2 minutes ago, 646empire said:

Yeah it seems like workers and slow demo has been happening off and on for a while now. Not sure if true construction is near. I’d assume we would see real plans/ layouts/ renderings by now if it was happening soon. I’ve also not heard of a contractor for the old Macys building have anyone else? it’s a pretty big building. On the flip side my info came from a city government contact who mentioned they are pushing for the Carew project to happen asap

 

I agree about the slowness. They are taking out permits for Macy's but its definitely not full steam ahead. 

 

I would love to have the Carew tower underway first (especially if they can get started some time before May 2024) for personal reasons. We are hosting CNU 32 at the Netherland Plaza and it would be helpful to show signs of momentum in the complex and not just an empty arcade/part of the building with nothing going on.

On 9/12/2023 at 2:03 PM, JYP said:

 

I agree about the slowness. They are taking out permits for Macy's but its definitely not full steam ahead. 

 

I would love to have the Carew tower underway first (especially if they can get started some time before May 2024) for personal reasons. We are hosting CNU 32 at the Netherland Plaza and it would be helpful to show signs of momentum in the complex and not just an empty arcade/part of the building with nothing going on.

 

Well look at this! Our words are POWER!!!! Lol

 

Port Issues 60 Million in bonds for the Macys Building! Looks like it’s coming soon. Cincy is getting Hot!

 

”Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter and be substantially complete by the end of 2025.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/09/13/port-macys-headquarters-downtown.html

Edited September 13, 20231 yr by 646empire

That article mentions HGC, but it still doesn't say who the designers are, I'm really curious who is going to be the architect on this (and especially the Carew tower with the same developer).

Does Victrix getting a big leap on Macys now increase chances of Carew happening soon?

It will depend on if they win the tax credits in round 31 of the historic tax credit awards.  They have to start work before 5yrs after winning the credits to hold onto them, so it still could be 2-4 years before they start.  My money would be on them starting after Macy's is done.

Edited September 14, 20231 yr by 10albersa

1 hour ago, 10albersa said:

It will depend on if they win the tax credits in round 31 of the historic tax credit awards.  They have to start work before 5yrs after winning the credits to hold onto them, so it still could be 2-4 years before they start.  My money would be on them starting after Macy's is done.

Yeah the tax credit piece is critical but shouldn’t be difficult at all, The Carew Tower is iconic and is tailor made for credits. Like I mentioned the city wants to get it done asap too. The question is wether the owner has the financial means and is willing to do both simultaneously/ with some overlap.

Drug development firm Orange Grove Bio relocates HQ to downtown Cincinnati

By Liz Engel - Digital editor

September 28, 2023, 11:53am EDT

 

 

A firm that first moved its headquarters to Cincinnati from the East Coast in November 2021 is on the move once more. It’s now the newest tenant at one of the largest office buildings downtown.

 

Orange Grove Bio, a drug investment and development firm, has relocated its HQ to the PNC Center, located on East Fifth Street in the Central Business District. The company hosted an open house Sept. 28 to officially commemorate the new space.

 

MORE

The new restaurant from Thunderdome replacing Royce (next to Jeff Ruby’s) at fountain square is under construction. Also construction has started on the new restaurant replacing Wahlburger.
 

Construction has also commenced for the 1st tenant on the ground level of the Sixth Street Exchange apartments next to Igbys. Since the building was done nothing has ever been in the commercial space. I looked at the permit on the door but didn’t see any clues really. Anyone know anything?

 

I also found a page for the new apartments on main from Birkla. Love the building but hate the name haha “Vibe”

 

https://thevibecincy.com

I’m gonna put this article here just because it mentions so many potential projects. Anyway the vote is today. Is a new stadium really in the cards? I can’t imagine demolishing Paycor it’s just not that bad. New arena/stadium paid for from this tax too? Kind of a mess.

 

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/hamilton-county-commissioners-to-vote-on-1-hotel-tax-increase-where-will-the-extra-money-go

Found this online about 36-40 E 7th Street office building going to auction:

 

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/36-40-E-7th-St-Cincinnati-OH/29684971/

 

The listing mentions several nearby office to residential conversions, is that a possibility for this building?   

 

Listing mentions lots of random nearby stuff but not the streetcar stop outside the building?

29 minutes ago, thebillshark said:

Found this online about 36-40 E 7th Street office building going to auction:

 

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/36-40-E-7th-St-Cincinnati-OH/29684971/

 

The listing mentions several nearby office to residential conversions, is that a possibility for this building?   

 

Listing mentions lots of random nearby stuff but not the streetcar stop outside the building?

 

It's interesting to see that the listing is described as "fee simple" yet it's only for the 12 floors of office.  Somebody or something else owns the garage and street retail. 

