Just sort of thinking out loud here... but as OTR becomes more of a destination and recognized nationally... when will we see a hotel be proposed?

 

I know there is the small Symphony Hotel over by music hall and the AC was proposed in the old SCPA building but i wonder at what point one will be proposed as construction on an open lot..

 

It would be very hard to convert older buildings into a hotel as they all have small footprints (aside from old school buildings/churches).

^Maybe the building on the NE Corner of 15th and Vine.  That building is massive and I am sure would make a great place for a boutique hotel.  I wonder when that building will be re-developed into something.  It is owned by 3CDC.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.111976,-84.515701,3a,75y,52.48h,114.36t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIXub8RUlFtOwGd8MDmLJng!2e0

 

Also for a new construction type, NE corner of 12th and Vine could be a good location?

 

 

Just in general speaking again, it seems since I moved here two years ago, development is starting to snowball a bit and picking up more momentum.  3CDC really started momentum, and now more players are catching on.  I even saw on Buildingcincinnati twitter account, that Ryan Messer's company we developing 3 more buildings, and with Republic street in full mode, and other smaller projects going on, I would think the area bounded by Main to the east, Elm (maybe even Central Parkway?) to the west, Liberty to the north and Central Parkway to the south, will be mostly all redeveloped in the next 5-7 years, with the area north of Liberty picking up continued momentum.  Thoughts?

I doubt we will see a big, name-brand hotel in OTR any time soon. More small hotels and bed-and-breakfasts similar to the Symphony will probably pop up over time. But if we have so many new hotels in the CBD, and OTR is just a short streetcar ride away, there's no reason for a Marriott or Hilton to open in OTR.

Urban Sites is selling 208, 210, 212, 214 and 215 Wade St.

 

These properties sold to Custom Carving LLC, incorporated by a Luke Bennett, for $251,000. Custom Carving LLC also owns and is renovating 4250 Fergus and 1436 AP Jones in Northside.

^Maybe the building on the NE Corner of 15th and Vine.  That building is massive and I am sure would make a great place for a boutique hotel.  I wonder when that building will be re-developed into something.  It is owned by 3CDC.

 

 

It would be pretty unique to have the same boutique hotel to operate out of two buildings, that one you mentioned and the one across 15th Street from it (the "Rosco" building,) which is also pretty massive. 

Very nice.  Wow on 1405, those are going to be some big apartments huh?  Only 4 of them in there, those will probably command some high rent, or at least high total amount!

 

What do you consider big? the building is very narrow. I bet theyll be 1000 sqft each.  Thats not necessarily large.

I put together a map showing where utilities have been buried in OTR so far. It's interesting how this map shows the development creeping north, primarily along Main and Vine, with Findlay Market the only underground utilities north of Liberty. Let me know if there are any street segments that have underground utilities that I've missed.

Does anybody know when the roadblock on 15th Street (west of Vine) is supposed to come down? This was intended to knock down drug activity, but new development on Vine has almost reached 15th, and on Republic, it's actually gone north of 15th.

Does anybody know when the roadblock on 15th Street (west of Vine) is supposed to come down? This was intended to knock down drug activity, but new development on Vine has almost reached 15th, and on Republic, it's actually gone north of 15th.

 

Taft's Ale House is working to get it removed before their official opening on Opening Day.

That stretch of 15th is in rough shape. They're going to need to repave it and rebuild those sidewalks sometime soon. They're bad.

Our listing at 219 Wade Street, a (currently) 100% abandoned block, went pending after 19 days on the market. This is a sizable single family home, and an excellent value for the square footage. http://www.cbws.com/property/details/256362/MLS-1434338/219-Wade-St-Cincinnati-City-Downtown-Area-OH-45202.aspx?IsMobileDetails=1

 

This comes after Urban Sites just sold all of their holdings (5 structures) on the street to a single developer. Also I spoke to some Towne Properties folks on the street and they told me they bought the other 3 buildings, which were owned by 3CDC. Rumor also has it that Towne is going to redevelop the huge Wegman Warehouse at SE corner of 12th and Central Parkway.

Rumor also has it that Towne is going to redevelop the huge Wegman Warehouse at SE corner of 12th and Central Parkway.

