18 hours ago, taestell said:

Do the plans presented to the committee get posted online?

There are no presentation slides on the city's legistar website, but the transmittal for the ordinance does have some of the financial details FWIW:

Project Cost

Hard Construction Costs: $26,000,000
Acquisition Costs: $1,500,000
Soft Costs: $5,900,000
Total Project Cost: $33,400,000

 

Private Investment

Private Financing: $17,000,000

Developer Equity: $13,248,296

Number of Units and Rent Ranges

24 Studio Units; Rent Range $1,241-$1,504

84 1-BR Units; Rent Range $1,666-$2,181

9 2-BR Units; Rent Range $2,482-$2,557
116 Total Units

Jobs and Payroll

Created FTE Positions: 14

Total Payroll for Created FTE Positions: $650,000

Average Salary for Created FTE Positions: $46,429

Construction FTE Positions: 275

Total Payroll for Construction FTE Positions: $12.5MM

2 hours ago, anusthemenace said:

They claim to want to reconnect Walnut and Main, so they put a large parking lot at the rear of the building between the two streets, and the structure doesn't even engage with Liberty. And on top they're preserving the parking lot across the street. This whole thing is a mess.

 

 

Yeah, this should not be approved. Too much space dedicated to permanent surface parking (it doesn't look like they are planning for a future phase of buildings facing Clay), bizarre "courtyard" at a prominent corner with no attempt to face Liberty Street or build on any of the land from the Liberty Street narrowing.

Is that dark gray parking lot facing the west side of Walnut Street part of this development, too? That's a ton of parking.

My friend used to live in one of the buildings facing East 14th. The little circled part is currently outdoor space for the apartments surrounding it. He chose the apartment solely bc of that space which was great for his dog. As much as I want density in every street, would much rather see it stay outdoor space rather than a parking lot. 

This is a  horrible site plan...It's basically permanently killing the potential for street life on two streets while also permanently contributing to the void space of Liberty despite having the opportunity to properly hold the corner and better revitalize a former street wall on that location. I really hope this is denied. If they NEED this much parking, it needs to be structured, it's as simple as that.

5 minutes ago, jmicha said:

If they NEED this much parking, it needs to be structured, it's as simple as that.

 

That would almost certainly break the financing for the project:
 

Quote

Mixed-income Project:
• 32 units attainable to those earning 61-80% AMI
• 72 units attainable to those earning 81-100% AMI
• 12 units attainable to those earning 101-120% AMI

Given the obvious political win at creating income restricted housing, I don't see City Council denying this for something more ambitious than what the current site plan suggests.

Yeah this project sucks.  What a waste of premium land.  

If the site plan is this bad, the elevations and material choices are gonna be horrendous...

21 hours ago, jwulsin said:

If you're interested in the design of the Lockard project, the project team (Urban Sites, City Studios Architecture, and Triversity Construction) is hosting a design engagement meeting tomorrow (December 18th) at 5-6pm at 1212 Main St.

 

 

Is there a place to provide online feedback?

On 12/17/2024 at 5:21 PM, Dev said:

 

That would almost certainly break the financing for the project:
 

Given the obvious political win at creating income restricted housing, I don't see City Council denying this for something more ambitious than what the current site plan suggests.

This city council kind of sucks, no backbone or vision it feels like. Maybe I am way off base. They could push for more funding from the state and other sources and make a parking ramp to increase the density, etc. Maybe there is a plan to develop the surface lots in the future. They should build the buildings up to the property line though, push for that at least. 

Edited December 19, 2024Dec 19 by IAGuy39

1 hour ago, IAGuy39 said:

parking ramp

 

Iowa.  Totally Iowa.

18 hours ago, Miami-Erie said:

If the site plan is this bad, the elevations and material choices are gonna be horrendous...

 

It'll be like the green boxes that just went up on Gilbert Ave.  Slap a mural on it. 

8 hours ago, IAGuy39 said:

This city council kind of sucks, no backbone or vision it feels like. Maybe I am way off base.

No I definitely agree with that. I'm not sure if it's inexperience or if the administration is pushing back hard behind the scenes, but they are too fixated on getting individual projects moving forward that someone lobbied them to support, not on systemic reform.

9 hours ago, IAGuy39 said:

This city council kind of sucks, no backbone or vision it feels like. Maybe I am way off base.

