^I'm in Trinity Flats, at Vine and Mercer (just south of 14th).  Just moved in in February. 

I am one of the partners at A Tavola. The City of Cincinnati's Historic Preservation Office regulates sign permits in OTR. The size of the sign was determined by our street frontage. So spaces like the old Sales Center and Lackman have more frontage than we have, so their signs were allowed to be larger than ours. In order to have neon, or lit signs in general, you need to submit a Certificate of Appropriateness to the Historic Conservation Board and then meet with them. This is a long and potentially very costly process, so we decided to go with a simple sign. We had to submit the COA and get the Historic Preservation Office to sign off on it, which was easier and quicker than going in front of the HCB. Also, in order to hang the sign, the business needs a Revocable Street Privilege in the area below the sign. But that is a whole other ordeal that I won't get into here.

 

We believe the sign is an accurate representation of our concept. The sign, like our food and decor, is simple yet distinguishable, but not flashy.

 

Also, places like Smitty's are grandfathered in, so they didn't have to change their signage. I'm not sure how it will work with the change of address though. I'm sure Larry will do whatever he can to get his old sign up there. I don't think the lights will be an issue because they are technically inside the building.

 

I hope this helps. Please contact me if you have any more questions about historic development issues, and thanks for being interested in A Tavola. I can't wait to make pizzas down here, there will be more updates about the opening date in a couple of weeks.

^ Thanks for the great explanation- can't wait for some pizza...

Link to the Enquirer story on Smitty's reopening.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110322/NEWS01/103230321/Smitty-s-reopens-New-site-old-neighborhood?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

 

I am one of the partners at A Tavola. The City of Cincinnati's Historic Preservation Office regulates sign permits in OTR. The size of the sign was determined by our street frontage. So spaces like the old Sales Center and Lackman have more frontage than we have, so their signs were allowed to be larger than ours. In order to have neon, or lit signs in general, you need to submit a Certificate of Appropriateness to the Historic Conservation Board and then meet with them. This is a long and potentially very costly process, so we decided to go with a simple sign. We had to submit the COA and get the Historic Preservation Office to sign off on it, which was easier and quicker than going in front of the HCB. Also, in order to hang the sign, the business needs a Revocable Street Privilege in the area below the sign. But that is a whole other ordeal that I won't get into here.

 

We believe the sign is an accurate representation of our concept. The sign, like our food and decor, is simple yet distinguishable, but not flashy.

 

Also, places like Smitty's are grandfathered in, so they didn't have to change their signage. I'm not sure how it will work with the change of address though. I'm sure Larry will do whatever he can to get his old sign up there. I don't think the lights will be an issue because they are technically inside the building.

 

I hope this helps. Please contact me if you have any more questions about historic development issues, and thanks for being interested in A Tavola. I can't wait to make pizzas down here, there will be more updates about the opening date in a couple of weeks.

 

Welcome to the forum.  I live two blocks away, and I am excited for you all to open!  Here's wishing you much success.

It is amazing how much construction is going on down here.  I took a little walk around this afternoon and it feels like the entire 1400 block of Race is being worked on.  The new condos look great, new sidewalks are going in, it looks like the utilities are going underground, and the stabilization of the church at 15th and Race looks like a major undertaking (the entire roof is off).

 

There also have been survey crews on 13th, does anyone know if the streetscape project there is going to get started soon? Are utils going underground?

 

 

Latest completed 3CDC development:

 

A Look Inside Saengerhalle

Interestingly, I know of NO ONE who was "displaced" by the turnaround.  I think most displacement fears are suspect.  Not that it doesn't occur, but not on the level we are often fear mongered with.

 

That's because displacement from gentrification is due to changing property types.  Usually it occurs when rental properties are condozed.  That is, when renters are replaced after a building is sold and converted to condos or when it is demolished for condos.  Usually when property types change it is because they're targeting people from outside the area or because those people are moving in.

 

The difference is that when condo buildings become rentals it will require all these people to sell or to rent their condo out of their own free will.

