^ I'd thought that building was one that got state historic tax credits too. I'm surprised that they allowed that to be done to a prominent facade.

^Actually I've heard those are going to be apartments, not condos.

It looks like there's unpainted new brick on the top of that wall. It might be that they've had to replace some of the masonry work up there and it just hasn't fully happened yet. I can't imagine they'd leave it like that...I hope at least.

 

The bulkhead I don't mind so much. I'm not all about hiding new additions to historic buildings. I just with the bulkhead itself was a little more interesting. But the way the requirements work is that from directly across the street you can't see roof additions. Which I'm sure this meets. But with corner buildings you can obviously get a much longer view of the building. There are a lot of new roof parapets you can see from the street when you look down the road as opposed to across it. Not a big deal in my mind as long as they're not designed to try to be all cutesy matchy matchy.

Does anyone have any inside information as to what is going on with Northpointe Rothenberg Row?

 

This was the latest update all the way back in July 2016

 

Victorious step forward! The City of Cincinnati Department of Community and Economic Development has NOT renewed the Preferred Developer Agreement (PDA) with Northpointe for the 86,000 square feet of city-owned land at E. Clifton and Main St. The PDA previously gave Northpointe, a private, for profit developer the exclusive rights to plan the development this public land with no community leadership requirements. We sent the content below to the City outlining our reasons why we thought the PDA should NOT be renewed.

This is a victory in what will continue to be a long struggle and is the outcome of over a year’s worth of hard work. There is much more to be done. We must ensure that our neighbors in the community are directly involved and lead the shaping of the future of this land. Please stay tuned to join us in creating a broader vision to do development differently.

---------------------

"The following points summarize why our coalition, and the many residents with whom we have engaged, find it improper and detrimental to the community to renew the existing agreement. This contract:

• Includes utilized public recreation and green space with no mandate to retain, protect, and/or invest in these assets, and does so without any form of community approval

• Offers no commitment to racial and economic inclusion

• Prioritizes the creation of market rate housing, which no longer reflects a pressing need in a community where the real estate market is thriving and the affordable housing stock is rapidly diminishing

• Was created and implemented without any public process, neither through Cincinnati Recreation Commission as stewards of this land, nor through Cincinnati City Council

• Has been repeatedly extended with no community consensus; evidence that the vision is too narrow to meet city and community needs

• Involved no competitive bidding process among potential developers

 

For about a year and a half, we have been in constant contact with local residents on this issue. We feel confident that the consensus you seek on this development will not be achieved without the following:

• The land containing the current utilized public space (the plaza, basketball courts, open green, and eco garden) must be excluded from the development deal and retained as public land, to be improved in place.

• A large, diverse public meeting, with primary focus on key stakeholders in close proximity to the site, must be held. Key decisions regarding the remaining land must be driven by community input from this meeting.

• Once overarching goals are determined by this meeting, decisions to follow must be guided by a steering committee that includes representation of these stakeholders and primary users of the space.

• Development of the remaining land must prioritize economic inclusion, and incorporate affordable housing targets that mirror the housing goals outlined in the Over-the-Rhine Comprehensive plan.

The Keep Our Courts/Do Development Differently coalition cares deeply about quality of life in our community and city. Our work on this issue has been in service to a goal we share with the Department of Community and Economic Development—to find success in development that brings significant benefit to our community. We believe wholeheartedly that the path to this goal requires a broadening of engagement and participation among our neighbors, especially those who are most marginalized and underrepresented in the power structures of our city. For this reason, we will continue to advocate for a more open and inclusive way forward."

 

I haven't heard anything moving forward, and the Keep the Courts facebook page is baron with any updates. I'm wondering if Northpointe is dropping this project completely.

Yeah if the PDA was not renewed that would make it a dead project.

 

I still can not get over the fact that we approved a development with vinyl siding visible from Elm Street.

 

I still can not get over the fact that we approved a development with vinyl siding visible from Elm Street.

 

Towne Properties = Bortz Family

Bortz Family + John Cranely = FWB

Elm Street Development + Cranley appointed board members = approved development design.

 

 

Hideous. The lack of cornice on the side of the building is pretty awful, too.

