Currently the city is having monthly public meetings (Housing Conservation Board) with Stough to try to identify a new owner who would be able to preserve the building. With a nondisclosure, 3CDC could not report back to the HCB about any talks they have with Stough. 3CDC also promised to renovate the building in 2 years or ownership would go to the city. So they are serious about it. Stough won't even let someone into the building unless you sign something saying you won't mention anything you saw or talked about.

 

So while Stough is technically doing what the HCB has said they need to do, list the property for sale, they won't tell anyone what they want for it unless you agree not to tell anyone. 3CDC simply won't operate under those terms.

^ Interesting. Thanks for those details.

Those streetcar tracks look exactly the same as what we're building (turn from 12th to Main).

 

 

But with many fewer overheard wires

Good to see these projects moving forward. I had heard about the project on Race across from Washington Park through people working on it. They're going to be quite high end. And done by Drawing Dept. who do fantastic work. The townhomes on Mercer were obviously already known, but I had yet to hear or see anything about the project on Elm or more unexpectedly the corner of 15th and Pleasant. That group had received a new roof awhile back and I'm happy to see it moving forward beyond that.

 

The new takeout place on the corner of Republic and 14th is coming along. The building was painted and looks so much better. The new windows look nice as well when compared to the formerly bricked in openings.

 

The building on Elm across from where 15th intersects with it is finally seeing progress after looking stalled for a long time.

 

Several buildings around the Washington Park area have received paint jobs which look nice.

 

Taft's Ale House is coming along nicely. They are painting the cornice, windows, and base level as I type this. The windows are a dark grey and it appears the base will either match or be a slightly lighter version with the water table and cornice being various greys and off-whites.

 

I'll have to get out and do a photo tour sometime soon and capture all these changes for people to see.

Good to see these projects moving forward. I had heard about the project on Race across from Washington Park through people working on it. They're going to be quite high end.

 

They should be.  With a symmetrical, dead on view of Music Hall and the park this building is utterly unique to OTR, Cincinnati, and anything for hundreds of miles.  I always thought of the 1316 Race and 1314 Race buildings as 3CDC's "homerun" buildings where they can make back a lot of money to use on other projects.

 

Does this project include 1314?  I always thought that'd be a good one to renovate into my mansion when I win the lottery. 

EXCLUSIVE: 3CDC reworking its plans for 15th and Race development

Chris Wetterich Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. is overhauling plans for the redevelopment of a large city block in the northwest corner of 15th and Race streets, officials told the Courier in an interview.

 

The new version still will include housing, with potentially some rental units in addition to for-sale condos and townhomes, commercial space on the first floor and some parking.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/09/18/exclusive-3cdc-reworking-its-plans-for-15th-and.html

Good to see these projects moving forward. I had heard about the project on Race across from Washington Park through people working on it. They're going to be quite high end.

 

They should be.  With a symmetrical, dead on view of Music Hall and the park this building is utterly unique to OTR, Cincinnati, and anything for hundreds of miles.  I always thought of the 1316 Race and 1314 Race buildings as 3CDC's "homerun" buildings where they can make back a lot of money to use on other projects.

 

Does this project include 1314?  I always thought that'd be a good one to renovate into my mansion when I win the lottery. 

 

As far as I know it does not. It's the building with the bay windows. Who owns 1314? I think we've all envisioned it at some point as our own private mansion in the city haha.

Good to see these projects moving forward. I had heard about the project on Race across from Washington Park through people working on it. They're going to be quite high end.

 

They should be.  With a symmetrical, dead on view of Music Hall and the park this building is utterly unique to OTR, Cincinnati, and anything for hundreds of miles.  I always thought of the 1316 Race and 1314 Race buildings as 3CDC's "homerun" buildings where they can make back a lot of money to use on other projects.

 

Does this project include 1314?  I always thought that'd be a good one to renovate into my mansion when I win the lottery. 

 

As far as I know it does not. It's the building with the bay windows. Who owns 1314? I think we've all envisioned it at some point as our own private mansion in the city haha.

 

Oh!  Looks like the Nast Trinity United Methodist Church next door to it does, not 3CDC. 

