont know if this is a dumb question or not, but is this project within the City of Cincinnati city limits or the City of Norwood?  It is great news though....2000 new jobs for the city.  Thats what I'm talking about!!!

^City of Cincinnati

Excuse me, what 2,000 jobs?  New, old or what?

The article listed earlier stated "When full, the complex could bring up to 2,000 jobs to the Evanston community."  It sounds as if they would be new jobs, but it does not say specifically.

^ I think it's impossible to say if they would be new jobs or just shifted jobs.  But it would be jobs in Evanston PERIOD, which is a plus in and of itself.

 

BTW...here are those demolition pics.  They're pretty poor quality due to sunlight, but you get the idea:

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would be great if this would have a spill-over to the corner of Dana and Montgomery.  The old BASF spot looks so forlorn, and that's a fairly high-profile intersection (near the highway, near Xavier, etc.).  I wonder if Xavier will eventually do something with it as they continue their eastward expansion -- if i recall correctly, they bought the Zumbiel plant in that area last year (or the year before?  It all blurs together). 

It would be great if this would have a spill-over to the corner of Dana and Montgomery.

 

I know the city has been pushing for a large retail development there for years, or at least has had a sign up anyway.

It would be great if this would have a spill-over to the corner of Dana and Montgomery.  The old BASF spot looks so forlorn, and that's a fairly high-profile intersection (near the highway, near Xavier, etc.).  I wonder if Xavier will eventually do something with it as they continue their eastward expansion -- if i recall correctly, they bought the Zumbiel plant in that area last year (or the year before?  It all blurs together). 

 

That is an interesting thought.  I would think Xavier would be interested in buying land while it is available for future expansion.

Doesn't Xavier already own the land?  However, now that they own the Zumbiel plant, maybe that will change their plans for development of the corner of Dana and Montgomery.  Does the the Zumbiel property make the BASF property contiguious with the rest of campus?

Xavier owns the land on the north west corner of Dana and Montgomery - the lot and the first building west of Montgomery.  I don't know which site is BASF and which is Zumbiel, but the lots at Dana and Montgomery abut the buildings they bought from Canora Corporation in 2004, and those abut the back end of the Commons Apartments on the southeast corner of campus.  They're separated by the railroad tracks, I believe, but it's all connected.

I've been looking online for a copy of XU's master plan, which I know was at least partially included in an issue of Xavier Magazine last year.  I can't recall what plans were in place for the Zumbiel site -- I had heard rumblings of a library or some such, but that is probably just alumni talking.  From what I remember, it sounds like the school plans to close down Woodburn/Ledgewood north of Dana (much like they closed Ledgewood between Victory and Herald back in the 90s).  No idea if they will be doing anything with Herald/Cleneay, which currently runs right by Cintas Center.  If I find that, I'll post a link.

This is the thread regarding XU's master plan.  There's not a lot in there, but there's some info:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2422.0

Thanks, Grasscat.  Under that pic, they would definitely be closing Ledgewood/Woodburn north of Dana.  That really shifts the whole focus of campus to more directly around the chapel -- it looks a lot more connected. 

 

Xavier has done a heckuva job redoing their campus, at least on the east side of Victory Parkway (the Evanston side).  It would be nice to see them do something good with Zumbiel/BASF, which could have an impact on Evanston proper. 

I think a new exit off I-71 for Victory parkway will change the whole area.

I think a new exit off I-71 for Victory parkway will change the whole area.

 

Would this change be for the good or bad?  They are talking about the same thing for MLK off of I-71.  These added interchanges will bring in a lot of new vehicular traffic and business.  Whether or not this is the kind of stuff you want to attract is up for debate.

A few other notes on this building:

 

 

As the rendering that The_Cincinnati_Kid posted shows, the three buildings are expected to be 7 stories (Building A), 6 stories (Building B), and up to 5 stories (Building C).

 

Parking spaces will total 1800.  The parking structure will be under Building C.  Since the topography drops on the site heading closer to I-71, the parking garage will be open on the end facing I-71, allowing for ventilation and natural light.

 

Setbacks will be 30 feet from I-71 (Buildings A and B) and up to the lot line at Dana and Realistic avenues (Building C).  Of course, the buildings will be positioned parallel to I-71, so Building C will be tilted at an angle--meaning it won't actually "front" on Dana Ave.

 

18.6% of the site will be "open space".

 

Once demolition is complete, earthwork (site prep) will start.

 

Depending on market conditions (I hate hearing this), Phase I (Building C) would begin in 1Q 2007 and end 2Q 2008.  Phase II (Building B) would begin 2Q or 3Q 2007 and end 4Q 2008, and Phase III (Building A) is tentatively scheduled for 2008.  All would be complete some time in 2009.

 

Weird, you would think they would start the one closest to the interstate first.

^ Or at least go in sequence. "A" should be first.

Keystone office project seen as Evanston spur

Construction could begin by next fall

BY MARLA MATZER ROSE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

EVANSTON - One of the largest office developments the city of Cincinnati has seen in years is being prepared in Evanston, just off Interstate 71 at Dana Avenue.

 

Click on link for article.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060402/BIZ01/604020413/1076/rss01

 

There will be a public hearing on the rezoning of this property in front of the Economic Development Committee on May 1, 2006 at 3 PM.  Neyer is seeking to have the zoning changed from single-family residential and commercial community auto to a Planned Development District, PD No. 44.

 

This flew through the Planning Commission with no problems, and should sail through committee as well as council.

The PUD/zoning change passed in council unanimously, meaning there is nothing holding back this project.

 

Demolition continues.

Here's a better site plan.  This one's in color and shows the future Evanston Park as well.

 

Any update on when they plan to break ground?  Still the fall? 

 

Everything has been torn down and removed, but they have done nothing in the last month.