December 7 Historic Conservation Board will review proposals for two new single-family infill projects on currently vacant lots: 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/historic-conservation/historic-conservation-board/december-7-2020-staff-report-and-attachments/

 

1517 Republic (20'x75' lot):

 

28 Findlay St (40'x100' lot):

 

Some cool photos of PFF's (formerly known as Pro Football Focus) office/studio space, which is on Central Parkway just north of Queen City Radio. The article says they have 100 employees, and plan to get up to 134 employees in the next year. I suspect most of their employees are remote, since their space isn't big enough to accommodate that many employees. 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/12/10/inside-pffs-new-studio.html

On 9/27/2017 at 4:51 PM, taestell said:

Current view of Race Street showing the two one-story buildings that will be demolished for the new Steiner infill building:

 

 

The owners of the one-story buildings applied for demolition permits last month, so it looks like that project is moving ahead finally. 

 

 Also of note in this photo is the red church tower which has structural deficiencies... the church applied for emergency demolition permit, but preservationists are working behind the scenes to raise money to save it.

2 minutes ago, Jimmy Skinner said:

Also of note in this photo is the red church tower which has structural deficiencies... the church applied for emergency demolition permit, but preservationists are working behind the scenes to raise money to save it.

 

Yeah, I really hope they can save it. It would be great if the Haile Foundation or 3CDC could donate some money towards repair.

The new infill building on Vine opposite the Kroger 3CDC parking lot has topped out.  The other new building on the Empire Theater site is barely off the ground. 

 

 

9 hours ago, jmecklenborg said:

The other new building on the Empire Theater site is barely off the ground. 

I'm excited for this building, I love the oriel/bay window design and am looking forward to the brickwork. 

57 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

I love the oriel/bay window design and am looking forward to the brickwork. 

Agreed. It's so rare to see interesting masonry these days... hopefully the execution is successful. I kind of wish the windows/envelope followed the curve of the masonry, since that would give residents a chance to get some neat views up/down along Vine Street. 

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/permanent-outdoor-dining-in-otr-means-more-residents-experiencing-serious-parking-headaches

 

Otr residents complain about lack of street parking in an urban environment as outdoor eateries will permanently close streets... 

 

Meanwhile John cranley sounds like he was the scrooge visited by the ghosts of urban renewal. 

 

Some of his rhetoric about cars and how urban residents need to take pride living in an urban environment sounds like a complete 360 of his normal rhetoric..it's extremely off, especially coming from someone who is notorious for being extremely anti urban 

 

Cranley will basically do anything 3CDC asks him to do. So if they want to close streets or take away parking spaces to help their restaurant tenants, he's all for it. But when citizens want Liberty Street narrowed to make it safer for residents, Cranley throws up every obstacle he can to stop it.

2 hours ago, taestell said:

Cranley will basically do anything 3CDC asks him to do. So if they want to close streets or take away parking spaces to help their restaurant tenants, he's all for it. But when citizens want Liberty Street narrowed to make it safer for residents, Cranley throws up every obstacle he can to stop it.

I think a lot of what motivates Cranley can be boiled down to ‘what will most upset the people he sees as his opponents.’ 
In this situation, the ‘opponents’ are the OTR residents that he fought against about parking permits, who feel entitled to easy street parking, and he absolutely is getting off on taking some of their spots away. 

This is one of those rare instances where his interests perfectly line up with good urbanism so I won’t question the motives and just feel good about the outcome.

This whole thing is ridiculous and I like no one in this story. This is a rare instance where I agree with what Cranley is doing. Is it only to satisfy donors with major corporations who run 3CDC so he can run for Governor and lose to DeWine? Probably. Should they run these major changes by the OTR CC? Absolutely. Should the OTR CC oppose a dozen street spots being absorbed to make their neighborhood more walkable and desirable? Of course not.

 

This just seems like a win-win to me. The engagement is awful, but the plan is good.

24 minutes ago, Guy23 said:

In this situation, the ‘opponents’ are the OTR residents that he fought against about parking permits, who feel entitled to easy street parking, and he absolutely is getting off on taking some of their spots away. 

