The latest (Nov 5) Historic Conservation Board packet has details on the proposed renovation of 1615-1617 Pleasant St, which is owned by OTR Holdings (3CDC). 

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

 

It's an impressively ambitious project, with three townhouses ranging in size from 1800 to 2600 sq ft each. I don't recall 3CDC ever doing a project quite like this one. I'm not sure if they're going to try to pre-sell the townhouses before construction, or if they're building them speculatively and then will sell/market them once complete. Either way, I'm glad to see 3CDC taking on these types of projects.

Can someone confirm that 1518 Race was recommended from staff for approval? These packets get kind of confusing to decipher sometimes....

 

Im gathering from this it was:

 

 Staff Recommends that the application be Approved. While Staff does not agree that the density they are asking for is a right that others with similar projects have received, the major concerns staff had regarding the density was the height and parking. As both of those have been addressed to the satisfaction of staff we do not have an objection to the density request. Staff also feels that the applicant has adequately addressed the concerns raised regarding massing, height, and window placement and that the proposal substantially conforms to the guidelines.

 

The backlash from the community is quite head scratching. They are calling out the density for the project, 15 units...You would think you would want increased density in OTR, which would not only create added foot traffic and allow more eyes on the street to deter any drug dealing or crime, but also supplement nearby businesses with new residents who will be spending their money 7 days a week in otr. 

Edited November 2, 20186 yr by troeros

From the quick look I took earlier this morning, staff recommended a denial of the variance for increased density, but approval of the COA for the design of the building. Basically, they are OK with the height, massing, and design, but not the 15 units. I don't know why a Historic Conservation Board would even get to weigh in on issues like density or use. Their purview should be limited to the aesthetics of proposed infill and alterations/additions, imo. 

^Agreed. I also hate with HCB denies something based on parking. That shouldn't be in HCB's purview.

Just now, edale said:

I don't know why a Historic Conservation Board would even get to weigh in on issues like density or use. Their purview should be limited to the aesthetics of proposed infill and alterations/additions, imo. 

 

The HCB takes over the responsibility of the zoning board in historic districts, so approvals don't need to go through multiple departments that may have conflicting priorities.  It makes sense in the context of setbacks and height limits.  The HCB would be more amenable to grant a variance for a project that's trying to adhere to the historic guidelines and adjacent building frontages, even if it doesn't fit the underlying zoning.  Yes the HCB should be more flexible about density/parking/height, but I don't see any evidence to suggest that they're worse than the regular zoning board. Since the 15-unit density required a variance, that's why it was rolled into the overall historic review. 

Edited November 2, 20186 yr by jjakucyk

Seems like quite a bit of power granted only seven individuals. That's right, seven. How exactly do these people get these positions?

"The Historic Conservation Board, established by ordinance in 1980, consists of seven (7) members who are appointed by the City Manager. The Board must include at least one professional historic preservationist, one historian, two architects, one attorney, one person engaged in the real estate or development business, and one economist."

 

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

18 hours ago, ryanlammi said:

^Agreed. I also hate with HCB denies something based on parking. That shouldn't be in HCB's purview.

 

Not anymore! With the elimination of parking requirements in OTR and downtown at least. Still applies outside of the parking district though.

Anyone have any updates on the project at 1216 and 1218 Race st? I know they were waiting for some business to move but that was supposed to happen in September if I remember correctly. 

 

3 hours ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

Anyone have any updates on the project at 1216 and 1218 Race st? I know they were waiting for some business to move but that was supposed to happen in September if I remember correctly. 

 

Originally was supposed to change hands at end of August, pushed back 6 months to February. 

OTR Main St continues to be on fire with its late night offering.

 

Babushka Perogies opening up a Perogie late night take out window, and full service vodka bar at the former royal spot.

 

Pins, Platform, and Babushka are all supposed to be open by end of December.

On 11/1/2018 at 2:49 PM, troeros said:

In the latest hcb packet it appears that 1518 Race Infill (15 units, ground floor retail) has been approved by the HCB.

 

Also more pleasant st development. That street in 5 years will probably be completely built out at this rate.

 

Very disappointing to see so much opposition to 1518 Race from nearby residents. It's a vacant lot now! Why in the world would you not want a dense residential development built there? Unfortunately, NIMBYism is taking over quickly in OTR.

