Cohatch debuts coworking space in former Findlay Market furniture store: PHOTOS

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

May 7, 2024

Updated May 7, 2024 3:25pm EDT

 

Cohatch is open at Findlay Market in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

 

The location, the former Leader Furniture building, sits prominently at the northeast corner of Elm and West Elder streets, overlooking the western extent of the market and the oft-bustling plaza fronting Elm.

 

Cohatch initially announced its plans for the space in late 2021 and bought the building from Model Group in November 2022 for $1.2 million, according to Hamilton County Auditor records. Model Group was the general contractor on the project. Cohatch declined to disclose what it cost to retrofit the building, built in 1875, only describing the investment as “significant.”

 

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I really like the greens. That sign is a little much though; it seems so much bulkier than the old Leader sign. 

59 minutes ago, ink said:

I really like the greens. That sign is a little much though; it seems so much bulkier than the old Leader sign. 

 

Well, the old Leader sign looked cheap, so...

5 hours ago, ink said:

That sign is a little much though; it seems so much bulkier than the old Leader sign. 

It is the same sign, just re-painted... right?

It looks like they honored the old shape, but the new sign is noticeably thicker.

The whole live-work-play thing has seemed a little overworked for a while now, but whatever. This is such a prominent spot, great to see. 

 

I was surprised and happy to see that they have entry work space plans for an individual at $75/month. I know that would still be a lot for some folks to bear and enough to keep people in their home desks. But I was expecting much more than that. The amenities they offer are pretty significant - free wifi and coffee with beer on tap. I imagine you probably have to pay extra to use their meeting spaces, though.

22 hours ago, jim uber said:

The whole live-work-play thing has seemed a little overworked for a while now, but whatever. This is such a prominent spot, great to see. 

 

I was surprised and happy to see that they have entry work space plans for an individual at $75/month. I know that would still be a lot for some folks to bear and enough to keep people in their home desks. But I was expecting much more than that. The amenities they offer are pretty significant - free wifi and coffee with beer on tap. I imagine you probably have to pay extra to use their meeting spaces, though.

For people like me that like to work in an office that seems like a bargain with the amenities!

Overall, it feels like Findlay Market area continues to thrive. Great to see all the historic buildings being saved. I know, a LOT of work to do with all the dilapidated buildings still in the area, but the momentum is very real.

On 1/22/2024 at 10:03 AM, Ucgrad2015 said:

 

Anyone have any news on this project? 

Northern OTR construction update:

 

 

Also looking forward to this intersection getting narrowed by the Central Parkway redesign (right side below):

 

  

On 3/5/2024 at 8:31 AM, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

 

37 minutes ago, taestell said:

Northern OTR construction update:

 

 

Also looking forward to this intersection getting narrowed by the Central Parkway redesign (right side below):

 

  

 

Wow, OTR is something special.

Look at all that new infill!

City of Cincinnati sues developer Stough over OTR building collapse

 

The city of Cincinnati has sued the developer that owns the former Davis Furniture building site in Over-the-Rhine, alleging that Stough Development Corp. was negligent and allowed the historic structure at 1119-1123 Main St. to collapse, damaging the Cincinnati Connector Streetcar stop nearby.

 

The city also included O’Rourke Wrecking Co. in its lawsuit. Neither company responded to requests for comment.

 

The Davis Furniture complex, which included two buildings, collapsed June 12, 2022, and resulted in the closure of Main Street, a key bus and streetcar corridor, as well as to the streetcar station on Main Street north of Central Parkway, according to the city.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/06/07/city-sues-stough-development-otr-building-collapse.html

 

That drone shot is awesome to show the scale of Liberty & Elm, I think in the future Logan street is going to be a very urban and cool street. 

 

The Model Group facades along Vine area also coming along nicely and there is a ton of work going on around the area. 

 

Finally I wonder if anyone knows what's going on with Rhinegeist? The 2nd floor didn't have windows before, but I can't find anything about them expanding or what they have planned with that floor. Is it just an exterior remodel to fix up the crumbly facade or is this tied to an interior expansion? 

