Yeah that 5 points area undoubtedly could be the coolest area in the city. Will be a long time before it gets more shored up though. 

 

As others have said, I do hope 3CDC, while shifting more focus downtown, does continue to push north up Vine Street.  Especially with a Findlay Playground makeover and parking ramp like in Washington Park.  They could also do some work on some of the toughest buildings and some of the big gaps.

Incidentally, the Findlay Playground is owned by the city and is not a park.  Theoretically it could be redeveloped into buildings. 

Some observations from otr pride night...

 

1. The fact that Below Zero is the only gay club in the urban core is a tragedy. We need way more gay clubs to meet the demand, especially since cincy has a seemingly high gay friendly population.

 

I kid you not, the line to get in below zero literally stretched past the Emery, on to Central Park Way. It took me about 2 hours to get inside at around 10pm last night.

 

Simply ridiculous.

 

 

2. Once again late night food options in otr is such a struggle. Specifically on main st, goodfellas had a line that stretched a block, and had many a 1 hour wait line. For pizza...

 

I’m not in tune with economics of otr and what it costs to open a business but Jesus how hard must it be to open a few more hole in the wall pizza parlors? There are just way to many bars and clubs, and simply not enough quick food options.

 

Again, waiting for an hour to get a slice of pizza speaks volumes about the lack of supply versus the demand.

 

 

It's still a little weird to me that Dayton has 5 gay bars downtown but Cincinnati only has, what, Below Zero and Main Event? But then again Dayton also has a bunch of strip clubs too and you have to cross the river to get to any in the Cincy metro.

But is it worth it to open more hole-in-the-wall pizza parlors just to cater to a single night's rush?  That's the sort of mentality that gets us 20-lane highways and parking lots that are sized for Black Friday.  If these places aren't crowded on a regular basis then they won't survive to cater to those few big events.  I will grant that the bars and tap rooms seem like they always come in with the mentality of "we don't need to offer food" and quickly realize that they do.  So they scramble to get a food truck before eventually shoehorning in a kitchen.  "Just go to X down the street to get food" never seems to work all that well. 

Bigger cities make it work.

 

Otr can get to the point where main st on the weekends is like that every night even on the week day.

 

We just need more residents in the urban core. Way to many tourists and the smaller places die on the week days.

^^^ Is exactly why we fought so hard against the plan for SCPA to be transitioned to a hotel. Its just a big bar with a couple hundred strangers coming in for an event, and about half of that number showing up for shift work, and gone until the next one.

 

Instead, 142 tenants with dogs and kids and the need for everything a family needs are located at 1310 Sycamore building the Pendleton Community. Now, the new bars and restaurants will cater to residents and not so much to visitors.

1. The fact that Below Zero is the only gay club in the urban core is a tragedy. We need way more gay clubs to meet the demand, especially since cincy has a seemingly high gay friendly population.

 

I kid you not, the line to get in below zero literally stretched past the Emery, on to Central Park Way. It took me about 2 hours to get inside at around 10pm last night.

 

Simply ridiculous.

 

Well, I do find it odd that Cincinnati's urban core doesn't have more gays bars. However I think calling it a "tragedy" and "ridiculous" is a bit over the top. I think if there was the demand for more gay bars in the urban core, they would exist. There are some gay bars in other Cincinnati neighborhoods besides Downtown & OTR. Maybe the LGBTQ population in Cincinnati prefers to hang out in ordinary bars and clubs as compared to other cities. Honestly I have no idea, I'm just speculating.

 

2. Once again late night food options in otr is such a struggle. Specifically on main st, goodfellas had a line that stretched a block, and had many a 1 hour wait line. For pizza...

 

I’m not in tune with economics of otr and what it costs to open a business but Jesus how hard must it be to open a few more hole in the wall pizza parlors? There are just way to many bars and clubs, and simply not enough quick food options.

 

Again, waiting for an hour to get a slice of pizza speaks volumes about the lack of supply versus the demand.

 

Honestly the long line at Goodfella's was probably due to the fact that there were many people downtown that don't typically come downtown, who had heard about some place called Goodfella's, and didn't have much of a desire to search out anything new or different. There's another pizza place a block away, Lucy Blue, and I bet they didn't also have a long line out the door. There's also Gomez, The Royal, MOTR, Nation, Che.... plenty of places within a one or two block walk serving food late on weekends. I think a bunch of people just wanted Goodfella's and were willing to wait despite the fact that there were other options nearby with shorter lines.