 

 

 

This building has a skylobby setup at the top of the parking garage (the highest parking garage in Ohio supposedly) where the office level elevators don't go all the way down to the ground level so unlike many buildings downtown this one would be pretty easy to separate as two separate entities. 

On 10/21/2023 at 12:47 AM, thebillshark said:

Found this online about 36-40 E 7th Street office building going to auction:

 

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/36-40-E-7th-St-Cincinnati-OH/29684971/

 

The listing mentions several nearby office to residential conversions, is that a possibility for this building?   

 

Listing mentions lots of random nearby stuff but not the streetcar stop outside the building?

12 tenants occupying 25% of the floor area with leases going as late as 2028? It's possible but would likely require some pricey lease buyouts.

On 9/14/2023 at 10:22 AM, 646empire said:

Yeah the tax credit piece is critical but shouldn’t be difficult at all, The Carew Tower is iconic and is tailor made for credits. Like I mentioned the city wants to get it done asap too. The question is wether the owner has the financial means and is willing to do both simultaneously/ with some overlap.

I wonder if anyone can both listing out all the office to residential / empty building to residential/hotel conversions going on right now and the total amount they will equal to?

 

It seems so much is going on at the moment it's hard to keep track and quantify.

Cool Offices: Tire Discounters' downtown headquarters emphasizes collaboration

By Abby Miller – Reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Nov 2, 2023

Updated Nov 2, 2023 10:03am EDT

 

When Tire Discounters purchased a downtown office building in 2019, it was looking for a permanent solution to leasing space that would also bring its employees together under one roof.

 

Two years later, the retailer’s solution arrived in full force as Tire Discounters debuted its renovated headquarters in the city it was founded in.

 

An affiliate of Tire Discounters purchased the building at 200 W. Fourth St. from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation for $1.84 million before undergoing a complete renovation of the space. Tire Discounters worked with SHP to design its new headquarters, and HGC Construction was the contractor on the project.

 

Spanning 33,000 square feet across six floors, Tire Discounters moved about 90 employees to the 200 W. Fourth St. location from Sharonville and One East Fourth Street, its previous HQ.

 

MORE

From 11/02; new Lytle Park fountain is running and sod installation is wrapping up.

Overview of the new Lytle Park as of 11/6. Not going to lie I miss the old area above the tunnel entries. Even though worn and tired it had more interest and history with all the plaques and photos then the new white wash park...

Where's Lincoln going to end up? 

2 hours ago, ucgrady said:

Where's Lincoln going to end up? 

He is put in the far northwest corner of the park caddy corner from the W&S new surface lot. 

what a bummer.   Hoping Western-Southern/Great American eventually builds a signature highrise adjacent to this and then re-designs this into a true urban plaza/park.  as of now, we are slowly seeming to add more surface parking, more drive drop-off loops and tearing down surrounding buildings.....  aside form the remaining buildings & tunnel portals, this park looks like something you would find in Florence.

^and i mean Kentucky... not Italy!

So you're saying that new water fountain really should be...

 

Is Lytle Park finished with its landscaping? Perhaps a bit premature to judge it at this stage?

24 minutes ago, jwulsin said:

Is Lytle Park finished with its landscaping? Perhaps a bit premature to judge it at this stage?

I assume a bit more is to be done and will look better in the spring. 

New development in the works from 3CDC at 7th and Vine lot.6 stories 70 apartments.5k square ft of commerical space 

 

https://www.downtowncincinnati.com/about/downtown-cincinnati-improvement-district-dcid/

Edited November 18, 20231 yr by ucnum1

Scaled down from earlier rumors. Wonder if economic factors caused the downsize?

What size was the rumored scaled up version? 

Forgot that 33 W 4th street was Purchased by keystone hotel group (same people who did TownePlace suites on 7th). Wonder if they will add floors to the building? If the building can support additional floors. 

2 hours ago, wjh2 said:

What size was the rumored scaled up version? 

I had heard around 20 stories. Not sure if it ever made it beyond the feasibility stage though 

13 hours ago, CincyIntheKnow said:

Scaled down from earlier rumors. Wonder if economic factors caused the downsize?

 

Almost assuredly. But happy to get something here. Still lots of surface lots available for high rises. 

On 11/18/2023 at 10:36 AM, Ucgrad2015 said:

Forgot that 33 W 4th street was Purchased by keystone hotel group (same people who did TownePlace suites on 7th). Wonder if they will add floors to the building? If the building can support additional floors. 

