Posted June 20, 201410 yr Champion Paper Champion Paper, which later became Champion International Paper, International Paper and then SMART Papers, was a paper mill in Hamilton, Ohio. Once employing 5,000 and boasting the largest facilities in the nation, the factory was the bread-and-butter of the working-class city. At its height, Champion Paper was part of “The Paper Valley,” aptly named due to the concentration of paper mills along the Great Miami River and the Miami & Erie Canal. Mills existed at Crescentville, Port Union, Rialto, Hamilton, Woodsdale, Rockdale, Excello, Middletown, Franklin, Miamisburg, West Carrollton and Dayton. There were thirty separate mills that operated generally between 1890 and 1930, dipping to the low 20′s during the 1960′s and only a handful by the 21st century. And Champion Paper, after a merger with International Paper and economic decline, has ceased to exist and has now joined the ranks of the dead mills that litter "The Paper Valley." Power Plant Coal Hopper Laboratories More from Champion Paper
June 20, 201410 yr I'm sensing...NIGHTCLUB!!! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 21, 201410 yr Awesome stuff. I never knew Southwest Ohio had this history of decline in the paper industry. I knew Dayton lost Mead, but I didn't know about all these other companies.
June 21, 201410 yr Great set. Although Hamilton had several large industrial outfits--Mosler Safe, Herring Hall Marvin Safe, Estate Stove, Beckett Paper, etc.--Champion was probably Hamilton's most influential company between 1900 and 2000. Most of the other industrial sites I mentioned have been demolished or are planned to be demolished, but there is significant interest from the community about repurposing and preserving Champion's massive complex. Unlike the other sites, it is prominently seated right on the Great Miami River, but it also by far the largest at more than 1 million square feet. The buildings west of B Street have been sold to a private developer who is currently demolishing the power house, smokestack, and a handful of small connected buildings. Two tenants have been recruited for the remaining buildings on his side; these buildings have huge open bays and were easier to adapt. The office building has seen some improvements, but I do not believe there is a tenant in the building yet. Just last week, an idea to build a ballpark on a portion of the demolished site was made public. The stadium would support the Hamilton Joes team, Miami Hamilton baseball, and other events, but at a cost of up to $7 million, I am not sure this is a plausible proposal. Still extremely challenging, but more plausible in my mind, would be the conversion of the oldest mill buildings along the river (currently owned by the city) into housing.
June 23, 201410 yr Now this would be a cool loft project! Definitely hoping Hamilton will continue to position itself as the cool urban alternative on the suburban northside. It's a beautiful city, dense, walkable, and has a lot of cool neighborhoods. And OH 129 between Rt. 4 and the underpass is getting a revamp to make the thoroughfare more inviting: http://wmoh-am.linkedupradio.com/the-ticket-updates/103993 Lots of progress in Hamilton!
June 23, 201410 yr I could see the outer buildings along the river becoming apartments. It's essentially a shell, but the northern most warehouse soars up about 30+ feet - so I'm not sure what can be done about that.
June 24, 201410 yr I love the composition of your photos but I'm not really into the post production. It's too Xboxy for my taste. That's just me though.
June 24, 201410 yr Some valuable stuff in that ruin: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/GE-General-Electric-Operator-Interface-Terminal-IC600KD510B-Rev-M-IC6OOKD51OB-/140981537380
June 29, 201410 yr Champion's smokestack was demolished on Friday. You can see a video by TVHamilton here:
January 25, 201510 yr From the 1/20/2015 Cincinnati Enquirer: Study says market exists for Hamilton sports complex Bowdeya Tweh There may be a market to operate a large sports complex at the former Champion Paper property in Hamilton, according to representatives from the project's development team. Feasibility studies launched in August sought to determine if Green Reclamation LLC – the current property owner – could successfully launch the operation on more than 30 acres of land. The company, a division of Pennsylvania-based scrap metal and industrial salvage company Moses B. Glick, bought the property from the city of Hamilton in 2012. Project Manager Frances Mennone said the favorable result from Sport Facilities Advisory and The Sports Force will allow project planning to continue http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2015/01/20/planning-continues-hamilton-sports-complex/22051733/
January 25, 201510 yr I'll add to it: http://www.usrowing.org/News/15-01-23/Champion_Paper_Plant_May_Once_Again_be_a_Home_for_Water_Sports_in_Ohio.aspx What's particularly important to note is that everything in the graphic except the 5000-seat ballfield is inside the Champion Paper complex.... Keeping my fingers crossed!
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