^The latest article explicitly said it would be saved.  Do you know otherwise?

Hmm, my bad. I really just thought they were letting the building deteriorate. They certainly didn't seem like they were going to save it during the four years I was at UC.

 

I didn't read the article because I avoid feeding ad revenue to the Enquirer. I guess that leaves me uninformed and in no position to engage in intelligent conversation! :lol: You know, because the Enquirer is so good at informing the public.

 

Well, that's really good news to me, then. I love that building!

Here are some photos of Wilson if anyone is interested: http://zfein.blogspot.com/2009/09/wilson-auditorium-revisited.html

 

These are more than a few years old now.

Nothing like taking a biology final in Wilson with a clipboard on your lap!

I'm thinking all this talk about Wilson Auditorium belongs in a different thread...

I'm thinking all this talk about Wilson Auditorium belongs in a different thread...

 

This is true, do we currently have a spot for Wilson?

 

In response to mcadrenaline.  As far as I know there is no timetable yet, it is merely in the plans.  One of the DAAP design studios this summer looked at some possibilities for its re-use.  I think the University plans on at least finishing the current renovations (Proctor Hall, the Three Two Sisters, French Hall, and probably the Law School project, before starting on anything else.

 

In response to natininja, the plan has actually been to demolish Wilson Hall for some time.  It was part of the 2000 master plan, and former University Architect Ron Kull was determined to tear it down.  Apparently Ms. McGrew is more open to finding a new use for it.  That (in addition to the fact that there are no funds to tear it down and build a whole new building right now) is one major reason that plans have changed.

 

 

So, are they gonna start this project or not? I pass the location almost daily and still no signs of activity except a couple of new telephone poles laying on the ground.

They are probably having trouble with letters of intent and financing.

That sucks. It's an awkward space for a field. I hope they can get it together soon.

This project has been, by and far, one of the most over-hyped and under-delivered projects in the city since I moved to Cincinnati years ago. There are plenty of other developments that have been conceived and actually built in the time that this one has been stalled. It's incredibly frustrating because this piece of land sits in one of the most crucial, heavily-trafficked areas for UC but is a sad reminder of how much work Uptown still needs.

This was posted in August 11:

 

http://www.uptowncincinnati.com/news/articles/construction-university-square-loop-begin-fall

 

No action yet. I guess they can still start this fall since there are a couple months of fall left. We shall see.

Meanwhile, some equipment and fencing has shown up in the lot of the Shields school on Vine St., although I doubt work on that project is actually starting. 

I saw that when I was at Island Frydays a few days ago.

Three more tenants sign on at U Square @ the Loop

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2011/10/31/three-more-tenants-sign-on-at-u.html?ed=2011-10-31&s=article_du&ana=e_du_pub

 

"Great Clips, DiBella’s Old Fashioned Submarines and Firehouse Subs will all be opening locations at the $70 million U Square @ the Loop mixed-use development near the University of Cincinnati. The project is a joint venture between Al Neyer and Towne Properties LLC. SmashBurger, Noodles & Co., Qdoba and a hat store called Lids are four of the 11 retailers that have signed intent letters to fill slots in the 80,300 square feet of retail planned at U Square."

Noodles and Qdoba are big draws for out of town students.  NOW BUILD THE DAMNED THING ALREADY!!!

Needs moar subs.

Hmm, I guess my days off Short Vine in the mid-2000s were the last days of grimeschool at UC. I liked grimeschool. This new stuff is like, Oakley stuff, which is more fun when you're 30.

I can't understand the need (or market feasibility) of MORE sandwich places. I was really hoping that this development would start to fill the gaps of services and retail that the area sorely lacks and would support, ie. dry cleaning, cheap clothing (H&M, Old Navy), home goods, health & beauty (GNC, Sephora, Ulta), etc etc.

 

It was also reported awhile back that Mellow Mushroom was in, what happened to that? Changed their mind due to Adriatico's moving across the street now?

I can't understand the need for more pizza places either, for that matter. Or is there always room for more pizza places around a university campus?

I've always thought that a Winking Lizard Tavern would be a great fit for U-Square, or at least somewhere else around UC. It's a Cleveland-based chain with 12 locations in Cleveland/Akron and a pair in Columbus. With a ton of Cleveland-area students at UC, and that number increasing every year, it would probably be a popular spot.

This isn't the place to be starting a Cincy vs. Cleveland debate...

 

...Or a debate about college students. Talk about that stuff in the urban bar!

 

UC area project to start at last

3:44 AM, Dec. 11, 2011

Written by

Laura Baverman

 

CLIFTON HEIGHTS — Ten years after city planners pegged four acres between Calhoun and McMillan streets in Clifton Heights for a multimillion dollar redevelopment, construction on U Square at the Loop is set to kick off in January.

