1 hour ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

Plus, I cant see much high end office towers being built and financed in the current environment with more an more permanently working from home. Plus aren't they going to build the building at the Banks later this year?

I can tell you here in NYC office towers are full steam ahead. Also we’ve litigated this a ton on this forum but work from home is not a trend anymore, companies are bringing workers back for the most part. The new banks office building isn’t particularly big at all and this 800 foot tower is probably not at all imminent in regards to construction so if we are talking mid- late 2020s I think Cincinnati would be ready 

I mean WS has had multiple new headquarter building models over the last decade in Barretts office in full view.Its been years since I saw but the 800' version was the favorite.The buildings they just demolished were to be a 30-32 story condo building.The new headquarters building was going by the old parking garage.52 stories minimum.They have had models of both in thier office.Worst kept secret in town going on 10 years.

This is all just from memory. Barrett is a big talker.

Edited May 14, 20214 yr by ucnum1

...pics?

2 hours ago, 646empire said:

I can tell you here in NYC office towers are full steam ahead. Also we’ve litigated this a ton on this forum but work from home is not a trend anymore, companies are bringing workers back for the most part.

 

Companies have had enough time now to determine the pros & cons of WFH for all.

52 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

...pics?

sh*t you had too sign non disclosure agreements.Not a Chance

2 hours ago, GCrites80s said:

 

Companies have had enough time now to determine the pros & cons of WFH for all.

Working from home is solitary confinement and will make you insane. The lack of ability to see people and interact face to face with other human beings will legit make you go crazy.

 

Not to mention if you have kids then it’s like running a daycare while trying to focus on doing your main job.

 

It just doesn’t work period. There is slot of pros to working from home..easier to slack off, no rush hour traffic, to work place drama, etc...

 

that said, working from home can be one of the most loneliest experiences in the world in the long run and has probably become one of the leading psychiatric issues during the pandemic in the past year or so.

12 hours ago, ucnum1 said:

I mean WS has had multiple new headquarter building models over the last decade in Barretts office in full view.Its been years since I saw but the 800' version was the favorite.The buildings they just demolished were to be a 30-32 story condo building.The new headquarters building was going by the old parking garage.52 stories minimum.They have had models of both in thier office.Worst kept secret in town going on 10 years.

This is all just from memory. Barrett is a big talker.

I wonder when they will release these plans. They released the drawings for Queen City Square back in 2001 i believe and did not start construction of the small building until 2003 and larger one until 2008

WS is beyond conservative.They like cash on hand to pay in full before starting construction on a Project.The fact they are demolishing buildings means its sooner than later.Say 18 months out.I would also say WS has been growing for awhile and have wanted a new headquarter tower for a decade plus.

9 hours ago, Troeros2 said:

Working from home is solitary confinement and will make you insane. The lack of ability to see people and interact face to face with other human beings will legit make you go crazy.

 

Not to mention if you have kids then it’s like running a daycare while trying to focus on doing your main job.

 

It just doesn’t work period. There is slot of pros to working from home..easier to slack off, no rush hour traffic, to work place drama, etc...

 

that said, working from home can be one of the most loneliest experiences in the world in the long run and has probably become one of the leading psychiatric issues during the pandemic in the past year or so.

 

It depends where you live. During this ordeal I've gotten to know my neighbors way better. And there's been plenty of socializing with the folks on our block. If you live in a sprawling suburb or rural area that would've been impossible. But in the city, we haven't been isolated at all.

49 minutes ago, ucnum1 said:

The fact they are demolishing buildings means its sooner than later.Say 18 months out

WS could be 18 months or so out from a new project but I very much doubt it’s this 800 foot tower that’s getting us riled up. It could be a condo tower since the housing market is so hot. Maybe they could build the giant office tower for themselves and maybe Kroger at some point in the next 5-7 years.

No pictures without getting busted.  My wife who typically has no interest in this stuff really liked it and said it reminds her of the Chrysler Building.  

I think the new Headquarters is announced before the end of Summer and is a 3 year build.Thats just a guess though.They wanted the Autograph Inn finished first.Which is basically thier own hotel for out of town training.

I hope something is announced relatively soon...it’s been way to long since we had a major skyscraper project...I hope western and southern is also serious about their condo tower project and some other projects they had stated back in 2017..that area of downtown could use a nice uptick of pedestrian activity and something like a condo tower would be a great addition to that corner!

