But right now I just feel like you have to be like the settlers who moved out west and were constantly bombarded by attacked from the Native Americans...

 

This is an insulting analogy on many levels that I can't get into right now. Even if you didn't mean it to be insulting it's at least tone deaf and you should stop using it.

 

I'll simply say that most middle and upper class residents moving to Over the Rhine want re-development and investment in OTR's historic building stick but also really do care about maintaining economic and racial diversity and low income housing. It's evident when you go to the Over the Rhine Conmunity Council meetings.

It looks like a neat looking project is in the works on 1527 Elm Street: First level store front, 6 units above, parking variance for 4.5 spots instead of the usually 9 because of proximity to streetcar.

 

This is on the September 14 packet.

 

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/

The owner of that building occasionally posts here. Maybe he will see this and give us updates as it happens. He did the building next door as well and did a good job.

Speaking of cool projects, BiLT Architects is doing some great work in OTR. See various projects below.

 

1429 Elm Street:

http://www.biltarchitects.com/project/1429-elm-street

 

1431-1435 Elm Street:

http://www.biltarchitects.com/project/1431-35-elm-st

 

1313 Clay Street:

http://www.biltarchitects.com/project/1313-clay-street

 

And my personal favorite, 1437 Elm Street:

http://www.biltarchitects.com/project/1437-elm-street

 

Look at that cool suspended Rookwood false facade. Definitely a super unique, modern interpretation of the typical building mass of OTR.

That 1429 Elm Building is interesting.  I have no idea about architecture, etc. but I wonder why they wouldn't want to add a couple windows to the front, or unless that is the area where the storage will be?

The front will be a courtyard open to the sky. If you look at the plan the building is broken up into six equal structural bays from front to back. The first one will be a private courtyard.

 

I think creating a couple of openings up high to add visual interest and light to enter the space from more than just above would have been nice, but if they create a cool gate where the garage is I think it will be an interesting facade.

I thought there were no more parking minimums in over the rhine?

I thought there were no more parking minimums in over the rhine?

 

Was proposed but never passed IIRC.

Anyone have a quick summary on what was discussed at todays Main Street Streetscape meeting?

 

I thought there were no more parking minimums in over the rhine?

 

Was proposed but never passed IIRC.

 

For the 1527 elm project my architect said that there is a 50% streetcar reduction for properties on the line. Further, if after the reduction you need less than 5 spaces, then none shall be required. However it's a little complicated because there are zoning specs and the zoning changes inexplicably within the OTR boundaries. Bottom line is that we plan to not have to supply parking for 1527 elm, but we might need to get a variance.

Absolutely, the reduction of parking requirements around streetcar stops was passed several years ago while Mallory was mayor. But I think the overall elimination of parking requirements in OTR was proposed more recently and was considered by planning commission but I don't believe it was ever actually implemented.

3CDC’s Leeper: ‘Washington Park is the most democratic space in the city’

Sep 16, 2015, 1:15pm EDT Updated Sep 16, 2015, 2:19pm EDT

Steve Watkins Staff Reporter Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Washington Park, one of the two centerpieces of the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp.’s efforts, is beating expectations and will dramatically narrow its net operating costs this year, 3CDC CEO Steve Leeper said.

 

Leeper spoke to a group of about 100 during Fifth Third Bank’s Cincinnati Economic Outlook event Wednesday morning at Xavier University’s Cintas Center, touching on the activity 3CDC has been involved with in redeveloping large swaths of Over-the-Rhine and downtown.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/09/16/3cdc-s-leeper-washington-park-is-the-most.html

Discusses what the Tax Credit that was awarded recently will be put to use for:

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2015/09/16/cdf-tax-credits/32489979/

 

Interesting tidbit is in regards to the old Drop Inn Center.

 

Cincinnati Shakes will be housed there,  and the new space would include space for ArtsWave, gallery space for minority artists and organizations, community meeting space and a spot for the Shakespeare in the Park program for Over-the-Rhine residents.

 

Also..