 

The $78 million complex, to include offices for the University of Cincinnati, 161 market-rate apartments atop retail stores and restaurants, parking garages, a hotel and a park, will be the largest local project besides The Banks to break ground since the recession. It’s scheduled to open by school’s start in 2013.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111211/BIZ01/312110019/UC-area-project-start-last?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that construction will begin on this $78 million development next month. The project will include 161 apartments, a park, hotel, 40,000 square feet of office space, approximately 700 parking spaces in two garages, and street level retail. Developers say that a letter of intent has been signed for a 100-110 room hotel and that 4EG will open a 7,500-square-foot restaurant/bar.

 

Full Story: http://cin.ci/sQpUWV

I really, really hope that the developers are able to attract some quality clothing retailers. Cincinnati's urban core is severely lacking when it comes to retail clothing operations, and I think an area adjacent to a 40,000 student university could attract an H&M or a Uniqlo at the very least.

^This is the only thing I REALLY want to see in terms of what fills the space in this development. I HATE Kenwood Mall but unless you are a hipster and shop at American Apparel or Urban Outfitters there aren't any options for you. And Im not. The Foot Locker is certainly a step in the right direction but an H&M, American Eagle, or anything along these lines would be an amazing addition to the area. I have liked not needing a car since starting at UC 4 years ago and this would remove one of the only reasons having one would be convenient.

^This is the only thing I REALLY want to see in terms of what fills the space in this development. I HATE Kenwood Mall but unless you are a hipster and shop at American Apparel or Urban Outfitters there aren't any options for you. And Im not. The Foot Locker is certainly a step in the right direction but an H&M, American Eagle, or anything along these lines would be an amazing addition to the area. I have liked not needing a car since starting at UC 4 years ago and this would remove one of the only reasons having one would be convenient.

 

I have long wondered why a place like Aeropostale hasn't opened up a location across the street at the existing Calhoun Street Marketplace (where Foot Locker is). I would imagine that reasonably priced, youth-focused clothing retailers would do tremendous business in this location.

 

By the way, I too was pleased to see Foot Locker open the Calhoun Street location. Much more is needed though.

As have I. It's not like there isn't a MASSIVE market for exactly that type of clothing in the area. The area can support more sub shops than one can count but the shopping scene is abysmal. Here's hoping that this changes with this development.

 

As for the Foot Locker it was definitely a welcome addition as it filled in the most obvious gap in UPA (in my opinion at least). The three spaces left are quite small and in less noticeable spots. Seeing the whole of UPA fill up over the time I have been at UC has been nice and I like the variety of establishments but like we've been saying a lack of clothing options is the one thing that it is sorely lacking.

can we please NOT start another conversation about spoiled kids and hipsters.  Those rants have been WAY too common on this thread/forum and it gets things off topic and frankly, is annoying.

_______________________

 

Has anyone seen renderings of the parking structures? Will they have retail space on the first floors?

Has anyone seen renderings of the parking structures? Will they have retail space on the first floors?

 

God, I hope so!

Abercrombie would flourish there.

I don't know about these big clothing retailers opening up near any campus. Campuses are not "sure things" most types of businesses. What is known to work near campuses? Food, bars, head shops, record stores, music venues, small specialty clothing stores (including team shops), book stores and laundromats. Even those aren't sure things... witness how many of those types of businesses close near campus. Campus rent is EXPENSIVE and you starve four months out of the year, including and especially Christmas. No Christmas means no profit.

Even OSU doesn't have any major clothing retailers even with 50% more students. You can't include the Lennox since it serves Grandview, Arlington, parts of the West Side, 5XNW, Marble Cliff, Clintonville, Victorian Village, Harrison West and Franklinton. While the neighborhoods around UC do have a sizeable population, overall they aren't nearly as spendy as the neighborhoods I listed and don't have as many permanent residents to spend money at Christmas. Rent at the Lennox is cheaper than than around UC or else there wouldn't be a sea of parking around it, I'm sure. Also, that strip mall on Olentangy has high vacancy.

^ Agreed.

Looks like they are looking for more national apparel retailers at the proposed development. That means a better chance of having that H&M or Aeropostale.

 

New leasing team named for U Square @ the Loop

 

Business Courier by Tom Demeropolis, Staff Reporter

Date: Friday, December 16, 2011, 11:08am EST

 

A nearly $80 million mixed-use development just south of the University of Cincinnati will break ground at the start of 2012, but the leasing team that has been working to bring restaurants and retailers to U Square @ the Loop has been replaced.

 

The project development team signed a new contract with Norwood-based Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate Inc. to complete the leasing of the retail space. The Heekin Team at Cassidy Turley    had been working to fill 80,000 square feet of retail space for four years, signing four tenants.