15 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

Finally I wonder if anyone knows what's going on with Rhinegeist? The 2nd floor didn't have windows before, but I can't find anything about them expanding or what they have planned with that floor. Is it just an exterior remodel to fix up the crumbly facade or is this tied to an interior expansion? 

 

 

They posted online that the building needed some TLC, so I think it's just regular maintenance on the facade. Perhaps they are simultaneously prepping for more work, but I don't think this work is directly related to any expansions or interior work.

ETA: it looks like most of the windows south of their entrance were exposed on the center lower portion of the windows, but all of the windows on the top and sides of that level were boarded up. So their TLC must have included reopening all of the windows.

That's awesome if they are just being good building owners, it looks so much better already with just the new windows. Soon we are going to need Travis to do some of his patented before and after photos around OTR again.

Here's the before of my photo from streetview:

 

Liberty & Elm project rising (as seen from Fairview Park):

 

 

On 6/10/2024 at 11:40 AM, ColDayMan said:

City of Cincinnati sues developer Stough over OTR building collapse

 

The city of Cincinnati has sued the developer that owns the former Davis Furniture building site in Over-the-Rhine, alleging that Stough Development Corp. was negligent and allowed the historic structure at 1119-1123 Main St. to collapse, damaging the Cincinnati Connector Streetcar stop nearby.

 

The city also included O’Rourke Wrecking Co. in its lawsuit. Neither company responded to requests for comment.

 

The Davis Furniture complex, which included two buildings, collapsed June 12, 2022, and resulted in the closure of Main Street, a key bus and streetcar corridor, as well as to the streetcar station on Main Street north of Central Parkway, according to the city.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/06/07/city-sues-stough-development-otr-building-collapse.html

Wish they did this in Columbus.

On the Historic conservation board agenda. Rehabilitating 1623 Walnut (behind the shell gas station) into 9 apartments. 

Only large scale historic tax credit awarded to Cincinnati.Good to see such a large scale project going forward North of Liberty.

 

Reid Flats (Cincinnati)
Total Project Costs: $37,718,085
Total Tax Credit: $3,150,000
Address: 212, 214 W. Liberty St.; 1606, 1711, 1713, 1716 Elm St.; 211 W. Fourth St.; 1524 Republic St.;
Cincinnati, OH 45202
The Reid Flats project includes the renovation of nine historic buildings and the construction of one
new building. The buildings were historically used as both residential and commercial spaces and will
be restored to that use. The mostly vacant buildings will add 107 residential units and more than
12,000 square feet of commercial space. All buildings will see the restoration of historical features and
updating building systems, ensuring they are up to code.

For anyone wondering:

 

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212, 214 W. Liberty St.

 

These are the two historic buildings on Liberty that are getting wrapped with the new Liberty & Elm apartment complex.

 

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1606, 1711, 1713, 1716 Elm St.

 

Various buildings between Liberty and Findlay Market.

 

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211 W. Fourth St.

 

Former Church of Scientology, where the new Listermann restaurant was going to go before that fell through.

 

26 minutes ago, ucnum1 said:

1524 Republic St.

 

Looks like this was the Joseph House before they moved to Camp Washington.

Looks like a vehicle heading westbound on 14th Street annihilated the parklet in front of MOTR.

 

#carsruincities

 

Have a buddy that works with 3CDC, and he confirmed that a new tenant signed a lease at the former Taft’s brewery in OTR. Unsure of details other than it also being a restaurant/bar. Happy to hear something is going in there though, too nice of a spot to be vacant.

Word on the street (or on the blogs) is that the former Tafts space might become home to Mellotone . Former Rhinegeist Brewery director of distribution Dennis Kramer-Wine and brewer Alexandra Nowell have been looking for a location for some time. 

8 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

Word on the street (or on the blogs) is that the former Tafts space might become home to Mellotone . Former Rhinegeist Brewery director of distribution Dennis Kramer-Wine and brewer Alexandra Nowell have been looking for a location for some time. 

Well the above link goes to their facebook page & lists the address as 1429 Race Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 so it seems pretty confirmed. Very exciting!

