I didn't find a thread strictly devoted to the redevelopment of the Anna Louise Inn, so here it is...

 

 

Here’s the latest on Western & Southern’s plans for the former Anna Louise Inn

Oct 6, 2014, 2:59pm EDT

Tom Demeropolis and Steve Watkins Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Western & Southern Financial Group could develop the Anna Louise Inn site on Lytle Street into a high-end Marriott hotel, CEO John Barrett told a crowd at last Tuesday’s Association for Corporate Growth luncheon.

 

It's one of the options being considered. The Cincinnati-based insurer is planning a 106-room hotel that is “higher-end than the Residence Inn. People will have weddings and special events there,” Barrett said.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/10/06/here-s-the-latest-on-western-southern-s-plans-for.html?page=all

Marriott’s Autograph Collection hotel coming to downtown

Tom Demeropolis - Senior Staff Reporter - Cincinnati Business Courier

 

A new-to-Cincinnati upscale hotel brand is planned to open in the former Anna Louise Inn in downtown Cincinnati.

 

Mario San Marco, president of Eagle Realty Group, said the former Anna Louise Inn building will be transformed into an Autograph Collection hotel. He declined to discuss additional details about the project at this point, as Eagle Realty, the real estate arm of Western & Southern Financial Group, is working on the redevelopment of the building.

 

As the Business Courier has previously reported, Western & Southern CEO John Barrett has said the plan was to bring a high-end Marriott hotel to the site.

 

Officials with Marriott were not immediately available for comment.

 

Cont

So much for having this at The Banks as Randy Simes reported last week. Though I think an AC hotel fits this spot better it sure would have been nice to have something at The Banks.

How many more hotels can downtown support?  Plus this area would be better with residential which is needed everywhere.

Jeez, I would think getting a hotel put in right across from the Reds stadium would be an easy sell.  What the heck is the problem?

So much for having this at The Banks as Randy Simes reported last week. Though I think an AC hotel fits this spot better it sure would have been nice to have something at The Banks.

 

AC Hotels and Autograph Collection Hotels are two different brands by Marriott.  There's still potential to have both downtown.

 

How many more hotels can downtown support?  Plus this area would be better with residential which is needed everywhere.

 

Downtown can support many more hotels.  We have a serious shortage of rooms in this city and are completely underprepared for our growing tourism industry.  As my friend who is a manager at the Westin puts it, "Cincinnati can't build hotels fast enough."

If you look at cities that have both, you'll see that The Autograph hotels are much pricier than the AC brand. I hope all these hotel openings help make Cincinnati more attractive for big conventions/events. And hopefully push The Millenium to renovate.

So much for having this at The Banks as Randy Simes reported last week. Though I think an AC hotel fits this spot better it sure would have been nice to have something at The Banks.

 

AC Hotels and Autograph Collection Hotels are two different brands by Marriott.  There's still potential to have both downtown.

 

How many more hotels can downtown support?  Plus this area would be better with residential which is needed everywhere.

 

Downtown can support many more hotels.  We have a serious shortage of rooms in this city and are completely underprepared for our growing tourism industry.  As my friend who is a manager at the Westin puts it, "Cincinnati can't build hotels fast enough."

 

My bad, thanks for the clarification. I just assumed that's what AC stood for.  Hopefully this doesn't affect the AC at the Banks at all as a hotel there should do great business.

So much for having this at The Banks as Randy Simes reported last week. Though I think an AC hotel fits this spot better it sure would have been nice to have something at The Banks.

 

Cross-posting from The Banks thread:

 

As confusing as it is, AC Hotels are different from the Autograph Collection (despite both being owned by Marriott and having the same initials).

 

The project at the Anna Louise Inn should not affect the previous Banks announcement.

 

AC Hotels - http://www.achotels.marriott.com/en/

Autograph Collection - http://www.autograph-hotels.marriott.com/

 

Correct, Autograph Collection at the Anna Louise Inn and AC at The Banks.