 

 

I ran a WS out town field office.It will get built but only after construction material costs go down.Barrett is a spend thrift bastard and will be lobbying the city for his tax abatements too.Reason it will be announced sooner.I will say Barrett does not go cheap on his buildings.

1 minute ago, ucnum1 said:

I ran a WS out town field office.It will get built but only after construction material costs go down.Barrett is a spend thrift bastard and will be lobbying the city for his tax abatements too.Reason it will be announced sooner.I will say Barrett does not go cheap on his buildings.

I wonder if he will want to push this through before cranley leaves office...feels like it will be more uncertain as far as tax abatements go with the new council/mayor next year.

The new headquarters is Barrets "legacy" building so he wants everything lined up knowing how he operates.Only him croaking will prevent him from building this headquarters.Yeah he wants it announced sooner than latter.

1 hour ago, DEPACincy said:

It depends where you live. During this ordeal I've gotten to know my neighbors way better. And there's been plenty of socializing with the folks on our block. If you live in a sprawling suburb or rural area that would've been impossible. But in the city, we haven't been isolated at all.

 

That's all stuff you're doing aside from working. Everyone has a social life whether they live in a suburb or city, and whether they are working from home or the office. What is missing with work from home is the social aspect of working. Zoom and Teams calls only help so much. Companies are realizing this and by summer's end most people will be back in an office for at least a few days of the week. I think permanent WFH will plateau at about 20% of the office workforce, and not a whole lot of that 20% will come from companies like W&S.

1 hour ago, Troeros2 said:

I hope something is announced relatively soon...it’s been way to long since we had a major skyscraper project...I hope western and southern is also serious about their condo tower project and some other projects they had stated back in 2017..that area of downtown could use a nice uptick of pedestrian activity and something like a condo tower would be a great addition to that corner!

 

 

IMO id much rather multiple 400-500 ft buildings on those lots instead of one 700+. As much as Id love something massive, I Just feel like something taller than 500 would really throw the skyline off and I’m all about symmetry. 

23 minutes ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

IMO id much rather multiple 400-500 ft buildings on those lots instead of one 700+. As much as Id love something massive, I Just feel like something taller than 500 would really throw the skyline off and I’m all about symmetry. 

symmetry is a trap

2 hours ago, Ram23 said:

 

That's all stuff you're doing aside from working. Everyone has a social life whether they live in a suburb or city, and whether they are working from home or the office. What is missing with work from home is the social aspect of working. Zoom and Teams calls only help so much. Companies are realizing this and by summer's end most people will be back in an office for at least a few days of the week. I think permanent WFH will plateau at about 20% of the office workforce, and not a whole lot of that 20% will come from companies like W&S.

 

I'm not denying any of that. My point was that if you live in a social environment then the isolation of WFH is not really that big a deal. Because you're getting those outlets easily elsewhere. If you live in an isolated place and WFH then you have to constantly go out of your way to make sure you make those social contacts.

2 hours ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

IMO id much rather multiple 400-500 ft buildings on those lots instead of one 700+. As much as Id love something massive, I Just feel like something taller than 500 would really throw the skyline off and I’m all about symmetry. 

Yeah but egos demand the largest phallus - I mean building - possible. 

4 hours ago, ucnum1 said:

The new headquarters is Barrets "legacy" building so he wants everything lined up knowing how he operates.Only him croaking will prevent him from building this headquarters.Yeah he wants it announced sooner than latter.

For clarification purposes, the buildings they are tearing down are not for the new HQ bulding but for future condo/apartment/hotel development, correct? THe proposed HQ tower (if it ever comes to fruition) will be on the site of the parking garage on 3rd street or the current HQ on 5th Street?

49 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

The new headquarters building will be right next current building across the street from PG.The condo tower will be on 3rd.The demo site will be a mid rise residential 18 to 20 stories.

 

For clarification purposes, the buildings they are tearing down are not for the new HQ bulding but for future condo/apartment/hotel development, correct? THe proposed HQ tower (if it ever comes to fruition) will be on the site of the parking garage on 3rd street or the current HQ on 5th Street?

The headquarters building will be right next current HQ across from PG 800-850 ft.Condo tower will be on top of a rebuilt garage at 3rd.Demo site will be a midrise mix use development 18 to 20 stories.