 

I did a followup a few days ago with 3CDC and they noted that the Men's Drop Inn Center construction in Queensgate is on track to be done/online in the Fall.  This should help the development of this and other nearby properties.

Rumor also has it that Towne is going to redevelop the huge Wegman Warehouse at SE corner of 12th and Central Parkway.

 

Is the Wegman Warehouse currently vacant?

Rumor also has it that Towne is going to redevelop the huge Wegman Warehouse at SE corner of 12th and Central Parkway.

 

Is the Wegman Warehouse currently vacant?

 

I think so. I walk past it every day and never see any activity, other than when they were filming some interior scenes in there for Carol.

Studio Virtu was a tenant in that building and they recently moved across the river, so maybe all of the tenants have been booted. 

Studio Virtu was a tenant in that building and they recently moved across the river, so maybe all of the tenants have been booted. 

Studio Vertu is still in building to the North on Central Parkway, between Topic Design and the old Queen City Radio. They have a garage that fronts 13th Street there.

wow great news!

 

I was randomly on Zillow looking at OTR, because I was looking for a word to describe wood work realtors use in OTR listings a lot, I was looking for intricate, I am so smart...

 

Anyways, not sure if this is posted but saw this listing in OTR, 1531 and 1533 Republic Street

 

 

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1531-Republic-St-Cincinnati-OH-45202/34221802_zpid/

 

I did a followup a few days ago with 3CDC and they noted that the Men's Drop Inn Center construction in Queensgate is on track to be done/online in the Fall.  This should help the development of this and other nearby properties.

 

What's the plan for the Drop Inn Center site at 12th and Elm once the Center moves to Queensgate?

I did a followup a few days ago with 3CDC and they noted that the Men's Drop Inn Center construction in Queensgate is on track to be done/online in the Fall.  This should help the development of this and other nearby properties.

 

What's the plan for the Drop Inn Center site at 12th and Elm once the Center moves to Queensgate?

 

If there is one it's been kept secret.  I think this is intentional so 3CDC doesn't look like over eager gentrifiers. Right now I think they've been pretty successful portraying the move as a facilties upgrade.  Which I'm sure it is.  I would think they would raze it and build multi story residential.

 

Combined with the YMCA renovation and the church renovation into an event space/bar, there's going to be a lot of activity in that corner of the neighborhood!  Does anyone know when the church renovation will be complete?

^Especially if the Wegman Warehouse gets renovated into apartments as well. There could be a lot of people living in that block.

 

 

I also wonder what's going to happen with the small surface lot between Music Hall and Memorial Hall in the long term.

taestell[/member] I think it would be weird to have that be something other than civic space being in between two landmarks like that, at least on the side facing Elm St.  Maybe that could become some kind of park-like gateway from Central Parkway to Washington Park if the Channel 48 garage is redeveloped and the West End becomes better connected in general (like reconnecting Hopkins St. to Central Ave. by tearing down that weird Park Board garage.) I could see developing the lots behind Memorial Hall on Grant St. however, maybe with some shorter row houses.

taestell[/member] I think it would be weird to have that be something other than civic space being in between two landmarks like that, at least on the side facing Elm St.  Maybe that could become some kind of park-like gateway from Central Parkway to Washington Park if the Channel 48 garage is redeveloped and the West End becomes better connected in general (like reconnecting Hopkins St. to Central Ave. by tearing down that weird Park Board garage.) I could see developing the lots behind Memorial Hall on Grant St. however, maybe with some shorter row houses.

 

Exactly... it would be weird for that lot to be developed with a new building. At the same time, it is right across the street from a massive urban park, so it can't duplicate what's already there. Maybe 3CDC could purchase that lot and lay down some nice pavers. It could still be used as surface parking on weekdays, but then used as civic space during special events and/or rented out as a reception area for Music Hall and Memorial Hall events.

taestell[/member] I think it would be weird to have that be something other than civic space being in between two landmarks like that, at least on the side facing Elm St.  Maybe that could become some kind of park-like gateway from Central Parkway to Washington Park if the Channel 48 garage is redeveloped and the West End becomes better connected in general (like reconnecting Hopkins St. to Central Ave. by tearing down that weird Park Board garage.) I could see developing the lots behind Memorial Hall on Grant St. however, maybe with some shorter row houses.

