12 minutes ago, tonyt3524 said:

I know it's just conceptual renderings but the walls on the roof of building C & D hopefully mean they'll be a rooftop amenity because that'll be a sweet view.

Yep. Looks like 8 stories and 10 stories above the Calhoun Street level. The views will be nice, but I think a clear view of the downtown skyline might be obscured by Christ Hospital.

4 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

 

Everything looks the same.  It either looks cheap-same or same-same.  These look no different than Schneider and Turner Hall, which are now 20 years old, + the Hampton Inn on Short Vine. 

 

Schneider/Turner Halls look nothing like the Hampton inn, so I'm not even sure what you're talking about, but these are massing models that have no materiality shown so you couldn't possibly compare them to those buildings yet anyway.

 

This site has been vacant for 20 years and filing it up will be great. Between this site and the Uptown project kitty corner from it there will be a couple thousand new units of residential on this intersection. 

In general I'm ok for it lacking a lot of commercial space. I think a lot of the newer construction in the neighborhood fails to lease out their spaces (likely the high rent, and college kids can't support 100 fast casual restaurants). But I do wish they could activate the main intersection of Vine and McMillan/Calhoun some. A podium of some sort with a patio that sits above the bus shelter would be nice if the city could be convinced to shrink the roadway a little.

is the image taken from the northwest?  making that street between buildings A & B Scioto? and building D is on the corner of vine?  if so, there may be hope for the corner and we just can not see it from this view.  

3 hours ago, Rabbit Hash said:

Yep. Looks like 8 stories and 10 stories above the Calhoun Street level. The views will be nice, but I think a clear view of the downtown skyline might be obscured by Christ Hospital.

Building C looks to be 11 floors. 

51 minutes ago, ryanlammi said:

In general I'm ok for it lacking a lot of commercial space. I think a lot of the newer construction in the neighborhood fails to lease out their spaces (likely the high rent, and college kids can't support 100 fast casual restaurants). But I do wish they could activate the main intersection of Vine and McMillan/Calhoun some. A podium of some sort with a patio that sits above the bus shelter would be nice if the city could be convinced to shrink the roadway a little.

 

How I know I'm old is that I never ate at a fast casual restaurant in college except while traveling. There weren't any in Portsmouth.

1 hour ago, ryanlammi said:

In general I'm ok for it lacking a lot of commercial space. I think a lot of the newer construction in the neighborhood fails to lease out their spaces (likely the high rent, and college kids can't support 100 fast casual restaurants).

Hopefully it's built out to be flexible in case needs change in the future, especially since we don't know exactly how BRT implementation will be done and how it could impact a busy intersection like this one.

Underwhelming.   This design feels small.    Such a prominent intersection.  I expected more.   Especially given the proposal from 5 or so years ago where someone was going to build a sky scrapper here to take advantage of the view.  

 

Building A does seem about right though.

45 minutes ago, JoeHarmon said:

Underwhelming.   This design feels small.    Such a prominent intersection.  I expected more.   Especially given the proposal from 5 or so years ago where someone was going to build a sky scrapper here to take advantage of the view.  

 

Building A does seem about right though.

I agree this site deserved something more signature, even if student housing the design should be more interesting, especially given the location and the site sitting vacant for the past 20 or so years. Maybe the buildings will look better in more cleaned up full renderings. The University is in a self inflicted scramble for housing and this watered down project is clearly a product of it.

 

When this project was announced some months back I commented somewhere that the price tag seemed very cheap for the amount of beds and scale of the site and boy o boy was I on to something lol.

Edited April 25, 20241 yr by 646empire

seems to me this corner/center/congruence of The Universal Umphalus deserves lots of consideration as the point of destination. It is the crossroads (no pun intended) of Vine, Short Vine, Jefferson, Taft, Calhoun, and McMillan. CUD should be renamed CHUB, Clifton Heights Und Beyond. A nod to German ancestry. Some traffic engineers should get involved with the near and distant future of this area. For example, if a streetcar from CBD used Vine as a one-stop destination or maybe two; the Zoo. Future streetcar routes could be added as needed.  Streetcars, buses, self-driving vehicles, personal autos, bikes, trikes, pedestrians, and possibly flying vehicles would be well served by a clear well-designed omni-usage concourse for all the different types of people movers that seem to be coming. The University, major hospitals, the Zoo, EPA, and last but not least the Innovation Center are all located in CHUB. So instead of building 4 rectangular dorms, the CHUB Hub would welcome travelers, seekers, the sick, and the oppressed. The introduction to the area should have a bit of flare/ambiance with concessions, air-conditioned waiting areas or at least out of the weather, and appropriate consideration for pedestrians. And behind it should stand an impressive structure. In this case a monumental dormitory.