 

16 minutes ago, Dev said:

No I definitely agree with that. I'm not sure if it's inexperience or if the administration is pushing back hard behind the scenes, but they are too fixated on getting individual projects moving forward that someone lobbied them to support, not on systemic reform.

 

Fair criticism... but this is also the council/administration that passed Connected Communities, which I think is arguably the most significant and systemic change to development policies in recent memory (or at least, in my recent memory). 

3 hours ago, jwulsin said:

 

 

Fair criticism... but this is also the council/administration that passed Connected Communities, which I think is arguably the most significant and systemic change to development policies in recent memory (or at least, in my recent memory). 

It is for sure although I would say not only is that the exception that proves the rule but a key person that helped shepherd it along, Harris, is gone. We see Jan-Michele platform NIMBYs who are acting in bad faith all the time, and she's likely the next mayor. I thought I saw in conservative circles that Chris Smitherman is considering running for mayor so we're not in a safe pro-urban political environment.

1 hour ago, Dev said:

It is for sure although I would say not only is that the exception that proves the rule but a key person that helped shepherd it along, Harris, is gone. We see Jan-Michele platform NIMBYs who are acting in bad faith all the time, and she's likely the next mayor. I thought I saw in conservative circles that Chris Smitherman is considering running for mayor so we're not in a safe pro-urban political environment.

100% this. Harris leaving only leaves jeffreys and Walsh as super pro development. the others will likely only be on board for super subsidized 30-60% AMI projects. 

On 12/19/2024 at 1:01 AM, ColDayMan said:

 

Iowa.  Totally Iowa.

It always slips!!! Honestly though, much easier to say "ramp" than "parking garage" 😜

 

The other one, my in laws always told me how weird I say "root" as in tree root, more like "Rut". Well, turns out my whole family back home and also the whole region of North Iowa / Minn says it that way, and I got videos to prove it! Same with Milk

Edited December 20, 2024Dec 20 by IAGuy39

1. Jefferys has a movement currently out there about developing surface lots, while here we have a developer proposing a large surface lot in a historic district that is near the streetcar line, this is hypocritical and bad for the urban fabric as well. 

2. Ignoring the parking, the building and urban plan can be improved by simply swapping the "courtyard" location to actually being a private courtyard on the interior side of the buiidng and filing out the corner properly while also highlighting the unique geometry of Liberty:

Sanders Development partnering with 3CDC on $7.5M renovation of historic OTR buildings

 

A Cincinnati developer is planning to renovate three vacant Over-the-Rhine buildings in a $7.5 million scattered-site project that could bring 25 new mixed-income apartments to the urban core.

 

Robert Sanders, principal at Sanders Development Group, is working with Cincinnati Center City Development Corp., or 3CDC, on the renovation of 1531 Vine St. into six apartments, 1546 Elm St. into 11 apartments and 21 Charles St. into eight apartments.

 

Each project carries a $2.5 million development cost.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/12/20/sanders-development-3cdc-renovate-otr-apartments.html

 

I know there’s a retail section for Cincinnati but wanted to post here bc vine street is losing another big store. First Warby Parker is closing and now Homage is closed.  https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2024/12/22/homage-cincinnati-retailer-closes-otr-location/77149848007/

Edited December 23, 2024Dec 23 by Ucgrad2015

OTR Community Housing breaks ground on $14.3M supportive housing project

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Dec 23, 2024

Updated Dec 23, 2024 2:53pm EST

 

Construction has begun on a supportive housing development north of Liberty Street in Over-the-Rhine.

 

The now-$14.3 million project, known as Gloria’s Place, will bring 44 units of “service-enriched affordable housing,” targeting those who have experienced chronic homelessness, to the northeast corner of Dunlap and Henry streets, currently a surface parking lot.

 

Over-the-Rhine Community Housing is the project’s developer.

 

MORE

Developers, Port strike deal to aid ex-Grammer’s site redevelopment in OTR

 

The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority will help two developers build a mixed-use project at the site of the former Grammer’s bar in Over-the-Rhine.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/01/09/former-grammers-bar-site-otr-redevelopment-port.html

 

3CDC gets planning commission approval for $61M OTR developments

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Jan 22, 2025

Updated Jan 22, 2025 7:42am EST

 

The Cincinnati Planning Commission acted to advance the $47 million development of the Findlay Community Center and the $14 million relocation of the Crossroads Health Center.

