Posted April 23, 200520 yr The CDDC is currently working on the Avondale Vision Plan, which would center mostly on (re)development of the neighborhood around Forest, Rockdale, Burnet and Harvey Avenues as well as the Avondale Town Center. There's a hell of a lot to read, but it can be found here: http://www.cddcinc.org/CurrentProjects/Avondale01.htm I'll post news and maps and stuff as I find them. Burnet Avenue Final Report
April 23, 200520 yr Also, the community council was supposed to vote on this on April 19th, but I don't know how that came out.
April 23, 200520 yr Okay...WTF! Granted, I'm sure it ALL won't come into fruitation but I'd be happy if ANY of it came! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 24, 200520 yr Speaking as a man who lives not too far from the area. This would be nice if it happened but this seems like a proposal and maybe a 10th of this will happen. Oh and the Avondale Community Council sucks they'd rather be on tv pretending then getting anything serious done.
May 24, 200520 yr I happen to know some people who are doing great things in the Avondale community...but they take time! The pretty stuff comes way later...there's lots of community-building and empowerment that needs to happen before anything like this can see the light of day.
May 24, 200520 yr By the way, if anyone has any photos of Burnet Ave. as it is today, I'd love to see them. I'd be looking to publish them in a newsletter that my non-profit is putting out soon (in far off NYC). Send me a personal message if you've got the goods!
May 25, 200520 yr Wnt on a bus tour last week of developments in the Uptown Area with many of the local developers like Miller Valentine and reps from the University reitereated that this will happen.
June 7, 200520 yr I caught this while flipping around on the channel 19 news last night. Sounds like this guy's getting things done: Making Dreams Come True In Avondale Shootings and murders tend to dominate the news headlines in some Cincinnati neighborhoods and the law-abiding majority in Avondale is tired of it. That's why FOX19 searched for something positive that's improving life in the community of 16,000. It didn't take long to find it. Click link for article. http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=3439414
June 24, 200519 yr BTW, just to update, a message from the president of the Avondale Community Council regarding the Burnet Ave. plan. This appeared in their June 2005 newsletter: Burnet Avenue Revitalization Strategy Moves Forward A Message from our President Avondale Community Council members voted to move forward with the Burnet Avenue Revitalization Strategy. We had a spirited conversation and would like to thank all who participated: including those who expressed other ways to do the project. In the end the members of the ACC decided that positive change on Burnet Avenue must move forward. The Urban Renewal Designation pertinent to the redevelopment was also passed with the boundaries as decided by the full Avondale Community Council and full body members. The blight study (based on the greed upon boundaries) is one element of the Urban Renewal Plan with the goal to limit and link the blighted properties with the redevelopment strategy. Now the real work begins to assure that with the transformation: dollars allocated within our community are spent to positively affect the lives of Avondale residents. Our Goals: • Clearly define the price points for the new housing developments and the affordable housing unit ratios. • Clearly define the City owned properties and city funding required to successfully implement the recommendations outlined in the Burnet Avenue Strategic framework. • Secure the future location of the ACC Pride Center. • Define the ACC Board role in all future implementations once funding is confirmed. • Define a list of current businesses on Burnet Avenue with the proposed business development retention, expansion and new business development opportunities. • Delineate and or quantify the number of potential part time and full time jobs once they are developed. • Include the role of our Churches and other service organizations in accomplishing their goals of Burnet Avenue. • Define the role of the Burnet Avenue Revitalization Strategy (BART) role in the implementation process. Our goal is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the CEO’s of the Uptown Consortium, The University of Cincinnati, The Health Alliance, Children’s Hospital, Tri Health and the Cincinnati Zoo defining Uptown’s commitment of all recommendations as outlined within the final strategic framework. This MOU will be our assurance for accountability and a basis for measurable outcomes that must positively affect the residents of Avondale. http://www.cddcinc.org/CurrentProjects/FilesAvondale/June%20newsletter%202005%20(2).pdf
August 9, 200519 yr Just an update on what's happening here...last Wednesday an ordinance was proposed that would give the city $12,500 (towards paying for city staff) from the Uptown Consortium to update the 1998 Burnet Avenue Blight Study. This should go through with no problems.