 

What's interesting is that there are a huge number of Marriott branded hotels in and around Downtown Cincinnati. Renaissance (downtown), Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites (Walnut Hills), AC Hotel (The Banks), Courtyard and full service Marriott (Covington).

 

Compared to Hilton, which has far fewer and mostly their cheaper brands: Hilton Netherland Plaza and the new dual brand Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites (downtown), Embassy Suites and Hampton Inn (Covington). I guess you could also count the Hampton Inn in Corryville.

Here's another article regarding the hotel.  It does mention W&S's interest in building a new headquarters building - so at least there is some confirmation of that, but I am curious as to what their timeline is.

 

I would love to see Cincy's new tallest building - anyone think there's a chance of that?

 

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2015/04/15/autograph-anna-louise/25808333/

 

 

In the recent past they've described your Lytle Park experience in 2017 as one where you can look up at the new tallest building in the city under construction. So there's that.

Since the Autograph hotels do NOT carry the "Autograph" name (<a href="http://www.autograph-hotels.marriott.com/hotel-locations">each hotel has its own unique name</a>), I'm curious what name this hotel will get. Will Cincinnati Union Bethel continue to use the "Anna Louise Inn" name after they move their facilities to Mt Auburn? On the one hand, it would make sense for the building at Lytle Park to retain the name it has always had since it was built in 1909, but I can imagine how both sides (for different reasons) might want a new name for the luxury hotel.

I can almost guarantee W&S's last choice is Anna Louise Inn. The moment you search for that online you just get controversy. They'll want to distance themselves from that as much as possible.

Maybe they'll call it the "Barrett Resort & Spa".

The article also mentioned apartments above a parking garage.  So 2 big projects could come soon to that area, a new office tower and a new residential tower.  I hope the office tower looks similar to this building:

Since the Autograph hotels do NOT carry the "Autograph" name (<a href="http://www.autograph-hotels.marriott.com/hotel-locations">each hotel has its own unique name</a>), I'm curious what name this hotel will get. Will Cincinnati Union Bethel continue to use the "Anna Louise Inn" name after they move their facilities to Mt Auburn? On the one hand, it would make sense for the building at Lytle Park to retain the name it has always had since it was built in 1909, but I can imagine how both sides (for different reasons) might want a new name for the luxury hotel.

 

Their new building on Reading has ANNA LOUISE INN loudly labeled across the front entry, so there's no question they're retaining the name.

 

I have no clue what else they might name it though. I cant imagine another building named Taft or Lytle in that area.

More than just the hotel, but sticking it here.

 

Stars aligning for remake of Lytle Park area

Bowdeya Tweh, [email protected] 5:32 p.m. EDT April 20, 2015

 

 

Big changes under a plan to redevelop Downtown Cincinnati's Lytle Park and the area around it could begin within a couple months.

 

Public and private entities will soon launch projects to remake the park, the Anna Louise Inn at 300 Lytle St. and the Interstate 71 tunnel that runs under the park.

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2015/04/20/lytle-park-plans/26074405/

Too bad that we can't re-configure the tunnels in a way that makes more logical sense for the present day Fort Washington Way.

How so? It has to rise over Broadway and then cut under US 50. I think if a redo was offered, I would have run it further east and construct flyovers on the site of that one lone warehouse at E. 3rd and Eggleston, saving the Lyle Park neighborhood and condensing the number of ramps needed.

To quote from Jake's site: "As it stands, the Broadway overpass is a hulking elevated structure that severely disrupts the layout of the city in its immediate vicinity.  The overpass was necessary in order to avoid rebuilding the entire Lytle Tunnel (as well as its approach to the north) deeper and in a different lane configuration.  Planners used the Lytle Tunnel as a starting point for the new highway's design, since it could not be rebuilt without considerable expense and disruption to the city."

 

It would be awesome if we could reconfigure the tunnel to allow us to sink the entire length of FWW instead of having the awkward Broadway overpass.