 

Unfortunately condozing is a huge problem all over Chicago, for example.  It seems to me that large rental communities are important for cities.  At some point there are simply too many condos.  And in Chicago's case the city and alderman doesn't care that an 1880s cottage gets replaced with high end condos way out of proportion and with far cheaper materials.  There are corridors on the West side where the majority of the old homes and apartments have been condozed and replaced over only the last 10 years.

 

Yet here is Chicago losing population in these areas.  Rentals, I think, afford more density and diversity.

 

I'd like to OTR keep a lot of rental units.  Every time you guys show another one of these buildings converted to loft condos with exposed duct work I cringe.  Frankly I would live in OTR exactly because I don't want to be around the kind of people who want to live in a loft.  How cheaply kitsch can you get?  Ugh!  It's a faux version of some 90s artist hipster fantasy.  Gag me with a spoon!  Exposed brick?  NO!  Save as much of the plaster and moldings as possible.  Dry wall at least, and some repair of any salvageable wooden interior elements.  But then I want chambers and rooms, none of this open floor plan crap.

 

In this time when Ohio and the country seem hell bent on anti-business policy, Cincinnati and its older city brethren are losing the economic battle to the South and to other countries.  So what places like OTR have to do is offer a unique sense of place.  OTR would ideally gain a number of newer landmarks to anchor different parts of the sprawling neighborhood and give it more of an identity and appeal for outsiders.  Any deteriorating buildings on pie shaped corners should be recognized as the most important buildings to save and future anchors.  And new mixed use and heavy rental buildings on vacant pie shapes would really, I think, spur development in between.  Like a PR campaign with new landmarks.  The buildings would have heavy presence on the corners they are built on, preferably with some sort of tower element which can be seen from downtown.  And they should be made of materials which are the same or at least respectful to the neighborhood around them.

 

Scientifically creating a landmark in order to boost all the land values in the area.

 

That, and I think OTR needs something like this built in to the hills behind it:

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8484/img1975m20zs5.jpg

^ Thanks for your interesting take.

 

I've long thought that about the "flatiron" buildings! They don't receive their proper respect.

Unfortunately condozing is a huge problem all over Chicago, for example.  It seems to me that large rental communities are important for cities.  At some point there are simply too many condos.  And in Chicago's case the city and alderman doesn't care that an 1880s cottage gets replaced with high end condos way out of proportion and with far cheaper materials.  There are corridors on the West side where the majority of the old homes and apartments have been condozed and replaced over only the last 10 years.

 

Yet here is Chicago losing population in these areas.  Rentals, I think, afford more density and diversity.

 

Take a quick look at the NY Times census map here: http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map?hp

 

Most of the areas in Chicago that are growing are where the majority of the condos were built.  Yes there is a glut of them, and I think converting them to rentals would be a good idea, but a good chunk of the neighborhoods around downtown, the north side, and the near west gained population.  Those that lost in those parts of town generally lost less than 10% of population (probably due to lowering population densities due to single family houses being turned back into single families) - the only exceptions being the last part of Cabrini to be redeveloped, part of Noble Square (the last area to be condoized, which probably has the largest glut of unfinished and foreclosed buildings), a small tract in Lincoln Park by the lakeshore which is mostly park, and part of the Gold Coast, which probably lost population due to the economic downturn.  The heaviest losses were on the south side (where tons of high density projects have been torn down - some tracts are down around 60% in population!) the far west side, and a few poorer northside neighborhoods like Rogers Park.

 

 

Secondly, the infill in Chicago while made of cheap materials should be the envy of every city in Ohio.  They are really making some substantial looking buildings particularly in the latter half of the bubble.  To give you an idea, here are some good examples:

 

 

Below is the kind of worker cottage that was torn down all over the place... (this one is a bit cleaned up even - normally they are white and have older siding):

 

 

I'm not sure, but a lot of these worker cottages aren't that substantial, there are some nicer ones like the 3rd image below, but the quality of the infill is so high I'm unless it was one like the 3rd image (one on the right), I'm not sure if I have that big a problem with them being torn down:

 

 

The problem is, in Cincinnati a ton of buildings that blow all of these out of the water are being torn down.  What's replacing them is nowhere near the first image (3CDC probably comes closest with a few infill projects).