 

Cincinnati Development Fund is also planning a move of its own in a couple months. In November, Huber said the nonprofit plans to move from the first floor of the Emery Apartments at 100 E. Central Parkway to a larger space at 1224 Race St.

The building Cincinnati Development Fund is moving to is the really interesting building with a front facing balcony overlooking Washington Park that, up until now, had its storefront filled in with light pink tile. It was quite ugly. They've opened up and restored the glass and it's looking great. That building needs its cornice reconstructed and it will be back to looking glorious.

Anyone have a quick summary on what was discussed at todays Main Street Streetscape meeting?

 

I could not attend but I got a summary:

 

- Installation of new double-headed street lighting (brighter than current street lighting) begins next week

- Installation of additional street trees will happen this fall

- Getting new sidewalks from 12th - 13th

- Still studying other options like sidewalk bump-outs at crosswalks, exposing the old Belgian block (don't call it cobblestone) under the parking lanes, converting the street to two-way, and adding parklets or public art

If all that happens I'd be super happy. Main Street has a quality that's completely different from Vine or Race or Walnut and distinguishing it through things like belgian blocks, art, parklets, etc. would only work to enhance this differentiation which I think is a good thing.

I noticed that there were the air pressure tube things along main the other day. Do those just measure the number of cars going over them, or can they also track speed? One of the biggest reasons I can think of to make main two way is to slow the cars down. right now it's open season.

So are we talking about this like you would see in a street in SoHo in terms of exposing the belgian block

 

Sounds like it would just be on the parking lanes, not the driving lanes.

Well that makes a whole lot of sense.

More info about Main Street lighting and street trees: http://mainstreetotr.org/main-street-tree-and-lighting-plan/

That map needs a legend. Can't tell what represents a tree, and what represents the new street lamps.

That map needs a legend. Can't tell what represents a tree, and what represents the new street lamps.

 

Not trying to be a dick... but it's actually a very well done and intuitive map. The trees are the icons that look, well, like trees - the sort-of rounded/fluffy circles (the ones colored green are where new trees will be installed while the non-colored ones are existing). Street lights are the light grey boxes with the black hollow circles in them. Telephone/signal poles are the grey circles with black circles inside them, with the triangles indicating signals (the direction the triangles point indicates the direction the lights face). There's some other symbology on there too - boxes with letters being the most obvious. PB = Power box, TV = Transmission Vault, C = Cable Box,

There's a dumpster outside 100 E Clifton Ave... which was purchased this summer for $235k... Looks like they're in the demolition phase now. The guys on site told me it would be 30+ apartment units once complete.

 

There's a dumpster outside 100 E Clifton Ave... which was purchased this summer for $235k... Looks like they're in the demolition phase now. The guys on site told me it would be 30+ apartment units once complete.

 

 

Not sure how they can fit 30 units in there. Here's the streetview- https://goo.gl/maps/dashd9ygBcE2

There's a dumpster outside 100 E Clifton Ave... which was purchased this summer for $235k... Looks like they're in the demolition phase now. The guys on site told me it would be 30+ apartment units once complete.

 

 

Not sure how they can fit 30 units in there. Here's the streetview- https://goo.gl/maps/dashd9ygBcE2

 

The same owner owns the buildings behind it on Peete. It looks like a lot of square footage.

EXCLUSIVE: Grandin Properties to raise millions for OTR projects: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/09/23/exclusive-grandin-properties-to-raise-millions-for.html

 

Grandin Properties plans to raise $5 million to $10 million in private equity to spur private development in Over-the-Rhine.

With this equity Stephanie Gaither, the incoming chief operating officer, expects the real estate development company will be able to work on $10 million to $20 million worth of projects. The equity would be paired with New Markets Tax Credits, historic tax credits and conventional debt.

There's a dumpster outside 100 E Clifton Ave... which was purchased this summer for $235k...

 

That must be quite a nice dumpster :)

There's a dumpster outside 100 E Clifton Ave... which was purchased this summer for $235k...

 

That must be quite a nice dumpster :)

 

Well done. After I wrote that, I realized that might be misconstrued as such.