Just now, troeros said:

OTR Main St continues to be on fire with its late night offering.

 

Babushka Perogies opening up a Perogie late night take out window, and full service vodka bar at the former royal spot.

 

Pins, Platform, and Babushka are all supposed to be open by end of December.

 

 

I have no idea what a perogie is.  But we'll soon have all sorts of people who grew up eating microwave pizza acting like they've always known what a perogie is. 

Huh? Pierogies are pretty freaking commonplace anywhere that has a Polish or Ukranian population. Like, you know, an enormous chunk of Ohio. It's not some new trendy thing people will lie about knowing about. They're literally served in elementary schools all over Ohio. I can't tell you how many I ate growing up outside Cleveland and I'm not even slightly Polish/Ukranian.

Edited November 8, 20186 yr by jmicha

For the record, I didn't grow up eating microwave pizzas and I know what a pierogi is. However I'm skeptical of that concept at that location. A simple late night chili parlor would kill with the weekend party crowd.

Just now, jmecklenborg said:

 

 

I have no idea what a perogie is.  But we'll soon have all sorts of people who grew up eating microwave pizza acting like they've always known what a perogie is. 

 

I guess Cincinnati lacks a critical mass of Polish people.

 

I was shocked when I went to college in the 1980's and met people who didn't know what a bagel was...

Just now, jmicha said:

Huh? Pierogies are pretty freaking commonplace anywhere that has a Polish or Ukranian population. Like, you know, an enormous chunk of Ohio. It's not some new trendy thing people will lie about knowing about. They're literally served in elementary schools all over Ohio. I can't tell you how many I ate growing up outside Cleveland and I'm not even slightly Polish/Ukranian.

Cleveland has mass amounts of East European immigrants settle there. Lots of Poles.

Also, I just remembered that Longfellow's at 13th & Clay, which has a bit of an eccentric food menu, already sells pierogis. It's funny how restaurants always come in waves to Cincinnati. Are we seeing the beginning of a pierogi wave???

^ There's that bun window that opened up too - I think we're seeing a broader dough stuffed with stuff wave. We'll have to wait and see if the ephemeral semi-Eli's related dumpling place tried to make a comeback.

My uncle married a Polish woman from NE Ohio 30+ years ago and I have eaten her food and never heard of whatever this word is. 

51 minutes ago, Ram23 said:

^ There's that bun window that opened up too - I think we're seeing a broader dough stuffed with stuff wave. We'll have to wait and see if the ephemeral semi-Eli's related dumpling place tried to make a comeback.

If so I hope the next is a brick and mortar empanadas aqui!

I like that we're getting more late night/street food options in the city, but am curious if there is really much of a market for it here. I remember going to the nom nom night market a couple times a few years back and was disappointed it wasn't hopping. For events like blink or what used to be mpmf this stuff would have been perfect. I worry it won't last, but hey gomez is still going strong...

There is definitely plenty of people to go to these places.  Just look at how crowded Gomez and Goodfellas are every weekend late night.  The question is will these people try new places or just continue to go to those two.  

10 hours ago, jmicha said:

Huh? Pierogies are pretty freaking commonplace anywhere that has a Polish or Ukranian population. Like, you know, an enormous chunk of Ohio. It's not some new trendy thing people will lie about knowing about. They're literally served in elementary schools all over Ohio. I can't tell you how many I ate growing up outside Cleveland and I'm not even slightly Polish/Ukranian.

 

 

Don't forget the Czech's! They love their Pierogis (But apparently not Spell check as it keeps trying to turn it to 'GROUPIES'). I dated a girl from a czech family up in Massillon Oh.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi

When will the Kabob carts hit Cincinnati? Or Khlav Kalash?

 

Ah one of my all-time favorite moments in The Simpsons.  

 

If you've ever seen Men in Black you know what Pierogis are.  

10 hours ago, Ram23 said:

^ There's that bun window that opened up too - I think we're seeing a broader dough stuffed with stuff wave. We'll have to wait and see if the ephemeral semi-Eli's related dumpling place tried to make a comeback.

 

Still waiting for that pizza puff wave... Lol!

