I'm pretty sure the new building will be at the corner of Logan/Findlay.

It's awesome to see Market Square II getting tax credits before Market Square I is even finished.

I was just around Findlay on Friday. I am a bit confused what Market 1 vs 2 is. It looked like that whole 1800 block of Race on the east side is already under construction yet they are saying 1817-1830 Race received credits? Did they already start on the project Market Square 2?

 

Also, that building on Logan looks fairly big.

 

I noticed as well the two buildings on the SW corner of West Elder (south side of Findlay Market) and Race were under construction. Are those part of Market Square 1?

 

So much construction going on its hard to keep track!!

I thought the credits were for addresses on Elm

Ah, I read it wrong... long day. You are correct. That is very exciting news for Findlay Market area.

And more on that...

 

Model Group set to expand its Findlay Market footprint

 

 

Model Group, which is already involved in a nearly $20 million mixed-use development project on the east side of Findlay Market, has added a second project on its west side.

 

The developer received $1.8 million in state historic tax credits from the state of Ohio on Tuesday for the $17.9 million Market Square II project encompassing 10 historic buildings and a new one to be built.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/06/28/model-group-set-to-expand-its-findlay-market.html

I really hope that down the road there is a Market Square Phase 3 where they take the Findley Market parking lot and perhaps take that space and turn it into an extension of Findley.

 

I'm thinking something along the lines of this;

 

 

Vendors and food stalls along the perimeter of the lot, while the middle space be dedicated to long communal tables for families and friends to eat together.

 

A parking garage could be built underneath for findley visitors.

The Market Square II project includes 1827 Logan St, which is an L-shaped parcel that extends from Logan to Central Parkway and wraps up to Findlay St. Currently it has the single-story "Ottugi" building. I'm assuming Urban Sites will be tearing that non-contributing building down. I've very curious to see their design for that corner since it's a high visibility "entrance" into the Findlay Market area from Central Parkway.

 

There is a small parcel, 1829 Logan, that is owned by somebody based in Washington DC. I hope Urban Sites Model Group is able to acquire that parcel because it will make it much easier for them to make use of that full space north of the VOA tower, between Central Parkway, Logan, and Findlay. In the future it'd be great to see that block completed with infill south of the VOA tower.

 

1829 Logan: http://wedge3.hcauditor.org/view/re/1330003008400/2015/summary

 

UPDATED - Model Group is the developer of Market Square, not Urban Sites.

^ Market Square is Model Group, not Urban Sites. Urban Sites is doing the Film Center building on Central Parkway, though.

^ Market Square is Model Group, not Urban Sites. Urban Sites is doing the Film Center building on Central Parkway, though.

 

Oh... yeah. Brain fart on my part. I was thinking about Central Parkway and the Film Center project... 

So I am trying to get a picture of this Market Square 2.  Is this more or less correct:

 

This line of buildings on Elm Street:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1154585,-84.5199406,3a,90y,285.28h,95.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sy5ohZkjqlfeWOKAtHvLC8Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

 

This building on Findlay Street:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/127+Findlay+St,+Cincinnati,+OH+45202/@39.116417,-84.5197078,3a,75y,197.32h,99.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9XzIdkLyan3yYJ8j9vbPqQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8841b3f8fcfe5671:0x39ce6fb5c4d2fedb!8m2!3d39.1163139!4d-84.5197423!6m1!1e1

 

And this building fronting Central Parkway and Logan and the empty lot to it's north (SW Corner of Logan and Findlay):

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/127+Findlay+St,+Cincinnati,+OH+45202/@39.1141226,-84.5198889,225a,20y,323.71h,45t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8841b3f8fcfe5671:0x39ce6fb5c4d2fedb!8m2!3d39.1163139!4d-84.5197423

 

 

1) does anyone Know the status of the Ndukwe grocery store proposal?

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/01/26/plans-for-28m-otr-grocery-store-development-move.html

 

2) what if that project didn't happen, and we tore down the CMHA building, and reconnected Republic Street to Central Parkway instead? You could then have two smaller residential infill projects on the new section of Republic with prominent corners at Republic and Central Parkway. It might improve walkability by adding another entrance to the neighborhood west of Vine (while fixing what I guess was an urban renewal era action) while adding population.

1) does anyone Know the status of the Ndukwe grocery store proposal?

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/01/26/plans-for-28m-otr-grocery-store-development-move.html

 

2) what if that project didn't happen, and we tore down the CMHA building, and reconnected Republic Street to Central Parkway instead? You could then have two smaller residential infill projects on the new section of Republic with prominent corners at Republic and Central Parkway. It might improve walkability by adding another entrance to the neighborhood west of Vine (while fixing what I guess was an urban renewal era action) while adding population.

 

My bad! Just consulted some historical maps and apparently Republic (Bremen) St NEVER connected to Central Parkway (Canal St.) The block has always been split by just Baldwin and Doerr Alleys. So the Ndukwe proposal would be in line with historical form.