Check the listings for McMicken Ave. -- even McMicken is getting expensive these days.  Various people are trying to get well over $100k for better-then-shells-but-still-need-$200k buildings.   

Not sure if this is the right thread for this question (mods, feel free to move): for people who have done renovation work in OTR, what's your advice on the best way to secure your site? What alarm system (if any) would you recommend, and is the Police Department ok with having automated calls for when the alarm detects a break in? Has CPD ever issued a formal recommendation of how they'd like alarms to be configured for construction sites?

 

 

Not sure if this is the right thread for this question (mods, feel free to move): for people who have done renovation work in OTR, what's your advice on the best way to secure your site? What alarm system (if any) would you recommend, and is the Police Department ok with having automated calls for when the alarm detects a break in? Has CPD ever issued a formal recommendation of how they'd like alarms to be configured for construction sites?

 

 

 

On my current house renovation, we have a standard alarm system consisting of door contacts and motion sensors (all wireless) with a cell based keypad/head unit. It is treated exactly like normal alarm with a monitoring company, so everything is filtered through them first (ie they call me first before calling police). I believe it is registered with the city exactly the same and false alarms fined the same (after one or two). Cost was about $600 plus the monitoring fee.

Check the listings for McMicken Ave. -- even McMicken is getting expensive these days.  Various people are trying to get well over $100k for better-then-shells-but-still-need-$200k buildings.   

Here is a 1,000k sq foot house on McMicken for under 8k

http://www.comey.com/p/319-McMicken-Ave-Cincinnati-City-OH-45214/mls_cincy/1466935

If you put $80K into that house you'd have a livable, not fancy, but pretty decent home in an area with EXCELLENT access (CP Bikeway, streetcar 7 min walk, multiple bus lines on CP, etc.)

New townhome project announced for West 15th Street in OTR:

 

Lead architect Jeff Mike of Designpoint Architecture notes this project is “more than just mere infill housing. By respecting the historical context of the neighborhood’s forms and proportions, these homes were designed for the needs of today’s urban dweller”.

 

 

 

Over-the-Rhine firm Hampton Architects provided assistance on the project and together the team developed innovative designs which provide fully usable lower levels and open floor plans within a historically sensitive exterior.

 

 

 

The project will be built in three phases:

 

1.    Five new multi-level town homes on the north side of the street.

 

2.    Four new multi-level town homes on the south side of the street.

 

3.    Renovations to the existing historic fire station which is adjacent to the north side town homes. The renovations include converting the upper floors to a number of apartments while converting the ground floor into a parking garage for residents.

 

 

 

These LEED certified buildings will be built by award-winning Homerama builder Daniels Homes and will feature:  two car garages, two-plus bedroom suites with private bathrooms, gourmet kitchens, optional elevators, and a covered second floor exterior rear deck. There is still time to make custom selections and options.

 

 

 

The new homes are within walking distance of Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine restaurants and bars, Findlay Market, and a Cincinnati Streetcar stop.

^Where did you get that info from?

Just got the press release via email. They also have an MLS listing for it.

 

Here's a photo I took of this location last month:

 

If you put $80K into that house you'd have a livable, not fancy, but pretty decent home in an area with EXCELLENT access (CP Bikeway, streetcar 7 min walk, multiple bus lines on CP, etc.)

 

I agree.  I'm at work so I can't look at real estate listings but there are a number of industrial buildings and multi-families between Vine and Dunlap or perhaps a little closer to the Imperial Theater that need $100,000-200k in renovations that they're trying to get over $100k for.  Somebody might bite but they aren't going to see a return for 10+ years. 

 

I'd like to see the streetcar extended northwest on McMicken, then across Central Parkway onto Bank St., then north to Brighton Corner on Colerain or another street.  It would bring that whole area back from the dead.  A transit project achieves its highest ROI when it is built through an area that generates almost no revenue for the city or is even a drain on it. 

 

 

 

 

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I really like the design of those townhomes, especially with the "garden level" design. Could the zoning allow for those garden levels to be rented out as apartments (or office space)?