 

John Heekin, Andrew Sellet and Mike Heekin were able to sign deals to fill 12,700 square feet of space at U Square, with tenants that include DiBella’s Old Fashioned Submarines, Firehouse Subs, Great Clips, and a restaurant concept to be developed by Four Entertainment Group.

I still think a large pool hall would be great there.  Surround it by food.  Chaching.

I still think a large pool hall would be great there.  Surround it by food.  Chaching.

 

Are there still pool tables at Tangeman?

I still think a large pool hall would be great there.  Surround it by food.  Chaching.

 

Are there still pool tables at Tangeman?

 

There are 3 or 4 in the basement, in what is UC's best kept secret: Catskeller.  It's one of the best beer bars in the city, with 8 microbrews on tap at any time, and beers like La Fin du Monde for $4.25. 

I still think a large pool hall would be great there.  Surround it by food.  Chaching.

 

Are there still pool tables at Tangeman?

 

There are 3 or 4 in the basement, in what is UC's best kept secret: Catskeller.  It's one of the best beer bars in the city, with 8 microbrews on tap at any time, and beers like La Fin du Monde for $4.25. 

 

I remember when it first opened and they only had something like bud light. Sounds like it is much improved now! Good news.

I still think a large pool hall would be great there.  Surround it by food.  Chaching.

 

Are there still pool tables at Tangeman?

 

There are 3 or 4 in the basement, in what is UC's best kept secret: Catskeller.  It's one of the best beer bars in the city, with 8 microbrews on tap at any time, and beers like La Fin du Monde for $4.25.

 

It really is a hidden gem. Wish I still lived on Calhoun...

I still think a large pool hall would be great there.  Surround it by food.  Chaching.

 

Are there still pool tables at Tangeman?

 

There are 3 or 4 in the basement, in what is UC's best kept secret: Catskeller.  It's one of the best beer bars in the city, with 8 microbrews on tap at any time, and beers like La Fin du Monde for $4.25. 

 

I remember when it first opened and they only had something like bud light. Sounds like it is much improved now! Good news.

 

Yeah, they just had coolers with bottles in them. They had maybe one or two high-end beers available back when I went there. On test days we'd finish our tests early, go down there, drink a couple beers and go back to class for the last hour of lecture.

Maybe some sort of sporting venue decked out in Bearcat stuff only.  Almost like a flagship spot.  Sure there are other bars and such including the Catskeller but maybe one large central spot for all UC people to gather during game days and such.  Retired numbers, pictures, clothing, food etc.

Maybe some sort of sporting venue decked out in Bearcat stuff only.  Almost like a flagship spot.  Sure there are other bars and such including the Catskeller but maybe one large central spot for all UC people to gather during game days and such.  Retired numbers, pictures, clothing, food etc.

On the Big East Blog (ESPN) someone suggested the city give Burnet Woods to UC so they could build an enormous parking lot for tailgating.

 

Edit: I should clarify, it was a commenter and not ESPN staff.

On the Big East Blog (ESPN) someone suggested the city give Burnet Woods to UC so they could build an enormous parking for tailgating.

 

Haha... classy. Just what we need.... more sports politics in this town.  :roll:

That commenter needs a punch in the face and then some. How lovely it would be for a tailgater to get his wish, while I have overindulgent tailgaters *in my actual backyard*.

Construction to begin on $78M mixed-use development uptown

By: Nathaniel Hammitt

 

 

After lengthy delays, U Square at The Loop, a new mixed-use development planned for Calhoun and West McMillan streets just south of the University of Cincinnati’s campus, is finally set to begin construction in January.

 

For Clifton Heights, it means the largest development since University Park Apartments (UPA) was completed in the fall of 2005. But for residents, it will mean construction and traffic detours through much of 2012 that will transform a long-vacant piece of real estate into $78 million development.

 

The site once housed a smattering of drive-thru restaurants and a small collection of historic building stock, but was cleared in 2003 to make way for the development. The project then became entangled in a messy eminent domain case with Acropolis Chili and Inn the Wood restaurants which did not end until 2005 when UPA was completed across the street.

Looks like they should begin soon. Heavy equipment has been moved on site.

^I was about to come here and post the same thing. First actual activity at the site since they put up the signs two and a half years ago which is nice. I'm excited to finally see this eyesore turn into something. I was talking with someone who worked on the project at CR and they said that the material selections and such are of higher quality than The Banks and UPA so hopefully that means it will look better than those. I'm not holding my breath, but it seems like it is at least a possibility.

Pretty sure ground breaking is next week.

Is the bowling alley still in Tangeman?

No.

K- I just asked a friend for a confirmation:

 

January 25 at 10:30AM is the ground breaking.