 

Exactly... it would be weird for that lot to be developed with a new building. At the same time, it is right across the street from a massive urban park, so it can't duplicate what's already there. Maybe 3CDC could purchase that lot and lay down some nice pavers. It could still be used as surface parking on weekdays, but then used as civic space during special events and/or rented out as a reception area for Music Hall and Memorial Hall events.

 

Actually it's funny-I just checked the Google Maps and Hopkins St. would go right through that lot if it were extended through the Public Broadcasting building all the way to Elm.  If that happened it could go a long way to reconnecting Betts Longworth and the West End to OTR. I can't say if it would justify the cost of tearing down and rebuilding the public broadcasting building though.

I think the larger issue is the under-utilization of the 3-4 blocks from City Hall up to WCET studios.  The Charles St. substation is an obvious issue but so is the under-utilization of the WCET site. 

I also wonder what's going to happen with the small surface lot between Music Hall and Memorial Hall in the long term.

 

Bring it back!

 

https://cincinnatimemorialhall.files.wordpress.com/

Great spot for a Rally's.

I also wonder what's going to happen with the small surface lot between Music Hall and Memorial Hall in the long term.

 

you don't remember the plan for "Music Hall Square"

 

Quoting Page 1 of this thread:

 

 

Music Hall Square (I have no earthly idea what the hell this monstrosity is)

* Proposed site for an above ground 750 space parking garage, located directly south of Music Hall, bordered by Grant Street and Central Parkway.

* Project would include plaza on Elm Street, retail and/or office space.

* Design work with stake holders ongoing, conceptual design completed by June 2005.

* Plaza becomes focal point and will provide a sense of occasion that is eventful, an experience. (how?)

* Garage will serve Music Hall, Memorial Hall and new SCPA on Central Parkway.

 

Read more: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2568.0.html#ixzz3SCe0P4Lh

A plaza of some sort that can offer a counterpoint to Washington Park would be good for connecting Memorial Hall and Music Hall. But the rest of that giant parking lot should be redeveloped with buildings in order to bridge what is a pretty large gap on the Central Parkway side. That stretch of Central Parkway has almost no life from 12th north and it's a shame. The rear of Music Hall being all bricked in doesn't help.

I think the larger issue is the under-utilization of the 3-4 blocks from City Hall up to WCET studios.  The Charles St. substation is an obvious issue but so is the under-utilization of the WCET site. 

I walk through this on 12th every day to my office at Clark and Mound. It is a desolate and resounding block of concrete and substation deadness....such a shame.

I think the larger issue is the under-utilization of the 3-4 blocks from City Hall up to WCET studios.  The Charles St. substation is an obvious issue but so is the under-utilization of the WCET site. 

I walk through this on 12th every day to my office at Clark and Mound. It is a desolate and resounding block of concrete and substation deadness....such a shame.

 

There was a coal power plant which was fed by water from the canal where the Charles St. substation is now. You can see it on photos of subway construction.  It created a pretty dramatic bookend to a view down Central Parkway, not unlike the old power plant in Nippert Stadium's end zone.  It was a logical place for CG&E to build a substation, but it needs to be moved underground or out of the area and the Central Parkway elbow turned into a nice 4-way intersection.   

 

I think the larger issue is the under-utilization of the 3-4 blocks from City Hall up to WCET studios.  The Charles St. substation is an obvious issue but so is the under-utilization of the WCET site. 

I walk through this on 12th every day to my office at Clark and Mound. It is a desolate and resounding block of concrete and substation deadness....such a shame.

 

$2 all day parking in the inaccurately named Town Center Garage

The rear of Music Hall being all bricked in doesn't help.

 

I know the Music Hall renovation will include opening up the bricked in windows on the Elm St side... but does anybody know if the Central Parkway side windows will be opened up as well?