The reason Cincinnati doesn't have as many gay bars is mostly because the Ohio gays go to Columbus, the Indiana gays go to Indy, and the Kentucky gays go to Louisville. That leaves Cincy in the middle being pulled in three directions. Dayton is more of an anomaly than a rule in my opinion. They have institutions that have managed to survive and draw a lot of Cincy gays up on weekends.

 

Beyond that though, there are two big factors. One is that OTR and to an extend Downtown are gay friendly. Moreso than a lot of places I've been. I never felt uncomfortable living in OTR going on dates or hanging out with guys I was seeing like I have in other locations. Acceptance does have some random unintended side effects (that are worth it) such as a lesser need for safe spaces. They'll always need to exist, but in a lot of places they're not quite as necessary anymore. A sign of progress.

 

The OTHER reason is that Cincinnati's gay bar politics are utterly absurd and dominated by a group of owners (the people that opened Diamond Palace and Club Glitter) and a stupid drag host "war" between Jessica Dimon and Penny Tration where they'd actively try to sabotage each other, called in phony complaints to the city, the health department, etc. and in the end nobody really benefited.  It was all dumb and the gay population in Cincy all knew it was going on and hated it but we had very few other options unless we left to go to another city. Which was common. I regularly took weekend trips to Columbus with my gay groups, to Louisville for a Saturday night, up to Masque and MJ's in Dayton for a night, etc.

1. The fact that Below Zero is the only gay club in the urban core is a tragedy. We need way more gay clubs to meet the demand, especially since cincy has a seemingly high gay friendly population.

 

I kid you not, the line to get in below zero literally stretched past the Emery, on to Central Park Way. It took me about 2 hours to get inside at around 10pm last night.

 

Simply ridiculous.

 

Well, I do find it odd that Cincinnati's urban core doesn't have more gays bars. However I think calling it a "tragedy" and "ridiculous" is a bit over the top. I think if there was the demand for more gay bars in the urban core, they would exist. There are some gay bars in other Cincinnati neighborhoods besides Downtown & OTR. Maybe the LGBTQ population in Cincinnati prefers to hang out in ordinary bars and clubs as compared to other cities. Honestly I have no idea, I'm just speculating.

 

2. Once again late night food options in otr is such a struggle. Specifically on main st, goodfellas had a line that stretched a block, and had many a 1 hour wait line. For pizza...

 

I’m not in tune with economics of otr and what it costs to open a business but Jesus how hard must it be to open a few more hole in the wall pizza parlors? There are just way to many bars and clubs, and simply not enough quick food options.

 

Again, waiting for an hour to get a slice of pizza speaks volumes about the lack of supply versus the demand.

 

Honestly the long line at Goodfella's was probably due to the fact that there were many people downtown that don't typically come downtown, who had heard about some place called Goodfella's, and didn't have much of a desire to search out anything new or different. There's another pizza place a block away, Lucy Blue, and I bet they didn't also have a long line out the door. There's also Gomez, The Royal, MOTR, Nation, Che.... plenty of places within a one or two block walk serving food late on weekends. I think a bunch of people just wanted Goodfella's and were willing to wait despite the fact that there were other options nearby with shorter lines.

 

In my opinion you are correct about lgbt going to other bars and not just gay ones. As a gay guy myself I actually prefer to go to Regular bars. Many bars in Cincinnati are actually very gay friendly such as QCR which is hosting a tea party tonight and QCE which has gay dances once a month. I think if there was to be another gay bar that it would Work best in OTR/Pendleton. It may even work if it was a theme type bar such as coyote ugly themed ( I was in one in Hell’s Kitchen NYC and it was pretty fun).

I’m still surprised that diner location is still just sitting there vacant...

 

It’s literally wedged between the most popular club in downtown cincy in tree house and also wedged between another upscale bar with the rose dale.

 

Then just a block down you have a new craft brewery in 3 points.

 

You literally have a hoard of food trucks parked on the sycamore lots to serve food to the late night drunk crowd...

 

You would think that diner would be prime real estate, no?

 

 

Food trucks park on the Sycamore lots?  Are they there regularly?  I don't think I've ever seen that, but I also don't really ever walk over that way to look.  I completely agree on the diner.  If someone competent ran the place (aka not the previous owner) I think it could make a killing for weekday lunch and weekend late night.  Maybe the current owner is just asking too much for the space. 

