These were taken today (11/17). Some of these are blurry, because my hands were shaking like crazy from the cold.

 

i sure wish someone would find SOMETHING to do with the white corner building.  it was pretty funny...only a few days or so after the scaffolding went up, sume kids climbed up and graffitied the black portion above the top cornice on the fourth street elevation.  it was almost completly covered with spray paint.  pretty sad but they made quick and painted it back to black within a few days

Some of these are blurry, because my hands were shaking like crazy from the cold.

 

Yeah, pics were a bitch today.

^ At least it was probably better than the mother-effing 14 degrees it was in Madison this morning when I walked to school.

^ At least it was probably better than the mother-effing 14 degrees it was in Madison this morning when I walked to school.

 

It actually it dipped down to 17º Thursday here in Cincy. I have a 7-day forecast widget always running on my desktop and when I took those pictures is was between 24º-25º.

http://www.themcalpin.com/

You rock! Thank you!

Those buying there should post some inside under-construction photos if you get a chance... those are always interesting.

^ I don't have any inside pictures yet, but I'll post some when I get them.  It will probably be in a few weeks.

I stayed at the Netherland this past weekend and had a room on the 18th floor that looked over the McAlpin project.  I wish I had my camera.  The building's facade looks fabulous.

They have removed quite a bit of the scaffolding.  It really is coming along.  :)  It looks like they have done some framing on the inside, too. 

 

I was walking with my boss to tower place the other day and he pointed out some interesting things about the rehab.  He apparently was involved with the origianal feasability studies for the project so is quite informed.  The one things that i thought was especially peculiar is the half-hazard facade renovation done many years ago.  What appears to be four buildings is actually only three.  Looking at the illustration now its blatantly obvious.  The original owners of the central building (with the arch and ladies head) extended all the way to the building with the bay windows.  Some time way back when they sold off the end bay to some sort of music company who proceded to reconfigure that portion of the facade to its current state.  That explains some lack of symmetry and why ornamental medalions are sliced in half.  Maybe useless information to some but i thought it was interesting.  Also there will to two interior atriums.

The scaffolding is now gone.  Here are a few pictures taken earlier this month:

 

 

Wow, it is looking good. I can't wait to see what it looks like with all the windows in.

So retail is going in on the first floor, correct?  Any ideas on tennants yet?

So retail is going in on the first floor, correct?  Any ideas on tennants yet?

 

Yes, there will be retail on the first floor along with a common area for the residents.  There is no word yet on what retail will be there, but I've been told that it will probably be restaurants or small shops.

 

 

I got a hard hat tour of the building last week.  I'll post pictures of that tonight.  It looked pretty disturbing to me.  The building is going through a complete rehab, so it's a mess inside.

Great pics!  It is great to see this thing really moving along, looking forward to the interior shots.

Fantastic!  Thanks for the shots, xumelanie.

Our orignal move-in day was supposed to be in March.  That has been postponed to May.  :(  We're a little disappointed, but hopefully that give us a chance to build more equity in our current house.  :) 

 

Looking over this, I realized that I never did post the pictures of the inside of the building.  I will work on that tonight. 

Our orignal move-in day was supposed to be in March.  That has been postponed to May.  :(  We're a little disappointed, but hopefully that give us a chance to build more equity in our current house.  :) 

 

Looking over this, I realized that I never did post the pictures of the inside of the building.  I will work on that tonight. 

 

Awesome, can't wait!

 

Does anyone know when this building was originally built?

I think the oldest part was built in 1875. 

McAlpin Co. 13 W. 4th. McAlpin bought the building in 1880 from Shillito. Has expanded twice, into Mitchell Furniture in 1900 and Aeolian Pianos 1938.

 

http://cincinnativiews.net/department_stores.htm

 

 

 

 

We're a little disappointed, but hopefully that give us a chance to build more equity in our current house.  :) 

 

Now THAT is some positive thinking!

^ I have to think like that, otherwise I would feel extremely frustrated.  ;)

 

Interesting pictures, Monte, thanks for posting!

 

These are pictures taken of the inside of the McAlpin in the middle of December. 

 

A picture of a large unit (3300 sq. ft.)

 

A view of one of the atriums.

 

Another view of an atrium.

 

An old department store sign. 

 

Living room of our actual unit.

 

Master bedroom.

 

Future stairwell by our unit.

 

Side wall in our unit.

 

The other side wall.

 

 

With the tile and glass-block window, it looks like your unit used to be part of a restroom.  I'm sure it will look amazing when its complete.  I look forward to the move-in photos.

^ I couldn't help but smile from the restroom comment.  No matter how polite you write it, it is still amusing.

With the tile and glass-block window, it looks like your unit used to be part of a restroom.  I'm sure it will look amazing when its complete.  I look forward to the move-in photos.

 

We had the same thought.  That should make an interesting conversation! 

My place used to be a day care center/childrens restroom :).  I'm sure it'll be great once it's done. 

Building's elegance reclaimed

Unveiling of McAlpin's reveals history

BY SARA PEARCE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

"It's beautiful," says Joann Roetting of Monfort Heights. The bank teller is standing downtown at Fourth and Race streets waiting for a bus home from work and looking east toward the former McAlpin's department store. "I don't remember it looking that pretty. I am kind of amazed."

