Its been years since anything was happening in the 200 block of E. Liberty. That block may have some empty storefronts, but it is utterly gentrified. The Short Market was the last domino to fall and it has been closed for a while. Its on the way to nothing and no one goes that way. Although, a motorcycle shop is not my preferred neighbor, it has to be somewhere.

^I don't mean for this to sound snarky whatsoever, but have you visited Piston Society before? Its target market has never seemed to be the stereotypical hardened leather-clad chopper-riding "biker" and more toward the sport-bike fans.

I think Piston Society is more a destination retailer for people who are into motorcycles/motorbikes than a store you buy stuff at because you’re just walking by. I think they are moving because they wanted room for more bikes.

Down there the bikes I see most are scooters or those crotch rockets with the big fat tire in the rear. And, typically piloted by morons who can't begin to control the bike under real power. But, then, everyone in OTR is either operating a hooptie at walking speed or driving like morons.

And none of what you described is their audience. So...

 

I had no issues with them when I lived three stories above them, and I seriously doubt there will be any issues now. They were cool guys and respected their neighbors.

Some cool projects on here, I think at least one is 3CDC:

 

1537 Race Street which includes the building which spans across the block to Pleasant Street

 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/june-4-2018-staff-report-and-attachments/

A couple of cool projects here, already posted one which is 3CDC

 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/june-4-2018-staff-report-and-attachments/

 

Big one is 1810 Elm Street which is part of Market Square 3.  Opening up the store front and converting the rest of the building to 12 residential units

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1810+Race+St,+Cincinnati,+OH+45202/@39.1156307,-84.5199703,3a,75y,47.77h,108.91t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1spPV2kCQW1FsEgFTl1gBMmQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DpPV2kCQW1FsEgFTl1gBMmQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D298.53226%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8841b3f96c8b2fdf:0xa185262cc4990657!8m2!3d39.115819!4d-84.518133

 

1534 Republic Street, to be 2 residential units

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1810+Race+St,+Cincinnati,+OH+45202/@39.1125231,-84.5166783,3a,75y,51.51h,101.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0SwzWAEdU-i9Cri6zdhT4A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8841b3f96c8b2fdf:0xa185262cc4990657!8m2!3d39.115819!4d-84.518133

 

 

I see that from their used bike inventory.

 

I got my garage building at 1408 Sycamore to avoid a motorcycle shop across from my office. It would have been perfect but I didn't want the crotch rocket club hanging around all day. They were actually negotiating for it. Back in 2005. Some day, someone will get a shot at it but not just now.

Some cool projects on here, I think at least one is 3CDC:

 

1537 Race Street which includes the building which spans across the block to Pleasant Street

 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/june-4-2018-staff-report-and-attachments/

 

Very cool. Lots of neat projects in that packet. Related to the 1537-1539 project, there is site work happening right now on the north side of that building for a surface parking lot. I'm disappointed to see that big space turned over to surface parking. And with no progress on the Liberty St narrowing... it makes me even less confident that we'll ever see Liberty significantly narrowed.

A couple of cool projects here, already posted one which is 3CDC

 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/june-4-2018-staff-report-and-attachments/

 

Big one is 1810 Elm Street which is part of Market Square 3.  Opening up the store front and converting the rest of the building to 12 residential units

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1810+Race+St,+Cincinnati,+OH+45202/@39.1156307,-84.5199703,3a,75y,47.77h,108.91t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1spPV2kCQW1FsEgFTl1gBMmQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DpPV2kCQW1FsEgFTl1gBMmQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D298.53226%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8841b3f96c8b2fdf:0xa185262cc4990657!8m2!3d39.115819!4d-84.518133

 

1534 Republic Street, to be 2 residential units

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1810+Race+St,+Cincinnati,+OH+45202/@39.1125231,-84.5166783,3a,75y,51.51h,101.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0SwzWAEdU-i9Cri6zdhT4A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8841b3f96c8b2fdf:0xa185262cc4990657!8m2!3d39.115819!4d-84.518133

 

 

 

I'm impressed/surprised that 1534 Republic is going to be a two-family. It makes me happy because as a 2-family, it adds more density and affordability (by increasing supply of 1-bedroom apartments) to the neighborhood, as opposed to just turning the whole building into a single-family townhouse.