The Diner could survive solely on a luch menu. But, they have never had a decent lunch for the thousands of potential customers they have. Who thought the fat ladies from HCJFS or the Courthouse would be eating a little "Kobe" Burger for $16? That was brilliant.

 

All they need is a burger, decent fries, a bowl of chili that is not some goofball vegan recipe and a big salad that the fat ladies can dump 2000 calories of dressing on.

 

Maybe 20 years ago you could get those things at the Diner. Not not since I've been here.

Hell, make it a Chilli parlor, call it “OTR Chilli” with basic options of Chilli fries, conies, 3 ways. Make it a limited, cost effective menu. Maybe throw in some designer milk shakes for sweets and call it a day.

 

Even if it isn’t the, “best”, people will still go there because it’s cincinnati style Chilli...plus people like eating Chilli when they are drunk in Cincinnati.

 

There’s literally only 1 (I think) Chilli parlor in all of downtown in Skyline...which is weird to say the least...

The Royal makes coneys and is open late night. It's directly across the street from Goodfellas, and never has a line. People are so uninterested in trying new things that they never try to go into the Royal.

I think the Royal has started to close earlier. I was thinking of going there on Saturday night after below zero (around 1:30 ish) but it was completely dark inside. I’ve noticed this a couple times already....seems like business might not be doing so hot.

 

I would also argue it’s less about Brand recognition, but the fact that the prices are overpriced. I stepped in thread once and saw the sign with 6 dollar burgers and I was out.

 

The dude that stands on the corner of the drinkery and sells hot dogs and coneys is making a killing every weekend night...he got my money instead.

 

Why? Because his prices are cheap. Drunk people typically want fast service and cheap smash and grab food.

troeros, both of these were mentioned by other people. But Lucy Blue is right near Goodfella's, serves pizza, and always has a smaller line. And Main Event is another gay bar downtown.

 

One-by-one, Grindr/the internet, as well as gay friendliness of other establishments, have killed the gay bar scene in Cincinnati. Oh, and ODOT killed The Dock. And 21C killed the Subway. There was also some club in Longworth Hall that had a popular gay night. Can't remember the name of it.

 

Shooters, On Broadway, Simon Says, Subway, the Dock, Below Zero, and Main Event were all simultaneously open just a few years ago. Also there was the Pink Pyramid shop (not a bar) which was closed down for selling poppers, IIRC.

 

Clifton lost Golden Lions (the first gay bar in the city), Northside lost Bullfish's, Bronz, the Serpent, maybe others(?).

 

There's just generally been a gay bar apocalypse in the city. I miss the days of Tuesday nights at Vertigo and Friday nights at Jacob's.

troeros, both of these were mentioned by other people. But Lucy Blue is right near Goodfella's, serves pizza, and always has a smaller line. And Main Event is another gay bar downtown.

 

One-by-one, Grindr/the internet, as well as gay friendliness of other establishments, have killed the gay bar scene in Cincinnati. Oh, and ODOT killed The Dock. And 21C killed the Subway. There was also some club in Longworth Hall that had a popular gay night. Can't remember the name of it.

 

Shooters, On Broadway, Simon Says, Subway, the Dock, Below Zero, and Main Event were all simultaneously open just a few years ago. Also there was the Pink Pyramid shop (not a bar) which was closed down for selling poppers, IIRC.

 

Clifton lost Golden Lions (the first gay bar in the city), Northside lost Bullfish's, Bronz, the Serpent, maybe others(?).

 

There's just generally been a gay bar apocalypse in the city. I miss the days of Tuesday nights at Vertigo and Friday nights at Jacob's.

 

Thanks for the information! I only brought it up because of how crazy the line was for below zero...granted it was pride night, and a lot of tourists, but a lot of people just turned away because the line was so long.

 

As I was waiting, I heard a couple ask another man in line if there were any other gay clubs/drag shows they could go to instead. He responded no, this is it.

 

It was kind of sad, I guess to hear that response...

I think the Royal has started to close earlier. I was thinking of going there on Saturday night after below zero (around 1:30 ish) but it was completely dark inside. I’ve noticed this a couple times already....seems like business might not be doing so hot.

 

I would also argue it’s less about Brand recognition, but the fact that the prices are overpriced. I stepped in thread once and saw the sign with 6 dollar burgers and I was out.

 

The dude that stands on the corner of the drinkery and sells hot dogs and coneys is making a killing every weekend night...he got my money instead.

