May 23, 200520 yr They're not giving any dimensions on the room sizes yet, are they? At least I don't see them anywhere. I wouldn't expect them to have them any time soon. They ran into some severe SQ footage issues in their last rehab, so I imagine they are trying to avoid that in the future... Ugh, they are starting to "modify" it already. I don't like that dumb facade facing 4th St. It's no more sympathetic to its neighbors architecturally than the original bold design and just looks stuck on. I agree.
May 25, 200520 yr You may find these comments on MED interesting: http://www.rateyourbuilder.info/view_ratings.php?builder_id=2843
May 25, 200520 yr Seems kind of odd that all 6 posts are all from May 25th... you'd almost have to think this was a campaign, or the same user posting multiple times.
May 25, 200520 yr Nope, they are seperate people (I was one). That was the day it went out to the owners mailing list.
May 26, 200520 yr Wow, mark...not a good one in the bunch. Yea. The final product usually turns out ok. However, it's a very painful process... That being said, I hope this building is built. I'm just concerned that their reputation at this point may prevent the units from being sold.
May 26, 200520 yr http://downtownliving.com/features/Parker_Flats/index.html This is the online brochure for Parker Flats. Huff is the listing office on this project, if anyone needs more information on Parker Flats or the gateway project downtown let me know
May 26, 200520 yr some new signage went up on the corner the other day, so it looks like the beginning nears. we are going to lose all of our parking at kinsey though. i'm also kind of wondering how that's going to work since neyer came and leased up over half our lot already. anyway, as sad as those MED comments are for people who purchase, i wouldn't say they are much quicker or reliable for the rentals (@ kinsey at least). lots of promises, very little follow through. they are all nice people though, i think they may just take on too much? or maybe they aren't very organized. over a year later and the much promised rec/exercise room in our building still is a ghost. same with teh promise of having our windows cleaned (since they were never washed after the original construction ended, i can barely see out of mine anymore). parker flats does look cool though, hope it turns out well oh and as a bonus, someone tagged the front of our building last night. a little competition for the parker flats signage i guess? i'll take some shots of it when i get home tonight
May 27, 200520 yr A couple more tidbits from the DCI 1st Q State of the Downtown report: Phase I will be the 3-level, 100 space parking garage. Phase II will be the condos.
May 29, 200520 yr In honor of National Homeownership Month, there's supposed to be some ceremony down at the Parker Flats location. It will be June 24th at 4:30 PM, 345 W. Fourth. I saw a blurb in the paper and that's about all I know about it.
November 26, 200519 yr If they haven't broken ground on this project as of now, 2006 seems unlikely to see this project completed. I hope this doesn't turn into the NeXT project.
November 27, 200519 yr It doesn't even appear that Middle Earth has all of the land yet. Some of that area is still owned by the city.
November 27, 200519 yr Parker Flats will happen. One difference between it and the Next project is that almost half of the units are under contract.
November 29, 200519 yr Be patient. MED is very optimistic when it comes to dates, however it is still a go... someday...
February 3, 200619 yr Just an update.... This project is still on track. It was sidelined due to a financing gap, but it appears that gap will be closed. The development site consists of a parcel owned by Middle Earth, and the city-owned surface lot on the corner, of which Middle Earth has a lease agreement with the city for parking for Kinsey Flats. The city is proposing to sell the surface lot to Middle Earth for $1, which will allow them to build the parking garage. The structure will include a three-level parking structure with 90 spaces, one level of which will be metered and open to the public. The city will contribute $600,000 from the Downtown Housing Capital Account for this as well, as the Economic Development Division has determined that this project would not proceed without those funds. The garage itself will cost about $2.5 million. This is the tentative parking garage schedule: 4/1/06: Commence excavation 4/10/06: Commence pilings 5/20/06: Pour lowest garage level 6/20/06: Pour intermediate garage level 7/20/06: Pour Fourth St. garage level 9/10/06: Garage finishes 3/31/07: Garage occupancy (subject to work being done on building above) The 49 residential units will be subject to a 15-year tax abatement. After the abatement is exhausted, the property taxes collected will flow into the downtown TIF district. No schedule has been provided for the residential units. The city also cites these benefits as a reason for the grant: "In addition to increasing the opportunities for home ownership within the City, it would bring new owner-occupied residential construction downtown. These residents would bolster the substantial rental market in this quadrant of downtown, moving it closer to having a critical mass of population that is attractive to restaurateurs and retailers. Combined with the opening of the Cinergy Center, expansion of U.S. Bank’s corporate finance unit, and the upcoming Central Avenue streetscape improvements, this project would contribute further momentum to the reinvigoration of the southwestern portion of downtown." The total project cost appears to be between $11 million and $12 million. An emergency ordinance for the sale of the surface lot and the $600,000 grant has made its way to Finance Committee, with no timetable for its return.
February 4, 200619 yr So will the garage be next to Parker Flats? The dates through me off too. <b>"9/10/06: Garage finishes, 3/31/07: Garage occupancy (subject to work being done on building above)"</b> Garage will be finished this August, then the whole building in March?