 

 

Taste of Belgium is a done deal!  Woohoo!

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110405/BIZ01/304050036/Taste-Belgium-OTR?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

I noticed that it looks like something is going on in the old Park + Vine space.  Anyone have any ideas on what that could be?

^ I saw that they've taken down the "Now Available" signs! Not sure what's moving in though.

Not sure either, but was going to ask them when I was walking by. A lot of people were inside - a good sign coming along!

Is this not the Taste of Belgium mentioned in the article seangray posted?

It's a shoe store called Mulan's going into the old Park & Vine space

OH MY GOD HARRY'S LAW!!!

^ HA!!

Is this not the Taste of Belgium mentioned in the article seangray posted?

 

No--that is going to be next to Ensemble Theatre, not on the corner by Central Parkway. 

It's a shoe store called Mulan's going into the old Park & Vine space

 

Interesting!

 

And "Couture Couture" is going in at 1315 Main and something new by Iris Book Cafe too.

Does anyone know what was happening on Vine St. Between 12 and 13th last night? There were a bunch of cop cars blocking some of the street.

^There was a shooting.  http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110409/NEWS01/304090014/Shooting-victim-critical-condition?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

 

I could hear the shots.  Just a reminder that there's still a long way to go.  :(

Just to be clear, it was on the 1300 block, not 1200 block.  From what I could see the investigations teams were over at that small park on the west side of the road.  It was a really really busy night there, clearly this shooter is fearless.

 

I am at the point where I would like to see that park closed.  2 shootings in about a year, constant drug dealing, it is too concealed.  Is it the city's park?

3CDC is going to begin working on the properties at 13th and republic in the next year- also, they own the 3 properties in the center of the block spanning from Vine to Republic, and also three properties again republic before 14th.  Once those are developed that stretch will have much more pressure to get cleaned up. 

 

It should also be noted, that there has yet to be an accidental shooting of an innocent bystander in OTR this year. Every shot has been targeted and after about 90% of all shooting in OTR has been of black males and of those in which the shooter has been identified, all but about two listed that the victim knew their attacker (via a scan of Enquirer and other local news articles).  I wish the Enquirer did something like the LA Times with regards to murders, http://projects.latimes.com/homicide/blog/page/1/  -  The enquirer never puts down the race of the shooting victim or murder victim. The Times has for years.  Last year of the 70 murders in Cincinnati 58 were black and almost all of those were men.  These statistics are vital to figuring out how we deal with our violent crime issues-

I am at the point where I would like to see that park closed.  2 shootings in about a year, constant drug dealing, it is too concealed.  Is it the city's park?

 

Something needs to be done about this. Demand change.

 

 

 

It should also be noted, that there has yet to be an accidental shooting of an innocent bystander in OTR this year. Every shot has been targeted and after about 90% of all shooting in OTR has been of black males and of those in which the shooter has been identified, all but about two listed that the victim knew their attacker (via a scan of Enquirer and other local news articles).  I wish the Enquirer did something like the LA Times with regards to murders, http://projects.latimes.com/homicide/blog/page/1/  -  The enquirer never puts down the race of the shooting victim or murder victim. The Times has for years.  Last year of the 70 murders in Cincinnati 58 were black and almost all of those were men.  These statistics are vital to figuring out how we deal with our violent crime issues-

 

This is important to understand.

 

Ten years later: Black-on-black violent crime rate rises

By: Tanya O'Rourke, WCPO

 

"The vast majority of people being murdered are African American in the City of Cincinnati," said Hamilton County Prosecutor, Joe Deters. "The vast majority. Well outside the 40 percent of the population it should be. In 2009, the City of Cincinnati did not have a single white victim of a homicide. (That) tells me that we have a subset in the underclass of Cincinnati which is committing a lot of violent crime and they tend to be black. And the reality is, you almost always commit murder within your racial classifications. So when we've got a young black man up in the coroners office, it's almost always a result of another young black man shooting him."