September 13, 200519 yr The ordinance I mentioned above passed at the 9/8/05 council meeting. It passed unanimously. Smitherman was absent, as he was down in Louisiana.
November 21, 200519 yr Status: 1) The NRSA application is still pending with HUD. I'm not quite sure how much money they are expecting from this. 2) Burnet Ave. will be the major focus and the centerpiece of the Avondale revitalization. I am unsure of the status of their selection of a preferred developer for the Burnet Ave. area. One was supposed to be selected this month. 3) The Avondale Town Center is scheduled to be expanded starting in May 2006. The expected cost is $263,000. 4) Parking, sewer and safety measures are being taken to help spur new development guided by the Avondale Vision Plan. The Uptown Consortium recently appointed a safety director for the NRSA.
November 21, 200519 yr Awesome....that area can use all the attention it can possibly muster from developers. The Zoo is working on some stuff...and it is good to hear that the surrounding area is putting some stuff together.
March 13, 200619 yr Avondale set for jolt of renewal Two projects to bring offices, condos, retail - and could spark more Cincinnati Business Courier - March 10, 2006 by Dan Monk Senior Staff Reporter Two developers will invest $26 million this year in a pair of medical office buildings on Burnet Avenue near the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, projects that could spark several additional housing, retail and commercial projects in the surrounding neighborhood. Click link for article. http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/03/13/story1.html
April 4, 200619 yr The City Planning Commission will consider the draft Burnet Avenue Urban Renewal Plan at its meeting April 7. The draft has already met approval by property owners within the boundary, and the Avondale Community Council. Informational meetings were held by the Uptown Consortium, and no opposition has been raised. Since those meetings, the draft plan has been passed around the various city departments for comments. Adoption of the draft plan as the official plan is expected to be approved. Implementation of the plan would take several years and would consist of five phases: * Phase 1: Along Burnet, bounded by Erkenbrecher, Harvey, Northern and Burnet. * Phase 2: Along Burnet, bounded by Northern, Harvey, Rockdale and Burnet. * Phase 3: Along Burnet, bounded by Rockdale, Harvey, Forest and Burnet. * Phase 4: East side of Wilson, between Northern and Rockdale. * Phase 5: The remaining residential areas along Hearne, Northern, Erkenbrecher, Rockdale and Forest. There is no timetable for its beginning, though, as you have seen in the above article, developers are already getting some of the ideas in the plan going. For those of you who haven't seen it: http://www.cddcinc.org/CurrentProjects/FilesAvondale/BurnetAveReport%20Final%204,14,05.pdf There are various other things to read about it, and the links are here: http://www.cddcinc.org/CurrentProjects/Avondale01.htm
August 11, 200618 yr Just to update this.... The city council has adopted, unanimously, the draft Burnet Avenue Plan as the official urban renewal plan for this area. They passed this emergency ordinance to speed the development of the office buildings mentioned in the March 13, 2006 Cincinnati Business Courier article, as well as to kick-start other smaller projects.
August 21, 200618 yr Also posted in the Calhoun Street and University Village 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. Click link for article. http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/08/21/story2.html?b=1156132800^1332951
September 24, 200618 yr There will be a ceremony regarding the expansion of the Avondale Town Center on September 28 at 10:30 AM, if anyone's interested. It's at 3543 Reading Rd. It's on a Thursday morning, which isn't convenient for anyone. Just thought I'd throw it out there.