Model Group buys former Joseph House properties in OTR

By Tom Demeropolis – Editor, Cincinnati Business Courier

Aug 15, 2024

 

Property name: Joseph House facility

Buyer: Model Group/Reis Flat LLC

Seller: Joseph House

Listing broker, firm: Kent Dailey and Nick Dailey, Re/Max Victory + Affiliates Commercial Group

Buyer’s broker, firm: Self-represented by Jennifer Walke, Model Group

Purchase price: $1.4 million

Deal closed: June 27

Description of property: Five buildings in Over-the-Rhine

Addresses: 1522-1530 Republic St., 1519 Vine St. Cincinnati 45202

 

Behind the deal: The buildings housed the operations of Joseph House, a nonprofit whose mission is caring for homeless and addicted veterans. Joseph House built a new facility at 3304 Colerain Ave. in Camp Washington.

 

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That logo is a hot mess.

15 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

That logo is a hot mess.

Actually it's pretty awesome. 

 

 

By 1975 standards...

On 8/12/2024 at 10:40 AM, SleepyLeroy said:

Well the above link goes to their facebook page & lists the address as 1429 Race Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 so it seems pretty confirmed. Very exciting!

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/08/19/taft-brewery-now-mellotone-beer-project-3cdc-otr.html
 

the plans for this place sound incredible! Very excited for it.

 

here’s a snippet from the article 

 

“There will be two concepts under one roof. The lower level of the Mellotone space will be a neighborhood bar called Undertone. It will have mid-century modern design elements along with a small stage for live music. The main floor will house Mellotone’s restaurant with a golden hour-like glow and views of the brewery. The mezzanine level will be transformed into an indoor beer garden with communal seating, abundant greenery and space to watch sports and play pool or darts.“

Edited August 19, 2024Aug 19 by cblhaus

On 8/16/2024 at 12:45 PM, Rabbit Hash said:

Actually it's pretty awesome. 

 

 

By 1975 standards...

I think you mean 197...6

3CDC gets state demolition funds to advance $50M Findlay Community Center

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Aug 29, 2024

 

Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation, or 3CDC, and the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority have received nearly $2.3 million in state grants to demolish structures as part of the Findlay Community Center project, which now carries a price tag of around $50 million.

 

3CDC, according to the current iteration of the plan, expects use $1.7 million of the awarded money to demolish the northern two thirds of the existing Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center as well as a vacant building at 34 Green St. owned by 3CDC through OTR Holdings Inc.

 

The southern third of the OTR Recreation Center building will be retained and refurbished. 3CDC is in advanced talks with Crossroads Health Center, currently housed at 5 E. Liberty St., to locate in the space. The nonprofit offers accessible, comprehensive health care primarily to low-income patients. It expects to be able to significantly expand its service offerings if the deal gets done.

 

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12 minutes ago, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

3CDC gets state demolition funds to advance $50M Findlay Community Center

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Aug 29, 2024

 

Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation, or 3CDC, and the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority have received nearly $2.3 million in state grants to demolish structures as part of the Findlay Community Center project, which now carries a price tag of around $50 million.

 

3CDC, according to the current iteration of the plan, expects use $1.7 million of the awarded money to demolish the northern two thirds of the existing Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center as well as a vacant building at 34 Green St. owned by 3CDC through OTR Holdings Inc.

 

The southern third of the OTR Recreation Center building will be retained and refurbished. 3CDC is in advanced talks with Crossroads Health Center, currently housed at 5 E. Liberty St., to locate in the space. The nonprofit offers accessible, comprehensive health care primarily to low-income patients. It expects to be able to significantly expand its service offerings if the deal gets done.

 

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Excited this is happening. Would not surprise me that Crossroads Health Center moves into the building and 3CDC purchases their current building. Would be great if purchasing their current building gets them jumpstarted on the parking lot they own just south of the Health Center. Maybe redevelop both into a two phase project? 

Edited August 29, 2024Aug 29 by Ucgrad2015

Hmm… I wonder if an underground parking garage is in the cards for Grant Park? Would be strategic for Vine St development.

1 hour ago, thebillshark said:

Hmm… I wonder if an underground parking garage is in the cards for Grant Park? Would be strategic for Vine St development.

