More retail in the core is refreshing.  From Edwards south to Downtown we are seeing retail stengthened.  I agree the market is saturated but this development has some nice retail aspects being discussed like Jungle Jim's. 

 

The lack of addition residential is disappointing but that is only phase one.  I swear Oakley has to be the hottest neighborhood for property investment.  I am already seeing the neighborhood home resale climbing beyond affordable.

I agree that it should have been more residential, but I do not think we should lose site that this is occurring in an area that was an old factory.  Any development is better than what is there and it will strengthen an already hot Oakley neighborhood.  I drove down Madison today and it looks like all the spaces have been filled in the new buildings built by Boca.  Many seem to be boutiquey, hip stores, which is a testimonial to the young residents that probably have a little money.  As someone who owns an investment property there I am very happy to see this.  And while I still think it is silly that the current retail craze is to build new places that have an old town square feel this will be an asset.  By the way Fresh Market also looks close to opening, although I have not followed the progress.

 

This whole area appears to be primed for growth and improvement for the next decade.  Add to this the pending Rookwood exchange (on top of the current Rookwood phases), and I agree with montecarloss that the whole area is being improved in retail.

From the 7/19/06 Eastern Hills Journal:

 

 

Council approves condos at Millworks

BY FORREST SELLERS | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER

 

OAKLEY -- The Oakley Community Council has approved the addition of condos to the Millworks site. Specifically, they approved an amendment to an urban renewal plan, which was drafted in 2001, to allow for residential use at the site.

 

"Urban renewal didn't (originally) allow for residential (at that location)," said Jeff McElravy, an economic development officer for the city of Cincinnati.

 

"We're looking at a broad brush of what we can expect in the future."

 

http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060719/NEWS01/607190435/1002/RSS01

 

Does anyone think this will hurt Newport on the Levee at all? What are your thoughts?

No.  Newport is strictly entertainment.  Millworks seems to be more "functional."

Good news.  I knew they were hoping for a residential component.  The main issue now is how well it will be integrated.

No.  Newport is strictly entertainment.  Millworks seems to be more "functional."

 

So, are you saying that Millworks won't have entertainment ... or are you saying that it will hurt Newport, because it has more to offer than entertainment ("functional").

Flashback .... November 2004

 

Well this one just made a big leap back to the forefront. On the Channel 5 news this evening they had a nearly 3-4 minute "exclusive" look and announcement of the Millworks project, including an on-air look at the model above.

 

The reporter claimed the developer hopes to have 45 acres of the project done by summer 2006. They also mentioned that the connector is still part of the plan.

 

The reporter was hyping it up pretty good, saying it would "dwarf" the Levee and would bring lots of retail not found anywhere else in the area. The developer also said it wouldn't compete with Rookwood...

I guess rising interest rates/construction cost might put a damper on some development plans around the area.

I would have no problem with the Millworks development it if did affect NOTL.  NKY community leaders don't seem to worry about the affects of what happens when they steal business and attractions from the city of Cincinnati.   :whip:

 

No.  Newport is strictly entertainment.  Millworks seems to be more "functional."

 

So, are you saying that Millworks won't have entertainment ... or are you saying that it will hurt Newport, because it has more to offer than entertainment ("functional").

 

Neither.  I'm saying that Newport is STRICTLY entertainment while Millworks HAS entertainment + other stuff.

Millworks looking for more partners on Oakley project

Cincinnati Business Courier - August 11, 2006

by Lisa Biank Fasig

Staff Reporter

 

The developer of the proposed Millworks project in Oakley, a retail center that would be anchored by a luxury cinema and a Jungle Jim's grocery, is seeking additional development partners to raise the $120 million needed to finance the project.

 

No announcements have yet been made, but sources familiar with the project have identified Duke Realty and Bear Creek Capital as likely collaborators. Project developer Kent Arnold, of Vision Land Development, could not be reached for comment. Dan Ruh, senior vice president at Duke, declined comment and sources at Bear Creek could not be reached.