 

Why? Because his prices are cheap. Drunk people typically want fast service and cheap smash and grab food.

 

Just looked up The Royal, and apparently they stopped serving late night (probably because demand wasn't there). It's unfortunate that no one went there because their coneys were better than Goodfellas pizza. It was $7 for two coneys and a bag of chips. The coneys are much larger than a typical Skyline coney, so you don't really need any more after two coneys. And Goodfellas is not cheap, but has a line out the door. You're looking at something like $4 per slice if you get any toppings.

Hell, make it a Chilli parlor, call it “OTR Chilli” with basic options of Chilli fries, conies, 3 ways. Make it a limited, cost effective menu. Maybe throw in some designer milk shakes for sweets and call it a day.

 

Even if it isn’t the, “best”, people will still go there because it’s cincinnati style Chilli...plus people like eating Chilli when they are drunk in Cincinnati.

 

There’s literally only 1 (I think) Chilli parlor in all of downtown in Skyline...which is weird to say the least...

 

Well there are actually three Skylines downtown but the hours suck on all of them. And places like Sports Page and The Squirrel serve Cincinnati chili too, but also have horrible hours.

Goodfellas is a bit more expensive but the dough they use is so good, plus the single slices are so large that it’s worth the 4 bucks.

 

Regarding, Chilli parlors...there used to be a gold star, skyline and blue ash Chilli right side by side to each other.

 

These suburbs just have to many nice amenities!

I still think Lucy Blue's pizza is better than Goodfella's, but it doesn't have the novelty factor of being a DC "jumbo slice" size.

If you think Lucy Blue's is better pizza then Goodfella's I really question your taste buds. 

That sucks Royal isn't doing late night anymore.  It was great to have another option and never had a long line (probably why they stopped doing it).  Despite what troeros thinks their prices were fine for late night food.  Sacred Beast is a new place that is open late night every night of the week.  Hopefully more keep opening up. 

I still think Lucy Blue's pizza is better than Goodfella's, but it doesn't have the novelty factor of being a DC "jumbo slice" size.

 

I like Lucy Blue's. I think it's on par with some of the late night NYC pizza places. I've never had Goodfella's, because there's always a line when I'm near it and I know I can just go to Lucy Blue's and skip all that nonsense.

I prefer Goodfella's but also liked Lucy Blue's. Lucy Blue's was on par with 2 Bros pizza all around NYC (cheap and "good enough" where you feel satisfied) whereas Goodfella's feels a bit higher quality and a single slice is enough for a light meal.

 

Honestly, I miss the pizza options in Cincy. I know I now live in NYC and that's probably something that would get me beaten if I repeated it here in the streets, but the reality is that 95% of pizza in NYC is trash. And the stuff that is good is normally pretty expensive. The cheap late night slice places are usually incredibly greasy and are designed around drunk people so they do little more than satisfy a quick craving.

This City Beat article mentions a new project at 15th and Vine, which will be a collaboration between 3CDC and OTR Community Housing: https://www.citybeat.com/news/blog/21010703/city-of-cincinnati-announces-funding-for-affordable-housing-in-five-neighborhoods

 

15th and Vine in Over-the-Rhine, which will build 32 affordable housing units and 7,000 square feet of first-floor commercial space. The project is a partnership between Over-the-Rhine Community Housing and the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation. It will receive HOME funding.

 

I don't know exactly which parcels this will include, but I'm pretty sure it is NOT referring to either the Meiners (1502 Vine) or Behlen (1434 Vine) projects, which are both slated to be office space. So, I'm assuming it's the set of buildings on the west side of Vine, 1511-1517 Vine. Not sure if it will also include 1519 Vine (which is owned by Joseph House).

 

It will be great for these buildings to get renovated with first floor commercial space. Together, these three projects will really transform that area around 15th and Vine.

It could be new construction on these vacant lots:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1119468,-84.5156832,3a,60y,283.55h,102.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5j8mB4LivSkJTUNUFrHsOA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

Josh Spring's organization owns these very, very valuable lots. 

Yes the project is for new construction on the lots at 1505-7 Vine, as well as rehab of the buildings 1511, 1513-15 and 1517. 

 

I do not believe it include the Joseph House building at 1519 or the Empire Theater site, 1521.

 

I do not believe it include the Joseph House building at 1519 or the Empire Theater site, 1521.