September 24, 200618 yr In a document from the city manager. I forget how I came across it--somewhere on the city's website. Here's the link: http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/city/downloads/CDAP_Calendarofevents0906.pdf
November 2, 200618 yr $45M project set for Avondale Uptown Consortium touts community support BY JON NEWBERRY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER Development Map: http://news.enquirer.com/assets/AB48340111.PDF Uptown Consortium Inc. plans to begin construction next year on a $45 million mixed-use development intended to transform Avondale's blighted and crime-ridden Burnet Avenue business district. Click link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061102/BIZ01/611020333/1076/BIZ
November 2, 200618 yr This is GREAT GREAT news for the city...often times it is these city neighborhoods that are forgotten in the redevelopment mix (with much attention paid to Downtown, OTR, Westend, Eastend). Avondale could sure use a pick me up, and from a quick examination this project looks pretty solid!
May 2, 200718 yr At its April 18 meeting, City Council adopted a motion that could get the Burnet Avenue Urban Renewal Plan moving. The motion, which was first proposed on February 27 by Councilmember Laketa Cole, allows for a zoning study of the area bounded by Erkenbrecker, Burnet, Hickory and Harvey. (The Post office property is not included.) The study, to be done by the Department of Community Development and Planning (DCDP), will assess the zoning of properties within that area with the goal of changing it to a PD (Planned Development) zoning designation. A change to PD zoning would allow work to start on Phase I and Phase IA of the Burnet Plan. In the meantime, both the Uptown Consortium and the City are trying to gain control of all of the property within the boundary area, which is required for a PD rezoning. Four parcels--totalling 9.7 acres--belong to other owners. Only one of these parcels, on Harvey Ave, is needed for the project. Uptown Consortium is currently in contact with the owner and hopes to acquire it soon. The City Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to consider the zoning change on May 18. If the final parcel is not acquired by the Uptown Consortium prior to this meeting, a revision of the PD zoning would be required in the future. It is expected that the Economic Development Committee will hear the City Planning Commission's findings on June 19, and City Council will vote on June 20. WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE (looking east)
May 3, 200718 yr BIRD'S EYE[/url][/size][/b] (looking east) Can we create a motion that would ban all "Windows Bird Eyes" aerial shots? What about us Mac (superior OS) people?!
May 3, 200718 yr ^ That doesn't work on a Mac? I didn't know that. Name a quality program that works on Macs and I'll include that too.
June 23, 200717 yr City rezoning advances Burnet project Building Cincinnati, 6/20/07 Boundaries of PD 50: Click to enlarge Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously to create PD 50 (Planned Development District) in order to jumpstart the first phase of the Burnet Avenue project. The newly created district is 8.48 acres and is bounded roughly by Burnet, Hickory, Harvey and a line even with Maple Avenue. (See map.) The Burnet Avenue Urban Renewal Plan, which was approved in August 2006, advocated zoning changes that would allow for redevelopment, and suggested specifically that a PD designation would facilitate implementation of the plan. PD zoning allows for a wide range of uses and puts the project under the supervision of the City Planning Commission. The previous zoning was RMX Residential Mixed District and CN-M Commercial Neighborhood Mixed District. Neither would allow the proposed uses. Phases 1 and 1A of the project include mixed uses along Burnet Avenue and condominiums along Harvey Avenue, with a parking garage in between. The commercial development along Burnet will consist of two buildings. A six-story medical building (125,000 sf) will be at the southwest corner of the site. A three-story office/retail building (45,000 sf) will occupy the corner of Burnet and Northern.* A pocket park will be created in between. The condominiums will consist of up to seven buildings with up to eight units each. Parking will be accessed from behind the homes via a private drive. The parking garage will be six levels and 1,450 spaces, accessible from Northern Avenue. The entire development will be tied together with a new streetscape. Since most of the area is now vacant lots, there was no neighborhood objection to the change. A final development plan still must be submitted to the City Planning Commission and must be approved by City Council. Phase 1 and 1A site plan, north at left: Click to enlarge Early condo rendering WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW (looking east) GOOGLE AERIAL MAP Building Cincinnati: Burnet Avenue Zoning Study (5/1/07) * In the future, Northern Avenue will be extended all the way to Harvey Avenue. A linear park connecting Burnet and Harvey will be created between Hickory and Northern. http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/06/city-rezoning-advances-burnet-project.html