 

The new partners would infuse necessary money to get the long-planned Millworks moving, now that it has retained tax increment financing approval from the city. The first TIF would help finance $10 million in public improvements. The second would cover costs of the Kennedy Connector, a $16 million improvement to ease traffic from Interstate 71 and the Norwood Lateral.

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/08/14/story7.html

 

I would have no problem with the Millworks development it if did affect NOTL.  NKY community leaders don't seem to worry about the affects of what happens when they steal business and attractions from the city of Cincinnati.   :whip:

 

This is another reason why I can't wait for the Banks to get going....and screw over Nky!!!

 

Its called karma bi-otch!!!

Nky is just as much of The Greater Cincinnati area as Norwood.  Should you be upset they got Rookwood place?  I guess the eminent domain decision  was karma for them.  What's with the hatred?  Small cities like Norwood and Newport are doing what they can to survive and don't have the leadership or nearly the money as Cincinnati.  I applaud their successes.  Doing what they can with the resources they have.  To fault Norwood, Newport, St. Bernard, Bellevue, or Covington for trying to compete for Cincinnati's business is crazy.  With the resources Cincinnati has, they are in control of their own destiny, not the little guys surrounding them.

jeff, some of the comments are tongue and cheek but are you really surprised anyway?  Ever since America was formed there were rivalries between states.  NKY is the little sister that annoys you, which you also like to tease but when an outsider knocks on her, you come to her defense.  While NKY might be part of the metro, perhaps you forget that the Ohio River divides the north from the south and the difference in cultures is alive and well in 2006. 

 

I also do fault NKY from trying to lure jobs away from Ohio.  Instead of recruiting outside the region they would rather offer ridiculous incentive packages to bring those companies across the river.  It isn't crazy to dislike a state for promoting corporate blackmail, especially if they are part of the region you preach about.

 

Lastly, this thread is about Millworks so if you would like to continue this discussion further, please create another thread.

NKY is the little sister that annoys you, which you also like to tease but when an outsider knocks on her, you come to her defense.  While NKY might be part of the metro, perhaps you forget that the Ohio River divides the north from the south and the difference in cultures is alive and well in 2006. 

 

Well said Monte!

From the 9/13/06 Eastern Hills Journal:

 

 

Millworks project moves forward

BY FORREST SELLERS | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER

 

OAKLEY -- After several years of planning, the Millworks project --at the intersection of Interstate 71 and the Norwood Lateral -- looks to be getting under way.

 

The Oakley Community Council agenda said the partners in the project will be announced within the next 30 days and property acquisition will be within 60 days.

 

A discussion of the entertainment/retail/office project will also be part of the October meeting.

 

http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060913/NEWS01/609130432/1002/RSS01

 

Residential units included as Millworks is redesigned

Bear Creek Capital takes control, adding office space

Cincinnati Business Courier - September 22, 2006by Lisa Biank FasigStaff Reporter

 

Millworks, the long-proposed project that would bring merchants, movies and restaurants to Oakley, is undergoing another transformation as Bear Creek Capital comes in as a key development partner.

 

The Montgomery development group -- also behind Kenwood Towne Place and Newport Pavilion -- has taken a controlling interest in the project, conceptualized three years ago by Vision Land Development of Cincinnati. And with that, it is redesigning the center to include residential units for the first time, plus additional office space and possibly different retail tenants, said Matt Daniels, principal owner at Bear Creek.

 

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/09/25/story8.html

KENNEDY CONNECTOR

 

At its 11/8/06 meeting, City Council approved signing on to a Design-Build Agreement with the developers to build the Kennedy Connector.

 

The Design-Build Agreement allows that, at the current schedule, the Connector must be substantially completed by December 1, 2008.  (City Manager Dohoney expects it will be started by July 2007 and built by July 2008.

 

The project will occur in two phases:

 

Phase A

* Improvement of Ibsen between Marburg and Ridge,

* Improvment of Disney west of Marburg

 

Phase B

* Improvement of the Ridge/Madison intersection (must be done before the next steps)

* Construction of a cul-de-sac on Ibsen, between Ridge and Madison

* Improvement of Duck Creek/Kennedy intersection (may be built concurrently with the Ridge/Madison action).