 

Yeah, Cranley views himself as the kingmaker and he wants to make every decision about who wins and who loses. He opposed the creation of the permit parking program so he is giddy about taking away some of those spots. He also loves to claim to be an urbanist when he can use it against downtown residents — implying that we should thank him for making car ownership more difficult — while ignoring the fact that we haven't seen any major improvements to transit or bike infrastructure that would actually make it easier to live in the core without owning a car during his administration.

What's crazy is that the city fathers are finally coming full circle to the decision they denied back in the 1940s, which is to turn OTR into a "boutique" neighborhood with different preservation, vehicular, and public space rules than the rest of the city.  The sad thing is that OTR is following national trends instead of being the real thing that would have been the model for elsewhere.  

 

In other news, the Imagination Alley Christmas display is really something to behold.  

1 hour ago, ryanlammi said:

 Probably. Should they run these major changes by the OTR CC? Absolutely. Should the OTR CC oppose a dozen street spots being absorbed to make their neighborhood more walkable and desirable? Of course not.

 

This might be an unpopular opinion here but I totally agree with circumventing the OTR council. It’s an undemocratic body in the sense that even though it claims to represent the entire neighborhood, the large majority of residents did not vote on it, have no idea who represents it, and don’t even know it’s stances. It just seems like bad policy to have outcomes dictated by the very small group of people that show up to meetings, and there seems to be a strong correlation between engagement and NIMBYism.

 

Id guess that if this parklet idea were run through the council, it would be delayed so an ‘impact study’ could take place and likely end up watered down or cancelled.

the take away here is wide street bad, narrow street good. Or, the city could put stop signs and stop lights. They work like this. Drivers should be informed that red means stop and green means go. (per Star Man, when the light is yellow go like hell). Pedestrians should be informed that a five fingered red hand icon means stop and a bright white walking icon means its your time to cross the street. just an idea that came to me.

 

4 minutes ago, RJohnson said:

the take away here is wide street bad, narrow street good. Or, the city could put stop signs and stop lights. They work like this. Drivers should be informed that red means stop and green means go. (per Star Man, when the light is yellow go like hell). Pedestrians should be informed that a five fingered red hand icon means stop and a bright white walking icon means its your time to cross the street. just an idea that came to me.

 

 

A guy in a tinted window Infinity sedan laid on his horn last night while I was crossing 13th at Race.  I impeded his turn onto 13th by 4-5 seconds.  He then caught up with me 2-3 minutes later at 12th & Race (so he circled the block), got out of his car, and physically threatened me.  There was no other traffic.  Nobody else was walking around.  I rhetorically asked him how he could be in such a hurry if he had time to pull over and get out.  He didn't like that and didn't come after me after that comeback.  A block or two later I saw a black lives matter sign in a preppy window and chuckled to myself.    

 

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said:

 

A guy in a tinted window Infinity sedan laid on his horn last night while I was crossing 13th at Race.  I impeded his turn onto 13th by 4-5 seconds.  He then caught up with me 2-3 minutes later at 12th & Race (so he circled the block), got out of his car, and physically threatened me.  There was no other traffic.  Nobody else was walking around.  I rhetorically asked him how he could be in such a hurry if he had time to pull over and get out.  He didn't like that and didn't come after me after that comeback.  A block or two later I saw a black lives matter sign in a preppy window and chuckled to myself.    

 

 

 

These are trying times. Be careful.

Over-the-Rhine South SID elections were held on Tuesday, December 8th. No results yet... 

 

 

On 12/10/2020 at 3:41 PM, taestell said:

 

Yeah, I really hope they can save it. It would be great if the Haile Foundation or 3CDC could donate some money towards repair.

Agreed, it would be such a shame if they were unable to save that bell tower. I was very surprised to see that the church was applying for demolition permits... You'd think that some organization/development group would want to help with the preservation of this, if for no other reason than for the PR with the community.

Um, wouldn't this be covered by insurance?  If not, it seems like if I wanted someone else to pay for a repair to my building I'd go an apply for a demo permit to exaggerate the problem.  Functionally Obsolete vs. Structurally Deficient. 