Where did you see this? From what I can tell the building just next door down Race also has hotels (Drury Hotels) looking to make the building a historic landmark and I would assume redevelop it:

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/planning/planning-projects-and-studies/active-ongoing/proposed-local-historic-landmark-designation-of-310-race-street-in-downtown/

12 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

Where did you see this? From what I can tell the building just next door down Race also has hotels (Drury Hotels) looking to make the building a historic landmark and I would assume redevelop it:

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/planning/planning-projects-and-studies/active-ongoing/proposed-local-historic-landmark-designation-of-310-race-street-in-downtown/

 

On 11/17/2023 at 10:32 PM, ucnum1 said:

New development in the works from 3CDC at 7th and Vine lot.6 stories 70 apartments.5k square ft of commerical space 

 

https://www.downtowncincinnati.com/about/downtown-cincinnati-improvement-district-dcid/

 

I have mixed feelings about the scale of this. While it would be cool to see a 20 story building here because of the higher number of units that would bring -- and because the CBD is the only neighborhood where you could propose that size building and not get pushback from neighborhood NIMBYs -- I think having infill buildings in the ~7 story range actually creates a more pleasant human-scaled environment that is going to feel more like a real neighborhood. If we could get ~7 story infill on all of the surface parking lots in the CBD, filling in the gaps between the existing taller office buildings, I think I'd be happy with that scale.

For downtown I would prefer a building like this being 10+ stories. I don't think every building needs to be 20 stories, but 7 still feels a little short being 2 blocks north of Fountain Square

33 minutes ago, taestell said:

 

I have mixed feelings about the scale of this. While it would be cool to see a 20 story building here because of the higher number of units that would bring -- and because the CBD is the only neighborhood where you could propose that size building and not get pushback from neighborhood NIMBYs -- I think having infill buildings in the ~7 story range actually creates a more pleasant human-scaled environment that is going to feel more like a real neighborhood. If we could get ~7 story infill on all of the surface parking lots in the CBD, filling in the gaps between the existing taller office buildings, I think I'd be happy with that scale.

I think this is particularly true of this site. There are some pre-existing/historic buildings on that block and the one to the west, that are the same height, or shorter.

33 minutes ago, Dev said:

I think this is particularly true of this site. There are some pre-existing/historic buildings on that block and the one to the west, that are the same height, or shorter.

I like the proposal, although I would love it to be more like 10-12 stories. Pretty much the same height or as close to the same height as the garage portion of the tower next door. This will cover up some of the faux window wall on the garage next door. 

However, it is a good project for that corner given the smaller footprint and lack of what can be built in that particular space. 

Good to see some more infill. I always thought this area was slightly rough on the edges. I agree, would be nice to see it taller yet this area is surrounded by parking and the lot across the street is also surface, so maybe we get another infill across the street from 3CDC?

 

Can someone fill me in, what is happening with the Garfield Suites?

 

 

On 11/21/2023 at 11:06 AM, Dev said:

I think this is particularly true of this site. There are some pre-existing/historic buildings on that block and the one to the west, that are the same height, or shorter.

I think this building height would make more sense for either of the available sites west of Vine street next to either Knockbacks or the Doctor's Building; however, being on the east side of Vine right next to the former URS building makes it look stumpy. That being said height isn't everything and any time a surface lot is covered in development I'm happy. Hell if every available surface lot downtown was turned into a 7 story residential I wouldn't complain, if we want taller apartment buildings we can finish some of these office conversions first. 

This blurb was in the DRC Meeting Minutes from October: 

 

http://ilivedowntown.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/101023.pdf

 

Alan Bunker introduced Subhas Patel of Keystone Hotels. Mr. Patel shared the redevelopment plan for converting the former “Chong” building at 616 Race Street into a Hilton Homes to Suites hotel. They plan to add two stories to the existing structure creating a six-story hotel. There will be 109 rooms with a first-floor restaurant. Subsequently, he addressed several questions from members.

 

I believe these were originally slated to be converted to residential? Regardless, it will be great to return these structures to active use. 

4 minutes ago, wjh said:

This blurb was in the DRC Meeting Minutes from October: 

 

http://ilivedowntown.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/101023.pdf

 

Alan Bunker introduced Subhas Patel of Keystone Hotels. Mr. Patel shared the redevelopment plan for converting the former “Chong” building at 616 Race Street into a Hilton Homes to Suites hotel. They plan to add two stories to the existing structure creating a six-story hotel. There will be 109 rooms with a first-floor restaurant. Subsequently, he addressed several questions from members.

 

I believe these were originally slated to be converted to residential? Regardless, it will be great to return these structures to active use. 

Face palm, "Home to Suites hotel" whomever wrote up the minutes needs to clarify in the future. Its "Home2 Suites" by Hilton. 

Altafiber debuts renovated, consolidated downtown Cincinnati headquarters: PHOTOS

By Abby Miller – Reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Nov 30, 2023

 

One of Cincinnati’s largest private companies has officially debuted its overhauled office space that emphasizes its move into the future.