 

Too bad the Empire's crazy purple façade didn't survive.  That would have been a colorful part of the streetscape even if it were no longer a theater.  This site claims that it had 2,000 seats but I find that hard to believe, it looked more like 200:

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/2069

 

That’s great news. I’m still hoping that maybe one of these larger lots could allow for the construction of a new theater, maybe a boutique movie theater/comedy club...

As an aside I’m curious how difficult it will be to move the crossroads health building. I’m guessing 3cdc could perhaps build a new state of the art facility in the west end, but I’m sure that would cause an uproar.

 

On the other hand that site is probably the last vital site in efforts to reconnect south of liberty and the future of north of liberty revitalization efforts.

Sorry for the triple post, but is there leasing information for these future developments? Asking for a friend whose interested. 

As an aside I’m curious how difficult it will be to move the crossroads health building. I’m guessing 3cdc could perhaps build a new state of the art facility in the west end, but I’m sure that would cause an uproar.

 

On the other hand that site is probably the last vital site in efforts to reconnect south of liberty and the future of north of liberty revitalization efforts.

 

 

I have never heard anything, but its surface parking lot does occupy a large and now very valuable footprint.  If Liberty St. is narrowed, there will be space for 14~ single-family homes, so the current land value is well over $1 million. 

In this article from 2016, they had a "meh" reaction to the idea of narrowing Liberty Street:

 

Jamie Berrens, the CEO of Crossroad Health Center along Liberty between Walnut and Vine streets, said he’s talked to the city and is worried about the removal of daytime on-street parking from Liberty. Crossroad has a 40-space lot adjacent to Liberty.

 

“I understand them wanting to make it safer for pedestrians,” he said. “It’s really going to hurt us if we get rid of the parking lane. Parking is at a premium. For us, as a business, it’s crucial. With that additional space, I guess we would attempt to add some additional parking spaces. It would not be equivalent to a whole street of parking.”

 

Of course, it's possible that 3CDC could approach them with an offer they could not refuse and relocate them to a new facility elsewhere. However, that does not always work (see: Peaslee Neighborhood Center).

There are currently 12 on-street parking spots on that block of Liberty St. 

 

A lot of time with those non-profits the parking isn't needed for those served but rather the housewife volunteers who come down once per week.  These people will literally up and not volunteer if they don't like the parking situation. 

Sorry for the triple post, but is there leasing information for these future developments? Asking for a friend whose interested. 

3CDC's website has leasing information:

https://www.3cdc.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/3/files/2018/04/Behlen-Building_OTR.pdf

https://www.3cdc.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/3/files/2018/04/Meiners-Building_OTR.pdf

 

 

Sorry for the triple post, but is there leasing information for these future developments? Asking for a friend whose interested. 

3CDC's website has leasing information:

https://www.3cdc.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/3/files/2018/04/Behlen-Building_OTR.pdf

https://www.3cdc.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/3/files/2018/04/Meiners-Building_OTR.pdf

 

 

 

I like where the new "future garage" block over the existing Kroger location is on both brochures. At least we have proof of what 3CDC was planning with the space once Kroger leaves...

Nice catch!

 

I’m guessing the red warehouse structure will be demolished and replaced with a garage....I’m wondering if on the walnut st facing side if 3cdc will be adding mixed used infill as well?

 

Walnut st needs the help tbh. Still lagging behind. The streets are still  darkly lit for whatever reason...The Columbia building is still sitting boarded up vacant.

 

You will get pedestrian traffic from 16 bit and Che but it’s easily still the most lagging street development wise compared to all the other streets.

Just my opinion but I feel like there is way too much street level residential on Walnut.

I read on here that those infill faux historic units on walnut that take up 2 blocks could theoretically be demolished around 2030 or so...I forgot what the forementioned contract was.

 

I have to imagine at some point, some developer will want to tear down that entire 2 block and build denser mixed use infill with ground floor retail/office space and luxury condo/apartment units.

I give props to Western Southern (it was them who built Bracket Village, right?) for building decent housing at a time when nobody was building in OTR.

 

My biggest problem is the way they set them back from the street with a stoop. It's more of a NYC typology, not a Cincinnati one. So they immediately stand out for their differences. But it could have worked. It's just that they're poorly detailed and very bland.

 

Secondly they detailed them with a continuous faux limestone header above the ground floor so it looks like street level retail that was bricked in. Not entirely sure who the heck thought that was a good look to replicate, but they did it.