To quote from Jake's site: "As it stands, the Broadway overpass is a hulking elevated structure that severely disrupts the layout of the city in its immediate vicinity.  The overpass was necessary in order to avoid rebuilding the entire Lytle Tunnel (as well as its approach to the north) deeper and in a different lane configuration.  Planners used the Lytle Tunnel as a starting point for the new highway's design, since it could not be rebuilt without considerable expense and disruption to the city."

 

It would be awesome if we could reconfigure the tunnel to allow us to sink the entire length of FWW instead of having the awkward Broadway overpass.

 

Totally agree with this but understand the pragmatism of why they did what they did.

 

I have a contact.  I'll see what I can dig up on plans.

In the recent past they've described your Lytle Park experience in 2017 as one where you can look up at the new tallest building in the city under construction. So there's that.

 

How many employees do they have downtown? They own and occupy most of 400 Broadway, they lease how much of the 200,000 sq. ft. at 303 next to Great American Tower? Not sure if we are going to see anything taller than Great American for some time.

If I'm remembering correctly the tower they'd build wouldn't just be for them. There would be substantial square footage to be leased to other companies.

 

Granted this is all just talk at this point until they show us what they're thinking and there are shovels in the ground and steel rising.

I remember walking into the tunnel when it was closed in 1999...that was 15 years ago damn I feel old. 

If I'm remembering correctly the tower they'd build wouldn't just be for them. There would be substantial square footage to be leased to other companies.

 

Granted this is all just talk at this point until they show us what they're thinking and there are shovels in the ground and steel rising.

 

I remember seeing an article where they stated the building wasn't going to be nearly as tall as Great American. More the height of the P&G building.

I remember that as well. The more recent information mentioned a new tallest building but again, this is all possibly just talk to get people excited.

 

There has also been conflicting information on what would be where. I've heard a mixed use residential/office building next to  QCS which would take the crown and smaller buildings towards Lytle and then the exact opposite then at one point the "P&G sized headquarters on Fifth" was mentioned.

 

Basically I don't know if there's actually a plan yet.

I remember the same article about the new tallest going up. Never heard of anything the size of P&G. When they build their new headquarters it would definitly be built larger than what they need.  W&S was set to occupy 530,000 sq ft in their new digs. So it is typical for a new headquartered tenant to only occupy only 50% of a new tower sometimes much less, it all depends on them. W&S moved over 2,000 employees, the same as what is planned for the new GE building. So

 

Also remember the many articles mentioning a parking garage and residential. Parking with residential on top could easily be the size of the Scripps tower (or larger) or as small as 7 & Broadway, which I'm sure they would never build a small amount of residential.

Design plans revealed for boutique hotel at former Anna Louise Inn

Jun 16, 2015, 7:35pm EDT

Tom Demeropolis

Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

A new hotel and restaurant at the former Anna Louise Inn and 311 Pike St. would combine two downtown Cincinnati buildings with a glass atrium, according to design plans revealed by Eagle Realty Group, the real estate arm of Western & Southern Financial Group, and hotel operator Winegardner & Hammons Inc.

 

Officials from Eagle and Winegardner presented the concept Tuesday evening as part of a Cincinnati Park Board Lytle Park master plan public meeting. The public was invited to see and comment on the revised master plan for the park that sits in the southeast corner of downtown Cincinnati, above Interstate 71. Dozens of residents gathered at the Guilford Building to hear the latest update on the park and the plans for the buildings located at 300 Lytle St. and 311 Pike St.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/06/16/design-plans-revealed-for-boutique-hotel-at-former.html

I am much more excited about this place than the Grand Bohemian. At least this place will come to fruition.

I don't like the idea of globbing the two buildings together. Seems like a 1970/80's preservation concept.

I am much more excited about this place than the Grand Bohemian. At least this place will come to fruition.