EXCLUSIVE: 3CDC reworking its plans for 15th and Race development

Chris Wetterich Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. is overhauling plans for the redevelopment of a large city block in the northwest corner of 15th and Race streets, officials told the Courier in an interview.

 

The new version still will include housing, with potentially some rental units in addition to for-sale condos and townhomes, commercial space on the first floor and some parking.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/09/18/exclusive-3cdc-reworking-its-plans-for-15th-and.html

 

This is very encouraging:  "Frankly, we were surprised by the pushback we got from a lot of folks from the neighborhood, including a lot of our residents who have bought other units from us. [...] We’re going to come back to the community with a project that’s significantly different in scope to try to address the feedback that we got."

 

We do not need another Mercer Garage-sized parking garage in the vicinity of Vine or Race. I could see a big garage eventually going along Sycamore (either underneath the playground next to the old SCPA, or where the surface lot is located next to Ziegler Park) but we need to stop optimizing OTR for the automobile.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Grocery store planned for new Findlay Market-area development

Sep 23, 2014, 2:15pm EDT Updated: Sep 23, 2014, 2:58pm EDT

Chris Wetterich Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

The Model Group plans a small grocery store as a part of its redevelopment of a block of historic buildings in the 1800 block of Race Street near Findlay Market.

 

The store will be about 5,000 square feet and aimed at complementing the businesses at Findlay Market, not competing with them, said Bobby Maly, the Model Group’s chief operating officer.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/09/23/exclusive-grocery-store-planned-for-new-findlay.html

There used to be an IGA near Findlay Market, so I am confident that a small grocer can do well in that area and compliment (not compete with) the market. It will be interesting to see if both this grocer and the rumored Kroger at Walnut & Central go through.

I noticed last night a fence has gone up around the group of buildings bound by Central Parkway, Kemp Alley, Wade Street, and Fall Alley. It looked like something may have been demolished (that little ugly block garage on Kemp? I only got a glance and will go back and check it out later tonight). Does anyone know what's going on here?

I believe the building that faces Central Parkway in that cluster is being renovated by Chatfield college to expand their OTR Campus.. not 100% certain though.

 

If that is the case, i hope that does not mean the rest of the structures in that cluster are going to be demo'd for parking.

I believe the building that faces Central Parkway in that cluster is being renovated by Chatfield college to expand their OTR Campus.. not 100% certain though.

 

If that is the case, i hope that does not mean the rest of the structures in that cluster are going to be demo'd for parking.

 

http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-29152-chatfield_college_opens_new_otr_campus.html

 

Yes that is the case.. The link includes a rendering also.

Yes that is the case it's being renovated by that college or yes that is the case those buildings are being demolished for parking?

Yes - the building along central is being renovated by Chatfield college.

 

I do not know the fate of the other buildings, i was speculating, i hope they are not sacrificed for parking. Chatfield seems to be good stewards of the neighborhood so i hope they wouldnt demo them.

 

(sorry for any confusion)

Okay good. I thought I was just missing something from that article whilst skimming it.

 

I really hope they aren't demolished. There are some good looking buildings there. Not a ton, but that spot, along with that really poorly done, never used park could be a really great large redevelopment+new construction site to anchor Elm Street at Liberty along with redeveloping the Kricket store (god I hate that place) across Elm.

All in all, starting to see some real momentum Around Liberty/Findlay..

 

The Model Group development right around Findlay Market.

Chatfield College renovating this cluster.

The Globe Furniture Building remodel by Haile Foundation.

3CDC is re-evaluating 15th/Race project.

 

Hopefully the pace will continue to pickup - as there is no shortage of opportunity.

Yeah I was just looking at google maps.  On that alley between Central and Elm where Chatfield College is remodeling, there are a bunch of buildings that are boarded up.  Not sure if they still are?

 

These little clusters seem to spread out and that is a nice anchor for that small area.  Right on the streetcar line too! :clap: :clap: :clap:

All in all, starting to see some real momentum Around Liberty/Findlay..

 

The Model Group development right around Findlay Market.

Chatfield College renovating this cluster.

The Globe Furniture Building remodel by Haile Foundation.

3CDC is re-evaluating 15th/Race project.

 

Hopefully the pace will continue to pickup - as there is no shortage of opportunity.

