EXCLUSIVE: Another downtown residential tower in the works – here’s where it could be built

Chris Wetterich Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Details are sparse, but it looks like another downtown residential tower may be in the works on the site of a to-be-built seven-story parking garage at Eighth and Sycamore streets.

 

It’s connected to a complicated deal to build a long-planned Holiday Inn on downtown’s northeast side.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2014/06/usive-another-downtown-residential-tower-in-the.html

This was posted on Building Cincinnati's facbook page: "Urban Design Review Board meets Friday at 10:30am for preliminary design review of 8th & Sycamore apts and garage. City Hall, Room 312"

 

Does this mean the apartments portion has a real chance at happening?

Interesting. Sounds like it's at least being thought about. Granted this could also be a similar situation to the Broadway and 7th Garage where there's a design to be implemented sometime in the future. Hopefully that's not the case though and we'll be getting some new construction apartments and street retail soon.

Would be great if it does include some apartments right away. Then those units coupled with the Apartments around 7th/sycamore, 8th street lofts, 7th and broadway would be a solid residential base in that area.

 

Now if there could only be some development across the street on those huge lots... The potential for some awesome residential density is there.

Yeah that's what I'm hoping happens. Those huge lots have the potential to have hundreds of units and some decently sized buildings even if they just match the scale of what's around. Bigger would be a nice option though. This garage is what, seven stories? And let's say there's another 7 on top (hopefully more). Filling this hole with 10-20 story buildings would be quite awesome.

This was posted on Building Cincinnati's facbook page: "Urban Design Review Board meets Friday at 10:30am for preliminary design review of 8th & Sycamore apts and garage. City Hall, Room 312"

 

Does this mean the apartments portion has a real chance at happening?

 

It will be interesting to watch what is actually proposed tomorrow. They may build this garage in such a way that it could eventually support apartments above, but I doubt we'll see a plan for apartments tomorrow. Remember that the 7th & Broadway garage was there for around a dozen years before they finally got around to building the apartment tower above it.

^You're probably right.  But keep in mind that market demand of those years was very different than it is now.  People are paying a premium for an apartment downtown.  I still doubt that apartments will be in today's announcement, but you never know.

Cincinnati.com has posted an article stating that apartments will be a part of what is proposed tomorrow and that the project is potentially on the fast track.

Sounds great!

Here is the article...

 

 

A tale of two Downtown apartment projects

Bowdeya Tweh, [email protected] 3:55 p.m. EDT August 7, 2014

 

Developers are mulling building an apartment tower on a soon-to-be-built Downtown parking garage as a similar project on the central business district's west side languishes.

 

City leaders and representatives from North American Properties and NorthPointe Group envision a new parking garage and apartments replacing the American Red Cross building at Eighth and Sycamore streets.

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2014/08/07/downtown-apartment-towers/13682511/

How can the city let the 4th & Race project sit on the shelf while simultaneously pushing another apartment tower at another location in the CBD?

I would think it has to do with Paragon Salon refusing to move, or there is stuff going on behind the scenes with 4th and Race. Or it is because Flaherty & Collins is an Indy developer and they are not owed any favors.

How can the city let the 4th & Race project sit on the shelf while simultaneously pushing another apartment tower at another location in the CBD?

 

In addition to the lease dispute, didn't the 4th and Race project miss out on tax or new market credits it was banking on?  Financing a big project is a very tricky thing, I would imagine. 

Or it is because Flaherty & Collins is an Indy developer and they are not owed any favors.

 

Here is the answer.

Here are the plans:

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/08/08/check-out-three-options-for-apartments-at-8th-and.html

 

 

Wow, 290 foot tall option. Was definitely not expecting something of that scale. Twentyish story tall tower on top of 5 story base. That's pretty good.

 

I like the idea of townhomes with a tower above. This style of massing is popular in a lot of places and, when handled correctly, can lead to a really nice street presence.

 

This corner of Downtown is going to become Senhauser corner. I'm fine with that. I'm excited to see what they come up with when they don't have to work with a hideous existing garage.