Edited May 14, 20214 yr by ucnum1

6 hours ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

For clarification purposes, the buildings they are tearing down are not for the new HQ bulding but for future condo/apartment/hotel development, correct? THe proposed HQ tower (if it ever comes to fruition) will be on the site of the parking garage on 3rd street or the current HQ on 5th Street?

you are incorrect.

12 hours ago, nicker66 said:

you are incorrect.

I was asking a question not stating a fact.

5 hours ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

I was asking a question not stating a fact.

You literally stated something, ended it with "correct?" to make it a question, and nicker said "you are incorrect". Isn't that exactly what you were asking? If you were correct? I don't think it was meant as a slight

Which architecture firm designed/is designing these yet to be announced towers?

I'd rather have a 700-800 footer than multiple shorter buildings. Plenty of room for growth/demand.

 

13 minutes ago, Cincinnatus said:

I'd rather have a 700-800 footer than multiple shorter buildings. Plenty of room for growth/demand.

 

 

Same here. We need a space race. A new 800' changes the whole dynamic of a skyline. If it's at the 5th Street elevation, it will make QCS look short. 

On 5/17/2021 at 11:34 AM, Miami-Erie said:

Which architecture firm designed/is designing these yet to be announced towers?

I see where you are trying to go with this......  Figure out the architecture firm, storm the gates, demand answers, share the story here. :) lol

Edited May 18, 20214 yr by Brutus_buckeye

5 hours ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

I see where you are trying to go with this......  Figure out the architecture firm, storm the gates, demand answers, share the story here. :) lol

Just curious if it’d be HOK again or not. 

The smaller of the two should be completely gone by end of week.

Sad. W&S better step up with an icon here.

Edited May 26, 20214 yr by Rabbit Hash

From anyone who has seen the physical model or heard the rumors, is the original Western and Southern building at 400 4th street staying/being preserved? That building is great and it would be a shame for W&S to demolish their own history like that. 

30 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

From anyone who has seen the physical model or heard the rumors, is the original Western and Southern building at 400 4th street staying/being preserved? That building is great and it would be a shame for W&S to demolish their own history like that. 

It stays

New thread. Should we infer anything from that other than there was enough chatter to split it off?

1 hour ago, Rabbit Hash said:

New thread. Should we infer anything from that other than there was enough chatter to split it off?

i guess the 2 buildings getting demolished creates enough of a warrant that something is in the works at some point since western and southern is a cash conservative company and is a bit strange they would push forward with the cost of that type of demo without some type of plan in the works. 
 

 

Please please not a companion piece to Great American. The building, itself, looks like an oversized version of something you'd find along Reed Hartman highway, and the tiara on top does nothing to convince me that it's okay to do that downtown.

4 minutes ago, zsnyder said:

Please please not a companion piece to Great American. The building, itself, looks like an oversized version of something you'd find along Reed Hartman highway, and the tiara on top does nothing to convince me that it's okay to do that downtown.

You think?? That’s really harsh to me. I like Great American Tower, the tiara isn’t all that but overall the building is pretty nice in my opinion. 

15 minutes ago, Troeros2 said:

i guess the 2 buildings getting demolished creates enough of a warrant that something is in the works at some point since western and southern is a cash conservative company and is a bit strange they would push forward with the cost of that type of demo without some type of plan in the works. 
 

 

I was thinking the same thing until I remembered how they tore down those row houses on Arch street and replaced them with a gravel lot. Correct me if I'm wrong but that was W&S who did that right?

I can't access the article right now but if I remember correctly the Chiquita Building lease, signed in 2019, is for 5 years.. If they wanted to build a new HQ in time for a 2024 move in, I'd think they'd want to get underway now or very soon 

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2019/06/17/exclusive-fortune-500-firm-leases-top-7-floors-of.html

4 hours ago, 646empire said:

You think?? That’s really harsh to me. I like Great American Tower, the tiara isn’t all that but overall the building is pretty nice in my opinion. 

Yes, nice is what a regional office on Reed Hartman should be. Cost efficient, but nice. An HQ building, and the tallest one in the city at that, should be...something more?
 

