Check out this site for all the stuff going on in Clifton, it's very interactive, so spend some time there, the pics from the site won't paste.

 

http://www.chcurc.org/

 

 

Clifton Avenue across from McMicken Hall

There is almost too much going on up in that area. Atleast it will all look nice once its finished.

Even more plans for Clifton/Corryville.....

 

 

Uptown overhaul

Dan Monk

Courier Senior Staff Reporter

Short Vine might be going long.

 

 

A new master plan for the 12-block business district east of the University of Cincinnati calls for the sawed-off section of the city's most famous street to be extended southward through what is now the University Plaza shopping center.

 

The 46-year-old retail complex would be razed and replaced by a higher-density development under the University Village Urban Design Plan, expected to be submitted for Cincinnati Planning Commission approval next month.

Interesting. I never like that strip mall there.

That strip mall was owned by Marge Schott and there is now talk of redeveloping it.  In 1998 I suggested that as the site for the new Reds stadium but was laughed at.  If the Mt. Auburn light rail tunnel had been built, it would have had great transit access and garages could have been built where 5/3 bank is on Corry and CVS and that other bank south of WH Taft.  That location would have strengthened the Vine St. entertainment area and as importantly kept money from going to Kentucky.  A similar number of cars would come to Reds games as come to UC football games, so it's not as if the area can't handle it.  An I-71 interchange at Martin Luther King and turning McMillan one-way westbound for 30 minutes after each game would improve traffic flow.  And Schott already owned the property so it had that advantage over the Broadway Commons site. 

BTW, if no one's had the opportunity to read the University Village Urban Renewal Plan, you can find it here.  There are tons of renderings, maps, ideas, etc.:

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/pages/-7760-/

 

Yeah check those renderings out and compare the details to what's on campus currently.  I think you'll notice a little artistic license.

After reading those plans, I've noticed that the urban planners responsible sure are good at coming up with euphemisms to describe pre-existing conditions in a study area.

Absolutely.

That article talks about Holy Grail like it's new.  In fact it was there a few years ago but suffered some business issues and was forced to close.  It recently reopened and is providing some much needed drunken life for those people who engage in that sort of thing.  Me personally not into the bar scene I don't drink and I like to actually dance with girls not stare at them.

 

But anyway...

UPDATE:

 

On 3/23/05, city council unanimously approved (Tarbell was absent) the University Village plan as the working document for Corryville:

 

Item #: 200509639

ORDINANCE, submitted by Valerie A. Lemmie, City Manager, on 02/24/2005, approving and adopting the Corryville University Village Urban Renewal Plan as the City's planning guide for the Corryville Neighborhood Business District and as the City's Urban Renewal Plan for the elimination of blight in the Corryville University Urban Renewal Area.

 

Item Status/Referral/Recommendations:

PASS

*** PASSED 0114-2005

 

 

 

One particularly blighted building at the corner of Vine and Corry is being torn down by Corryville Econ Dev Corp soon:

 

Not sure if this building is going to be reused or replaced, but the Corryville Economic Development Corp bought this building at Charlton and Vine (2634 Vine) for $225,000.  It had been vacant and on the market.

The CEDC recently purchased the four lots of 2906, 2910, 2916 and 2920 Vine St. for $600K each.  These four lots make up a blighted-looking detached structure set back from the sidewalk.  My guess is that it will be torn down.

 

That brings the total of parcels the CEDC controls in Corryville to near 40.

That was the smallest Perkins ever and the service was especially terrible.  Hung out there many times in high school after all-ages shows at Bogart's or Sudsy's. 

^ Yep...that was it.

 

That block is envisioned as residential, at a higher density than what would be in other places that aren't along Vine or Jefferson.

Demolition:

 

* CEDC is going to tear down this building at 2728 Vine St., or at Vine and Daniels.  It's a shame they couldn't incorporate it into their plans.

It was ok to look at but since there was nothing there that's pretty much all you could do.

* Major renovations (valued at $60K) are being done on the units at 9-11 E. University Ave.

Riordan to oversee Corryville redevelopment

Dan Monk

Senior staff reporter

 

 

Former Cincinnati Finance Director Tim Riordan has taken the helm of a nonprofit development corporation near the University of Cincinnati, a move that could accelerate the revitalization of the Corryville business district.

 

The move also could produce a new music festival. Riordan hopes by spring to launch a festival he described as a cross between Jammin' on Main and the Midpoint Music Festival.

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2005/08/15/tidbits1.html

I mentioned the building at 2728 Vine St., the old Turner Hall (Vine and Daniels).  It appears I was wrong about them tearing it down.