June 29, 200717 yr City sells land to Uptown Consortium for $1 Building Cincinnati, 6/25/07 The City voted unanimously to sell land it owns in the Burnet Avenue plan area for $1. The buyer, Uptown Consortium (through its development arm NTP Development, LLC), has been assembling land in the area as part of the Burnet Avenue Urban Renewal Plan. The appraised value of the land is $1.3 million, but it is vacant and not is generating any revenue. It is estimated that the developer will make $5 million in infrastructure improvements to the site, including roads and utilities. The emergency ordinance also allows for a quick transfer of the property that will allow NTP Development to receive New Market Tax Credits, which are targeted to development projects in low-income communities. The land is part of a $52 million mixed-use project phase which will include two office buildings along Burnet Avenue, condominiums along Harvey Avenue and a 1,450-space parking garage. Building Cincinnati: City rezoning advances Burnet project (6/20/07) Building Cincinnati: Avondale: Burnet Avenue Zoning Study (5/1/07) http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/06/city-sells-land-to-uptown-consortium.html
September 23, 200717 yr UPDATE: I believe this passed, but I have not verified that. I see no reason why it wouldn't have, though. PC to consider final plan of first Burnet phase Building Cincinnati, 9/20/07 On Friday, the City Planning will consider the final development plan for Phase I of the Burnet Avenue project. The $52 million redevelopment of 8.48 acres bounded roughly by Burnet, Harvey and Maple avenues and Hickory Street was approved in August 2006 as part of the Burnet Avenue Urban Renewal Plan. The final development plan, which was prepared by Al Neyer, Inc. and DNK Architects, differs from the concept plan only in building square footages and in parking spaces provided. The differences are negligible. The preliminary concept plan establishing PD (Planned Development District) 50 was approved by the City Planning Commission on May 18 and by City Council on June 6. Approval by the City Planning Commission is expected. City Council would then have to approve of the final plan, which would clear the developers to begin. Most of the project site has already been cleared. Only a few single-family homes remain. Medical office building The largest structure to be built will be a six-story, 126,000-square-foot medical office building. The building will be clad in Prodema, aluminum panels, and "curtain walls", which will be used to break up the building's mass. On the north side of the building, the sixth floor will be cantilevered slightly over an outdoor dining area. Mixed-use building for the Cincinnati Herald A three-story, 44,000-square-foot mixed use building will occupy the corner of Burnet and Northern avenues, just to the north of the medical office building. The top two floors of this building will be occupied by offices of the Cincinnati Herald. At street level, storefront windows will contain either retail or a restaurant. This building will also consist of Prodema, alternated with horizontal bands of windows. Curved aluminum canopies will bracket the corners at the second floor and at the roofline. Parking garage Tucked within the block will be a six-level, 1,450-space parking garage. Most of the visible facade of the garage will be along Northern Avenue, where two entries will be located. The most visible treatments on the facade will be curved mesh panels and lighted stair towers of glass and aluminum curtain walls. Other notes * Up to 56 Condominiums along Harvey Avenue are part of Phase IA. City Council will have to approve the final development plan for that phase at a later date. * A pocket park containing an outdoor dining area will be located between the two commercial buildings. * Streetlights will be similar to those used along Martin Luther King Drive (between Burnet and Vine), and pedestrian walkways will be lit by lighting similar to that within Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park. * Unifying signage design is in the very early stages. http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/09/pc-to-consider-final-plan-of-first.html
September 23, 200717 yr ^What's Prodema? I did a Google search and it looks pretty cool. A type of wood cladding? I'm interested to see what the medical building will look like. Hopefully, preservationists don't get wind of it. ;-) Here's some images: GOOGLE Search Warning: images from link show modern buildings.