4 hours ago, JoeHarmon said:

Underwhelming.   This design feels small.    Such a prominent intersection.  I expected more.   Especially given the proposal from 5 or so years ago where someone was going to build a sky scrapper here to take advantage of the view.  

 

Building A does seem about right though.

Underwhelming? There will literally be 1300 students in this small section of CUF. The only other proposal I remember for this site was a hotel a few years ago and that was only a few floors taller than building C. Id much rather have dense student housing over multiple buildings than one decent sized hotel. 
 

These buildings will stand out pretty well when coming from any direction (especially coming up vine). Could they all be a couple floors taller? Sure, but I’m just glad somethings finally going in this long overdue plot. 

Yeah you can call me a defeatist or small minded, but this IS a prominent intersection that has sat VACANT for 20 years, and this proposal isn't a 4 over 1 wood construction cheap developer special, its a legit high-rise. Materials can be updated, finishes can be refinished etc in the future but if this development can happen with this level of build density with what appears to be zero parking, its great and will contribute amazing density of car-less users directly at the top of the two BRT lines coming up Vine. 

I do also believe that the original $100m mark will end up being much higher. Even more so when you consider that the indoor practice field + performance center is $134m and over half of that building is just a field. 

Edited April 25, 20241 yr by tonyt3524

Business Courier reported $300 million for the new dorms.1300 dorms.Also 20k of recreational space and a UC police substation is planned

54 minutes ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

Underwhelming? There will literally be 1300 students in this small section of CUF. The only other proposal I remember for this site was a hotel a few years ago and that was only a few floors taller than building C. Id much rather have dense student housing over multiple buildings than one decent sized hotel. 
 

These buildings will stand out pretty well when coming from any direction (especially coming up vine). Could they all be a couple floors taller? Sure, but I’m just glad somethings finally going in this long overdue plot. 

 

Same. This seems very prominent. Hey, we all love tall buildings but this seems worth the 20 year wait, in Cincinnati terms. 

On 4/24/2024 at 4:13 PM, jack.c.amos said:

is the image taken from the northwest?  making that street between buildings A & B Scioto? and building D is on the corner of vine?  if so, there may be hope for the corner and we just can not see it from this view.  

Yeah that's my guess, image looking south-east. The buildings would read ABCD left-to-right if the plan is oriented with standard north up. 

Jim Grau gives $5M for Lindner College of Business, UC Athletics

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Apr 26, 2024

 

A University of Cincinnati alumnus and businessman has given $5 million to the school earmarked for UC Athletics and the Lindner College of Business.

 

Jim Grau, a Cincinnati native and Moeller High School graduate, graduated from UC in 1973. He is the retired president and CEO of Cross Match Technologies, a biometric identity firm, and a high-ranking veteran of numerous other manufacturing and engineering firms.

 

Grau made the gift last October. It will be used in part to support the Center for Professional Selling in the business college, which will be renamed the Grau Center for Professional Selling.

 

MORE

17 hours ago, ucgrady said:

Yeah you can call me a defeatist or small minded, but this IS a prominent intersection that has sat VACANT for 20 years, and this proposal isn't a 4 over 1 wood construction cheap developer special, its a legit high-rise. Materials can be updated, finishes can be refinished etc in the future but if this development can happen with this level of build density with what appears to be zero parking, its great and will contribute amazing density of car-less users directly at the top of the two BRT lines coming up Vine. 

Agreed with your points. One clarification: there will be a small number of parking spaces on site, but it appears to be all structured and will probably be hidden from the Calhoun side. The Business Courier article said this about parking:

 

Quote

 

It will allow Turner Construction to execute an early site development package and start site work including excavation, installing site utilities, constructing a parking podium to support the housing and ordering long-lead systems and equipment.

...

“Block 1” to the east will feature three buildings of traditional university housing with connected ground-level common space, a campus recreation/fitness center and 125 to 200 structured parking spaces, according to previous board documents.