 

What a thoughtful comment that encourages and supports development in urban Ohio. Based on, what, exactly are you making this statement? The Grand Bohemian is being done by a group that has 10 hotels already. It's not like it's some first timer developer with pie-in-the-sky, lofty ideas that stretch the boundaries. It's an office to hotel conversion like we've seen countless times by a company that already owns and operates a number of hotels.

 

I have no problem with the atrium idea if it's done tastefully. I saw an example in Seattle by Pioneer Square that had an operable roof which created a really nice space for what appeared to be a hotel that occupied two formerly separate historic buildings.

 

Edit: Apparently it's called Court in the Square and appears to be used for weddings often.

I am much more excited about this place than the Grand Bohemian. At least this place will come to fruition.

 

What a thoughtful comment that encourages and supports development in urban Ohio. Based on, what, exactly are you making this statement? The Grand Bohemian is being done by a group that has 10 hotels already. It's not like it's some first timer developer with pie-in-the-sky, lofty ideas that stretch the boundaries. It's an office to hotel conversion like we've seen countless times by a company that already owns and operates a number of hotels.

 

I have no problem with the atrium idea if it's done tastefully. I saw an example in Seattle by Pioneer Square that had an operable roof which created a really nice space for what appeared to be a hotel that occupied two formerly separate historic buildings.

 

Edit: Apparently it's called Court in the Square and appears to be used for weddings often.

 

Anyone remember the Courtyard Atrium idea at City Hall??

I am much more excited about this place than the Grand Bohemian. At least this place will come to fruition.

 

What a thoughtful comment that encourages and supports development in urban Ohio. Based on, what, exactly are you making this statement? The Grand Bohemian is being done by a group that has 10 hotels already. It's not like it's some first timer developer with pie-in-the-sky, lofty ideas that stretch the boundaries. It's an office to hotel conversion like we've seen countless times by a company that already owns and operates a number of hotels.

 

I have no problem with the atrium idea if it's done tastefully. I saw an example in Seattle by Pioneer Square that had an operable roof which created a really nice space for what appeared to be a hotel that occupied two formerly separate historic buildings.

 

Edit: Apparently it's called Court in the Square and appears to be used for weddings often.

 

I like the architecture at Anna Louise better, I think it is a good location and excellent opportunity for a luxury boutique hotel. The Bohemian may be nice, and it has the P&G HQ to pull from but if only one were to succeed I would pull for the Anna Louise property. I am pulling for both, but if I had to pick one, I am more excited about the Anna Louise development. that is all.

You said the Grand Bohemian won't come to fruition. I agree with your assessment of which is a more exiting project, but that's not what I was commenting on. It was the negative opinion of the feasibility of the Grand Bohemian.

In the most recent UrbanCincy podcast, (http://www.urbancincy.com/2015/05/episode-52-kathy-holwadel-of-cincyopolis), Kathy Holwadel says of Western & Southern's future plans:

A new headquarters building... they're going to tear down 5 buildings across the street from Procter & Gamble and build something, John Barrett told me, about the same height as Procter & Gamble towers. And then on the other side at 3rd and Broadway a residential/office tower garage.

 

She also wrote this:

No, the Guildford is the Guilford - and it is still contained within the Lytle Park Historic District.  There are no plans to demolish it.

 

When they refer to the Woodford, there are actually 5 buildings involved, 3 that front on Fourth and 2 smaller, unseen buildings behind them.  The actual Woodford is red bricked on the corner across from the Literary Club.  There's a little 2-3 story connector and then an International style annex next to the current headquarters.  Entrance is to be off of 4th.  According to John Barrett, the height of the new headquarters will be approximately the same as the P&G towers.

 

Does anybody have any new, updated information on this? I know that the <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/10/20/exclusive-one-of-cincinnati-s-largest.html">Woodford's tenants moved out</a> back in October 2014, following the City Council's unanimous decision to revise the boundaries in June 2014, <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/06/18/lytle-park-historic-district-will-include-these.html">remove the Woodford from the historic district boundary</a>. But has there been any talk more recently about their plans for the headquarters building?