46 minutes ago, zsnyder said:

Yes, nice is what a regional office on Reed Hartman should be. Cost efficient, but nice. An HQ building, and the tallest one in the city at that, should be...something more?
 

Hmmm, I think calling Great American Tower a building worthy of being along a suburban highway is a bit much but your definitely entitled to your opinion. Most HQ towers being built especially in mid size cities are “nice” glass boxes, it’s a celebration to get something special or out of the box these days. In the end these buildings come down to money and Great American Tower at least has a little spice to it, I think they did fine for 320 million for 41 or so floors. Also I’ve been in it on multiple floors and it’s definitely well constructed.

Edited May 28, 20214 yr by 646empire

16 hours ago, 646empire said:

Hmmm, I think calling Great American Tower a building worthy of being along a suburban highway is a bit much but your definitely entitled to your opinion. Most HQ towers being built especially in mid size cities are “nice” glass boxes, it’s a celebration to get something special or out of the box these days. In the end these buildings come down to money and Great American Tower at least has a little spice to it, I think they did fine for 320 million for 41 or so floors. Also I’ve been in it on multiple floors and it’s definitely well constructed.

Yeah. I'm not a professional like you guys are but GAT has grown on me over the years. Again, not a professional but I thought the proportions of it were off a the outset. It's gotten more pleasing to the eye as time has gone. Same for the tiara. Although the weak narrative of connecting it to the Queen City theme was just to forced IMHO. Sort of like my theory about the gap in GABP. It's been sold as an edgy design feature to connect downtown and get the fans closer to the action but I've always thought the real reason is that a conventional grandstand design wouldn't have fit at the "Wedge" site. They had to do something to get baseball on the riverfront and not Broadway Commons, which was a no-brianer. But I digress. #conspiracy

 

On 5/27/2021 at 9:15 PM, 646empire said:

Hmmm, I think calling Great American Tower a building worthy of being along a suburban highway is a bit much but your definitely entitled to your opinion. Most HQ towers being built especially in mid size cities are “nice” glass boxes, it’s a celebration to get something special or out of the box these days. In the end these buildings come down to money and Great American Tower at least has a little spice to it, I think they did fine for 320 million for 41 or so floors. Also I’ve been in it on multiple floors and it’s definitely well constructed.

okay, I'll upgrade it to a building off Fields-Ertel, but that's my final offer.

I'll see your offer and make it...

 

From Saturday:

 

47 minutes ago, Cygnus said:

From Saturday:

 

This maybe wishful thinking on my end, but the cost to demolish a building that size has to cost a pretty penny. 
 

I just can’t imagine, western and southern who is already a cash conservative company as is would spend this kind of money on demolition without having a plan upcoming. 
 

Especially since the building wasn’t under any under emergency demo orders and was in relatively good shape....maybe the dots I’m connecting are more optimistic than realistic but I hope this is a sign of forthcoming plans from this company on their plans for the new condo towers and hq.

26 minutes ago, Troeros2 said:

This maybe wishful thinking on my end, but the cost to demolish a building that size has to cost a pretty penny. 
 

I just can’t imagine, western and southern who is already a cash conservative company as is would spend this kind of money on demolition without having a plan upcoming. 
 

Especially since the building wasn’t under any under emergency demo orders and was in relatively good shape....maybe the dots I’m connecting are more optimistic than realistic but I hope this is a sign of forthcoming plans from this company on their plans for the new condo towers and hq.

Of course they have plans for it. A build doesn't necessarily have to piggyback on a demo, given that. I'm with you, though...but again, I don't like what they did with Great American tower, so I worry.

1 hour ago, Troeros2 said:

This maybe wishful thinking on my end, but the cost to demolish a building that size has to cost a pretty penny. 
 

I just can’t imagine, western and southern who is already a cash conservative company as is would spend this kind of money on demolition without having a plan upcoming. 
 

Especially since the building wasn’t under any under emergency demo orders and was in relatively good shape....maybe the dots I’m connecting are more optimistic than realistic but I hope this is a sign of forthcoming plans from this company on their plans for the new condo towers and hq.

The building is assessed at a little less than a $1 million. Replacing it with a vacant lot saves them about $30k a year in property taxes. The building is also a Project TIF so it's possible they are using TIF money to pay for the demo. I don't know how to check that though. The City's Insights page on TIFs is just the Districts, not the TIF Projects.