 

The commissioners at their Jan. 17 meeting approved a pair of items required for the projects, laying the groundwork for construction to begin in early May.

 

Pivotally, the commissioners voted to allow the city to enter into a long-term ground lease with Cincinnati Center City Development Corp., or 3CDC, for the land underlying Findlay Playground, where the future 65,000-square-foot Findlay Community Center will be constructed.

 

3CDC will then lease the land back to the city, which is expected to issue a request for proposals in the coming months for an entity that would manage the new community center.

 

The ground lease and lease-back arrangement is necessary to accomplish development financing, according to a 3CDC spokesperson.

 

MORE

$33M OTR project aims to complete Walnut Street commercial corridor

 

The next big project in Over-the-Rhine will bring a large mixed-use complex to a pivotal corner on Walnut Street, one its developers hope can anchor and unite the neighborhood's segmented development districts.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/01/23/urban-sites-lockard-grammers-development-otr.html

 

3 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

$33M OTR project aims to complete Walnut Street commercial corridor

 

The next big project in Over-the-Rhine will bring a large mixed-use complex to a pivotal corner on Walnut Street, one its developers hope can anchor and unite the neighborhood's segmented development districts.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/01/23/urban-sites-lockard-grammers-development-otr.html

 

Other than the giant parking lot that used to be Kroger. 

This is such a disappointing project. The lowest effort was made and everyone involved should be ashamed

Disappointed about the parking lot(s), but the courtyard, if done nicely could be an asset. 

 

Somewhat related... at what point will 3cdc start developing their surface lots.

Disgusting amount of surface parking in this area

1 hour ago, Cincy513 said:

Disgusting amount of surface parking in this area

 

It's unbelievable that such a low-quality development is even remotely acceptable for this area (or really in any prominent area - The Gantry in Northside, U Square on McMillan, whatever the new flimsy things are on Gilbert Ave., etc.). 

 

I remember people being upset by the poor quality of the Kroger Garage condos built between Central Parkway and 12th St. back in 2004.  Well here we are 20 years later and the stuff going up nearby is even worse. 

 

 

 

Sad that this leftover corner is labeled "Courtyard".  It's a bad joke.  This should not pass HCB. Missing all the urban requirements such as claiming the corner, activating a major corner with a commercial presence, holding the street line... 

Yeah, feels like you could get a really cool corner building in there, maybe even a standout architecturally. Seems like they are doing the least with what they have.

Is there still an opportunity to write to HCB and express concerns over this proposal? People here are talking about it like it's a done deal.

6 minutes ago, taestell said:

Is there still an opportunity to write to HCB and express concerns over this proposal? People here are talking about it like it's a done deal.

Article states that it's scheduled to go in front of the HCB on February 10th. That packet is not yet on their website.

 

Does the guidelines directly address building form in this way though? Isn't more about the detailing of the building than it is about the site layout?

On 1/24/2025 at 2:12 PM, Dev said:

Does the guidelines directly address building form in this way though? Isn't more about the detailing of the building than it is about the site layout?

 

The guidelines have lots to say about setback and general building form: 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/planning/historic-conservation/local-conservation-guidelines/over-the-rhine-historic-district/

 

From page 16 of the guidelines (page 22 of 69 in the overall PDF):

 

Unfortunately, I think they will see that nearly all buildings on the south side of Liberty, have an orientation to the street just like what they propose. With the exception (somehow?) of the Salem united church of Christ at Sycamore street. I assume that's because of the historic realignment of the street grid when Liberty street orientation was changed.

On 12/13/2023 at 11:47 AM, jwulsin said:

After not much progress over the last few years, it looks like 1725 Vine St (old Kauffman Brewery) is finally making progress again. A large steel structure is going up on the back side. I think the first floor of the addition will be parking, with 3 floors of apartments above it.

 

This project sat idle for quite some time after this photo without changing, but walking by today for the first time in a while the residential overbuild is nearly finished all of the sudden: 

On 1/30/2025 at 1:17 PM, ucgrady said:

This project sat idle for quite some time after this photo without changing, but walking by today for the first time in a while the residential overbuild is nearly finished all of the sudden: 

 

Great to see! A streetscape renovation on Vine from Liberty to Clifton would be so helpful to this area. The replacement of the rec center with well-managed parking will also help the area. Hopefully that surface parking doesn't remain surface parking forever though.