February 4, 200619 yr Five floors of condos will sit on top of three levels of parking garage. Two level of the garage will be for residents. Those levels will be sectioned off from the public parking and utilize a separate entrance. My guess is that the garage won't be open until March '07 because constuction will be going on overhead.
February 7, 200619 yr ^That's about all I can do at this point. I'm incredibly excited and I hope it gets done by Summer 2007. I've been told that council is supposed to vote on the project this Wednesday, February 8th. After that, Vector, the construction company, will be able to apply for the construction permit and get working. The construction is on a 12-month schedule but I'm adding at least 3 months for delays. That's not to say it won't take longer than that, I'm just hoping it won't. Also, I promise I'll post everything once I've received all the details. Middle Earth hasn't released much info beyond what's available on www.downtownliving.com. I'll post pictures when I get them if someone will host them for me.
February 7, 200619 yr i just want to see what the architecture of this thing will be. if its all glass like they propose i think it will be awesome...if detailed well. the rendering they have that some three year old has produced just isnt doing it for me
February 7, 200619 yr I think it's going to look crazy (as in good crazy). Especially from the outside at night.
February 28, 200619 yr There are new renderings out for Parker Flats available at www.huff.com. I would host them but I don't have a site and I'm not that technologically inclined. I have to say the building turned out a big more traditional than I'd hoped but I think I like the new rendering.
February 28, 200619 yr Here you go.... My only thought is that the parking garage entrance really does not need to be on 4th St.!
March 1, 200619 yr My understanding is that there will be two garage entrances: one for the city-owned garage which faces Fourth Street and one for the homeowners which faces McFarland in the rear of the building. I don't think the city will have more than 100 spaces.
March 1, 200619 yr It will definitely be an improvement in that corner and add some needed "newness" to the corner of the city when you are approaching Ft. Washington way.
March 1, 200619 yr I wonder what the front surface will be, I like the design for the most part, but if those are white fiberglass panels, ugh. Does any one use stone anymore?
March 1, 200619 yr ^You think everything looks good. Yea, youre probably right. :-D Oh wait, look at my comments on the McMillan Manor in Mt. Auburn. I dont like EVERYTHING, just 99% of it.
March 1, 200619 yr i think it looks pretty nice...so long as they use decent materials and not Eifs. it will clean up the view of that corner of town quite nicely. im curious to see a site plan of it though to know how far back on mcfarland it goes.
March 2, 200619 yr Condos get nod from city Ground might be broken soon for Parker Flats BY MARLA MATZER ROSE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER An all-new downtown condo project received approval from Cincinnati City Council on Wednesday, the latest step toward Parker Flats' groundbreaking in about a month. The Middle Earth-developed project on the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Central Avenue is already 65 percent sold out, with 55 units ranging from $199,000 to $350,000. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/BIZ01/603020319/1076/BIZ
March 2, 200619 yr MED did a terrible job with it, but I'm suprised the article doesn't mention the Graydon project which is 29 units.
March 2, 200619 yr These are some of the renderings from MED's website (sorry about the small size): Central Ave. Elevation 4th St. Elevation McFarland Elevation
March 3, 200619 yr On a negative note about this....it will eliminate one more tailgating spot for Bengals fans. :-o
March 4, 200619 yr I am assuming that 4th St. is to the left and the river to the south. The view coming from across central avenue. Yes. The more "historic" looking part will front on Fourth St.
March 5, 200619 yr <i>Found this blog post that includes a link to a Seattle building this is based on. I do think they got conservative based on the latest rendering. What happen to all the glass, steel and cement. It's still a very interesting project. Great prices points and interesting interior appointments.</i> Monday, April 18, 2005 Parker Flats It is official! I am investing in a condo at Parker Flats downtown on Fourth Street. So far several people have commented about it being next to the highway, but in reality, once you get up several floors highway noises will not be too much of a concern. What is exciting is the design. Something Cincinnati is in desperate need. Too many new places are built to look old which is the most ridiculous thing EVER! We have plenty of old that needs to be restored already. New buildings should take advantage of todays technology and reflect an improved lifestyle. The building was designed based on this building in Seattle. If you have ever been in new homes or buildings in Seattle you will notice the extensive use of windows. Architects are aware of the need for light when the sky is likely to be grey. This building will have floor to ceiling windows on three sides and walls of windows that open to the outside. How cool is THAT! http://www.millerhull.com/html/residential/1310.htm // posted by Blake Fox @ 1:32 AM
March 5, 200619 yr with McAlpins coming on line, the work done in the Lombardy and other buildings down on that end and now Parker Flats it looks to me like 4th Street is really returning to it's position of prominance. all good stuff
March 6, 200619 yr On a negative note about this....it will eliminate one more tailgating spot for Bengals fans. :-o Being that I live at Kinsey Flats, not having everyone tailgating in our parking lot will be a much enjoyed bonus of this project. I'd rather live in construction than with the tailgaters who trash our parking lots. Hopefully this new projects brings some life to this end of 4th street. The retail spots under Kinsey have sat vacant for far too long.
March 6, 200619 yr ^Agreed. I love the project in every imaginable way...I just wanted to make light of that. :wink:
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