I know they are building a surface lot there now but I thought I had read at some point that it would be temporary but maybe I am mixing up convos on here with actual news articles.

 

I bet if they do the narrowing on Liberty 3CDC will look to redevelopment the lot.

 

I bet we would know more if they pour solid concrete or if they simply go with rock grade and asphalt on top.

^yes the lot was presented as temporary. They are spending $400-$500k on it as i recall so they will probably want to make that back at least. Which (me speculating) they might be able to do in 2-3 years which is probably how long it would that to get a new plan for the site going anyway depending on what happens to Liberty Street. If we don’t have action (project put out for bid) on Liberty Street by this fall I think the Liberty Street Safety Improvement project is in jeopardy.

Are 1-bedroom apartments really that much better for density than something that people can raise kids in? Most revitalized  urban areas are oversupplied with singles in their 20s and undersupplied with entire families.

Are 1-bedroom apartments really that much better for density than something that people can raise kids in? Most revitalized urban areas are oversupplied with singles in their 20s and undersupplied with entire families.

 

That's a fair question. It's definitely good to get more families living in OTR. In the case of this building, the upstairs unit is a 3-bedroom, so it's already quite large. Ideally, you'd have a family living upstairs and renting out the bottom unit.

I think IF townhouses were being filled with families with kids, then yeah it would be better for density. But the reality is that many are older retired couples, couples with no kids at all, etc. Two 1-bedrooms will have 2-4 people which is more or less the same as you could expect from a townhouse of this size. So I think it's a wash with the exception being that it's multiple households of adults so you get a slight increase in spin off activity such as bars, restaurants, shops, etc.

I think IF townhouses were being filled with families with kids, then yeah it would be better for density. But the reality is that many are older retired couples, couples with no kids at all, etc. Two 1-bedrooms will have 2-4 people which is more or less the same as you could expect from a townhouse of this size. So I think it's a wash with the exception being that it's multiple households of adults so you get a slight increase in spin off activity such as bars, restaurants, shops, etc.

 

Yeah - I agree. It seems like a lot of the larger, more expensive renovations are going to empty nesters, which is why I like seeing more units. At 1534 Republic, it will be a 1-bedroom on the first floor and a 3-bedroom on the top two floors.

There are a lot of true 4-bedroom apartments in New York City and yes in Manhattan.  Such a thing is virtually non-existent in Cincinnati, even in the new complexes. 

 

One of my friends was raising his son and daughter in a 2-bedroom co-op on the Upper West Side until they moved to a 3-bedroom in the same building.  The need to separate the boys from the girls is often motivation to move to a bigger house.  It's actually not a need - one of my friends was the only boy and he shared a bedroom with one of his sisters for his entire upbringing and lived to tell about it.  My grandmother was raised in a 2-bedroom home and she was the only girl.  The boys were jammed in the bedroom and the family room was her "room".  She slept on the couch every night of her upbringing.  Today people would flip out if they knew someone with that arrangement!

 

Depends where you live. My good friend grew up in a studio with his parents and two brothers in South Bronx and that scenario is fairly normal to hear about here.

 

Cultural differences over time come into play as well. My mom was one of 8 kids and they had a 2-bedroom house. So basically kids on any soft horizontal surface at night they could find.

 

But it makes sense that over time as quality of life (supposedly) increases that a big part of that is more comfortable living arrangements. I'm a single person living in a one-bedroom co-op in Brooklyn and directly above me, in the same unit layout, is a family of 7. My arrangement is obviously going to be more comfortable than trying to cram 7 people into a 550 sf one-bedroom, but for some people that's what makes financial sense for them and they do whatever they need to make it work.