Also, there would never be a flat roof.  Most of the area roofs slope at something between 10-25 degrees up to an attic room that is usually the full length of the building.  There are usually very small windows under the gutter and then full-sized windows on the sides of the building. 

I think the 90s era faux-historic buildings on Walnut are actually better than Towne Property's attempt.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1104317,-84.5136498,3a,75y,115.18h,91.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7jxX4EPDuVl6yfIzhNZUcQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

At least they're more than two stories, and as mentioned, have sloping roofs. Really they just need a fancier cornice. Pretty sad considering the different development environments between then and now, and the different price points

Don't look across the street. *shudders*

I think the 90s era faux-historic buildings on Walnut are actually better than Towne Property's attempt.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1104317,-84.5136498,3a,75y,115.18h,91.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7jxX4EPDuVl6yfIzhNZUcQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

At least they're more than two stories, and as mentioned, have sloping roofs. Really they just need a fancier cornice. Pretty sad considering the different development environments between then and now, and the different price points

 

Well also the floor height needs to vary.  There really aren't any examples of identical buildings built side-by-side anywhere in OTR.  One three-story building can be significantly higher than the 3-story building it abuts. 

 

Is it fair to expect that the infill will reach mt Adams quality in the next 5-7 years? I feel like as property value continues to rise that we are going to see very expensive infill to that match the quality we are expecting to see in otr.

 

I'm especially eyeing streets like Peete St and the more elevated streets with hilltop views of otr

I think the 90s era faux-historic buildings on Walnut are actually better than Towne Property's attempt.

 

At least they're more than two stories, and as mentioned, have sloping roofs. Really they just need a fancier cornice. Pretty sad considering the different development environments between then and now, and the different price points

 

I hate the setback on those mixed with older buildings with first floor storefronts. There are three groups of each new and old buildings in one block, so you go back and forth between zero lot line development and 10 foot setback.

Is it fair to expect that the infill will reach mt Adams quality in the next 5-7 years? I feel like as property value continues to rise that we are going to see very expensive infill to that match the quality we are expecting to see in otr.

 

Yes.  Most of the single-family homes that have gone up so far were built by Towne or another established developer.  In Mt. Adams, people often hire an architect and that's why there are so many one-off styles in that area.  There won't be many more groups of single-family houses going up in OTR because there aren't many spaces remaining where a developer can throw up a strip of attached row houses like Towne did on Elm St.  They will mostly be single homes built by people who own one lot. 

 

 

Yesterday I was driving down I-74 to I-75 south for the first time in a while and I noticed that there is a brown interstate sign for “Northside” off I-74. I thought that was interesting so I kept my eye out for a similar sign for Over-the-Rhine on I-75. There are no signs for OTR, Washington Park or the Brewery District anywhere along I-75, and only one green sign for Findlay Market. There are a plethora of brown signs for the riverfront, the stadiums, the casino and the convention center but nothing at all for OTR. The federal highway administration states that brown sings are “for guidance to sites of public recreation or cultural interest.” Our city is doing a really poor job of advertising and showing off OTR, which might have the most ‘cultural interest’ of any location in Cincinnati. For a city that prides itself on our marketing/branding we really aren’t doing a good job of drawing people into OTR, and I think this just adds to the fact that many suburbanites still don’t want to go there, and even when they do, have a hard time finding it. At the women’s march in January someone asked me while we were standing in Washington Park, “Is this the OTR?”.

I agree. On the end of real estate, I am also saddened by the fact that I can do an MLS search for homes in clifton and corryville, but not downtown or OTR. I don't think that is a minor problem at all, and given there are zero real hurdles for doing so, I'd have to assume it reflects an anti-city bias.

Yesterday I was driving down I-74 to I-75 south for the first time in a while and I noticed that there is a brown interstate sign for “Northside” off I-74. I thought that was interesting so I kept my eye out for a similar sign for Over-the-Rhine on I-75. There are no signs for OTR, Washington Park or the Brewery District anywhere along I-75, and only one green sign for Findlay Market. There are a plethora of brown signs for the riverfront, the stadiums, the casino and the convention center but nothing at all for OTR. The federal highway administration states that brown sings are “for guidance to sites of public recreation or cultural interest.” Our city is doing a really poor job of advertising and showing off OTR, which might have the most ‘cultural interest’ of any location in Cincinnati. For a city that prides itself on our marketing/branding we really aren’t doing a good job of drawing people into OTR, and I think this just adds to the fact that many suburbanites still don’t want to go there, and even when they do, have a hard time finding it. At the women’s march in January someone asked me while we were standing in Washington Park, “Is this the OTR?”.

