I would really be appalled if Uncle Woody's was sold and closed.  Why would they possibly need MORE land for whatever project is on someone's dusty shelf?

Here's the scoop on Woody's

 

As far as I know it has not yet sold (and Buzzy is on speed dial on my phone ;)).  However, it is closed right now because a) the liquor license expired june 1, b) you have to pay your back taxes before you can renew, and c) they were hit with a larger than expected tax bill that it may well be hard for Buzzy to come up with the cash to pay.  Thats the story as it stands now.  Whether it will open again, well that is very much up in the air.  Absent some investors or a loan, I'm thinking its done.  Beginning of July will be when its known for sure due to deadlines on renewing the license.

That sounds really unfortunate.  However, if Woody's does go under, would it be necessary to tear down the building.  Surely another bar tenant could fill the space, no?

 

Oh, and sorry for initially assuming that the building would be razed if Woody's closed.  It just seems like there would be an excuse somewhere to do so.

Considering its in between Jimmy John's and Lance's, I don't think they'll raze it. Another tenant could take it over. Its not like its at the edge of the 'construction' zone.

Just consider it impulsing pessimism after witnessing so much having been torn down.  I'm sure I'm not the only one, even though it's unfounded. :)

 

 

Buzzy isn't the owner of the building, he leases it.  However, the owner has been trying to sell the building for some time.  But the owner's asking price is a bit on the insane side.  If it were to sell for the asking price, it would have to be one hell of a project to justify razing it.  Not may projects can afford to just toss more than half a mil as "acquisition costs."

 

I would expect a new bar tenant to move in (and perhaps someone to take over the Woody's moniker).

Buzzy isn't the owner of the building, he leases it.  However, the owner has been trying to sell the building for some time.  But the owner's asking price is a bit on the insane side.  If it were to sell for the asking price, it would have to be one hell of a project to justify razing it.  Not may projects can afford to just toss more than half a mil as "acquisition costs."

 

I would expect a new bar tenant to move in (and perhaps someone to take over the Woody's moniker).

 

is the property listed with somebody like CBRE? I'd like to see this listing.

 

I would think that, taxes aside, this place is profitable. Pretty much Thursday-Sun it's packed and all other times they do steady business. Woody's is pretty much a UC institution and extremely popular with Greeks so I'm assuming if it was ran right (no offensive to owners) it could be around for a long time to come.

Buzzy has looked into buying the building many times over the last 15 years or so, but as said above, the owner was asking a very unreasonable price.  This is the first I have heard of the tax issue and Woody's bing closed, very sad......,

Just think of the increase in GPA's across UC if it stays closed. That is in the area that it could be fixed up but it won't be torn down, though I guess you could fit a pretty cool loft type development in the lot, but I don't really see that happening.

I would expect a new bar tenant to move in (and perhaps someone to take over the Woody's moniker).

 

This is exactly what I expect to happen.  BTW, they are working on two retail spaces at University Park...one has a sign up as a new T-Mobile location (now hiring).  I'm not sure what the other space is going to be (immediately adjacent to the T-Mobile spot).  Both are small spaces.

btw, the back entrance to the former Hardee's is wide open as of the morning if anyone feels like some crack-den exploration in the heat....

Buzzy isn't the owner of the building, he leases it.  However, the owner has been trying to sell the building for some time.  But the owner's asking price is a bit on the insane side.  If it were to sell for the asking price, it would have to be one hell of a project to justify razing it.  Not may projects can afford to just toss more than half a mil as "acquisition costs."

 

I would expect a new bar tenant to move in (and perhaps someone to take over the Woody's moniker).

 

is the property listed with somebody like CBRE? I'd like to see this listing.

 

I would think that, taxes aside, this place is profitable. Pretty much Thursday-Sun it's packed and all other times they do steady business. Woody's is pretty much a UC institution and extremely popular with Greeks so I'm assuming if it was ran right (no offensive to owners) it could be around for a long time to come.

A frat hangout with magic soap in the basement which allows underage students to wash off their Xs. Of course it's profitable!

I have no problem letting the secret go since I'm 21 now and think underage drinking is bad.