 

Ten years after McAlpin's closed its flagship store, its buildings have been gutted and are being restored as a $20 million condominium/retail project that promises to revitalize downtown. The project ends a decade of decline as the buildings stood dark and empty just two blocks from the yearlong $42 million remake of Fountain Square.

 

Full Story: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060312/BIZ01/603120359/1076/BIZ

Renovation's fine, but modernity still needed

 

 

Sure, the façade looks great, but it's what's inside that counts: lots of light and plenty of parking. Developers and sales agents say those are two of the most critical element in selling downtown condos. Even though walkability and proximity to an array of attractions are the biggest draws of urban living, the fact remains that cars are still a necessity for most people in Cincinnati.

 

And in a neighborhood where easy street parking is nonexistent, that means dedicated parking in an attached garage is a priority. The McAlpin's units all come with one or two parking spaces, depending on the size and cost of the unit, in the building. The one-time cost for an extra space where one is available for purchase at the McAlpin, and other condo developments of its type: $15,000.

 

Full Story: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060312/BIZ01/603120360/1076/BIZ

"Based on the experience of other cities, you would typically see businesses come in to serve the new residents," said Joe Straka, managing director of 4J Redevelopment LLC, a subsidiary of project developer Madison Marquette. He expects the units to be ready for occupancy in July.

 

 

^DAMN...come on lets get this done!

Melanie,

 

I have talked to the sales people several times to find out what retail/restaurants will be on the first floor and they won't reveal anything to me.  We need you to use your magic residency powers to persuade them to tell you.

^ I will post when I find out. 

I've been wondering that too. It's killing me! Yes, please do let us know!

Its amazing to think that a major department store at one time operated out of this string of buildings.  Glad to see they are being brought back to their former glory. 

^ yea its kinda interesting.  i guess it used to be apart of a major shopping area.  I read a book about Little Rock's Central High integration and the main character visited Cincy (in the 50's) and talked about how big and incredible the cincy shopping district seemed to her.  kinda funny i thought.

^ downtown Cincy had several department stores in the 50s.  Probably about eight or so.  Most of those stores (such as Pogue's)do not exist anymore at any location. 

Don't forget about my pad, The John Shillito Co. ... (the largest dept. store in the nation for 6 decades).

^ The old Shillito's department store was great!  They had everything - books, music, clothing, a hair salon, coffee shop, candy counter, etc.  I really do miss the old Shillito's.

 

Wow, I think this post is making me age a few years!  ;) 

^ I was thinking the same thing.  When did Shilito & McAlphins department stores close?

^ If I remember correctly, the Shillito's became Shillito-Rikes in the early 80s. Shillito-Rikes stores then became Lazarus in mid-80s - I think '86 or something like that. 

 

McAlpin's parent company (Merchantile) was bought by Dillard's in the 90s.  I think it was late '90s.  By the time this happened, the McAlpin's downtown had already closed, and Dillard's was not interested in having a downtown store.  :(

 

 

Of course, I'm basing this all on memory, so I may be a little off.  :-)

I need to look up the original opening date for the Shillito, but there is an dept. store advertisement from 1888 hanging up in our lobby.

^ yea its kinda interesting.  i guess it used to be apart of a major shopping area.  I read a book about Little Rock's Central High integration and the main character visited Cincy (in the 50's) and talked about how big and incredible the cincy shopping district seemed to her.  kinda funny i thought.

 

Yes Cincinnati used to be referred to as 'The Paris of the West'.  This was for its great shopping and theatres.  The shopping in Cincinnati was second to none in the US and had a brilliant collection of theatres.

gggrrr, what happened :x

^That would be thanks to Urban Renewal projects, newer modern bldgs. need to demolish old, and the sprawl created by the US Highway project.  The federal government sure does know how to ruin the inner city of older cities across the US (see:  Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Detroit, Columbus, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, etc.)

^ If I remember correctly, the Shillito's became Shillito-Rikes in the early 80s. Shillito-Rikes stores then became Lazarus in mid-80s - I think '86 or something like that.  

 

McAlpin's parent company (Merchantile) was bought by Dillard's in the 90s.  I think it was late '90s.  By the time this happened, the McAlpin's downtown had already closed, and Dillard's was not interested in having a downtown store.  :(

 

 

Of course, I'm basing this all on memory, so I may be a little off.   :-)

 

I believe the S-R name began to surface in 1982.  I have a movie that was taped back then on VHS.  It was an ABC Sunday Night Movie.  There is an advertisement for Shillito-Rikes.  The name changed to Lazarus in 1985-1986.

 

Mercantile was planning a new downtown store before it was purchased by Dillards.  However, the store was to be under the name Maison Blanche, not McAlpins.  The idea was to bring a fresh, different name downtown....one that could not be found in the suburban malls.

 

I was only in the old McAlpins building once.   Never in the Shillatos downtown, but I have seen pictures of its rebirth and it too is amazing.

 

Detroit tore down their grand Hudson's building.  Ashame it could not have had a similar future as the old grand structures in Cincinnati. 

 

Pogues..weren't their purchased by L.S. Aryes?

I just read something about the McAlpin bldg. catching on fire.  I read this through a useless local media outlet (WCPO)...and they gave very few details.  It didnt sound major but I was just hoping to clear things up.  Is this going to push back the finishing date on the building?

 

Heres the link to the story:

http://www.wcpo.com/news/2006/local/04/19/downtown.html

yeah i saw all the fire equipment on my way home from work.  hopefully nothing was damaged