 

I'd love more large scale affordable housing to come to OTR. I doubt these will get torn down but maybe they'll at the very least see an extensive renovation since they'll be ready for it at that time.

I just can't see Bracket Village continuing to stand in 20-30 years time.

 

Granted, it's hardly a priority now. That said, eventually when the rest of OTR gets infilled, including the giant lots like the Sycamore Lots, and stretches of Liberty St, this will be the last remaining large scale project that can occur in OTR in my mind. 2 blocks of non contributing buildings in prime otr real estate will definitely garner attention from developers at some point in the future.

 

Right now though the focus should be on the Columbia building. Huge building, and it's still boarded up. I brought it up a few pages ago, but I'm confused about this project. During the late winter/early spring I saw 3cdc doing extenstive work on that building. Then everything completely stopped, and the building is still boarded up. Anyone know what the plans are by 3cdc regarding the Columbia building?

An infuriating amount of the urban core has a minimum 5-foot front yard setback, so that could be a factor.  A single infill building may not have much trouble since existing front yard setbacks of neighbors are averaged, but a large new development won't have those to pull them forward.  Give them credit for bring the buildings at the corners right up to the sidewalk, even if the rest aren't.  That's not a bad compromise.  There's also a requirement that 20% (I think) of units in multifamily developments need to be accessible, so having a little extra space to taper the sidewalk up to the front door can help to keep the floors aligned and make up slight variations in the site and sidewalk.   

 

I'm getting tired of all the "hurr durr faux historic = the sux0rs" shtick.  We've had this argument before that even the "original" Italianate buildings in OTR are already a reinterpretation of even earlier designs and construction methods.  They're almost all "____ revival" styles of some sort.  We can build just about anything today, and it's all been done before.  A rehash of Italianate is no less valid than a rehash of Miesian glass and steel (at this point mid-century modern is just as far removed from the present as from the Victorian era).  If designs that use tried and true materials, arrangements, and typologies that people understand and relate to are going to be derided because they're not new or novel enough, then that just exemplifies everything that's wrong with the architecture profession today.  There's plenty to criticize in newish construction, but the use of brick veneer instead of load-bearing masonry, polyurethane brackets instead of pressed tin, or calcium silicate masonry instead of quarried limestone is just grasping at straws as far as I'm concerned. 

Where is the Columbia building? 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/04/20/exclusive-this-could-be-3cdc-s-next-big-otr.html

 

On walnut...

 

I’m just curious if anyone knows what the status is since I saw work being done earlier in the year.

With the uncertain future of brick and mortar retail, I'm not too concerned about the lack of ground floor retail space along Walnut. I think 3CDC will be un-bricking and re-activating the ground floor retail space of The Columbia (NW corner of 14th & Walnut) so that will add some.

 

Have I mentioned recently that, despite the fact that Walnut got a new streetscape 4 years ago, the utilities still have not been fully buried and most of the telephone poles are still standing?

With the uncertain future of brick and mortar retail, I'm not too concerned about the lack of ground floor retail space along Walnut. I think 3CDC will be un-bricking and re-activating the ground floor retail space of The Columbia (NW corner of 14th & Walnut) so that will add some.

 

Have I mentioned recently that, despite the fact that Walnut got a new streetscape 4 years ago, the utilities still have not been fully buried and most of the telephone poles are still standing?

 

Do you know if the Columbia building is tied into historic tax credits? And if so did 3cdc receive the tax credits needed to rehab the Columbia building? I’m just trying to figure out if the work done earlier in the year was for stabilizing purposes or if something else?

Ugh, you can see in this view between July 2015 and September 2016 that they actually added some overhead back in.  A new 3-phase drop to somewhere.  https://goo.gl/maps/k8hvzdZz6Tu  That's borderline criminal if you ask me. 

 

Of course around here it's never a quick process regardless.  When they redid Woodburn Avenue in 2007-2008, there were still some poles and overhead wires that weren't finally removed until sometime between 2014 and 2016. 

There are currently 12 on-street parking spots on that block of Liberty St. 

 

A lot of time with those non-profits the parking isn't needed for those served but rather the housewife volunteers who come down once per week.  These people will literally up and not volunteer if they don't like the parking situation. 

 

Reminds me of the situation with the Freestore, where they tried to demolish two historic buildings on Walnut in order to add more parking. Like, if you want a facility with plentiful surface parking, maybe the heart of the urban core isn't the most ideal location for your organization.