 

Anybody have a recommendation for a good, reasonably-priced car mechanic near the urban basin? I used to use Parkway Automotive, but they had to move (out to Wooster Pike) for the FC Cincy stadium. 

 

 

You know I am part of a rust belt urbanist group on Facebook that renamed itself into a perogi based name thinking it would unite the entire rust belt.   I had to explain to them that perogi's were more of a great lakes / St Louis*  thing, that much of the rust belt closer to the Ohio river like where I grew up just doesn't have them.

 

Perogi's are extremely common in the upper midwest btw.

 

 

*STL has a much stronger influence from the great lakes cities even down to having the northern cities vowel shift thanks to their proximity to the canal that connects the Mississippi to Lake Michigan via Chicago

Edited November 8, 20186 yr by neilworms

I really associate pierogies with two places: Cleveland and Pittsburgh. I've had some absolutely delicious ones from a spot in Detroit-Shoreway in Cleveland that I think is now closed, unfortunately. I have tried the pierogies from Babushka at Findlay Market, and they were pretty good, if a little simple. I think this spot will be a great addition to OTR. Cheap, fast, comfort food is always a hit.

There are plenty of them in Chicago and Detroit too.

Yeah, but do they have a pierogi mascot race during Cubs/Tigers games?  Pierogies are to Pittsburgh as chili is to Cincy!

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pierogi_Race

Just now, edale said:

Yeah, but do they have a pierogi mascot race during Cubs/Tigers games?  Pierogies are to Pittsburgh as chili is to Cincy!

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pierogi_Race

 

Yeah even though Chicago was literally the seat of the Polish government in exile during World War 2 and still has the largest Polish population in the world outside of Poland, we do not have this.   I think Polish Sausage (said with the superfans voice from SNL) is bigger here.

Edited November 8, 20186 yr by neilworms

10 hours ago, jwulsin said:

Anybody have a recommendation for a good, reasonably-priced car mechanic near the urban basin? I used to use Parkway Automotive, but they had to move (out to Wooster Pike) for the FC Cincy stadium. 

 

I'v

 

I've always been happy with the work done at the Monro shop at Walnut/Central Parkway. Pretty upfront on what actually is needed versus what could be put off. 

1505 and 1513 Republic St were approved for Rehab for a total of 15 units in the latest HCB Packet.

 

 

Good to see some added density being added lately into these historic rehab projects. I swear 3-4 years, most of these historic structures were all being converted into Single Family Homes, lately it seems most of the conversions have been for dense multi units. 

1513 is a very large building.  1505 is a max 4 units. 

14 hours ago, jmecklenborg said:

1513 is a very large building.  1505 is a max 4 units. 

That is not correct. The HCB packet clearly states that 1505 Republic was most recently set up as six units. The proposed renovation will increase it to seven apartments by renovating the attic space and adding a rooftop deck. The apartments will all be 1-bedroom or studio setups. Thankfully, the Historic Conservation Board is recommending approval of the increased density (I was a bit afraid as I read through their comments that they were going to deny the 1-unit increase in density). I'm glad to see this kind of density on this block. Across the street is a massive, single-family house. It's good to have a diversity of sizes/uses/prices on the same block. 

 

1513-15 Republic functions as two separate buildings which are mirrored and identical in layout. They are proposing to put eight units in each building, for 16 total 1-bedroom apartments. Again... I'm glad to hear about this kind of density being approved. No mention of parking requirements, which almost certainly would have been a sticking point for a 16-unit building without dedicated parking, if they had applied for approval just a few months ago before Council removed the urban parking requirements. 

Here is the link to the latest HCB packet, with details on 1505 Republic and 1513-15 Republic: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/november-19-2018-staff-report-and-attachments-1-5/

 

Here is the link to all HCB packets: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/

4 hours ago, jwulsin said:

That is not correct. The HCB packet clearly states that 1505 Republic was most recently set up as six units.

 

My bad.  I looked on google street view and didn't see how deep the building is. 

 

If they are doing a total of 23 1-bedroom units they're not at the level where they need full-time management.  So it's going to be expensive to hire a management company - almost as expensive as hiring their own guy.  That's why you rarely see apartment complexes go up with less than 75 or so units.   