 

This blurb appeared in the article posted by The_Cincinnati_Kid in the Calhoun Street thread a few days ago:

 

Reardon said his nonprofit organization also has allocated the money for the $4 million renovation of Turner Hall at the corner of Vine and Daniels streets into 20,000 square feet for an urban design center, a storefront, meeting space and seminar space.

 

That's good to hear because they have been discussing using the Turner Hall space since at least 2001.  I think originally they had planned for it to be a space for live theater.

 

CEDC is going to demolish the following single-family houses that don't fit into their future plans.  The permits have been approved for Glendora, pending for Vine:

 

* 2613 Glendora Ave. (1912)

 

* 3012 Vine St. (1911), purchased for $106,000 by CEDC in June

 

Grasscat, who is CEDC?  Are they governmental or quasi-governmental, private?

Corryville Economic Development Corporation is a community group.  I don't believe they are governmental in any way--they are completely or nearly completely volunteer.

 

They facilitate redevelopment efforts by buying properties, finding financing, etc.  What they are doing is similar to what's being done in Camp Washington with the housing rehabs or in the Cedar Grove area of Price Hill with Price Hill Will.

UC funds CEDC projects, thus can direct what is and isn't done.  UC doesn't want their campus to be surrounded by slums, so they have taken initiatives like this. 

Vine Street Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (University Village Association) bought 3016 Ahrens Ave. in September and is going to tear it down.  They also picked up a vacant lot at 2723 Van St. a couple of weeks ago.

 

So they are starting to slowly assemble properties.

 

Here is 3016 Ahrens if you are interested.  It's a two-family:

 

 

 

To parties interested in the Short Vine area,

 

 

 

The Short Vine Development Company (formerly CEDC) owns and has been

renovating the Turner Hall for completion in July, 2006 to be leased to UC

for studios for graduate design students, the Niehoff Urban Design Studio,

apartments for visiting professors and hopefully a coffee shop.

 

At 7 this morning(Dec 16, 2005) the construction foreman discovered that the new east wall

on the building had a foundation failure causing a serious structural

problem to the wall.  All authorities were notified and various

professionals were brought in to quickly assess the damages.  No one was

injured nor was their any damage to private property.

 

As I write this at 4 Friday afternoon, the wall is being torn down by

O-Rourke demolition contractors.  The demolition will continue into the

evening and tomorrow.  The City Building officials who are charged with

insuring public safety have been at the site all day to do just that.

 

Daniels Street will probably remain closed tomorrow and we hope that will be

all, but we are still dealing with unknowns so depending on what ultimately

needs to happen to insure safety, it could stay closed longer.

 

It is a disappointing temporary setback.  Our plan is to go back and redo

the work and a planning meeting with the designers is scheduled for Monday

to begin the process.

 

Tim Riordan

^ Oh yeah...thanks for posting that!  That is definitely a shame and I really liked that building.  I was happy that with all of the change that's set to come in the area, that there was still a place left for a building like that to function.

 

I went by the site today (sans camera).  The site is dramatic, however the main part of the building at the corner, looks like it will be salvaged.  The collapse was in the rear, which was a large gymnasium. They are frantically trying to determine what to do with the building.

If they could save the facade, that would be fantastic.

FANTASTIC!!!  From the 2/6/06 Cincinnati Business Courier:

 

 

Insider

Turner project still on, despite wall collapse

Dan Monk

 

The falling wall at Turner Center will add about $850,000 to its price tag but the development group in charge of the project is hoping insurance companies for various contractors will pick up the tab.

 

That's the word from Tim Riordan, director of the Vine Street Community Urban Redevelopment Corp., or V-CURC, a nonprofit bankrolled by the University of Cincinnati to redevelop real estate in the Vine Street business district. The Turner Center project involves the renovation of a 120-year-old property, parts of which were designed by famous Cincinnati architect Samuel Hannaford.

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/02/06/tidbits1.html

 

I'd say if you were a betting man and you believed that the University Village plan was going to come to fruition within your lifetime, $250K-$300K wouldn't be a bad bet.

^ any insight on the university village plan?  is it a real possibility?

^ I don't have any personal knowledge, no.

If this is the same thing as the 'Short Vine' plan then it is a reality.  Charlton Place is the first aspect of this plan.  Here is some information on the project.  I did some work with this area in a studio project last year.  This is also part of the Uptown Consortium's plan for Uptown.

 

Here is the site plan:

 

Case Study photo of what the new transit center would look like:

This was on the first page of the thread.  It's a link to the plan:

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/pages/-7760-/

Also posted in the Calhoun Street and Avondale Vision Plan threads.