 

Yeah, no shortage of opportunities to lose a few hundred thousand dollars renovating a building.  The condo prices and rents still aren't high enough to motivate people to jump into any and every building.  That's why you have had various OTR buildings sit on the market for 6 months now like that magenta hair salon in the 1800 block of Vine, the house on Corwine, the yellow house at Republic & Findlay, etc. 

 

Yes, maybe we should just stop bothering. Never mind the fact that several small time developers are actually making money all around the neighborhood with buildings starting in various states of decay. And never mind the fact that some people aren't in it for a short term return. And never mind the fact that some people want to create a life in a building or group of buildings but don't need their residence to be a profit center because they have other assets and view their residence as something that should please them and doesn't necessarily need to have a ROI. And never mind the fact that not every building needs several hundred grand worth of work.

 

When you have individuals or groups of two or three people accelerating the amount of work they're doing like the people who did the Cutthort Lofts or Baer Properties there are obviously tons of opportunities still. And people are taking advantage of them. And just because current sales prices might not justify renovation of some of the worst buildings, some people are looking to renovate, live in, and sell much later down the road when it's very likely prices will justify a renovation. Not everyone is in the same financial boat as you and not everyone renovating is looking for a building to be their income.

Yes, we are hopefully going to be starting to renovate the 1527 Elm building soon. Just me and my wife, an architect, and a GC. It will cost $96/sq. ft. including acquisition and stabilization costs. It will be 5 very nice, small 1BR residential units and 1 large residential loft. Plus a storefront. We are so lucky to have an organization like Cinci Development Fund who is willing to even contemplate such an investment in the form of a construction loan -- but they will and do, all the time. And this project will be profitable. Maybe even "retirement plan" profitable.

 

I know there are people out there that will say this is not possible. The costs are waaayyy higher. Can't be done. Well, that's all bullshit, and my message, similar to jmicha's, is that it's what capabilities you have and how you do it. I'm saying that with facts on my side, having done it already, and not just with armchair opinions.

Do you own the smaller building right next door? If so you invited my friend and myself in a couple summers ago as we were walking by taking pictures. The quality was good and if that's the type of plan you have for 1527 I'm excited to see it renewed.

Do you own the smaller building right next door? If so you invited my friend and myself in a couple summers ago as we were walking by taking pictures. The quality was good and if that's the type of plan you have for 1527 I'm excited to see it renewed.

 

Yep that's us. Always interesting to figure out who you might have met in real life and match them online! I remember that day.

 

That's the sort of plan that we'd have for 1527. It's really a great building -- not unique of course, as there are many -- but 1527 was "protected" by its previous owner against any 1970s era demolishing of the interior. All moldings are still there, many original doors, about the only historic items missing are the fireplace mantles and the balustrade for the center stairwell.

All in all, starting to see some real momentum Around Liberty/Findlay..

 

The Model Group development right around Findlay Market.

Chatfield College renovating this cluster.

The Globe Furniture Building remodel by Haile Foundation.

3CDC is re-evaluating 15th/Race project.

 

Hopefully the pace will continue to pickup - as there is no shortage of opportunity.

 

Yeah, no shortage of opportunities to lose a few hundred thousand dollars renovating a building.  The condo prices and rents still aren't high enough to motivate people to jump into any and every building.  That's why you have had various OTR buildings sit on the market for 6 months now like that magenta hair salon in the 1800 block of Vine, the house on Corwine, the yellow house at Republic & Findlay, etc.

 

:yap: Lol you are quite the cynic.  But I agree that the prices aren't high enough for any and every building to be renovated right now, but that doesn't mean a lot aren't feasible to be renovated.  I think it is like a snow ball effect.  As more areas get better, more infill occurs, more of the buildings will be renovated by smaller developers in addition to the larger ones now.  It will take a long time, who knows how long, but hopefully the momentum continues as it appears it is.

Someone has to be first.... and second to develop further north.  If you get in early, the return on investment might take longer, but if you wait too long, then the opportunity may be gone.  All those properties that jmeck mentions will likely be too expensive for most of us average people to buy in a few years.  Try buying a shell south of Liberty now. ... You can't, there all taken. 