That tower looks nothing like the rest of the church. I wonder when they added it?

 

EDIT:

 

Well, I've read the stories and they keep referring to it as though it has always been there, but everything about it is different than the main church building.

Edited December 13, 20204 yr by 1400 Sycamore
Follow up questiona bout the tower

On 12/10/2020 at 3:37 PM, Jimmy Skinner said:

 

The owners of the one-story buildings applied for demolition permits last month, so it looks like that project is moving ahead finally. 

 

 Also of note in this photo is the red church tower which has structural deficiencies... the church applied for emergency demolition permit, but preservationists are working behind the scenes to raise money to save it.

There’s a site for leasing. 

https://www.cityfeet.com/cont/listing/1216-race-st-cincinnati-oh-45202/cs21487947

The apartments above Taste of Belgium at 12th & Vine (previously used as student housing for the Art Academy) are being converted to condos, called the Academy Lofts.

 

I don't event remember seeing this announced, but construction is expected to be complete in January 2021.

Restaurant owners, Over-the-Rhine council clash over permanent street closures

 

Over-the-Rhine Community Council members urged Cincinnati City Council members to hold ordinances that would allow for permanent, expanded outdoor dining in OTR and downtown, saying the neighborhood had not been properly consulted.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/12/14/clash-over-outdoor-dining-closures.html

 

10 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

Restaurant owners, Over-the-Rhine council clash over permanent street closures

 

Over-the-Rhine Community Council members urged Cincinnati City Council members to hold ordinances that would allow for permanent, expanded outdoor dining in OTR and downtown, saying the neighborhood had not been properly consulted.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/12/14/clash-over-outdoor-dining-closures.html

 

This is exactly why I have a huge issue with OTRCC having any political weight. It’s not at all representative of the views of the neighborhood it’s just like 10 very whiny NIMBYs who feel like they deserve a say in anything that goes on here. Hopefully council realizes this and still goes ahead with the plan.

Has the OTRCC ever supported anything? I know Oakley CC takes a lot of shots for its NIMBYs but OTRCC seems to be the worst. 

Yeah I don't care at all what OTRCC thinks.  They are terrible for the continued development of OTR. 

On 12/12/2020 at 9:48 AM, thomasbw said:

Over-the-Rhine South SID elections were held on Tuesday, December 8th. No results yet... 

 

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, taestell said:

 

 

Yep... All white men. Curious to know the actual results. Wonder why it took a week to tally maybe 200 votes?

The City gets to appoint members as well?

^City get to appoint 2 people and the County gets to appoint one.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The painted bricks are a defining feature of OTR that differentiate it from other 19th century historic districts. I love how gaudy they can be - like the above rehab painted navy blue, hunter green and light pink. 

28 minutes ago, oudd said:

The painted bricks are a defining feature of OTR that differentiate it from other 19th century historic districts. I love how gaudy they can be - like the above rehab painted navy blue, hunter green and light pink. 

 

However they fade really, really fast.  I noticed this past weekend that paint is already pealing off the building that housed The Anchor restaurant, and it was painted in 2014~.  

 

My house is from 1914 was painted around 2000 and the south-facing wall is fine.  Obviously some paint works a lot better than other types, so I don't get why there is such rapid fading on these professionally managed rehabs.  Maybe some sort of environmental protection means newer paint is less durable.  I don't know.  

Man that building next to Pepp & Dolores is going up fast.  Isn't that part of the Willkommen? 

21 minutes ago, Cincy513 said:

Man that building next to Pepp & Dolores is going up fast.  Isn't that part of the Willkommen? 

 

No, the new builds and renovations along Vine north of 15th are all the Perseverance project. Wilkommen is renovating buildings on 15th centered around Moore.

 

EDIT: Apparently I am wrong, having just fact checked myself on 3CDC's website. Everything up to 1517 Vine is Perseverance. 1521 Vine is part of Wilkommen.

Edited December 16, 20204 yr by OliverHazardPerry

Both are affordable housing projects though, right?  Or is only one of them? 

Perseverance is 100% affordable housing, it is a collaboration with OTRCH. Wilkommen is a mix of afforable and market rate units.