 

Altafiber held a grand opening for its renovated – and consolidated – office space in downtown’s Atrium Two this November, welcoming hundreds of employees into the space. Finishing touches are still being put on the space, but the telecommunications company is already seeing 90% of all its employees come into the office at least once during a given week, according to company executives.

 

“We were hoping when people saw it, they’d be excited to come back in,” CEO Leigh Fox told the Business Courier during a tour of the space. “And we’re seeing that.”

 

MORE

On 11/27/2023 at 4:35 PM, savadams13 said:

Face palm, "Home to Suites hotel" whomever wrote up the minutes needs to clarify in the future. Its "Home2 Suites" by Hilton. 

when I read this, I was thinking, gee, I have not heard of this brand. Is this a new extended stay brand by Hilton? 

Now it makes a lot more sense. 

 

An extended stay brand would work well in that location. 

On 11/27/2023 at 4:35 PM, savadams13 said:

Face palm, "Home to Suites hotel" whomever wrote up the minutes needs to clarify in the future. Its "Home2 Suites" by Hilton. 

If that's your biggest complaint about the minutes of a volunteer residents council... then they're doing a pretty darn good job. 

310 Race Street has plans in the works.

 

Two developers plan to rehabilitate a former department store service building downtown and are seeking to get the building designated as a historic structure so they can land tax credits for the project.

ABC Realty Advisors LLC and Maryland-based Saul Urban plan to convert the former H&S Pogue Department store’s 12-story service building at 310 Race St. into a 106-unit apartment building.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/11/30/310-race-street-rehabilitation.html

1 hour ago, ucnum1 said:

310 Race Street has plans in the works.

 

Two developers plan to rehabilitate a former department store service building downtown and are seeking to get the building designated as a historic structure so they can land tax credits for the project.

ABC Realty Advisors LLC and Maryland-based Saul Urban plan to convert the former H&S Pogue Department store’s 12-story service building at 310 Race St. into a 106-unit apartment building.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/11/30/310-race-street-rehabilitation.html

Why give it historic designation? I get the tax credits but the building has no historical significance and it is an eyesore. I was hoping Drury would develop it into their hotel years ago and their plans looked promising. Not going to quibble over someone wanting to bring 100 new apartment units to town, but the building is ugly if you ask me and I would not have an issue if someone wanted to raze it and build something nice from scratch. 

Regardless, the building really has no historical landmark significance. 

29 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

Why give it historic designation? I get the tax credits but the building has no historical significance and it is an eyesore. I was hoping Drury would develop it into their hotel years ago and their plans looked promising. Not going to quibble over someone wanting to bring 100 new apartment units to town, but the building is ugly if you ask me and I would not have an issue if someone wanted to raze it and build something nice from scratch. 

Regardless, the building really has no historical landmark significance. 

It's an early example of the international style in Cincinnati, of which there are very few significant buildings downtown. You finding it unattractive doesn't mean it objectively has no value. And frankly, gladly people with your mindset don't make these calls because people said the exact same thing about countless buildings throughout the years that we came to regret when they were gone.

45 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

Why give it historic designation? I get the tax credits but the building has no historical significance and it is an eyesore. I was hoping Drury would develop it into their hotel years ago and their plans looked promising. Not going to quibble over someone wanting to bring 100 new apartment units to town, but the building is ugly if you ask me and I would not have an issue if someone wanted to raze it and build something nice from scratch. 

Regardless, the building really has no historical landmark significance. 

I have no doubt it comes down to cost.A gut rehab of a structurally sound 12 story building with 100 plus unit apartments is less than half the cost of a new build 12 story or more apartment building including demolition.Add in the cities pot of incentives for workforce housing and state historic tax credits.This a easy business decision for developers of a building this size and location.

12 minutes ago, jmicha said:

It's an early example of the international style in Cincinnati, of which there are very few significant buildings downtown.

It was essentially an old warehouse, hence why you do not find much of that style in downtown. Just because there are few buildings of this style left, or even built in downtown, that does not mean it should qualify it as worth saving. And no, I dont have a say in what the board says about it, but yes, I can express my opinion that it is an ugly building and a bit of an eyesore, similar to the Denison Hotel (tearing down that building and putting a parking lot there was an improvement IMO). 

8 minutes ago, ucnum1 said:

I have no doubt it comes down to cost.A gut rehab of a structurally sound 12 story building with 100 plus unit apartments is less than half the cost of a new build 12 story or more apartment building including demolition.Add in the cities pot of incentives for workforce housing and state historic tax credits.This a easy business decision for developers of a building this size and location.

The thing I hate about the historical classifications is that you cannot change the exterior of the building (at least it is extremely difficult). If they could do something to make the exterior look not so drab, I think the building has some potential.