September 24, 200717 yr Warning: images from link show modern buildings. LOL! There is a small rendering of these buildings (medical office, Herald) on the Uptown Consortium website. I forget exactly where it is, but it's under the Burnet Avenue stuff.
September 24, 200717 yr Avondale project nears launch BY LISA BERNARD-KUHN | [email protected] September 24, 2007 AVONDALE - Momentum is building on a nearly $100 million redevelopment effort that community and business leaders say is vital to the neighborhood's rejuvenation. Click link for article.
October 7, 200717 yr Burnet Avenue plan to go before Urban Design Review Board Building Cincinnati, 10/4/07 The final development plan for Phase I of the Burnet Avenue project will be reviewed by the Urban Design Review Board (UDRB). On September 21, the City Planning Commission tabled consideration of the plan until the UDRB can study the following: * The relationship of future residential units on Harvey Avenue to the parking garage * The architectural treatment of the rear side of the parking garage, which faces those residential units * The relationship of the parking garage to the street and the walkability of the surrounding neighborhood For procedural reasons, the UDRB will not be able to meet until at least October 10, meaning that the soonest that this could come back before the City Planning Commission is October 12. The agenda for that date has not been released. The final development plan would then need to be approved by City Council. Phase I will include a six-story medical office building, a three-story mixed use building and a 1,450-space parking garage, with a future sub-phase of up to 56 condominiums. The project was dedicated in a City ceremony on September 24. http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2007/10/burnet-avenue-plan-to-go-before-urban.html
January 21, 200817 yr The Uptown Consortium is really on a role lately... Uptown's big goal: Rebirth BY LISA BERNARD-KUHN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER January 22, 2008 AVONDALE - Construction is expected to begin this week on the first phase of Uptown Consortium's $100 million mixed-use development along Burnet Avenue. The project, which will span three city blocks in this Cincinnati neighborhood, is expected to transform Burnet Avenue between Forest and Erkenbrecher avenues, said Tony Brown, president and CEO of the nonprofit development corporation. Click link for article.
January 22, 200817 yr Unfortunately those renderings don't seem to include anything at street-level...hopefully that isn't the case. On another note, I can't seem to understand what has been described in the article. Are they really going to extend Northern to Harvey...or did they mean to say Hearne? Also I'm guessing the entire area they're talking about is the larger block here that is bounded by Hickory (north), Harvey (east), Burnett (west), and Erkenbrecher (south). Could someone clarify me if I am wrong?
January 23, 200817 yr My neck of the woods!!! We get ugly buildings (noooo!!!) but still better than the crack houses that use to dot the area.
January 28, 200817 yr Hey all. Long time reader, first time poster. Does anybody know what used to be on this block before the structures that were razed for this development were there? The reason I ask is because my wife's father is doing some of the foundation/land removal work on this project and he's been finding some pretty interesting "artifacts." He's found glass apothecary and soda bottles with various company names and "Cincinnati, O." stamps, all of them being corked rather than capped. I'm thinking turn of the century or a bit later. The only thing my limited sleuthing skills can dig up is the Jewish synagogue on the corner of Rockdale and Harvey, but their work right now is primarily in the area facing Burnet, bounded by Erkenbrecher and Rockdale. Any thoughts?
January 28, 200817 yr Sanborn Fire Maps would be your best bet. They have them at the main public library and they are online but it depends on the library system you are a part of whether you can access them.
January 28, 200817 yr I took some photos of the area a few weeks ago, everything's demolished and dirt is being pushed around. I'll post them one of these days.
February 18, 200817 yr Model Group to advise on Avondale home project Business Courier of Cincinnati Monday, February 18, 2008 - 1:22 PM EST The Model Group has been chosen by the Uptown Consortium as an adviser for the residential development of Harvey Commons in Avondale. Click link for article.
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