Posted November 23, 200618 yr Work & projects have really been keeping me busyduring lunch which is usually when I take my little strolls - but here is a quick walk around the "City West" project (and nearby) in Cincinnati's west side. new (replacement) school Taft HS The old theatre at the end.. new & old merge this is near city west - just an odd old church building, now a home I guess. it almost looks like a spanish mission i dig the weathered door this church seems to be staying i'm in luuuuvvvvv Taft HS and Music Hall in the background great sign Taft HS football stadium in background I think some good stuff is going to happen here - on Race, south of 12th a few from my window.... ahhhhhh peace -
November 23, 200618 yr Every one of your threads is such a treasure...just wow. That sunset shot with P&G and the Daniel Carter Beard - that is just gorgeous! You could frame that one and sell it - I'd buy one! I too dig the weathered door, since you mentioned it - but I dig it more because of the almost shocking contrast between that beautiful old door and the super deco-looking "920" address plaque - but I guess both could be from the 1930's:
November 23, 200618 yr Every one of your threads is such a treasure...just wow. Agreed. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 24, 200618 yr Great shots, thanks for posting. I thoroughly enjoy all your lunch strolls. I remember going to quite a few movies at the old Regal theatre back in the day. Great times, a truly inter-active experience.
November 24, 200618 yr That sunset shot with P&G and the Daniel Carter Beard - that is just gorgeous! You could frame that one and sell it - I'd buy one! Thx Riverview - price is $.02. (that's a sunRISE BTW!) ;) Where do i find laurel park road? Laurel Park (and Lincoln homes) were all found along Ezzard Charles Dr. between I-75 and Central Parkway. Built primarily in the 1930's I think they replace a vast track of what I think was slum and near slum shacks and row houses. These 'projects' were I believe pretty well thought of and desireable at the time, but over time they became increasingly dangerous, etc. (no commentary as to why here). It has been just over the last few years that they were demolished and now being replaced by what you see in this thread. Great shots, thanks for posting. I thoroughly enjoy all your lunch strolls. I remember going to quite a few movies at the old Regal theatre back in the day. Great times, a truly inter-active experience. I would LOVE to get in that building one day. It used to have jazz acts there I understand. It also says "Domino" on it - boarded up tight now.
November 25, 200618 yr Fantastic!!! I love the variety of building styles done in the single development...one of the few new projects around that pays attention to urban design and neighborhood character :clap:
November 26, 200618 yr That Regal building could be the linchpin for that entire area. Have there been any plans for that building?
November 26, 200618 yr Great stuff! I definitely think the stuff in City West is a step in the right direction, quality-wise. Even comparing that with the newer St. Ann's Common and other Betts-Longworth stuff you can see that it's a little more focused and it appears to be better designed and built. Of course, none of them compare to the buildings you shot on Hopkins. Wow.
November 27, 200618 yr very impressive stuff...i would be very curious to see occupancy statistics such as who is moving there and how many are still vacant. the scale of this project is just very impressive and interestingly it was never surrounded with skepticism and doubt...it was just done (at least that i am aware of). i realize the hope six aspect helps.
January 31, 200718 yr Thanks for the photographs! I remember driving through the area when it was nothing more than Soviet-styled government housing tracts and it was a very sad (and scary!) sight to see. Taft HS (which I couldn't remember the name of until now) looked like a derelict. Although it was active, it sure looked abandoned (and inviting to me). Then one day I came by and most of them were gone. The school was still there, but in its place was a massive dirt field and the beginnings of foundations. A year later, I saw that new condos and townhomes were going up and they really do look nice! Varied styles, different cornices, awnings, etc. all give a different character to the buildings. My only complaint is the setbacks - they should have been varied to a certain extent - but it still looks very nice and a definite improvement! Once people live in them for ~20-30 years, you'll see the neighborhood gain some nice charm and character. It looks kind of "new" - but once people start adding their own special touches, it should bring some class to the area. At $160,000 start... that is a steal. Are there sections devoted to Section 8 housing or is it all middle-income?