Uncle Woody's is desperately in need of interior remodeling, especially the back room.  I imagine the opening of Mac's on McMillan hurt business because it is larger and looks cleaner.  I think a new owner could be successful at the Woody's location if the place looked a bit more respectable inside.

Uncle Woody's is desperately in need of interior remodeling, especially the back room.  I imagine the opening of Mac's on McMillan hurt business because it is larger and looks cleaner.  I think a new owner could be successful at the Woody's location if the place looked a bit more respectable inside.

 

I totally understand where you guys are coming from and agree; however, from a business standpoint it really does not make much sense to do any type of upgrades to a place like that. Kids are still going to come here no matter what as long as they can drink underage for cheap. The place does not need to be nice, so why bother spending that cash, you know?

Kids like dumpier places... it makes them feel like they're not getting ripped off.

^That's hilarious and true.  Not only that, but sometimes dumpier places give more of a welcoming feel than a remodeled place.  It might sound insane, but dumpier places can still be ran by good management and they have more "character" too.  Remember In The Wood? not an electrifying looking place by any means, but it had some of the best damn breakfast ANYWHERE.

It can't be as good as First Watch!

Hardees and Arby's were torn down today (yes, on the 4th of July).  I drove by last night and they were still standing, and when I was up in the area today, I noticed that they were demolished sometime during the day today.

 

 

Hardees and Arby's were torn down today (yes, on the 4th of July).  I drove by last night and they were still standing, and when I was up in the area today, I noticed that they were demolished sometime during the day today.

 

Thank goodness those things are gone.

Wow, I was commenting to a friend the other day about those eyesores. What will replace them? Grass lots?

The only thing standing is a walk-in cooler in one of the restaurants and a pile of debris. 

Wow, I was commenting to a friend the other day about those eyesores. What will replace them? Grass lots?

 

I'm gonna punch you for that one when I get back.  :box:

Hey, it can be like Lexington after we demolished the historic Phoenix Hotel for Wilkinson's World Coal Tower that never came to be. The lot lay in a garbage heap for a year. Because we were hosting the NCAA tourneys soon, we piled dirt over the debris and created Phoenix Park.

 

Of course, a new library and Park Plaza was built on the site, but much later. And a new Phoenix Park was constructed.

 

Plant some trees on this empty lot, or at least make it look somewhat decent!

Hardees and Arby's were torn down today (yes, on the 4th of July).  I drove by last night and they were still standing, and when I was up in the area today, I noticed that they were demolished sometime during the day today.

 

:clap:

one word:

 

FINALLY.

so do you guys think they were demolished for the sake of getting rid of a horrible eyesore, or is there any chance of construction starting soon?

 

I know the economy sucks and the housing market is terrible, but it seems like a student area would still be pretty stable in these respects...I mean kids still need somewhere to live, eat, shop etc and UC is only getting bigger each year...

I think we are getting closer to something being built, since the UC freshman class keeps getting larger and most of the retail spaces under University Park are filled at this point.  But I think, for now, it will just continue to sit empty.

so do you guys think they were demolished for the sake of getting rid of a horrible eyesore, or is there any chance of construction starting soon?

 

I know the economy sucks and the housing market is terrible, but it seems like a student area would still be pretty stable in these respects...I mean kids still need somewhere to live, eat, shop etc and UC is only getting bigger each year...

 

The demolition of these buildings makes the possibility of construction real.  Previously the project was stalled because of financing issues and the holdouts from the eminent domain case.  It seems that the eminent domain holdouts have now gotten some sort of closure since the buildings have been torn down.  I'm assuming someone just ponied up some more money for the properties and the owner went on their way.

 

The financing issue I don't believe is a problem anymore either.  So it is now up to Towne Properties and how quickly they want to move forward with a project their.  Ultimately there still has to be a rework of the project plan, but I would imagine that has been simmering on the back burner for Towne since they got the project.

 

Originally the plan was for condos there (not guided towards students), but I would not be surprised with this economy if it goes towards student apartments like the very successful University Park Apartments across the street.

I don't think student apartments are allowed to be built until Stratford Heights reaches 100%.  something about how the land lease agreements are written for UP and Stratford.

Stratford's numbers are difficult to accurately track.  I would imagine that they could be easily adjusted to come across as 100% even though they may not be 100% occupied.