Amazing how infill can transform a block in such a way! 

 

Really looking forward to the day when the 12th and vine parking lot will be infilled. 

On 12/11/2020 at 2:28 PM, taestell said:

He opposed the creation of the permit parking program so he is giddy about taking away some of those spots.

 

 

2 hours ago, troeros said:

Amazing how infill can transform a block in such a way! 

 

Really looking forward to the day when the 12th and vine parking lot will be infilled. 

 

Agreed, I am surprised by how much this one relatively small building makes a difference.  Meanwhile, the disappearance of the Kroger doesn't seem like such a big deal.  

ArtWorks is moving to Walnut Hills which means that the ground floor of the Hale Justice Building in OTR will soon be vacant. ArtsWave is on the 2nd floor of the building so it will be interesting to see if they stick around or eventually relocate as well. (The upper floors of the building are apartments.)

Cincinnati City Council approves $2 million for ‘streateries’

 

Cincinnati City Council approved $2 million on Wednesday to make permanent outdoor eating spaces adjacent to restaurants in downtown, Over-the-Rhine and Pendleton, a decision on which OTR’s community council said it had not been properly consulted.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/12/16/council-approves-2-million-for-streateries.html

 

19 hours ago, jmecklenborg said:

 

 

 

This renovation happened incredibly fast. Last year the building was in danger of collapsing onto Henry Street and they had to make emergency repairs to keep it from doing so. Obviously the streetcar would have been inoperable if that collapse would've happened.

1 hour ago, ColDayMan said:

Cincinnati City Council approves $2 million for ‘streateries’

 

Cincinnati City Council approved $2 million on Wednesday to make permanent outdoor eating spaces adjacent to restaurants in downtown, Over-the-Rhine and Pendleton, a decision on which OTR’s community council said it had not been properly consulted.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/12/16/council-approves-2-million-for-streateries.html

 

 

I have incredibly mixed feelings about this decision. Overall I think more street space being dedicated to humans instead of cars is a very good thing. But closing streets and telling local residents to "get over it" is unacceptable and wouldn't be tolerated in any other neighborhood. It fits perfectly with the current administration's "OTR isn't a neighborhood, it's Cincinnati's adult playground" mentality. Whereas the Mallory administration's goal was to make OTR a balanced live/work/play neighborhood, the focus is now on giving Becky from Oakley a place to brunch.

4 hours ago, taestell said:

ArtWorks is moving to Walnut Hills which means that the ground floor of the Hale Justice Building in OTR will soon be vacant. ArtsWave is on the 2nd floor of the building so it will be interesting to see if they stick around or eventually relocate as well. (The upper floors of the building are apartments.)

Its an incredible location. Wasted on Artworks. Think of the retail alternatives for the space.

$31 million mixed-use redevelopment planned in Over-the-Rhine

 

 

The Model Group and Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. are planning to partner on a mixed-use redevelopment project that will bring new life to 20 buildings in Over-the-Rhine.

 

Model Group was awarded an Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit for its planned Findlay Parkside development. With 3CDC, Model Group will rehabilitate 20 predominantly vacant buildings around Findlay Playground. The project, which received a $3.1 million state historic tax credit Thursday, is expected to be a total investment of $31.4 million.

 

Findlay Parkside is one of 13 local projects that received Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits in round 25. Jason Chamlee, vice president of mixed-use at Model Group, said the state tax credit is a crucial redevelopment projects like this one.

 

...

 

The buildings included in Findlay Parkside are located at:

6 W. Elder St.

1806 Republic St.

1808 Republic St.

1724 Vine St.

1732 Vine St.

1733 Vine St.

1804 Vine St.

1807 Vine St.

1810 Vine St.

1822 Vine St.

1816 Vine St.

1812 Vine St.

1814 Vine St.

29 E. McMicken Ave.

Mid-2021 Start date. Mid-2022 completion date.

That's a lot of properties and will be great to inch further north toward McMicken and the Brewery district. With 3CDC I wouldn't be surprised if Findlay Playground is sold by the city or somehow converted to an underground parking facility to support all this. Will be interesting to see if it's completely developed or kept as a park area with parking below.