Do you own the smaller building right next door? If so you invited my friend and myself in a couple summers ago as we were walking by taking pictures. The quality was good and if that's the type of plan you have for 1527 I'm excited to see it renewed.

 

Yep that's us. Always interesting to figure out who you might have met in real life and match them online! I remember that day.

 

That's the sort of plan that we'd have for 1527. It's really a great building -- not unique of course, as there are many -- but 1527 was "protected" by its previous owner against any 1970s era demolishing of the interior. All moldings are still there, many original doors, about the only historic items missing are the fireplace mantles and the balustrade for the center stairwell.

 

That sounds awesome! You'll have to invite me over for construction tours haha. I live a block away so I'll certainly be keeping an eye on the progress.

I have a question... went  into the parking lot on Walnut behind the Vine St. Kroger today.  There is some kind of urban garden back there.  Also visible next to the Kroger is a low brick wall set back from a Vine St. building, and the building itself has an ornate facade facing out towards the rear.  Is this the remnants of the infamous Boss Cox era beer garden where Hermann, Hynicka and Cox made all of the city decisions?  If so, is there any chance of restoring this beer garden to its original purpose?  I think I heard the beer garden building was being renovated but I don't know if a beer garden is part of the plan or if this is the building or not. 

 

Also, there is so much potential for all the abandoned buildings between 15th and Liberty on both sides of Vine St. to add population to the city.

 

EDIT:  Here's what I'm talking about

 

^ Yes. That is the infamous beer garden. 3CDC owns the building. Probably will be part of a later phase of the Gateway Quarter.

Thanks JYP!  I think it would be a really cool direct link to the past if they brought it back as a beer garden.  Good for marketing the neighborhood's unique history too.

I got to go into that building as a part of the Queen City is Haunted tour on Saturday night. The inside is in pretty rough shape and would need a ton of work to renovate into anything useful at this point. The plaster walls and ceiling are pretty crumbly and the inside needs to pretty much be gutted. We were only in the main front room, but apparently the back room is in worse shape. I've got a couple dark photos on my phone that I'll upload if I remember.

College plans $3.4M renovation to create new OTR campus

Oct 8, 2014, 6:58am EDT

Andy Brownfield Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Chatfield College is renovating an Over-the-Rhine building at Central Parkway and Liberty Street to serve as the new campus for its growing student population.

 

The 18,000-square-foot building at 1544 Central Parkway is expected to be ready for classes in June 2015 for the fall beginning of the 2015-2016 school year, Chatfield president John Tafaro told me. The building is undergoing a $3.4 million renovation to prepare it for the college's occupation.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/10/08/college-plans-3-4m-renovation-to-create-new-otr.html

Handful of new projects seem to have taken off demolition work this week. The large building at 1506(?) Republic with a garage door centered on its ground level has had some activity inside, presumably setting up for interior demolition.

 

The building on the northeast corner of 14th and Republic received a paint job and Picnic and Pantry is moving in. The building next to it received a bright orange paint job.

 

Venice on Vine is getting a new paint job.

 

The building at the southwest corner of 14th and Republic which will be a yoga studio and a smallscale bar by 4EG is undergoing interior demolition work.

 

The building just north of Nicolay that will be OTRCH is in full interior demolition mode.

 

The large building at 1408 Elm Street is undergoing interior demolition work.

 

Taft's Ale House is receiving plaster ceiling work at the moment and the exterior has been cleaned up and is in the process of receiving new paint on the windows, cornice, ground level, and watertable.

 

Pontiac has received some sort of exterior area in the back it seems. It's hard to tell so maybe someone here has some more information on that.

 

The new rentals at 28 and 30 (?) W 13th have received their final paint which is...interesting. The entirety of the buildings is light grey with a bright yellow door. Interesting but still not entirely sure how I feel about it.

 

The Maccaron Bar on Main Street is undergoing interior build-out.

 

Brezel opened during MidPoint and according to the workers is seeing a steady stream of customers and has been doing well. It's freaking delicious.

 

The bodega/corner grocery on Main appears to be coming along. It's hard to tell.

 

If I think of anything else I've seen this week I'll come back and edit this post.