Get a sneak peek at the new-look downtown YMCA

 

 

Internet access throughout the facility, including a sleek lounge area.

 

Stainless steel gutters on a refurbished three-lane, saline swimming pool.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/07/13/exclusive-get-a-sneak-peek-at-the-new-look.html

Here's a fun one:

 

The Knights Watch LLC purchased 1706-1708 Elm St for $125,000. First step in acquiring properties to build a wall?

It's unbelievable that the city has not yet come up with a solution for turning Green Street back to two-way, from its current configuration which is intentionally confusing in order to discourage drug dealing. The new traffic signals are already in place (installed during streetcar construction) so all that needs to be done is striping and signage.

Why not discourage drug dealing by telling them to stay in highschool and become a decent human being.

...if it was that easy.

A random thought, but wanted to hear your guys opinion.

 

With gentrification of OTR slowly moving up north of liberty, do you guys forsee that park by East Mickmicken Avenu to stay a park, or potentially be a site for a large infill project later down the road?

 

North of Liberty already has another park up on Vine St, so I wasn't sure in my mind if there was a need in the neighborhood for this park, or if that site was better suited for infill development?

A random thought, but wanted to hear your guys opinion.

 

With gentrification of OTR slowly moving up north of liberty, do you guys forsee that park by East Mickmicken Avenu to stay a park, or potentially be a site for a large infill project later down the road?

 

North of Liberty already has another park up on Vine St, so I wasn't sure in my mind if there was a need in the neighborhood for this park, or if that site was better suited for infill development?

 

i heard they were going to put a highschool there

thomasbw[/member] - who'd you hear that from? Has CPS even alluded to opening new high schools? CPS finished a massive facilities campaign just a few years ago, so I'd be very surprised to hear about any new high schools being constructed any time soon.

^Pretty sure it's a sarcastic remark referencing an earlier statement. 

The good news: one of my favorite buildings in OTR will be redeveloped (1420 Elm)

 

The bad news: they are going to turn the vacant lot to the north of it into a parking lot. 1420 has a blank facade to the north such that infill could easily be built directly adjacent and the building is on the streetcar line! #noparkinglotsontheline

 

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/july-11-2016-staff-reports-and-attachments/

That's really odd...I spoke with the guy who owns the lot just north of this and he already had full construction documents for a single family house to be built on that spot. I wonder what happened with that.

That's really odd...I spoke with the guy who owns the lot just north of this and he already had full construction documents for a single family house to be built on that spot. I wonder what happened with that.

 

The vacant lot is a larger (double?) lot, so maybe his plan is for the north side of the lot closer to the new house? Just speculating

I witnessed something pretty funny earlier tonight. I went with some friends to the free Robert DeLong concert on Fountain Square. Right before he came on stage, someone else came on and thanked all of the presenting sponsors, "Thanks to WNKU, 3CDC..." and immediately some girl standing next to me said, "boo 3CDC! boo gentrification!" (Followed by some comment about how she "had to move to Avondale".) There's something especially ironic about a girl enjoying a free, 3CDC-presented concert, at 3CDC-managed Fountain Square, drinking a beer that she purchased from a 3CDC employee, shouting about how much she hates 3CDC.

 

I do think a lot of younger people are not aware of how dead Downtown and OTR were even 5 years ago and how much of the activity in these neighborhoods can be attributed to 3CDC's efforts in running Fountain Square and Washington Park.

Towne Properties' new townhomes at 15th & Elm:

 

 

(Can't remember if there's a specific name for this project.)

Even though that Towne Property project is low density (which is a shame being on the street car line and all), you have to admit that have these new infill structures in place are really making Elm Street look more cohesive and, "put together" so to speak.

 

The last big project for that half of Elm Street is figuring out what to do with that old cricket wireless lot on the right side of elm and liberty.

 

edit: speaking of which how did that cricket i wireless store even get approved by the HCB? The design is just something plopped out of a strip mall. Was there a time when the HCB didn't really care about what was being built in OTR during the rough periods of the early 2000's, and sort of approved whatever?

 

edit: speaking of which how did that cricket i wireless store even get approved by the HCB? The design is just something plopped out of a strip mall. Was there a time when the HCB didn't really care about what was being built in OTR during the rough periods of the early 2000's, and sort of approved whatever?

 

There was a time prior to the existence of the HCB and the OTR historic district where those things could be built and they were. So the building Cricket is in is a relic  from that time.

 

edit: speaking of which how did that cricket i wireless store even get approved by the HCB? The design is just something plopped out of a strip mall. Was there a time when the HCB didn't really care about what was being built in OTR during the rough periods of the early 2000's, and sort of approved whatever?

 

There was a time prior to the existence of the HCB and the OTR historic district where those things could be built and they were. So the building Cricket is in is a relic  from that time.

 

I believe it was a KFC back in the day

The old KFC building has been there as long as I can remember and I remember back when it was a KFC. Mid 70's perhaps. Along the same line as the Golden Skillet that use to be at the entrance to the Market at Central Parkway.