* Kennedy Connector roadway

* Roadway segments from the Kennedy Connector and Ridge/Alamo intersection to the Norwood Lateral and southbound I-71 exit ramps.

 

Ibsen Avenue will be widened to 5 lanes between Ridge and Marburg, and six lanes at the intersection with Ridge.

 

Disney Street will become five lanes.  It will either be done by the developer and maintained as a private road, or real estate may be conveyed to the Port Authority to reconstruct it as a public road.

 

Kennedy Avenue and Duck Creek Road will widen to five lanes at their intersection.

 

Bridges will be simple steel or concrete designs.

 

All utilities will be buried.  Lighting will be similar to that seen around the Center of Cincinnati.

 

The agreement is contingent on the City and the developer reaching an agreement on the development of Millworks by December 1, 2006, which us leads to....

 

 

MILLWORKS

 

City Council also voted unanimously to enter into a development agreement with the developers for construction, as well as a Service Agreement regarding project TIF.

 

According to the agreement, this is the maximum time allowed to complete stages of the project:

 

* Begin demolition within 180 days.

* Begin construction within 540 days.

* Complete the project within 1460 days.

 

 

 

 

Look at all that parking.

Does it really end up costing more money to build a parking garage and then fit more buildings onto the land?  Or is a shopping area without visible parking just less appealing?  Or are they worried about filling in tenants as it is, and doubling the size of the project would give the whole thing that Dead Mall feel?

 

This feels like Center of Cincinnati all over again.

Look at all that parking.

 

Agreed, why couldn't they do more underground parking garages and find something better for the surface level?

Does it really end up costing more money to build a parking garage and then fit more buildings onto the land?  Or is a shopping area without visible parking just less appealing?  Or are they worried about filling in tenants as it is, and doubling the size of the project would give the whole thing that Dead Mall feel?

 

 

I've heard before that an above-ground parking garage costs somewhere between $15k-25k a spot.  A surface lot on the other hand doesn't cost much more than the land its on.  And, I couldn't begin to guess what a below surface lot might cost. 

 

Thus, I think it's a matter of cost plain and simple.  I think most would agree that hiding garages is preferred, but it's not cost effective.  Rents above the garage could offset these costs but if it offered a proift I'm sure developers would've done it years ago.  Also, malls certainly do not want to charge parking fees, although I think people would probably pay them. It takes a location like downtown where it's cheaper to build up than out to make a parking garage feasible.

 

 

this is going to be as awful as the streets of westchester

But it may help home values for homeowners in the area

sure, but not as much as a true mixed used high density developement with parking structures.

 

Thus, I think it's a matter of cost plain and simple.  I think most would agree that hiding garages is preferred, but it's not cost effective.  Rents above the garage could offset these costs but if it offered a proift I'm sure developers would've done it years ago.

 

It can definitely offer a profit if done well, and developers around the country who are willing to take the risk are increasingly seeing the rewards.  Dense mixed-use developments are being planned and built in areas far less dense or urban than Oakley. 

 

  Also, malls certainly do not want to charge parking fees, although I think people would probably pay them. It takes a location like downtown where it's cheaper to build up than out to make a parking garage feasible.

 

Not necessarily.  By doing a large scale project like this correctly (and ideally incorporating transit), you effectively create the appealing downtown at the same time you create the demand for structured parking.

 

 

Is Easton an example of that?  It's highly non-urban around those parts, but they build parking garages anyway...well, and a shit-ton of surface lots, but still, I've parked in a garage there before...

Can somebody tell me where the Camaro/Firebird plant was? Was it at this site? I've been driving around trying to find where it could have been.

It was in Norwood where the Central parke office complex sits today. It abbutted the lateral and began at Montgomery Rd and ran East for about a half mile. In addition, on the other side of the highway, where Neyer is building his new office complex I believe they used to store some of the cars there before they were shipped to market.