If anyone hasn't noticed, it looks like 3CDC updated their website to include some new projects that have financing:

 

1408 Elm Street --- $1,740,000 - 5 Units and 830 SF commercial space

 

15 W. 14th Street --- $1,050,000 - (On Southwest Corner of Republic and 14th Street) - First Floor will be a "Dive Bar" of 1,000 SF, the top two floors will be a large Yoga Studio

 

15th & Pleasant --- $3,600,000 - (On Northwest Corner of 15th and Pleasant Street) - 11 For Sale Condos, 917 SF of commercial space and a common courtyard

 

Parksite (1316 - 1318 Race Street) --- $3,600,000 - 8 For Sale Units

 

Mercer 3 Townhomes (Mercer Street) --- $5,450,000 - 8 Townhomes and 4 condos

 

YMCA Building --- $12,780,000 --- 63 Affordable Senior Apartments, 25,000 SF for YMCA Corporate, and improved Recreation Center

 

That looks like, at least in the last two months, $28,220,000.00 in new announced development in OTR South of Liberty 

There's the building across the street from Salazar where a new bar is going in on the ground floor and a yoga studio above. I also heard a rumor about a Tom+Chee location in OTR but cannot verify.

There's the building across the street from Salazar where a new bar is going in on the ground floor and a yoga studio above. I also heard a rumor about a Tom+Chee location in OTR but cannot verify.

 

The bar in the building south of Salazar will be 4EG location, a smaller than Lackman Lackman.  Goal is to have it just be a simple neighborhood bar since Lackman on Friday & Saturday nights becomes a touristy spot.

 

Also, I've heard the storefront at 13th and Republic will soon become some sort of wine bar, fancier place. 

I'm all for lots of little bars. Liberty's Bar and Bottle is really nice.

1313 Vine's fire escape has been removed. It already looks phenomenal. I think that project is one of my favorites and can't wait for it to be finished.

Pretty excited about this.  The one in CBus is awesome, went there for a birthday party earlier this year.  Hoping maybe we'll get a Dirty Frank's too!

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/16-bit-bar-arcade-expanding-to-over-the-rhine-in-cincinnati

Pretty excited about this.  The one in CBus is awesome, went there for a birthday party earlier this year.  Hoping maybe we'll get a Dirty Frank's too!

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/16-bit-bar-arcade-expanding-to-over-the-rhine-in-cincinnati

 

With Arcade Legacy's recent announcement about opening a bar in Northside, it looks like Cincy has embraced the whole barcade concept :)

Only one is actually in operation. I have a hard time believing that we can support 3 barcades.

 

For me to spend significant time at a barcade, it has to have one of two things: free games with alcohol for purchase, or free BYOB. As a very casual visitor, I'm not going to go to spend money on both. I imagine the free games with a bar would make more money for the barcade.

Isn't that how they all work? I know the one in Northside will have free games. They're basically just bars that also happen to have a bunch of free arcade games to play while you're there.

Isn't that how they all work? I know the one in Northside will have free games. They're basically just bars that also happen to have a bunch of free arcade games to play while you're there.

 

I've heard the one in the basement of Rusconi's requires tokens. Not sure.

Isn't that how they all work? I know the one in Northside will have free games. They're basically just bars that also happen to have a bunch of free arcade games to play while you're there.

 

I've heard the one in the basement of Rusconi's requires tokens. Not sure.

 

I believe you get two free tokens with each drink

Isn't that how they all work? I know the one in Northside will have free games. They're basically just bars that also happen to have a bunch of free arcade games to play while you're there.

 

Only one I've been to is Barcade in Brooklyn. Each credit on a game machine costs a quarter, just like in the old days. Gotta feed bills into a change machine to get your fistfull of quarters.

I've got some old Doc Holiday tokens. I better be able to use those.

I've got some old Doc Holiday tokens. I better be able to use those.

 

I've got some from the Skatin' Place. 

 

 

Geez, guys. The nostalgia is overflowing today.

 

I have some prize tokens from Fannie Farkle's.

In terms of having 3 barcades... Rusconi has always kind of half-assed it and probably isn't much longer for this world:

 

16 bit is free games. Thats to bad about rusconis.  Sounds terrible.