1st photo is the bar at Race and Liberty. Second is the infill on Race that has had some conflict due to the number of units (which baffles me because OTR is meant to be dense). Third photo is a single family home close to Taft ale house. Fourth is the infill in West 15th st. (Still finishing construction on them and feels like they have been under construction for well over a year now) also in two years you will be able to see the new Fc stadium at the end of the street.

1st photo is the infill at Race and Pleasant st. Second is the redevelopment on Court st.

The city really needs to eliminate any density maximums in OTR.

On ‎11‎/‎18‎/‎2018 at 12:01 PM, Ucgrad2015 said:

 Fourth is the infill in West 15th st. (Still finishing construction on them and feels like they have been under construction for well over a year now) also in two years you will be able to see the new Fc stadium at the end of the street.

 

 

 

Yes, construction continues at a sluggish pace on this street.  This block would really benefit from burying the utilities and widening the sidewalks and some street trees. 

30 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said:

Yes, construction continues at a sluggish pace on this street.  This block would really benefit from burying the utilities and widening the sidewalks and some street trees. 

 

Agreed. And that could be said of so many streets throughout Cincinnati. I wish there were a better funding/political mechanism for getting utilities buried. 

What's odd about those east-west blocks between Elm and CP is that they all feel a little "naked", like they're at the edge of civilization.  The actual stadium structure will create a termination of the "view corridor" for Odean and 15th.  It's uncertain at this point if it will do the same for Wade and Magnolia. 

More progress on the Woodward Theater marquee.

 

Not sure if I've mentioned it on UrbanOhio, but the owners also want to install a new sign that's a replica of the original Woodward sign (see attached historic photo).

Did anyone attend the Pendleton council meeting regarding Queen City radio 2nd bar in Pendleton? Did the community council approve and support the second bar?

 

On 11/19/2018 at 2:14 PM, jwulsin said:

 

Agreed. And that could be said of so many streets throughout Cincinnati. I wish there were a better funding/political mechanism for getting utilities buried. 

 

Street trees are also such a big issue here. I've had friends visit from Philly, DC, and NYC and they all commented on the lack of trees in and around downtown and OTR. The city really needs a street tree program. Maybe they have one and it just sucks? I don't know. 

Cincinnati does have an urban forestry division that I believe is funded through a portion of your property taxes.  You can see the line item via the Hamilton County Auditor website.  Not sure what can be done to push them into more trees.

 

https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/urban-forestry/

 

Just looked through historic buildings agenda.

 

Wrote this down as 3CDC is selling some buildings for redevelopment to a new developer.

 

I am seeing:

1505 Republic: 7 Units

1513 Republic: 8 Units

1515 Republic: 8 Units

 

Also I saw on the paperwork 24-26 W. 15th Street but I didn't see any details on that but they had financials for it:

 

24-26 W. 15th Street

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1114289,-84.5172547,3a,30y,50.7h,98.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szLFjjkv9m23f0ohvMhf95A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

1503 Republic:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1118927,-84.5165238,3a,75y,229.82h,108.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHYLMWBlTpSQizppc-EA5qw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

1513-1515 Republic:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1120809,-84.5165711,3a,75y,246.7h,112.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHd1m-GxKCWXgURYShJ92gQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

On 11/1/2018 at 4:55 PM, Cincy513 said:

Lachey's wasn't one of my favorite bars but it served a crowd.  I still think their one worker getting shot had a big impact on the bar closing because they were crowded pretty much every weekend.  As mentioned OTR could use another sports bar and I'm sure more will pop up as the FCC stadium is built.  Someone will eventually take this space, it's in too good of a location to stay empty forever.  

 

Nick Lachey confirms that the shooting was the biggest factor in the bar's decline and closure:

 

Quote

The bar business is a tricky one and everyone told me and Drew that before getting into it. It ebbs and flows. There are a lot of factors that feed into it. Frankly, the shooting was kind of the nail in the coffin, unfortunately. We really saw a huge dip in business after that. That’s one of those life tragedies where the bigger concern was Ellie and her health, and thank goodness that turned out the way it did, so at the end of the day I can live with anything that happens with the bar. Drew and I walked away with our heads held high. It didn’t work, so you move on.

 

Being exceptionally wealthy helps...