Unfortunately not, from what I’ve heard. It will be a substantial facelift though. 

2 hours ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

Excited this is happening. Would not surprise me that Crossroads Health Center moves into the building and 3CDC purchases their current building. Would be great if purchasing their current building gets them jumpstarted on the parking lot they own just south of the Health Center. Maybe redevelop both into a two phase project? 

There’s a project already planned for the Crossroads site, but not from 3CDC. More to come in a few months I’d guess. 

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The segment of the OTR Recreation Center likely to be demolished, as well as land parcels from 1708-1712 Race St., will be turned into parking for patients of the Crossroads Health Center and visitors to the forthcoming Findlay Community Center.

 

This seems like a good project overall, but I'm not thrilled about most of the current rec center becoming a surface parking lot.

This will be interesting as the development moves up Vine Street. Still feels like there are some abandoned buildings south of Liberty Street (especially Walnut Street area), but feels like those are getting picked up and rehabbed at a steady rate.

 

Obviously Model and 3CDC have done a ton of work on Elm and Race Street North of Liberty, but the main drag of Vine Street is still in a lot of disrepair though changing fast. It will be interesting to see what it all looks like 10 years from now for sure. OTR is a bigger neighborhood than many people think especially in the northern area and east of Vine Street North of Liberty area which still has a lot of violent crime happening. Feels like development around Findlay is moving south toward Liberty and east toward Vine. Vine redevelopment happening now around intersection of Findlay and McMicken and probably will start moving south at a fairly good pace. At some point the city will need to invest on the Vine Street corridor with burying underground utilities and streetscaping.

To be optimistic BRT going up Vine will also make this area, hopefully including past the 5-way intersection, much more lively as well. I really like the curve at the base of Vine street and I think between the huge UC housing development at the top of that hill, and the 3CDC/Model group redevelopment at the bottom of the hill connected by frequent BRT could really make this area completely different 10 years from now. 

3 hours ago, IAGuy39 said:

This will be interesting as the development moves up Vine Street. Still feels like there are some abandoned buildings south of Liberty Street (especially Walnut Street area), but feels like those are getting picked up and rehabbed at a steady rate.

 

Obviously Model and 3CDC have done a ton of work on Elm and Race Street North of Liberty, but the main drag of Vine Street is still in a lot of disrepair though changing fast. It will be interesting to see what it all looks like 10 years from now for sure. OTR is a bigger neighborhood than many people think especially in the northern area and east of Vine Street North of Liberty area which still has a lot of violent crime happening. Feels like development around Findlay is moving south toward Liberty and east toward Vine. Vine redevelopment happening now around intersection of Findlay and McMicken and probably will start moving south at a fairly good pace. At some point the city will need to invest on the Vine Street corridor with burying underground utilities and streetscaping.

It’s a slow process but I bet in about 10 years, north of Liberty will be unrecognizable. Would be really cool to see the brewery finish up in the Mohawk district and start seeing some development connected up that way.

On 1/22/2024 at 10:03 AM, Ucgrad2015 said:

 

Anyone know of what the status of this is? 

22 hours ago, ucgrady said:

To be optimistic BRT going up Vine will also make this area, hopefully including past the 5-way intersection, much more lively as well. I really like the curve at the base of Vine street and I think between the huge UC housing development at the top of that hill, and the 3CDC/Model group redevelopment at the bottom of the hill connected by frequent BRT could really make this area completely different 10 years from now. 

Yes definitely. The thing about OTR is that it is still so well preserved but so abandoned in a massive area. If this area can really come alive over the next 10 years (North of Liberty on Vine) then it will dramatically change the city.

 

I know 3CDC is also working hard in Downtown and there are a lot of areas in need but wouldn't it be amazing in 10-20 years if there was a direct connection of historic buildings revived from The Banks straight through to UC?

 

At some point too my hope is that more to office work ramps up again and that a lot of those very large building on Vine can host full office workers while the side streets host residences. That would make it more of a 24/7 (or 18/7) area.