^I've been wondering that as well. The rear honestly looks really terrible. The building has been stripped of much of its roof detail over the years which was one of the only redeeming qualities of the rear to begin with. And now that essentially all the windows are bricked in and there are a bunch of service entrances in addition to the skybridge it just looks trashy.

Were the windows even open on the back side to begin with?  I know a few were, but it seems like a lot of them were just false windows from the start. 

I don't believe that anything has been changed about the back since the whole building was renovated in the mid-1970s.  That's when the CET parking garage and skywalk was built.  But I think the windows were bricked up long before that. 

The rear windows were already bricked-up by this 1930 pic:

Great photo.  It's a shame that all of the trees on Central Parkway have been cut down and removed in order to put in turn lanes. 

 

Also in one of the more minute pieces of subway trivia, the central pillar of the Music Hall skywalk is not centered in the parkway median but rather continues into the subway's downtown-bound western tube, the same one that has the water main.  So that skywalk has to be removed if the subway is to be used by trains. 

^and that would be just tragic.  :-D

They are already planning to remove the skywalk during the renovation of Music Hall.

On buildingcincy's twitter page I saw he posted on Facebook (Building Cincinnati) the following:

 

the sale of 1824-1828 Elm Street for a retail kitchen store, two residential units and a private residence and:

 

the sale of 1610 Pleasant Street to renovate into single family home and the carriage house into a rental unit

On buildingcincy's twitter page I saw he posted on Facebook (Building Cincinnati) the following:

 

the sale of 1824-1828 Elm Street for a retail kitchen store, two residential units and a private residence and:

 

the sale of 1610 Pleasant Street to renovate into single family home and the carriage house into a rental unit

 

Both were approved by Planning Commission this morning.

On buildingcincy's twitter page I saw he posted on Facebook (Building Cincinnati) the following:

 

the sale of 1824-1828 Elm Street for a retail kitchen store, two residential units and a private residence and:

 

the sale of 1610 Pleasant Street to renovate into single family home and the carriage house into a rental unit

 

Both were approved by Planning Commission this morning.

 

1610 Pleasant is one of the City owned properties under the 3CDC preferred developer agreement. Part of the planned selling of many city owned properties north of liberty.

I'm happy to see some stuff happening north of Liberty now. And I'm happy to see it's smaller scale redevelopment rather than the big name developers carrying through the revitalization of a lot of these buildings.

On buildingcincy's twitter page I saw he posted on Facebook (Building Cincinnati) the following:

 

the sale of 1824-1828 Elm Street for a retail kitchen store, two residential units and a private residence and:

 

the sale of 1610 Pleasant Street to renovate into single family home and the carriage house into a rental unit

 

Both were approved by Planning Commission this morning.

 

1610 Pleasant is one of the City owned properties under the 3CDC preferred developer agreement. Part of the planned selling of many city owned properties north of liberty.

 

As are 1824-1828.

 

The developer of 1610 Pleasant lives outside the City and plans on making it their home.

1735 Elm St just sold to a 1735 Elm LLC (incorporated by Patrick Muck, a vascular surgeon) for $280,000. 4,500 sqft, 3 stories.

The northernmost building on the west side of Republic just before Liberty is in the process of being gutted. Does anyone know anything about this? There aren't any signs on the building yet to give any hint as to who is working on it. I wonder if it's Bair Properties since they are working on the three neighboring properties.

http://www.cbws.com/property/details/260203/MLS-1437521/1325-Republic-St-Cincinnati-City-Downtown-Area-OH-45202.aspx?SearchID=8600976&RowNum=10&StateID=41&RegionID=0&IsRegularPS=True&IsSold=False

 

These look like they could be inoffensive despite having what will undoubtedly be awful cornices as is typical of new construction in OTR, but the bay windows seem like they'll make up for it. The small gate leading to the parking is also nicely minimal and not oversized like most curb cuts for parking.

That should be interesting to see how they fit in to the fabric with the rest of the street.

John Huber Homes has listed the 1325 Republic infill homes on the market. 3 new build single family homes, 3 stories, 3 bed 2.5 bath. Two of the three are currently listed at $589,000 and $599,000.

 

http://www.comey.com/p/1325-B-Republic-St-Cincinnati-City-OH-45202/mls_cincy/1437521