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x8841b3f8b3e12663:0x4ae9fd58be262c88!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e115!4s/maps/place/the%2Bgolden%2Bskillet%2Bcincinnati/@39.1148046,-84.5214059,3a,75y,53.29h,90t/data%3D*213m4*211e1*213m2*211shzpBQg4yNp6ThG-BJIOGng*212e0*214m2*213m1*211s0x0:0x4ae9fd58be262c88!5sthe+golden+skillet+cincinnati+-+Google+Search&imagekey=!1e2!2shzpBQg4yNp6ThG-BJIOGng&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiV8-bvxI_OAhVJLyYKHfDABCcQpx8IXzAK

 

According to the Historic Aerials maps it looks like the street was widened in 59-60 and the lot cleared to the size it is now in 68 with the KFC there in 69/70 range. Well before historic neighborhood integrity or design review boards were even a thing.

 

Terrible to think we lost historic structures to build a fast food restaurant but it could hold the seeds of opportunity: https://cincinnatiideas.wordpress.com/liberty-and-race-underground-garage/

According to the auditor images it was a KFC as recently as 2003. I think this image is posted in this thread somewhere already, actually:

 

15th & Race condos rising:

 

 

 

Noticed over the weekend that there is finally some progress happening at the new "bodega" at 13th & Main. They took the paper off the windows and you can see shelving units, refrigerated cases, etc. No products in there yet, though. It looks really nice - hopefully they'll open for business soon.

I love all the drone pics, really helps get a good sense of these new projects. Strangely, the straight down views trigger some weird vertigo sensation in my head. Don't know why because i'm not afraid of heights or anything. I first noticed it on your views of the parking garage excavation in ziegler park. Weird.

 

Is there built-in first floor parking in that new structure? There's a lot of space between the backs of the buildings fronting Race and fronting Pleasant. Or is that all open air parking?

The parking is on the backside of the structures- the building sits over the spaces like a carport. There will be additional structures fronting Pleasant St. It's a phased approach now.

That makes sense, and I understand it's a phased development. The building just doesn't go anywhere near to the lot line in the back. Seems like a wasted opportunity, either for larger units or more in gneneral

Remember, 3CDC originally wanted to put another Mercer Commons style development here with a garage in the interior wrapped by new construction. The neighborhood said, "we don't want another parking garage there." So they removed the garage and downsized the entire development. Apparently 17 is maximum number of condos they can build while still providing surface parking directly behind the building for those residents.

Why would the residents care if there was a parking garage in the middle that you can barely see?  Some of those people do more harm then good for the neighborhood. 

How many parking garages are we going to allow to be built in OTR? There's already one under Washington Park, literally one block away from 15th & Race. The neighborhood was right to fight the parking garage at this location, but 3CDC should not have downscaled the residential component. Developers need to start considering that in a walkable neighborhood with great transit access like OTR, people will buy condos that don't have a parking space attached to them.

Adding another parking garage would've been horrible. OTR was meant to be a neighborhood that people walked in and explored. By building more garages your basically encouraging people (especially those who are visiting from the suburbs) to park there car, walk less than a block to there favorite restaurant,  and go home and call it a day.

 

Also, if we had built the garage then we would have demolished the rear of a good number of buildings as well.

In the HCB packet there was an interesting development with the Kaufman building on Vine St.

 

Plans call for full renovation, ground floor retail, residential above,  and a 4 story rear addition that will occupy the vacant republic street side.

 

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/july-25-2016-staff-reports-and-attachments/

It's way too simplistic, and actually counterproductive to the goal of densifying the neighborhood, to say there should be no more structured parking built in OTR. The alternative to concentrating parking in key locations is having individual rehab and infill developments add off street parking as part of the development or on vacant lots, limiting the amount of residences that can be built as well as perpetuating broken street walls.

 

While the proposed garage at 15th and Race was too big and out of scale for that block (it demolished the rear of historic buildings and left the proposed new wrap-around construction with really shallow depths,) there should be structured parking added near that location to enable density. Washington Park garage is filling up to capacity fast. Here is my proposal for an underground garage to be built that would extend underneath Pleasant Street:

 

https://cincinnatiideas.wordpress.com/liberty-and-race-underground-garage/

"structured parking to enable density."

 

Well there's a paradox.

"structured parking to enable density."

 

Well there's a paradox.

 

Not really. I live in Westfalen which has 42 condo units plus ground floor retail with no parking included. Does that mean everyone is living here car-free? No, many of us rent monthly spaces in Washington Park garage.

But there's a supply and demand factor as well. Since we keep adding supply (new parking garages) every time we add a new major development, the cost of car storage stays low and people keep bringing their cars with them to OTR. The number one factor that causes people to give up their cars when living in urban environments is the cost of storing their car in the city. Your city could have the best, most robust transit system in the world, but if everyone has a parking garage connected to their building, they're still going to choose driving over taking transit.

Hey, if you can get Cranley-minded folks in city government and neighborhood NiMBYs in community council meetings to agree to do away with parking minimums, more power to you.