Cincinnati developer completes 13-unit project near Grant Park in OTR

 

A growing Cincinnati developer is putting the finishing touches on its latest renovation project in Over-the-Rhine across from a soon-to-be redeveloped park.

 

8K Development Co. redeveloped the two-building complex at 56 E. McMicken Ave. into 13 mixed-income residential units, including one two-bedroom unit and 12 one-bedroom units.

 

The rents range from $800 to $1,200.

 

Ten of the units are income-restricted to renters making 60% or less of the area median income, which for an individual in Cincinnati amounts to $44,040. For a family of four, the figure is $62,880.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/02/04/8k-redevelop-otr-mcmicken-grant-park.html

 

I lived across the street at 57 at the start of Covid lockdown. It sucked. Hopefully the area has improved. It was VERY unwelcoming at that time.

I was google mapping around the area and saw this building at 18 E. McMicken.  Does anyone know what it used to be?  Looks like someone is/was pulling off the brick facade.

1 hour ago, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

I was google mapping around the area and saw this building at 18 E. McMicken.  Does anyone know what it used to be?  Looks like someone is/was pulling off the brick facade.

they started removing the bricks about a decade ago. It has been like this since.

It looks as if it used to be a theater. @anusthemenace ha! I remember biking by when they were tearing the brick down, yes likely a decade ago, and marveling at what was revealed. Wild it remains partially deconstructed. Lots of water has seeped into that facade with nowhere to go :(

16 hours ago, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

I was google mapping around the area and saw this building at 18 E. McMicken.  Does anyone know what it used to be?  Looks like someone is/was pulling off the brick facade.

 

They put a new roof on in 2021 and repaved the surface lot, but no other work that I'm aware of. The surface lot is unused almost all of the time, so I'm not sure what the plan is or why the owners went through the hassle of repaving it. Hopefully they're able to make more progress on it or sell it!

 

My understanding is that it was originally built as a theater and most recently used as a church. 

Street View indicates that the bricks were not removed. Instead, the marquee was removed, exposing the pre-existing façade that was never fully covered by bricks. Permit records indicate that they removed the marquee, without an approved permit, with orders printed in June of 2014, which matches the raw exposure on Street View from July of 2014. It is not clear if the upper edge of the brick façade were damaged in the removal or if that was their pre-existing state behind the marquee anyways. They also had a permit to install a new sign, but it was never approved, with a key issue being that it was internally lighted, as well as no dimensions were included. Central Assembly of God owned it from 2008 to 2016, having purchased it from another local church. It looks like they are no longer active in Cincinnati, as far as I can tell. They sold it to a LLC, Great Miami Holdings, which is their only property in the county. Chasing that thread, it appears that it is registered at the home of a realtor that lives nearby. They did apply for a permit in May of 2020, to install a new roof, but it was approved but never picked up, so expired back in December 2023.

years ago there was a movie theater in Mt. Adams. it was small like this building. my vague memories say it looked like this building.

2 hours ago, Chas Wiederhold said:

It looks as if it used to be a theater. @anusthemenace ha! I remember biking by when they were tearing the brick down, yes likely a decade ago, and marveling at what was revealed. Wild it remains partially deconstructed. Lots of water has seeped into that facade with nowhere to go :(

If it was a group ride I was there!

49 minutes ago, RJohnson said:

years ago there was a movie theater in Mt. Adams. it was small like this building. my vague memories say it looked like this building.

was it where Yesterday's used to be on Hatch? It has a similar vibe.

50 minutes ago, anusthemenace said:

was it where Yesterday's used to be on Hatch? It has a similar vibe.

if I had to guess it would be Belvedere or Fuller. I think Belvedere, about half a block from Hatch.   1974?  it was an art movie house and the building was razed years ago.

1 hour ago, RJohnson said:

if I had to guess it would be Belvedere or Fuller. I think Belvedere, about half a block from Hatch.   1974?  it was an art movie house and the building was razed years ago.

perhaps this one? https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/9108

that's it. well, it was the 70s after all. obviously I dreamt up the columns etc. I think I saw the magical mystery tour there.