In addition to those nine new townhomes there are the 7 by Towne (that are a waste of a prime streetcar fronting site) and then 6 or so more up on Wade and Kemp that were in a recent Historic Conservation Board packet.

Clothing store from Victor's Athletics will be opening up a retail brick and mortar men clothing retail location on Republic Street this coming November:

 

 

 

Retail in general is going strong from OTR. This is what's still in the pipe line

 

Retail:

 

-Candle Lab (Early October?) [Vine]

-Corporate (Early October?) [Vine]

-Victors Athletics (November) [Republic]

 

 

So I just heard about this development so I'm not sure if it's new or old..."Rothenberg Row", is a 21 condo development project in OTR that will feature luxury condo's ranging from 400-600K starting range.

 

But apparently there's controversy because it will get rid of basketball courts...and people are protesting because of that....Surely this is a joke right?

 

http://www.soapboxmedia.com/forgood/092215-OTR-community-park-keep-our-courts.aspx

 

^the sensible compromise to make would be to install basketball hoops in the parking lot of Rothenberg School. If the people behind the protests are interested in sensible compromise.

 

The folks concerned here about the welfare of the children need to keep in perspective that this development will welcome new neighbors who will have the time, money, and political influence to further improve Rothenberg School. Ending economic segregation is the best way to give the kids a chance to succeed. That's why I'm generally in favor of developments like this while maintaining percentages of low income and affordable housing thoroughly mixed into the neighborhood. I think Beasley Place and Brackett Village are two great examples of the later.

Their demands are to leave the basketball court untouched, leave the garden untouched, and make all of the housing affordable to those in the community.

 

They need to be realistic in their demands.

 

No company is going to change their plans from $400k-$600k homes to $150k homes and make fewer homes.

 

They should be looking to keep a portion of the garden active and adding basketball hoops somewhere that won't end in further destruction from development. Like said earlier, in a parking lot.

never mind that the courts are in mt auburn

^the sensible compromise to make would be to install basketball hoops in the parking lot of Rothenberg School. If the people behind the protests are interested in sensible compromise.

 

The folks concerned here about the welfare of the children need to keep in perspective that this development will welcome new neighbors who will have the time, money, and political influence to further improve Rothenberg School. Ending economic segregation is the best way to give the kids a chance to succeed. That's why I'm generally in favor of developments like this while maintaining percentages of low income and affordable housing thoroughly mixed into the neighborhood. I think Beasley Place and Brackett Village are two great examples of the later.

 

Rothenberg added basketball hoops when it opened that had never existed there. They are in the playground area and are open to the public.

never mind that the courts are in mt auburn

 

Technically. Across the street is Over-the-Rhine. It's not a big deal.

The Keep Our Courts movement summarizes everything that's wrong about the "anti-gentrification" (anti-OTR development) crowd. Their demands are completely unrealistic. There are other basketball courts in OTR. Urban neighborhood change over time, it's that simple. Be realistic and be willing to compromise on a vision for the neighborhood that works for everyone. Demanding that all new development is subsidized housing is not realistic. Some of the members of that group are self-proclaimed socialists who oppose personal property ownership, and that shows when they make outrageous demands like this.

I also usually don't even see kids playing on those courts. I walk by almost daily, and if there is anyone, there are usually 2-4 people using one of the three hoops.

 

EDIT: I usually walk by around 6-9pm on weekdays. Never in the afternoon/morning. Maybe it's busier then, IDK.

What is the footprint for this planned development? The article said that behind and surrounding the courts and garden are affordable apartment buildings owned by Over-the-Rhine Community Housing (OTRCH). It goes on to say that the new construction would mean the destruction of the basketball courts, housing developments and half the community garden. This is simply not acceptable. There is absolutely no need to demolish these buildings. I am not certain exactly which ones are in danger, but most appear to be in pretty damn good shape. If the units are owned by OTRCH, and OTRCH opposes the development, how does this project proceed without their approval. Is this just posturing by OTRCH to get more out of Northpointe? Surely OTRCH has the right to not sell the apartments and scuttle the plan. Northpointe, or the city, or whoever can't just simply take the buildings can they?