What do you know about Cranley's ( I may have just mispelled his name) proposal to raise the cost to vacant property owners?  I heard the number of $5000 a year but I can hardly believe it.  I am glad there is talk of moving these vacant buildings but we need to be sure there are buyers on the other end otherwise the market will be flooded with properties all at once.  Well, after saying that mabey this could be a good thing, shell values would plummit in the City and perhaps that could spur investment.  Your thoughts?

I haven't heard $5000.  I've heard $1000, and that it goes up every year thereafter.  Personally, I like the idea of stiffer penalties.  The only problem comes with enforcement.  They don't have the manpower to enforce building standards as it is now.  Is that going to change?

 

Another problem is actually tracking down these clowns.  A lot of the time these folks just skip town or fail to respond and the bank forecloses and assumes their mortgage.  It then becomes the city's problem.  Or, the building owner has severe financial difficulties that make it all but impossible for the city to collect.

 

I have mixed feelings on all of this.  I like the idea of the CLRP and the city making these properties that they end up with attractive to developers.  But you're right about the market getting flooded.  I worry about so many deteriorating buildings flooding the market and encouraging slumlords or speculators to snatch up a lot of the buildings and do nothing with them.  Then we're right back where we started.

 

You may be right about the 1000. We are fortunate that demand on the hill is actually beginning to exceed supply.  As for enforcement the only semi effective way is adjacent property owners to bring a civil suit for Imminent danger.  The building would have to be fairly bad off, and the plantiff would have to be within 500 ft and willing.

* 318 Milton St. is being rehabbed by a man named Eric Ball.  It was in pretty terrible shape.  He's pretty much rebuilding it entirely.  Anyway, it's on the market now for $225K and I think he could easily get away with asking a little more.  Here's a pic of before the project--I have no new ones.

 

* The foreclosed house at 121 Dorsey St. was bought a couple of weeks ago by some folks from Massachusetts.

 

* Model Management (dba Broadway Estates Associates Limited Partnership) purchased 1612 Hughes St. (three-family, 1865) and (dba Magnolia Heights Limited Partnership) 1613 Hughes St. (three-family, 1865)  1612 had been condemned.  1613 has no history of complaints and doesn't look bad.

(1612 and 1613)

   

 

I also posted this in the OTR near term projects

 

After a brief pause in construction on Peete, Frintz, and E. Clifton, Jim Hohlbein is back to work with a new builder.  72 E. Clifton (3 condos) will be finished within the month.  Joe Gorman called me last night and said he and Karen Blatt are moving forward with new construction on the South side of Mulberry (joe was the developer for the 5 new Vinyard Homes on Mulberry) and I can not give the addresses until closing but there will be at least 2 more major rehabs on Mulberry this year.  109 Mulberry top floor is now complete and owner occupied, the lower levels have just begun contruction and will be market rate condo hopefully on the market in the spring.  The same owner of 109 Mulberry, Michael Evans of GBBN along with Cathy Frank of Comey have purchased the lower unit of 29 Mulberry and plans are now drawn up to make it into 2 condo units (making the building 4 units, 2 already sold) both 1 bed 1.5 baths, this is south side closer to Vine.

 

I saw it posted above about 75 Peete St being sold, it was sold to a man named Joseph George.  He and his wife came down for the tour and saw a side of OTR and Mt. Auburn they did not know existed, they live in Mason but now want to invest in the area.

This is the last time I do this but, I have a better and historically correct name for the area known to some as mulberry hill.  How about "The High Liberties"  and the theme song could be  cypress hills  "I want to get high!" :lol:  The hillside areas north of liberty were known as this back in the day. Anyway Some guys were working on the facade of the home on the south side of mulberry st close to main today. I should have talked to them, dang! Great new michael, I can't wait to hear more!!

This is the last time I do this but, I have a better and historically correct name for the area known to some as mulberry hill.  How about "The High Liberties"   and the theme song could be  cypress hills  "I want to get high!" :lol: 

 

This would give Highland Ave. a whole new significance.

If you want to be historically correct max then it is "North Liberties" we were carefull to include that into the historical section of the tour book.  But that also includes Prospect Hill and all properties north of Liberty were free from City Tax hence North Liberties.  The original name of the hillside was Poverty Hill, So enough of waxing intelectual about the name, I am calling it Michael Mountain from here on out.

This is the last time I do this but, I have a better and historically correct name for the area known to some as mulberry hill.  How about "The High Liberties"

 

How about Mt. Auburn? ;)

 

 

Oh now we have been through this, I live in OTR my neighbor across the street lives in Mt. Auburn.  Prospect Hill is Mt Auburn, Sycamore Hill skirts both, Mulberry Hill is a marketing solution for a tour.  Mt ST Michael, there it is, I am having the plaque made tomorow!