 

I think its beyond bad, its inexcusable.  Every other city in the US that has that level of cultural treasure is proud as hell of it and wants everyone else to know about it.

I'm not sure but some of those signs seem pretty old. The ones downtown still have pics of Riverfront Stadium on them, and the sign for Northside on Spring Grove has a picture of a church that fell down in 1991...

I agree. On the end of real estate, I am also saddened by the fact that I can do an MLS search for homes in clifton and corryville, but not downtown or OTR. I don't think that is a minor problem at all, and given there are zero real hurdles for doing so, I'd have to assume it reflects an anti-city bias.

 

I love how on most realtor sites, there is a dropdown list called "suburb" and if you want to search in downtown, you have to select "city" from that list. The real estate business has been so focused on sprawl for decades that they don't even call them "neighborhoods" anymore, it's all about which suburb you want to live in.

I'm not sure but some of those signs seem pretty old. The ones downtown still have pics of Riverfront Stadium on them, and the sign for Northside on Spring Grove has a picture of a church that fell down in 1991...

 

I think many of the older signs will get replaced as the corresponding highway work is done. Infamously, I-71 South still has signs for "Stadium/Coliseum", which refer to a stadium that no longer exists and the 1970s-90s name for USBank Arena.

I don't know many details yet, but apparently a developer is proposing the demolition of these two one-story buildings on Race Street (which are "noncontributing" to the historic district) and replacing them with a 6 story building with 22 apartments and ground level retail space.

 

Model group announced 4 tenants that will be coming to their market square development

 

1. Deeper Roots Coffee

2. EMC

3. The underground tunnel thing that's currently on vine

4. And a Columbus based bakery sweets

 

Model group announced 4 tenants that will be coming to their market square development

 

1. Deeper Roots Coffee

2. EMC

3. The underground tunnel thing that's currently on vine

4. And a Columbus based bakery sweets

 

 

That is Queen City Underground. Also Streetpops was announced for that location.

I don't know many details yet, but apparently a developer is proposing the demolition of these two one-story buildings on Race Street (which are "noncontributing" to the historic district) and replacing them with a 6 story building with 22 apartments and ground level retail space.

 

 

looks like 5 stories.

Is that on the 1200 or 1100 block of Race?

Wow that is gorgeous..and I'm pressed were actually getting a little bit of density. Hopefully we'll be seeing more projects like this pop up soon, with higher density units.

Expect to see more and more of this type of development going forward since most of the big vacant lots are now claimed and even the smaller lots are being built upon.

Couple of things about the proposal for 1218 Race.  It is 5 stories in the front part that is visible from the street but is 6 stories in the rear.  This proposal requires relief from the zoning code for density and lack of parking.  The ugly building they are proposing to demolish is actually very old, but it's historic façade was removed many decades ago.  A lot this size would allow 11 units and they are proposing 22.

Everyone that supports this development needs to be prepared to write letters directly to HCB/Zoning/Council because I can almost guarantee that OTR Community Council is going to come out an oppose this and say it's going to destroy the neighborhood.

Everyone that supports this development needs to be prepared to write letters directly to HCB/Zoning/Council because I can almost guarantee that OTR Community Council is going to come out an oppose this and say it's going to destroy the neighborhood.

 

And you guys could, you know, join the community council to express your views and have a vote.

A huge amount of progress has been made on Model Group's Market Square development in the past year. March 2016 vs. March 2017:

 

 

 

Anyone who knocks down historic buildings in Cincinnati should be ashamed. If you can save buildings that were in this poor of a condition and fill them with retailers... you can save anything. I mean, look at the before picture. The facade of one of the buildings was literally falling down. Model Group is now officially my favorite developer in Greater Cincinnati.

Are they keeping the billboard support on top of the yellow building at extreme right? Light it up with Hudepohl!

^-Sadly probably wouldn't be allowed with Cincinnati's dumb sign laws :(

That's seriously not a fair comparison. Findlay market is one of the most visited places in all of cincy. It makes sense for these buildings to be saved and used for retail and apartments. It's simply a no brainer.