 

But having talked to the dad of that family his first wish is to have a 3-bedroom apartment. To separate the boys and girls to be more comfortable for everyone. I think that's a fairly common desire among Americans (not sure about elsewhere).

I've noticed that the huge massive Pendelton lots now have banners advertising as parking for the Pendelton Resturaunt District. I'm guessing it makes sense considering there is now a brewery, and a few resturaunts already there. The pendelton area seems to be becoming quite active nowadays.

 

I just wish we had an inside track of who the owner of those pendelotn lots are? Is it one single person? Have they been getting offers on those lots? The amount of land, could lead to a huge massive mixed use development. I just wish we knew why they are still sitting as parking, especially when there are so many parking options right now in OTR already...

Without looking, I think Guy was trustee for Alvin Lipson or his lawfirm's 401k plan. One or the other. They own the garage across also. Arnie Levine owns one, and Chavez owns one. What difference does it make? They are all needed for the Courthouse, HCJFS and Justice Center employees and are more profitable than any other use.

^if they are more profitable as lots that’s a huge problem for the city. Parking lots are HORRIBLE for the vibrancy of the Street, neighborhood and city. You don’t have to read this in a book, take a walk around (there, or the northwest part of Downtown) at different times of day and night, weekdays and weekends to see what I mean. Furthermore they are preventing much needed growth of people and jobs in our city. I touch in this here: https://cincinnatiideas.com/2017/04/20/cincinnati-needs-people-vision-10000/

Its not rocket science. No one wants a class A high rise at 12th and Sycamore. So, how else are you going to invest about $1.00 per square foot and gross $10-12 per square foot per year from surface parking.

 

If there is no high rise, and the volume of parkers are dependably there for workdays and events, it is never more profitable to build something.

 

I am sure that the Hild lot is more profitable than the Hild Garage across from it.

Without looking, I think Guy was trustee for Alvin Lipson or his lawfirm's 401k plan. One or the other. They own the garage across also. Arnie Levine owns one, and Chavez owns one. What difference does it make? They are all needed for the Courthouse, HCJFS and Justice Center employees and are more profitable than any other use.

 

There are tons of cheap garages near the Courthouse. That area of downtown is the most parking saturated. Surface parking kills neighborhood vitality and is a wasteful because a higher use could be contributing so much more to the city. We all pay higher taxes because there are tons of surface lots downtown. We need to institute a high surface parking lot tax like some other cities do. Some cities tax surface parking at up to 30%.

Its not rocket science. No one wants a class A high rise at 12th and Sycamore. So, how else are you going to invest about $1.00 per square foot and gross $10-12 per square foot per year from surface parking.

 

If there is no high rise, and the volume of parkers are dependably there for workdays and events, it is never more profitable to build something.

 

I am sure that the Hild lot is more profitable than the Hild Garage across from it.

 

Right, profitable for the individual who owns the lot because the rest of us absorb the negative externalities. You should read Donald Shoup, it'll change the way you see all of this I guarantee it.

There are not "tons of cheap garages" around the courthouse. Parking for the HCJFS and Court and Justice employees is a big problem. That's why the lots are always full. You just don't know anyone who works there.

 

Elect some communists. They know how to manage this stuff from the top down which is what you really want, right? Some Commissar to dictate what kind of parking people should have? Or are you just lamenting how stupid people are?

There are not "tons of cheap garages" around the courthouse. Parking for the HCJFS and Court and Justice employees is a big problem. You just don't know anyone who works there.

 

Elect some communists. They know how to manage this stuff from the top down which is what you really want, right? Some Commissar to dictate what kind of parking people should have?

 

HUH?

It’s not socialist or communist to point out that surface parking lots are bad for cities. It’s a tragedy of the commons problem. Yes the owners of the lots are going to make money but if everyone wrecked down their buildings for lots there wouldn’t be a city left to drive to. Hundreds of cities and towns have committed suicide in this way.

There are not "tons of cheap garages" around the courthouse. Parking for the HCJFS and Court and Justice employees is a big problem. That's why the lots are always full. You just don't know anyone who works there.