 

 

Edited April 26, 20241 yr by jwulsin

Looking at that intersection of Vine and McMillan... it really makes me hope the CVS and PNC Bank sites (shown in red) can be acquired and redeveloped in a way that connects better to campus. Especially with the future developments from Uptown Rents (shown in green) on both sides of McMillan, that area has the potential to be a lively corridor. I wonder if Uptown is trying to make their sites mixed use, and if so, perhaps they could accommodate the CVS and PNC in one of their new buildings?  

 

Note: just because I'm lazy, the green includes some properties that Uptown doesn't own, so the Uptown development might not encompass all that space. 

 

I'm curious if previously planned hotel by Kroger is still being considered or maybe they're looking to incorporate it into one of these sites instead. I really wish one or more of these developments would add in some non-student housing so the summers aren't so dead and hurt the sustainability of some of the area restaurants, etc.

Edited April 26, 20241 yr by tonyt3524

6 minutes ago, tonyt3524 said:

 non-student housing 

Who would that appeal to? And what's the distinction between housing for students and housing for non-students?

I also like the idea of diversifying the population base in that area, for the sake of the local economy and the year-round vibrancy. In other cities, I've seen some neat projects near universities target empty nesters and independent/assisted living, touting the benefits of being within walking distance of the campus for arts events, auditing of courses, and just. You can live car-free (or car light) and enjoy a real wealth of amenities within a half-mile radius. 

Maybe in 15 years Kroger can tear down the terrible suburban store they just rebuilt and replace it with something urban!

1 hour ago, zsnyder said:

Who would that appeal to? And what's the distinction between housing for students and housing for non-students?

 

Well I'm not smart enough in this industry to know who or how they would go about it, but like jwulsin said I think there needs to be a strategy or plan to attract residents in these developments that aren't gone from late April to mid August every year. Obviously this specific development is owned/developed by UC, but The District and other projects are not. Maybe the addition of a few more hotels would help? Like I said, not my field but just my thoughts as somebody who has worked on/next to campus for the last 10 years.

Edited April 26, 20241 yr by tonyt3524

It's definitely a good goal. UC thankfully has a fairly large summer student population, thanks to several factors such as the co-op system and simply people signing 12 month leases and taking advantage of that and staying around in the summer even if they're not in classes.

 

But diversifying the population adds stability to the commercial areas around campus. The amenities a campus provides are unique and there are tons of other populations that could benefit from them. As mentioned, the elderly often have very similar needs outside of the home as students. These things only serve to make Uptown a better neighborhood.

An added benefit of large student projects like this is that single family homes farther away from campus open up for families. We looked at houses in Clifton Heights but didn't want to be on an exclusively student street.

Man it would be really cool if we had that Streetcar Phase 1B extension connecting the 1300 students living at this site directly to Downtown and OTR.

3 hours ago, jwulsin said:

Note: just because I'm lazy, the green includes some properties that Uptown doesn't own, so the Uptown development might not encompass all that space.

They also own some of the lots on Hollister Street. I would guess that they directly own about 75% of that massive block. There's only the 2 remaining building fronting McMillian that they don't own, and one of those is CMHA so I wouldn't be surprised if they get that one too.

On 4/24/2024 at 12:34 PM, Rabbit Hash said:

Yep. Looks like 8 stories and 10 stories above the Calhoun Street level. The views will be nice, but I think a clear view of the downtown skyline might be obscured by Christ Hospital.

Indeed (and i may be a bit too high here). Still pretty sweet though.

1 hour ago, SleepyLeroy said:

Indeed (and i may be a bit too high here). Still pretty sweet though.

This isn’t the site of the project tho, This is Auburn and McMillan. The project is further down at Vine and McMillan which will matter a lot for the views, Christ Hospital shouldn’t be in the way too much at that angle.

Edited May 2, 20241 yr by 646empire

while Christ would block the eastern half of the CBD, you only really see the tops of the buildings elsewhere, I'd think. This view to the west end is more interesting.

Edited May 2, 20241 yr by zsnyder

12 minutes ago, zsnyder said:

while Christ would block the eastern half of the CBD, you only really see the tops of the buildings elsewhere, I'd think. This view to the west end is more interesting.

Good looking still especially of the soccer stadium at night 

2 hours ago, zsnyder said:

while Christ would block the eastern half of the CBD

 

For his most recent miracle...

1 hour ago, GCrites said:

 

For his most recent miracle...

And He blocked the view of Great American and its treacly tiara

and it was good.

On 4/26/2024 at 10:00 AM, taestell said:

Maybe in 15 years Kroger can tear down the terrible suburban store they just rebuilt and replace it with something urban!