 

 

You said the Grand Bohemian won't come to fruition. I agree with your assessment of which is a more exiting project, but that's not what I was commenting on. It was the negative opinion of the feasibility of the Grand Bohemian.

 

I said the Autograph was actually going to happen, I still am skeptical about the Bohemian until it actually does. The Autograph is more concrete at this point. Not to say the Bohemian wont, but it could be like the Holiday Inn project which has taken forever or the Hampton INn project which just opened. The Bohemian is where the Autograph was in say 2012

In the most recent UrbanCincy podcast, (http://www.urbancincy.com/2015/05/episode-52-kathy-holwadel-of-cincyopolis), Kathy Holwadel says of Western & Southern's future plans:

A new headquarters building... they're going to tear down 5 buildings across the street from Procter & Gamble and build something, John Barrett told me, about the same height as Procter & Gamble towers. And then on the other side at 3rd and Broadway a residential/office tower garage.

 

She also wrote this:

No, the Guildford is the Guilford - and it is still contained within the Lytle Park Historic District.  There are no plans to demolish it.

 

When they refer to the Woodford, there are actually 5 buildings involved, 3 that front on Fourth and 2 smaller, unseen buildings behind them.  The actual Woodford is red bricked on the corner across from the Literary Club.  There's a little 2-3 story connector and then an International style annex next to the current headquarters.  Entrance is to be off of 4th.  According to John Barrett, the height of the new headquarters will be approximately the same as the P&G towers.

 

Does anybody have any new, updated information on this? I know that the <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/10/20/exclusive-one-of-cincinnati-s-largest.html">Woodford's tenants moved out</a> back in October 2014, following the City Council's unanimous decision to revise the boundaries in June 2014, <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/06/18/lytle-park-historic-district-will-include-these.html">remove the Woodford from the historic district boundary</a>. But has there been any talk more recently about their plans for the headquarters building?

 

I wish they'd just leave those buildings alone and build on another parcel.  They look great, and the Woodford specifically would be amazing if repurposed for condos.  But, I'm sure their fate is to be torn down and replaced with a boring box of lesser quality than what is lost.  Sigh.

Based on Kathy Holwadel's comments and the historic district ammendments, here is roughly what that could look like:

 

 

 

I arbitrarily made the condo tower 400'.

Will never get a 400' condo.  And I'm selfishly disappointed that a company of their size is going with such a diminutive tower.

You said the Grand Bohemian won't come to fruition. I agree with your assessment of which is a more exiting project, but that's not what I was commenting on. It was the negative opinion of the feasibility of the Grand Bohemian.

 

I said the Autograph was actually going to happen, I still am skeptical about the Bohemian until it actually does. The Autograph is more concrete at this point. Not to say the Bohemian wont, but it could be like the Holiday Inn project which has taken forever or the Hampton INn project which just opened. The Bohemian is where the Autograph was in say 2012

 

Minus, you know, the fact that they already own the building, don't have to wait for a new shelter to be built for the Anna Louis, don't have to go through legal battles surrounding the Anna Louis Inn, aren't waiting on a tunnel project to coincide with your construction, etc.

 

Not really the same. This is far more similar to the Enquirer building rehab or the Renaissance.

 

^Why won't we ever get a 400' tall tower there? If it's mixed use that's not really that huge of a building. Heck, even if it's just residential that's still not really all that much bigger than, say, the number of units in The Banks phase 1 or 2. It's not much taller than the original scale of the building proposed at 4th and Race either. Nor is it a huge amount taller than the 300+ foot tall building proposed at 8th and Sycamore. There is precedent for this tower and our market has demand for it at the moment.

You said the Grand Bohemian won't come to fruition. I agree with your assessment of which is a more exiting project, but that's not what I was commenting on. It was the negative opinion of the feasibility of the Grand Bohemian.