January 31, 200718 yr According to the info in this thread: There is no Section 8 in City West. It is funded under Hope VI, a different federal housing program. Not all of the units in the development are subsidized. The project consists of 1,022 townhomes: 250 (24%) are owner-occupied 338 (33%) are market-rate apartments 434 (42%) are subsidized apartments (data from City of Cincinnati website) I think there is also a requirement that you have employment if you're over a certain age, and if you're younger or don't have a job you have to show them you're in school (for the subsidized units). Leases are for 12 months or longer. In my mind, a much better model than Section 8. They have a leasing website but I can't find it right now.
February 1, 200718 yr Another aspect about the low-income housing in City-West: As a Hope IV project the applicants for the low income units must pass a criminal background check. What is being developed is a truly diverse mixed income neighborhood. I know some of my future neighbors in City-West work for UC, 5/3, and P&G. I will be living in one of the future buildings along Cutter.
February 1, 200718 yr I know some of my future neighbors in City-West work for UC, 5/3, and P&G. I will be living in one of the futrue buildings along Cutter. Congrats on your future place! Please post back how you like it after you move in. It looks like a nice community.
February 2, 200718 yr The executive director of CMHA talked to us the other day and students were asking some pretty hard-hitting questions. Prior, I didn't even know it was mixed income, I thought they were all market rate and I thought a lot of people must have been displaced after demolition. Apparently the most responsible tenants were allowed to move into the subsidized units and everyone else was given vouchers for section 8 housing elsewhere. When asked what the actual numbers,actual statistics regarding how many of the market rate units are occupied, he pretty much spun a web of BS and avoided answering it, leading me to believe they're having problems with the market rate properties. The closest he got to statistics was mentioning the diverse population moving in, black, white, gays, etc. I believe Drees has starting prices somewhere around 350k which many believe is much too high for whats being offered. The business district didn't have anything occupied besides a PNC bank in his slides. Does anyone know if anyone else has signed on? I know the businesses move in after most of the units are occupied. I really hope this area is a success and continues to, so that it can be a model for future mixed income development 'working'. I like the little art deco elements, appropriate for its proximity to union terminal :]
February 2, 200718 yr I believe Drees has starting prices somewhere around 350k which many believe is much too high for whats being offered. Are you referring to City West? 350K is much higher than what they are asking. I thought the starting point was $175K
February 2, 200718 yr Unless I misunderstood what was said, the original pricing wasn't covering the costs and they're over 300k.
February 3, 200718 yr The prices start at 160,000 - 225,500 depending on the size and model. The price would go up as you customize. We customized our home with hardwood flooring and mid-range cherry cabinetry plus some other odds and ends and we found the pricing to still be reasonable. I have found the most expensive are going for right around 250,000-260,000 and that is for the largest (the Morlein plan). I don't think the pricing is out of line at all. Currently you get a 15 year tax abatement which is a nice bonus.
February 3, 200718 yr Hmm.. Not too bad, in my opinion. Are any of the storefronts occupied yet besides PNC?
February 26, 200718 yr I got an e-mail last week saying their were breaking ground on my building this week ( finally!!!). As they build, I will take picturesto post.
March 1, 200718 yr How many market rate units have been sold? Last I heard it was only 70. Curious to see if this type of mixed income new urbanism can actually be successful.
March 3, 200718 yr There are several units from the Betts-Longworth neighborhood on the MLS but very few from City West. Drees is being fairly conservative and only building as they have demand. The good news is they keep building.
January 29, 201015 yr Work & projects have really been keeping me busyduring lunch which is usually when I take my little strolls - but here is a quick walk around the "City West" project (and nearby) in Cincinnati's west side. new (replacement) school Taft HS The old theatre at the end.. new & old merge this is near city west - just an odd old church building, now a home I guess. it almost looks like a spanish mission i dig the weathered door this church seems to be staying i'm in luuuuvvvvv Taft HS and Music Hall in the background great sign Taft HS football stadium in background I think some good stuff is going to happen here - on Race, south of 12th a few from my window.... ahhhhhh peace - Great photos here! City West looks good.
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