 

That same year, 2009, no white men were killed but 44 black men were victims of homicide in Cincinnati as well as 11 black women. Prosecutor Deters says he doesn't know why there are so many homicides in the African American community in Cincinnati, but he can speculate.

 

"I'm not a sociologist," said Deters. "I don't know the answer to that. I do know that, in our juvenile system, when you go to juvenile prison, I have been told that over two thirds of those kids in juvenile prison were raised by their mothers only or their grandmothers only and they had no male authority figure in the household."

 

link: http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/news_archives/Ten-years-later%3A-Black-on-black-violent-crime-rate-rises

Bakersfield Taco Grill to Open in OTR

 

"Brothers Joe and John Lanni, founders of the Currito burrito chain, are the men behind the bar and grill concept. They plan to open in 1,700 square feet next to Lavomatic Cafe in October. The space was previously occupied by the retailer Metronation, and was used during the 2010 holiday season for pop-up retail shops.

 

The Lannis hope to bring an affordable option to the corridor of restaurants between Central Parkway and 15th Street, an area known as the Gateway Quarter. They’ll offer a menu of tacos, burritos and other Mexican-inspired street food, as well as a full bar."

 

read more: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/developingnow/2011/04/19/bakersfield-taco-eatery-to-join-gateway-quarter/

Couture Couture Brings Women's Fashion to Main Street

 

"Main Street in Over-the-Rhine will get a new contemporary women's apparel store at the end of April. Couture Couture Boutique will offer women's clothing and accessories from unique brands that most stores around the area do not offer. Owner Lynn Cotton said she has been researching the area for years and had a desire to open her store in an urban location."

 

read more: http://soapboxmedia.com/devnews/0419couturecoutureopensonmainstreet.aspx

New OTR Work Group Presentation for April:

http://www.3cdc.org/images/editor/OTR%20workgroup%20-%20April%2019%20(NXPowerLite).pdf

 

Lots of good stuff including the official Gateway V and really good detail on Mercer (hopefully the "market rate" part of this can get going soon!)

 

This is really exciting stuff. 

Awesome!  It is amazing what they have accomplished in such a short period!

Absolutely amazing progress. Love the before and after photos. Way to go 3CDC!

Wow, that all looks amazing.

Now only if the West End would receive the kind of enthusiasm that OTR has seen....wow.

I wish Cincinnati.com would run a slideshow with some of those before and after photos. But they never will.

Nice Enquier bashing. If you'd reserve the bashing, you'd have known that in the past, the Enquirer has run photos of 3CDC's projects that have been lumped with some "before" photos.

They just had a big before/after type slideshow to mark the 10 year anniversary of the riots that was pretty good.

I'm excited for the ParkHaus project. A friend of mine is getting started on the first one (the house closest to Music Hall along Elm). It seems that 3CDC plans to help individuals get financing and work with a contractor etc acting as a facilitator to get these single family homes fixed up. Pretty interesting.

 

Also- it seems their land banking may be slowing. At the same time, they have an amazing amount of land as is. Several years worth. Looking at the number of properties done per year- I'd say 3CDC has... 5 years worth of property currently bring held.

It's probably going to be harder for 3CDC to acquire properties with perceptions of OTR changing. Maybe it's time for them to start aggressively buying north of Liberty?

Maybe it's time for them to start aggressively buying north of Liberty?

 

We can hope so.

Couture Couture Brings Women's Fashion to Main Street

 

"Main Street in Over-the-Rhine will get a new contemporary women's apparel store at the end of April. Couture Couture Boutique will offer women's clothing and accessories from unique brands that most stores around the area do not offer. Owner Lynn Cotton said she has been researching the area for years and had a desire to open her store in an urban location."

 

read more: http://soapboxmedia.com/devnews/0419couturecoutureopensonmainstreet.aspx

 

 

 

I wonder if we should have an OTR Businesses thread for news stories like this one.

And I don't think they want it to buy all of them, either.  I get the sense they would rather buy and revitalize some properties, with the hope that it starts the ball rolling and others will step in and invest. 