 

Elect some communists. They know how to manage this stuff from the top down which is what you really want, right? Some Commissar to dictate what kind of parking people should have? Or are you just lamenting how stupid people are?

 

It's funny you know so much about me. I actually live downtown and my girlfriend works at the Courthouse, so I guess you're wrong on two accounts. I park in a garage right near there that has only been full once since I've lived here, and that was during Blink. On a weekend.

 

As for your second part, I have no idea what you're talking about. We currently have parking minimums all over the city. I'm all for abolishing them and letting the free market decide how much parking to build. Right now the scales are tipped in favor of MORE, MORE, MORE. We literally have government dictating to developers how much parking they should have, and it makes it incredibly hard to actually build anything because it is expensive to build structured parking.

HUH?

 

Appropriate response...

 

Giant surface lots are horrible for cities. I can't imagine why anyone would defend the existence of these two huge lots as if people would somehow suffer to find parking elsewhere if they were redeveloped.

Won’t the Kroger tower include parking above? I’m sure that will be convenient for court house employees....

 

I’m just curious how many parking garages do we need to build more in order to serve those employees?

Won’t the Kroger tower include parking above? I’m sure that will be convenient for court house employees....

 

I’m just curious how many parking garages do we need to build more in order to serve those employees?

 

You're correct.

There's also the giant casino parking garage close by

I've noticed that the huge massive Pendelton lots now have banners advertising as parking for the Pendelton Resturaunt District. I'm guessing it makes sense considering there is now a brewery, and a few resturaunts already there. The pendelton area seems to be becoming quite active nowadays.

 

I just wish we had an inside track of who the owner of those pendelotn lots are? Is it one single person? Have they been getting offers on those lots? The amount of land, could lead to a huge massive mixed use development. I just wish we knew why they are still sitting as parking, especially when there are so many parking options right now in OTR already...

 

Several parking lots in OTR and Pendleton that used to be "monthly permit parking only" have recently installed kiosks and are allowing hourly parking in the evening hours. Another one like this is the Peaslee Neighborhood Center's parking lot on 14th. They all put up very similar signage, so it makes me wonder if they're being operated by the same company, even though the owners are different for each lot.

Would it be safe to say this is a matter of supply versus demand? Sure, the OTR/Pendleton area is booming, but the reality is that there are probably over 50-100 vacant lots, if not more.

 

I am the under the impression that the sycamore lots will only become developed when all of Pedelton and OTR are built out.

If a developer wants to come in and build a huge new development, as in hundreds of apartments, there are only a few places to do that. Liberty & Elm is one. The Sycamore lots are another. Most of the vacant lots in OTR/Pendleton are much smaller and only big enough for a single-family home or 4-6 unit condo building.

Would it be safe to say this is a matter of supply versus demand? Sure, the OTR/Pendleton area is booming, but the reality is that there are probably over 50-100 vacant lots, if not more.

 

I am the under the impression that the sycamore lots will only become developed when all of Pedelton and OTR are built out.

 

To a certain extent yes. But like I said, there's all kinds of hidden taxes and fees that come along with development. Parking requirements are one. Usually you have to build structured parking in an urban setting to make it fit and structured parking costs $25,000 per space on average. I don't know what the parking requirement is in Pendleton but if it's the normal 2 per unit, that's a $50,000 cost per unit. A developer building a 200 unit apartment complex would be on the hook for an additional $10 million cost that might not be necessary. That's a huge impediment to development. On the other hand it's damn near free to run a surface lot because we all bear the costs, not the owner.

 

Seriously, everyone should read The High Cost of Free Parking. It'll change the way you look at the world.

Do we know what is going on with the Columbia building on walnut st? Earllier in the year I saw 3cdc doing a lot of work, but I guess it was just for stabilization? They’ve since stopped any work from what I can tell...

In regards to liberty st diet, the city website still says bids will be open for fall 2018 bid and 2019 spring start.