 

I said the Autograph was actually going to happen, I still am skeptical about the Bohemian until it actually does. The Autograph is more concrete at this point. Not to say the Bohemian wont, but it could be like the Holiday Inn project which has taken forever or the Hampton INn project which just opened. The Bohemian is where the Autograph was in say 2012

 

Minus, you know, the fact that they already own the building, don't have to wait for a new shelter to be built for the Anna Louis, don't have to go through legal battles surrounding the Anna Louis Inn, aren't waiting on a tunnel project to coincide with your construction, etc.

 

Not really the same. This is far more similar to the Enquirer building rehab or the Renaissance.

 

^Why won't we ever get a 400' tall tower there? If it's mixed use that's not really that huge of a building. Heck, even if it's just residential that's still not really all that much bigger than, say, the number of units in The Banks phase 1 or 2. It's not much taller than the original scale of the building proposed at 4th and Race either. Nor is it a huge amount taller than the 300+ foot tall building proposed at 8th and Sycamore. There is precedent for this tower and our market has demand for it at the moment.

 

I suppose you're right.  Just feeling a little pessimistic about it.

Rightfully so. I mean, one of those examples is now only 17 stories, so until it's built it's probably best to not get too excited. But I have faith we'll get something good there due to its prominence and potential for amazing views.

Wasn't there a quote somewhere about "the new tallest building under construction in Cincinnati in 2017?"  I think I heard that somewhere - unless they're scaling things back considerably.

 

Barrett stated that in an article when describing the Lytle Park experience of 2017 after that info Cincypolis stated. They never made it clear which project they were talking about though. So I'm planning for a building the size of P&G but if we somehow get a significantly taller building then that'll just be extra great.

In the recent past they've described your Lytle Park experience in 2017 as one where you can look up at the new tallest building in the city under construction. So there's that.

The big ? in this whole scheme is what happens to the existing WS headquarters buildings between 4th and 5th.  The historic building with the Greek Revival façade does not appear to be in the historic district.  There's obviously the opportunity for WS, after building its own new headquarters, to build another Queen City Square office building in place of its existing circa-1915 and 1950s offices. 

The big ? in this whole scheme is what happens to the existing WS headquarters buildings between 4th and 5th.  The historic building with the Greek Revival façade does not appear to be in the historic district.  There's obviously the opportunity for WS, after building its own new headquarters, to build another Queen City Square office building in place of its existing circa-1915 and 1950s offices.

 

God I really hope they don't get rid of that building (on the corner of broadway and 4th). it's so unique and interesting; definitely one of my favorite downtown. Didn't someone on this thread or another mention the idea of building on top of the existing structure?

 

I honestly like all of the W&S buildings along 4th st. I cut through the alley between them and the Residence inn to go north after work and the parking lot on the south side of 5th street is more than large enough to place a good sized building on.

The big ? in this whole scheme is what happens to the existing WS headquarters buildings between 4th and 5th.  The historic building with the Greek Revival façade does not appear to be in the historic district.  There's obviously the opportunity for WS, after building its own new headquarters, to build another Queen City Square office building in place of its existing circa-1915 and 1950s offices.

 

God I really hope they don't get rid of that building (on the corner of broadway and 4th). it's so unique and interesting; definitely one of my favorite downtown. Didn't someone on this thread or another mention the idea of building on top of the existing structure?

 

I honestly like all of the W&S buildings along 4th st. I cut through the alley between them and the Residence inn to go north after work and the parking lot on the south side of 5th street is more than large enough to place a good sized building on.

 

I believe there was either a thesis or a studio at UC years ago that proposed a Hearst Tower style addition to the existing W&S building (basically using the existing historic structure as a base, and setting a glass box atop it). That would be spectacular, in my opinion.

^^ this is exactly what i was thinking about, and would be a fantastic idea and addition to the neighborhood

Lots of detail in the latest Historic Conservation Board packet on the proposed renovations, starting around page 130: http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/planning/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/jun-22-2015-packet/