Movie theater may be in the (Mill)works

BY FORREST SELLERS | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER

OAKLEY - The proposed Millworks project may include a 3,400-seat movie theater.

 

"National Amusements has signed a letter of intent to build a state-of-the-art cinema," said Matt Jones, chief of staff for Cincinnati City Council member Leslie Ghiz.

 

Jones, who is also running for a board position on the Oakley Community Council, presented an update on the Millworks project during the Nov. 7 council meeting.

 

He said the city's Economic Development Committee has approved the second phase of the Millworks plan, which includes the purchase of 74 acres of property for the project.

 

Say goodbye to Bond Hill's Theater and welcome Super Wal-Mart.

^Basically.  Or AJ Wright.

Say goodbye to Bond Hill's Theater and welcome Super Wal-Mart.

 

Have you been to the Bond Hill Showcase recently?  I hardly consider that a bad thing.  And Super Wal-Mart already has designs on Fairfax.

Jungle Jim's pulls out of Oakley Millworks project

Exit follows developer's changes for mixed-use center

Cincinnati Business Courier - March 30, 2007by Lisa Biank FasigStaff Reporter

 

International grocer Jungle Jim's is no longer part of the proposed Millworks project in Oakley, having walked away after the new developer of the site altered plans for the mixed-use center.

 

The owner of the building where the store would have been built, meanwhile, has amended its purchase agreement with the developers, for the 13th time, to extend the closing date to July 16.

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/04/02/story6.html

I hate when developers screw things up.

^^Here is the full article:

 

Jungle Jim's pulls out of Oakley Millworks project

Exit follows developer's changes for mixed-use center

BY LISA BIANK FASIG | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

March 30, 2007

 

OAKLEY - International grocer Jungle Jim's is no longer part of the proposed Millworks project in Oakley, having walked away after the new developer of the site altered plans for the mixed-use center.

 

The owner of the building where the store would have been built, meanwhile, has amended its purchase agreement with the developers, for the 13th time, to extend the closing date to July 16.

 

The building is owned and operated by Kirk & Blum Manufacturing Co., a subsidiary of Ceco Environmental Corp.

I'd rather see Jungle Jim's remain and grow only at its Fairfield location rather than become a chain, even a regional chain.

 

But if they have to branch out, Millworks would be one of my first choices.

Urban Jungle plans dead

Jungle Jim's might add on instead

BY MIKE BOYER | [email protected]

 

With long-delayed plans for a store in Oakley now history, Jungle Jim's International Market is focusing on developing its Fairfield location.

 

Phill Adams, Jungle Jim's development director, said the eclectic, nearly 300,000-square-foot food store quietly dropped plans last summer to be an anchor for the proposed Millworks development on former Cincinnati Milling Machine property, southwest of Marburg and Ibsen avenues.

 

"The project didn't seem to be going anywhere," said Adams. "It faces some tough competition from Rookwood Commons and Kenwood Towne Centre," which include a Wild Oats and a Trader Joe's, as well as new Fresh Market stores in Oakley and Kenwood.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070403/BIZ01/704030369/1076/BIZ

Millworks' fate in question as deal with CECO expires

Plans for $225M mixed-use center stymied since 2003

BY LISA BIANK FASIG | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

July 20, 2007

 

OAKLEY - An agreement under which CECO Environmental Corp. would sell one of its subsidiary buildings to the developers of the proposed Millworks project in Oakley has expired, raising new questions about the direction and scope of the mixed-use center.

 

The building, operated by Kirk & Blum Manufacturing Co., sits on the development site and at one time was targeted to house a second Jungle Jim's International Market. But the retailer abandoned plans to open a store there in the fall, more than a year after signing a letter of intent.