 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/dote-projects/liberty-street-safety-improvement-study/

 

It also says that the majority of the funding is in place...is there any reason to be concerned that something is amiss??

In regards to liberty st diet, the city website still says bids will be open for fall 2018 bid and 2019 spring start.

 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/dote-projects/liberty-street-safety-improvement-study/

 

It also says that the majority of the funding is in place...is there any reason to be concerned that something is amiss??

Well, the fact that DOTE hasn't updated that page since November is worrying. It still talks about the "next meeting" (future tense) of OTR Community Council being in November 2017.

 

Here are few photos showing the new surface parking lot that 3CDC is building at the corner of Liberty and Race. They're putting in concrete curbs and concrete pedestals for lighting, which makes me think they don't have any immediate plans (in less than 5 years) for this space other than surface parking:

 

That stuff is required for a new parking lot to be built. I wouldn't think anything of it since it's just them meeting the needs of the lot they've stated is temporary. They're very likely waiting for the road diet to build a new garage somewhere in the area (Kroger) so this can be redeveloped to its fullest at that time.

3CDC has several large projects — former KFC/cell phone store at Liberty & Elm, former Kroger on Vine, Rosco/Meiners/Wielert's buildings on Vine, multiple projects on Court Street, and 4th & Race — that will probably all happen before this lot is redeveloped. So I would guess it'll be at least 5 years. They will probably also want to get a garage built somewhere nearby before developing this lot — probably as part of the KFC development.

Yeah I'm with jmicha on this one, I don't think it's anything to be alarmed at.  They would probably need to due to zoning codes put in the concrete curbs and light posts.  Concrete is expensive but they can jack hammer that out at some point.  I bet they make their $ back pretty quick on this lot, in the next few years before adding on.

In regards to liberty st diet, the city website still says bids will be open for fall 2018 bid and 2019 spring start.

 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/dote-projects/liberty-street-safety-improvement-study/

 

It also says that the majority of the funding is in place...is there any reason to be concerned that something is amiss??

 

I think DOTE is stretched thin and probably doesn't have someone focusing on updating their website. The Main Street Safety Improvement page still says "spring 2018" even though it's now summer 2018 and it hasn't happened yet. The city moves slow on stuff like this.

In regards to liberty st diet, the city website still says bids will be open for fall 2018 bid and 2019 spring start.

 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/dote-projects/liberty-street-safety-improvement-study/

 

It also says that the majority of the funding is in place...is there any reason to be concerned that something is amiss??

 

I think DOTE is stretched thin and probably doesn't have someone focusing on updating their website. The Main Street Safety Improvement page still says "spring 2018" even though it's now summer 2018 and it hasn't happened yet. The city moves slow on stuff like this.

 

Also does not help that the Director position is still vacant.

The brick facade of 165 E McMicken is being completely rebuilt. Glad to see this kind of intensive  (expensive) work getting done. Sorry for the grainy photo (the sun was setting behind the building so the facade was in the shadow):

 

^ I noticed that this past weekend - did part of the facade fall off or was it voluntarily rebuilt? The way the cornice was precariously floating there looks like part of the facade may have collapsed.

^Not sure. I hadn't noticed any work being done previously, so it did seem rather abrupt to see the whole facade get rebuilt. 

^ I noticed that this past weekend - did part of the facade fall off or was it voluntarily rebuilt? The way the cornice was precariously floating there looks like part of the facade may have collapsed.

 

It did not collapse but had significant water damage. I walked the buildings 3-4 years ago and there was significant damage even then.

Huge OTR retail news. Bonobos, a major NYC HQ retail clothing brand will be located in otr. It’s a very popular clothing brand , and surprised that OTR was able to land a location.

Huge OTR retail news. Bonobos, a major NYC HQ retail clothing brand will be located in otr. It’s a very popular clothing brand , and surprised that OTR was able to land a location.

 

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/c/Bonobos/Job/Store-Manager,-Cincinnati/-in-Cincinnati,OH?ojob=7ba98b3d7cc155fd02a7c74c50a55340