 

I'll be more impressed if the model group takes the giant Findlay market parking lot and creates underground parking and spurs new mixed use construction over that giant lot.

 

Everyone that supports this development needs to be prepared to write letters directly to HCB/Zoning/Council because I can almost guarantee that OTR Community Council is going to come out an oppose this and say it's going to destroy the neighborhood.

 

And you guys could, you know, join the community council to express your views and have a vote.

 

This is a reminder if you are a new or lapsed member that you cannot vote at the first meeting you sign up at.  So you need to come to the Monday March 27th meeting at 6pm at the Over the Rhine rec center 1715 Republic Street to sign up in order to be able to vote on anything on the April meeting agenda.  I don't know what we'll be discussing in April but it's safe to say you need to be a current member in order for your vote to count on some of these projects happening around the neighborhood.

 

http://otrcommunitycouncil.org/march-meeting-agendalast-chance-to-renew-membership-for-2017/   

Can you be on a community council if you don't live in that community?

Can you be on a community council if you don't live in that community?

 

Have to be a resident member in order to vote.

 

" Nonresident members enjoy all of the rights and responsibilities of resident members, except that nonresident members may not vote in general membership votes nor hold office as an officer or trustee. They may serve, however, as members of a committee and chair of a committee, except the nominations committee."

 

The boundaries go a little further up the hill than one would expect, all the way up to Warner Street west of Vine:

 

"  the geographic boundary of the community council shall consist of the area within the following boundary: Starting at the intersection of Central Parkway and Plum Street, north along Central Parkway to the Brighton Approach, north along the Brighton Approach to McMicken Avenue, north along McMicken Avenue to Warner Street, east along Warner Street to Vine Street, south along Vine Street to, and including, the north most property line on Mulberry Street, southeast along the north most property line on Mulberry Street to Lang Street, northeast along Lang Street to Seitz Street, east along Seitz Street to Sycamore Street, south along Sycamore Street to Liberty Street, east along Liberty Street to Reading Road, south and west along Reading Road to Central Parkway, and west along Central Parkway to Plum Street.  Attachment One is a map of this boundary. "

 

 

Warner St. is in OTR?

^ The CUF and OTR community council boundaries apparently overlap quite a bit. It's pretty bizarre that OTRCC would consider everything in CUF south of Warner to be in OTR. If I ever sell my house, I'll be sure to mention this.

Yeah I definitely wouldn't consider the southern half of CUF to be in OTR! I wonder if there was a political reason for it or if it was just easier to define the community council boundary that way.

Warner St. is in OTR?

 

Such as the area coming down Ravine Street is sited, maybe it's in reference to the other OTR, that mythical neighborhood once known as "Overlooking-The- Rhine"????

Are they keeping the billboard support on top of the yellow building at extreme right? Light it up with Hudepohl!

The billboard is being removed.  The structure in the attic supporting the sign needs to be removed to create living spaces.

It had an Andre the Giant has a Posse face on it for a few years, back when Shepard Fairy totally sold out. 

HORRIBLE site plan on this one.  I guess this means the Wade's development is dead?

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/03/27/exclusive-fashion-retail-veterans-pick-cincinnati.html

HORRIBLE site plan on this one.  I guess this means the Wade's development is dead?

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/03/27/exclusive-fashion-retail-veterans-pick-cincinnati.html

 

That article is weird because it doesn't mention anything about needing to construct a new facility. Do they have financing secured? A design? How many square feet? A contractor? Usually the Business Courier will mention all of these details when talking about a large new project, so the fact that they don't makes me think this project/idea is in the extremely early phases, and might never happen. The rendering looks extremely preliminary.

That crap best be denied the moment it's proposed. That's BS.

This site proposal is all weird. Why is the wider street on the left?  None of the other buildings seem to match with existing building footprints.

 

Actually this site looks to be on the southwest side of Race and Liberty.

^I think you're right. I looked at the Grammer's site, and it didn't match up so I was really confused. Here's the Race/Liberty Site from the same angle. The buildings seem to match really well (look at the closest building and the pitch in the roof).

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.113365,-84.5180198,116a,35y,179.25h,32.07t/data=!3m1!1e3