There doesn't seem to be much interest in the new plans for the apartments. Is there just too much going on in Cincy on the weekends or something? Is this just a meh project? Cincinnati forumers are talking about projects that aren't happening or going nowhere. Millenium Hotel, Purple people Bridge, Emery Theater, the Terrace Plaza Hotel. I'm just waiting for talk about the Fort Washington Way Caps to start back up. I'm just wondering, this seems like a wonderful, unexpected turn of events and no one seems to have noticed. Strange.

^ It could be as simple as the information was released late Friday. Or the thread's Subject. I'm reviewing posts and will create an apartment thread...

These discussions go mostly dormant over the weekend.  I guess everyone just posts from work during the week. 

I am happy about the prospect of another new residential tower in Cincinnati. I am, however, very suspicious that this project came out of nowhere while the 4th & Race project is stalled. The 4th & Race tower needs to go soon... spending more money to rehab it (as Cranley suggested) and keep it around for another 30 years would be a huge mistake.

Construction fences were up around the garage this morning. Seems like they're preparing to demolish it (thank god).

There doesn't seem to be much interest in the new plans for the apartments. Is there just too much going on in Cincy on the weekends or something? Is this just a meh project? Cincinnati forumers are talking about projects that aren't happening or going nowhere. Millenium Hotel, Purple people Bridge, Emery Theater, the Terrace Plaza Hotel. I'm just waiting for talk about the Fort Washington Way Caps to start back up. I'm just wondering, this seems like a wonderful, unexpected turn of events and no one seems to have noticed. Strange.

 

I think it's great news that there are ambitious plans for this site, but my attitude is sort of 'wait and see'.  How many times do we hear plans floated, see renderings released, amenities hyped, only to have the project go no where.  The article even says "if they [the developers] find it financially feasible...", so I hardly think this is anywhere close to happening.  Look at the 4th and Race deal, or even the building going up across the street from this as projects that were either cancelled or majorly stalled despite appearing to be legitimate and likely when announced.

Construction fences were up around the garage this morning. Seems like they're preparing to demolish it (thank god).

 

That was quick.

I'm confused about where the Holiday Inn will be, in relation to this project. The rendering makes it seem like this project extends along Sycamore for the entire block from 8th to 7th, but I thought the Holiday Inn was on the corner of 7th and Sycamore. What am I missing? Can somebody clarify?

The Holiday Inn is along 7th, closer to Broadway.

So, the renderings for this project are just misleading? Or am I looking at the renderings wrong? Sure looks to me like the rendering fill the entire block between 7th and 8th. The renderings I'm looking at are from the bizjournal article: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/08/08/check-out-three-options-for-apartments-at-8th-and.html?s=image_gallery

 

 

The rendering is for only half of the block. They are taking the east half of the existing garage to build the Holiday Inn and the other half plus the red cross building for the new garage and tower.

Ahh. I get it now. Holiday Inn is at 7th and Broadway. Makes sense.

I actually like the mid rise L-shaped design better.

Now if only that parking lot across the street could get redeveloped...

I just hope it doesn't take 10 years to build the apartment tower

Now if only that parking lot across the street could get redeveloped...

 

Maybe you guys can't wait for "towers" to be built in the area, but that's where I live and I don't look forward to being loomed over, and ending up in perpetual shadows!  I'm not a big fan of urban canyons, and anyway I prefer the lower-to-mid-rise character of my neighborhood.  The Joseph family (car dealership$) own the big parking lot and I know someday, sadly, something really tall may get built there that I won't like.

 

Now if only that parking lot across the street could get redeveloped...

 

Maybe you guys can't wait for "towers" to be built in the area, but that's where I live and I don't look forward to being loomed over, and ending up in perpetual shadows!  I'm not a big fan of urban canyons, and anyway I prefer the lower-to-mid-rise character of my neighborhood.  The Joseph family (car dealership$) own the big parking lot and I know someday, sadly, something really tall may get built there that I won't like.

 

Not trying to pick a fight or be sarcastic but this sounds so weird to me as I rationalize my existence in suburbia.  You live in the CBD!  I suppose I could complain about big yards to mow and lifeless streets.  It's what we get. :P

Now if only that parking lot across the street could get redeveloped...