 

Yes! They should build a copy of 1010 On the Rhine where the Corryville store is. What's the point of BRT if it just goes by parking lots for cars.

The old law school is being demolished. Here's a photo from May 17th, 2024:

Before and after...quite the change on this corner. 

UC professor Amanda Webb granted $3M to research carbon emission reduction in Cincinnati

By Rowan Hetzer – Intern, Cincinnati Business Courier

Jun 11, 2024

Updated Jun 11, 2024 2:44pm EDT

 

A University of Cincinnati engineering faculty member has been awarded more than $3 million to reduce carbon emissions in the city.

 

Amanda Webb, an assistant professor of architectural engineering at UC, received three major awards to fund different projects set to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency of existing buildings in Cincinnati. 

 

Webb was granted the National Science Foundation CAREER award, the Department of Energy Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation award and the National Science Foundation Strengthening American Infrastructure award. She and her team competitively pitched these project proposals to receive each.

 

MORE

3 hours ago, tonyt3524 said:

Before and after...quite the change on this corner. 

Any idea on when the final phase of the district will start? 

Now hire RAMSA to replace it!

10 hours ago, columbus17 said:

Now hire RAMSA to replace it

Why RAMSA?

5 hours ago, jwulsin said:

Why RAMSA?

They design actual buildings. The modern junk just looks like glass box after glass box.

21 minutes ago, columbus17 said:

They design actual buildings. The modern junk just looks like glass box after glass box.

 Robert AM Stern, ladies and gentlemen. The savior of contemporary architecture, one collegiate building at a time.

This is UC campus we're talking about. Plenty of biting rejoinders to your opinion within a 5 minute walk.

 

I took this photo last Wednesday around noon.  30 cars at most in the Innovation building, more than a year after its substantial completion:

 

Shipping container?  Check.

String lights?  Check.

8 hours ago, Lazarus said:

I took this photo last Wednesday around noon.  30 cars at most in the Innovation building, more than a year after its substantial completion:

 

Shipping container?  Check.

String lights?  Check.

You have a bizarre obsession with these new buildings and I’m not sure why lol. You completely ignored a previous post telling you labs and other spaces are still under construction. You’ve gone from the buildings are completely empty to there was 30 cars or so on site.

 

Also this is in the wrong thread, this isn’t a UC project they are a tenant and these buildings are not on or adjacent to campus.

 

 

 

UC completes $85M renovation of key on-campus dorm building

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Jun 21, 2024

Updated Jun 21, 2024 7:23am EDT

 

A years-long effort to renovate on-campus dorms at the University of Cincinnati is finally complete with the unveiling of Siddall Hall.

 

The $85 million project saw the 14-story, 111,989-square-foot residence hall on the southwestern corner of UC’s campus stripped down to the concrete skeleton and fully rebuilt.

 

The building is expected to receive a certificate of occupancy in the coming weeks. UC will host an official ribbon cutting Aug. 18.  Around 500 students will move in for the fall semester.

 

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UC, GE HealthCare, Children's partner on new cutting-edge research and development facility

By Lara Schwartz – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Jun 27, 2024

 

The University of Cincinnati is partnering with GE HealthCare and Cincinnati Children's Hospital on a new advanced imaging research and development center on the college's campus.

 

The UC Board of Trustees on June 25 approved a $9 million project for the formation of the new advanced imaging research and development center, which will allow clinical investigators from UC and Children's to work with GE HeathCare scientists to develop new MRI methods for the next era of health care, according to Anja Brau, a general manager at GE HealthCare.

 

The goal is to open the new facility early next year.

 

MORE

On 6/21/2024 at 11:38 AM, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

 

These now look amazingly generic.  Reminiscent of the Holiday Inn on W. 8th.  The switch from vertical lines to rectangles means that they look shorter. 

 

The tower came down on Saturday:

 

On 6/18/2024 at 9:41 AM, 646empire said:

You have a bizarre obsession with these new buildings and I’m not sure why lol.

 

 

 

 

Huge brand-new buildings sitting empty.   Somebody with no hesitation to dub these things an "innovation center" is losing big, big money.  Yet people with no connection to a project with "now leasing!" signs hanging on it insist that the buildings are full.  They're like rice cookers bringing innovations to a polite boil. 

 

Many single-family homes and small multifamilies were torn down for this botch.  Maybe they can be converted to affordable housing.