 

Kirk & Blum planned to sell the building so it could move its roughly 170 workers to a more state-of-the-art facility. CECO in March had amended its purchase agreement for the 13th time, extending the closing date to July. But according to a document recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the agreement expired July 2.

something will happen at this site too good of a location not too and Oakley should stay involved, probably it'll guided by Crossroads Church intervention

something will happen at this site too good of a location not too and Oakley should stay involved, probably it'll guided by Crossroads Church intervention

 

I have an idea, how about they use the land for CITYLINK? It isn't next to any schools or parks and it's on the bus line.

I have an idea, how about they use the land for CITYLINK? It isn't next to any schools or parks and it's on the bus line.

 

And I'm sure they wouldn't have any objections to putting it next to their church, since it's going to be such a  WONDERFUL facility.

As interesting as the site may seem, this project was ill-conceived and I still think it will never happen the way it was originally envisioned. Some day it might be a mix of office and residential, with some complementary retail. But the visibility just isn't there for intense retail, and the idea of some kind of town center in that saturated market is kind of silly at best.

 

I say this as an urban planner from Cincinnati who lived in Oakley. There are surprisingly a lot of hot spots in Cincinnati right now, including Oakley itself, but this site isn't one of them.

Developer adds hotels, office, cost to Millworks center

Proposal also asks $25M more in tax increment financing

BY LAURA BAVERMAN | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

November 16, 2007

 

OAKLEY - Plans for Oakley's Millworks Town Center have changed yet again, this time driving the project's density from 1.5 million to 2 million square feet and its cost from $225 million to $300 million.

 

Vision Land Development submitted a new development agreement Nov. 5 to the city of Cincinnati for the 75-acre industrial parcel near Marburg Avenue and adjacent to the Center of Cincinnati retail complex. The new plan ups the amount of office and retail space and adds two hotels to the previous plan approved in November 2006.

 

The project now includes 715,000 square feet of office space; 463,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space (including a National Amusements theater), two 80,000-square-foot hotels, 275 apartments, 70 townhouses and 200 stacked condominiums.

This could be a great project.  Adding 275 apartments, 70 townhomes, and 200 condos could add a lot of life and young people to this part of the city.

I just hope they don't strand the residential in sea of parking

Millworks site plan and TIF projects

Building Cincinnati, 11/20/07

 

Millworks site plan: Click all images to enlarge

 

The Cincinnati Business Courier reported last week that Vision Land Development is looking to expand the price tag and components of Oakley's Millworks Town Center, and wants more tax increment financing (TIF) funds to help pay for road improvements.

 

During last Thursday's meeting of City Council, Vision presented a development proposal showing an increase in square footage from 1.5 million to 2 million, with 545 housing units added.

 

The new proposal would include office space, retail, restaurants, two hotels and a National Amusements theater.

 

The residential portion of the site, which will include condominiums, townhomes and apartments, would be sold off to a third party for development.

 

They are also seeking an increase in TIF funds from $30 million to $55 million to fund construction of the Kennedy Connector, a road project whose construction was deemed necessary to make the project feasible.

 

Millworks' total cost would increase from $225 million to $300 million.

 

City Council voted to hold over the development agreement for one week. The next Council meeting in November 28.

 

Millworks TIF site

 

Millworks TIF projects

 

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/4054/millworkskconnectoref3.jpg[/img]

Kennedy Connector

 

http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2007/11/millworks-site-plan-and-tif-projects.html

 

More condos, bigger Millworks win approval

BY JANE PRENDERGAST | [email protected]

 

 

More condos in Over-the-Rhine and the $300 million redevelopment of the former Cincinnati Milling Machine property in Oakley moved forward Wednesday with votes by Cincinnati City Council.

 

Council members unanimously:

 

Agreed to give a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) $5.3 million in a grant and tax-increment financing to help develop 108 condos in 29 vacant buildings and on vacant lots in Over-the-Rhine.

 

Approved a bigger Millworks Town Center redevelopment plan than one proposed last year. This one, for the southwest corner of Marburg and Ibsen avenues, includes about 700,000 square feet of both office and residential, two hotels and retail. Developers say 3,500 jobs could be created when the project's pieces are in operation.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS01/711290376/1056/COL02