 

Maybe you guys can't wait for "towers" to be built in the area, but that's where I live and I don't look forward to being loomed over, and ending up in perpetual shadows!  I'm not a big fan of urban canyons, and anyway I prefer the lower-to-mid-rise character of my neighborhood.  The Joseph family (car dealership$) own the big parking lot and I know someday, sadly, something really tall may get built there that I won't like.

 

I never said towers, I just suggested a better use than a parking lot. Honestly, any residential, office, or commercial use would make me happy. But I would prefer a tall building with a lot of units. It's the CBD and should be built up

There used to be a building taller than mine next door, but the Josephs bought it in the 80s and tore it down.  They also bought a building at 7th & Main (that had a beautiful white terra cotta facade) and tore it down in spite of the fact that by that time, Main Street had been designated an historic district.  Don't ask me how they were able to get away with the demolition so easily. 

 

All of this was with the purpose of assembling contiguous pieces of land (the large parking lot) on which to develop a highrise office building.  Well, it's 30 years later and now there's more demand for downtown residential than Class A office.  SO, maybe I won't be loomed over by a skyscraper after all,  but there's still a chance, since the Josephs also recently acquired the Dennison Hotel on Main St. between 7th and 8th streets to add to the assemblage. 

Now if only that parking lot across the street could get redeveloped...

 

Maybe you guys can't wait for "towers" to be built in the area, but that's where I live and I don't look forward to being loomed over, and ending up in perpetual shadows!  I'm not a big fan of urban canyons, and anyway I prefer the lower-to-mid-rise character of my neighborhood.  The Joseph family (car dealership$) own the big parking lot and I know someday, sadly, something really tall may get built there that I won't like.

 

Boy, you would get run right out of skyscraperpage.com so fast your messenger bag would spin off your bicycle.

Not trying to pick a fight or be sarcastic but this sounds so weird to me as I rationalize my existence in suburbia.  You live in the CBD!  I suppose I could complain about big yards to mow and lifeless streets.  It's what we get. :P

 

Yep, it's always something, no matter where one lives.  I love the convenience of living in the CBD and being able to easily walk to services and attractions.  It's great to not have to get in the car to run every little errand.  And I'm thrilled that there's been so much conversion of old nearby buildings into residential. 

 

But we still have some intractable neighbors who are less than fastidious, to put it politely, about taking care of their properties.  In addition to that, the noise and behavior of drunken boors can be very disturbing.  I guess a lot of suburban visitors to the CBD don't realize people reside here, or maybe they do but just don't care, and feel that simply being downtown gives them license to be obnoxious.  Just the other day, a couple of our bushes in front were [once again] uprooted and tossed on the sidewalk.  I guess some oafs just can't resist a bit of vandalism now and then.

 

Having said all of this, I'm looking forward to redevelopment of the large block bounded by 7th, 8th, Sycamore and Broadway.  A new garage, hotel, and some more residential are very welcomed improvements.

The day before today ...

Major Demo started today. I'll try and get a picture tomorrow.

 

With this new housing planned, I think this area is ripe for my "Presidential Plaza" Development.

 

here ya go:

-Is this demolition for the hotel, the apartments or both?

 

-Is construction set to begin immediately after demo is completed?

This is just the demo of the garage. It is my understanding they will demo the garage and start building the hotel. Then they will demo the red cross building and start building the garage. The hotel will be finished before the garage is finished. This may change whether the apartments are a go or not.

Wow, this is actually getting built. I figured it would die given it has been in planning for 7 years now.

Wow, this is actually getting built. I figured it would die given it has been in planning for 7 years now.

 

Has the redevelopment of the garage really been planned for 7 years? Red Cross only moved to their new location a few years ago.

This garage is a huge waste of money.... UNLESS the apartment project actually happens.

No, it is not, there are lot of people who work in that part of downtown, live in the apartments, etc who need parking. With the hotel it will be even more people in need of parking. P&G employees rely on that garage a lot. A replacement is needed regardless of the condo tower.

No parking garage is a waste of money unless you live in a city with only 5 people.

If the space can command a higher rent with a different use, it is most certainly a waste of money. Other circumstances may be more grey.

And we're talking about tax dollars, not private dollars. The City has authorized around $75 million in new parking garage subsidies in the last 3 years. Imagine if we'd just given $75 million to SORTA instead?