^ Huh?

^Meaning, what is reported and what is reality could be two different things given how the process works.  Please correct me if I'm wrong though...you would know better than me.

Stratford Heights is almost like a dorm, where as University Park is more like actual apartments.  That's why I think Stratford Heights has had a hard time filling up.  I'm surprised that would prevent new apartments from being built on Calhoun.

First off Stratford is no where near full... they hover right around that 75-80% mark.  :|

 

There is nothing to stop Towne from developing apartments aimed at students, the thing that they are going to have to contend with is the fact that UP and Stratford are University Supported housing, meaning that they students are allowed to live there freshman year. Until the University sees Stratford Full, they probably would not support MORE student housing.

 

Also, the dorms are officially full already for next year, as is UP. Stratford is the only university housing available for students who don't have housing yet. The cards would definitely be stacked against Towne if they tried to go the student housing route without University support (financially and legal).

^Thanks for all the information...extremely helpful in sorting all this out.  I knew I could draw it out of you.  :-D

any new student apartments on Calhoun would probably kill Mcmillan Manor.  Aren't they still struggling too?

From what I've read and heard, residents haven't been very happy with McMillan Manor.  Combined with the fact that it's so far away from campus, I'm not sure why students would like there.

Isn't there a shuttle for MM?

Yah there is a shuttle... and a pool... and a taco bell accross the street... what more do you need :-D

MM is in such an odd spot with an overly high price point from what I've seen.

It does have a lot of amenities. Garage parking seems like a huge money pit to me, if you're a student living in the city; but some students simply can't live without their financed cars and expensive garages to house them when they should be worried about paying back their tuition. Sadly, a lot of parents approve of that expensive lifestyle because they think their kids are so much safer in cars and maximum security apartments.

I wouldn't read anything into these demolitions.

 

Nothing really has changed, other than the fact that ClifCor felt it was in their best interests to raze the blighted structures.  As recently as early this year, they were still looking to re-tenant them.

 

But they still own the land, and there is no sale pending that I know of.

 

CHCURC is still working with Towne on a partnership to develop a mixed-use project on the site.  Any final plan is still several months away.

>Sadly, a lot of parents approve of that expensive lifestyle because they think their kids are so much safer in cars and maximum security apartments.

 

Approve?  They pay for every last dollar of it. 

Will they be able to continue to do so? That is a question a lot of universities should be asking themselves right now, especially one's that practically encouraged parents to take out second mortgages or home equity loans to pay tuition.

Tuition is one thing, the room & board is another.  When I was a kid, I fully expected to live in a dump while I was in college because that's just how it goes.  But now there are many parents out there who put their kids up in these new apartment complexes, buy them new furniture, all this stupid new junk.  The biggest lie is people who get a pretty nice hand-me-down vehicle from their parents and then complain because they've got to pay their own insurance & parking pass.  Poor baby.   

The old middle eastern restaurant is becoming a Jerusalem Restaurant.  I don't know what's going on 2/3 doors down from there.

 

The new storefront (with the large windows) definitely looks 1,000 times better than what it was.

 

After 2 1/2 months of sitting there, it looks like they're making some more progress on that building.  The brick above the huge windows is being painted light blue.  Looks good.

Blighted Calhoun properties gone, redevelopment still in the works

http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/calhounstreet0715.aspx

Discussion relating to University Park Apts/Calhoun Street Marketplace has been split off into its own topic, and this particular discussion has been dedicated to any/all future discussions relating to the ongoing McMillan Park project.

Towne Properties will be attending a community meeting on September 11th to discuss their intentions, possibly some early renderings and to gather community input on the site.  Apparently this has more traction than what many people think.  I was also told that they should be presenting their time line for the development of this site.

Towne Properties will be attending a community meeting on September 11th to discuss their intentions, possibly some early renderings and to gather community input on the site. Apparently this has more traction than what many people think. I was also told that they should be presenting their time line for the development of this site.

 

is anyone planning on going to this? I would be there SO FAST if I was in Cincinnati that day. I'd really like to get the scoop on this project and I hope somebody can make it and report back. I wonder if they will have renderings???