 

 

Uptown calls for city to put more money into initiative

Cincinnati Business Courier - August 18, 2006

by Lucy May and Dan Monk

Senior Staff Reporters

 

The redevelopment boom that has changed the face of neighborhoods near the University of Cincinnati needs a massive dose of city funding to stay on track.

 

Tony Brown, CEO of the Uptown Consortium, said a city investment of $50 million would jump-start $300 million in new development in Avondale, Corryville and Clifton Heights. Brown wants the city to issue bonds and spend federal grant money on roadwork, sewer improvements and financing gaps on a trio of major development initiatives along Burnet Avenue, Calhoun Avenue and at the University Plaza shopping center at the corner of McMillan and Vine streets.

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/08/21/story2.html?b=1156132800^1332951

 

This is VERY encouraging news.

 

Plaza sale could bring changes to Short Vine

BY DAN MONK | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

October 5, 2007

 

UPTOWN - The liquidation of real estate assets by the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation could bring major changes to the Short Vine business district near the University of Cincinnati, [glow=yellow,2,300]including a reconnection of Vine Street through the University Plaza shopping center[/glow].

 

The charity formed by the late Cincinnati Reds owner agreed to sell the seven-acre retail center, anchored by a Kroger store. Attorney Tom Donnellon said the property is one of several the foundation is selling. Others include Schott's Indian Hill home and retail centers in Mason, Eaton and Huber Heights.

What other stores used to be in University Plaza?

There is currently a Blockbuster and some other random crap.  It is also the location that the infamous Vertigo night club called home.

This is VERY encouraging news.

 

Plaza sale could bring changes to Short Vine

BY DAN MONK | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

October 5, 2007

 

UPTOWN - The liquidation of real estate assets by the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation could bring major changes to the Short Vine business district near the University of Cincinnati, [glow=yellow,2,300]including a reconnection of Vine Street through the University Plaza shopping center[/glow].

 

We already have a 5/3rd right on Calhoun like 500 feet away. Why would they want a location there? Haven't they already tapped into the market of student over-draft fees conveniently paid for by their parents? (LOL).

 

I don't see how the expansion of Kroger would necessarily help Short Vine but it would definitely be nice if it was updated. If Kroger saw densely populated areas as an indicator of a good market then the store in OTR wouldn't be in the condition it's in. Granted OTR is a bad neighborhood and their "shrink" as they like to call it (stolen goods) is probably higher, Corryville isn't a walk in the park either. Like I said, with poor people recieving food stamps I don't see how a Kroger anywhere isn't profitable but I guess I could be wrong. If anything, new housing in that spot would help Short Vine more than a Kroger.

if they do this right they can have a strong anchor at the north and south ends of corryville.  I would think 6 story mixed use for the site

Here is what the Uptown Consortium envisions for the area (the connection of Vine to Short Vine is open to modification in their plans):

Wow, that would be nice!

Rando- is there anyway to get a more detailed version of those renderings?  Its impossible to tell what those buildings are or even what streets are shown on the overhead view.

Rando- is there anyway to get a more detailed version of those renderings?  Its impossible to tell what those buildings are or even what streets are shown on the overhead view.

 

Yes...what I'll do is upload them to my Photobucket account latter tonight and then place a brief description next to each of them.

 

You might also want to try contacting Janelle Lee from the Uptown Consortium.  You may be able to get some additional information from them.

This first image is the site plan for the proposed changes in the Short Vine area.  Some of this has already changed somewhat with how Charlton Place ended being built.  That project is not exactly what this plan called for, but it is in line with the general size/scope for the area.  Essentially this plan shows the redevelopment of everything except for the buildings actually fronting on Short Vine.  Everything else would go (very doubtful that, that is actually going to happen).

 

This next vignette is looking North-Easterly, and you can really pair those buildings up with the site plan above.  This is the subject area that is under discussion right now for the redevelopment of University Plaza/Kroger.  It also shows a MUCH nicer looking CVS Pharmacy than what is actually there right now across the street on the corner of Taft & Jefferson.

 

Finally you have this rendering which I have quite honestly never been sure of what it depicts...but it sure as heck looks cool.  I'm guessing that it is just showing the types of design/planning concepts they are hoping to see.

 

EDIT: Updated Site Plan

Bring back Top Cat's and Sudsy's!!!

That is a really cool layout. I take it that big building is a Kroger (in the spot where the current one exists?)

While I am interested in what they have planned, I don't quite understand it.

 

What do they mean by "reconnect Short Vine to Vine"?  Vine St doesn't really stop...it becomes Jefferson for a short while.  To connect Vine St and Short Vine at the Southern end, you would have to demolish University Plaza.  The road would go right through there, unless some major realignment is involved.