 

I agree, if they start moving north of Liberty, it will be great. 

I find it confusing that we have an OTR thread and a Gateway Quarter thread. 

There's also a Brewery District thread, I believe. :)

And I don't think they want it to buy all of them, either.  I get the sense they would rather buy and revitalize some properties, with the hope that it starts the ball rolling and others will step in and invest. 

 

I agree, if they start moving north of Liberty, it will be great. 

 

Houses can be obtained for very little money or for free (see: OTRADOPT).  The time for individual property owners to step up and do a rehab, is now.  The problem for most people is obtaining the initial financing to do the work.  That's the problem that 3CDC has solved for the developers.  The really great thing, in my opinion, would now be if 3CDC could figure out a way to help with the financing piece for the individual owner/resident.

^ exactly! And they have started that now. that's what 'ParkHaus' is. It's for individuals who want to renovate homes around Washington Park but need help with the financing. 3CDC has about 15 individual homes that they are looking to pair up with individuals and help with financing.

I find it confusing that we have an OTR thread and a Gateway Quarter thread. 

 

The problem is that the "Gateway Quarter" is a growing beast. It is not all of Over-the-Rhine (not by a long shot), but that is where much of the activity is taking place. I split some Gateway Quarter projects off into their own threads a while back, but some people really disliked that idea. I'm not sure what the solution is, but I still think that maybe doing individual project threads for Gateway Quarter projects, then having a random OTR project thread might be best.

It's probably going to be harder for 3CDC to acquire properties with perceptions of OTR changing. Maybe it's time for them to start aggressively buying north of Liberty?

 

I don't believe 3CDC has an interest in going north of Liberty Street for the foreseeable future. I bet you'll see them start to hit cross streets south of Liberty before they move north. Remember, they want to achieve the all important "critical mass" before they move on.

 

Interestingly enough, post Fountain Square's renovation 3CDC didn't have much interest in going into Over-the-Rhine at all. They actually wanted to be a part of The Banks development, and some were critical of the city's decision to not make that happen. So instead we have The Banks being developed, and done well, and Over-the-Rhine being redeveloped by 3CDC. Great stuff.

It's probably going to be harder for 3CDC to acquire properties with perceptions of OTR changing. Maybe it's time for them to start aggressively buying north of Liberty?

 

I don't believe 3CDC has an interest in going north of Liberty Street for the foreseeable future. I bet you'll see them start to hit cross streets south of Liberty before they move north. Remember, they want to achieve the all important "critical mass" before they move on.

 

Randy's right- In my my most recent conversations with 3CDC excecs there really is NO focus past liberty right now.  It's not even on the long range plan yet.  They are strictly just Main-CenPkwy, CenPkwy to Liberty. 

 

ALTHOUGH-- they were given, by CPS, two properties adjacent to the Rothenberg building that is being renovated.  They are two incredibly cool looking properties and I'm curious as to what 3CDC will do with them- I'm under the impression they will find a private developer and basically hand them over.  They're in a good location too-  Only a few feet away from the Vernon's corner development that has spruced up the northern side of Main & Liberty.

^ I agree- Gateway quarter thread has a decidedly 3CDC tilt due to their involvement there.  This thread, on the other hand has a much broader OTR development focus.

So, in the Work Group PDF they colorized that aerial view to show where the "Gateway Quarter" is.  I noticed this time around that the Kroger Building is shaded too.  What's with that?  There's in no way I would include anything South of Central Pkwy in the Q.

I find it confusing that we have an OTR thread and a Gateway Quarter thread. 

 

The problem is that the "Gateway Quarter" is a growing beast. It is not all of Over-the-Rhine (not by a long shot), but that is where much of the activity is taking place. I split some Gateway Quarter projects off into their own threads a while back, but some people really disliked that idea. I'm not sure what the solution is, but I still think that maybe doing individual project threads for Gateway Quarter projects, then having a random OTR project thread might be best.

 

I agree.  I think the current way is probably fine, I just get confused.  Old age I guess.