 

Of course one of the main things for me in rehabilitating these abandoned buildings is kicking out the out of neighborhood / out of towner drive by drug markets and overall reducing violent crime in the area (and city/regional wide). I can imagine the area is extremely difficult to police because it is so large and so many potential crime hot spots, but heroin is crushing so much in society right now and society on a national level has to start figuring that out, and part of that I think is taking away the places where it can be dealt (thought I think that's a small part, it is still part of it) and the violence that comes with the heroin trade.

 

I am not one of the people that thinks that oh if it is moved out of Over The Rhine it moves to a different neighborhood. A concentration of abandoned buildings breeds drug trade and if we can keep the momentum going and even grow the momentum, that reduces the crime happening now in the neighborhood but it also has increased effect. That is if a young person is growing up in a bad situation where they see drug dealing they are more likely to go do it, but not only that if they are living in squalor conditions they have less incentive to be an active / positive participant in society simply because they can't see it. When these buildings are rehabbed and allow low income families it really is a massive net positive to everyone in that these kids have a better chance at life and the adults do too. That also ties into what you are saying with the BRT, if families can spend less on something like transportatoin and also spend less time on getting to jobs, they have more quality time with their children. This all goes hand in hand. Count me in as someone who is very proud of what the city and 3CDC has accomplished and my only hope is that it can continue to grow and expand. Sorry for long post, feeling positive today!

20 hours ago, cblhaus said:

It’s a slow process but I bet in about 10 years, north of Liberty will be unrecognizable. Would be really cool to see the brewery finish up in the Mohawk district and start seeing some development connected up that way.

Completely agree, the Mohawk area and the horizontal streets up the hill are full of beautiful buildings that deserve to be activated and restored. At some point this area has got to catch on more nationally and if leadership is able to get more tech type jobs in the neighborhood it could be more of a destination nation-wide and the growth compounds.

Northern OTR redevelopment is going to most likely be led by smaller developers doing smaller projects, and not by 3CDC. We already see that 3CDC has been focusing more on the Convention Center, "Fountain District," Vine Street corridor, and Court Street in recent years, and has a lot of work left there. Their next big projects in OTR would likely be the former OTR Kroger site or the parking lots they own on the south side of Liberty. Who knows, they may also get pulled into finishing The Banks, developing the FWW caps, or other projects in the CBD.

For all the architecture nerds, yellow brick is going up on Liberty & Elm that blends nicely with the Warner Bros building and other neighbors like Sam Adams. 

 

as well as a dark brick on Logan Commons.

im so glad it's not some variation of corrugated color-changing siding like the apartments at sycamore and 8th. the additions around Findley have added a little authenticity to the neighborhood and will stand the test of time. we don't need more of this.

I love that building. The color shift is awesome.

Yeah what an odd choice of an example. The color changing is unique and visually interesting and isn't reflected anywhere else in the core. If it was a series of multi-colored panels that would be one thing as that is indeed done to death.

City council approves new ‘sidewalk vending district’ in OTR

By Chris Wetterich – Staff reporter and columnist, Cincinnati Business Courier

Sep 9, 2024

 

Cincinnati City Council has designated a large portion of Over-the-Rhine as a place where small businesses can peddle their wares, whether it be merchandise or food, with a permit.

 

Council voted unanimously Sept. 6 to designate the area roughly between Liberty Street, Central Parkway, Elm Street and Sycamore Street as the city’s sixth sidewalk vending district.

 

Vendors will need to get a permit from the city in order to sell food or merchandise.

 

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Honest question, was there previously some "grey market" street vending going on before and this new permit program is a way to crack down on that? I walk these blocks all the time and the only street vending that I've noticed has been food trucks on weekends (which I assume were already subject to a permit process) and street festivals like Second Sunday.

6 minutes ago, taestell said:

Honest question, was there previously some "grey market" street vending going on before and this new permit program is a way to crack down on that? I walk these blocks all the time and the only street vending that I've noticed has been food trucks on weekends (which I assume were already subject to a permit process) and street festivals like Second Sunday.

 

I've noticed some street vendors with grills on the sidewalk on Main Street before. Not sure of their legality especially with sanitation requirements