^ LOL...  notice the wink, I was just busting Maximillian's chops.

If you want to be historically correct max then it is "North Liberties"

 

Not according to our holiday postcard that has been around for years :-P  The word "Liberty" in liberty street indicated that the laws of Cincinnati could not be enforced beyond this point. People wishing to break the Sunday ordinance-to drink or gamble- had the "Liberty" to do so once they crossed the street. The entire hillside including prospect Hill became known as the "High Liberties"

I can't help it if you are the victim of misinformation (just kidding).  The word liberty stems from the Latin-liber meaning free (also book but I digress) people north of Liberty were FREE from city taxation and ordinances.

 

"Further out beyond the city limits, north of Liberty Street was referred to as the Northern Liberties", since residents there were free from city ordinaces and taxes" (Mulberry Hill Tour for Life Program Pg. 14)

 

"One of the Hill’s earliest residents was Dr. Daniel Drake who lived in a log cabin on the threshold of the forest (on Milton Street between Sycamore and Broadway) while his new home on Third Street was being built. He called the Hill “Mt. Poverty” and described his home as “the typical country home away from the noise of town”. (Prospecthill.info)

 

"Originally called Key's Hill (after an early resident), it attracted many summer homes, but soon became the permanent home to many of the city's elite and by 1835 was renamed Mt. Auburn.  (Mulberry Hill Tour for Life Program pg 14)

 

So what about that Poverty Hill, I can live with that as I resemble that, so roll that in your postcard and smoke it! :mrgreen:

The tour is over, mission accomplished, call it what you want.

Mt poverty, keys hill, goat hill, mt auburn, prospect hill, liberty hill, high liberties, northern liberties, sycamore hill, pill hill, homo-hill, mulberry hill. Well whatever you want to call it we can all agree It's a great place to live! :-D

I agree,

Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah! Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah! Kum ba yah, my

Lord, kum ba yah! O Lord, kum ba yah! Someone’s laughing, Lord, kum ba yah

Wait, I haven't heard "homo-hill" before.  Is this said because Prospect Hill is home to a large gay population?  I thought Northside was Cincinnati's only "Gayborhood" ;)

The lesbians neighborhood is northside and the gay men live in prospect hill. There is also a large gay population over near the betts longsworth neighborhood in the west end I heard.

It is a big tent.

Has anyone seen any site plans for this project?

 

The reason I ask is because JFP is going to be tearing down 4 buildings on the NE and SE corners of McMillan and Highland.  They may even be torn down now...I haven't been in the area for a few days.

 

These are the buildings.  The addresses are 2454, 2500 and 2506 Highland, and 303 E. McMillan.  I'll post them in that order:

 

   

   

Well that's going to change the feel of that intersection.

Vineyard Homes recently purchased 323 Mulberry.  1743 Sycamore, the adjacent property, is still in the hands of the city, though it is supposed to go to Citadel Building Group, which also owns a property on the south side of Mulberry.  No one has contiguous lots for development.

 

323 Mulberry is a candidate for a teardown:

 

I almost posted this last night.  It was my understanding that there is a double lot there, but I will confirm that on the MLS.  Across the street form this (same sellers) just sold a 3 family and construction has already begun on it to turn it into 3 condos.  Next door to the property above is a yellow building under construction now ( I don't have the details on the end use)

^ The one across the street that you mentioned was 318 Mulberry, right?  I thought I'd noticed that one sold.

 

It has and is being turned into the three condos.  Also, this is not a sales pitch, I do not have the listing but 18 Mulberry is on the market  and it is the jewel of Mulberry.  Unfortunaltly I still have not figured out how to post a pic but if anyone is looking for an amazing rehab, please check this out. 

^ How to post a pic:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3838.0

 

Looks like construction of the new home at the corner of Milton st/cumber has started. They knocked down a tree and are clearing the land. Now they are digging a hole for the basement and foundation. Lot's of BIG rocks in there!

ok, once again, not a sales pitch but 140 Mulberry is up for HUD bidding, 60,000 is the asking price.  So if anyone is looking for Mulberry houses the two most beautiful homes are up for sale 140 and 18. Just a reminder, I do not have either listing, just looking for some good neighbors.

 

18 Mulberry (damn trees):

 

 

 

 

140 Mulberry:

 

those are magnolias at 18.  They both have very similar facades. 

Thanks for posting the pics, after reading the directions I just felt dumber.

Not that I'm in position to do such a thing, but what would you estimate the cost of rehabbing either one?

We generally estimate at 100 per sq ft but could go as high as 120 (depending on how you finish it) which makes 18 very tough unless you busted it into condos which you would almost have to do and fortunately not much demo is left to do either.  140 on the other hand is not in that bad of shape.  Whereas with 18 it is just a shell, 140 was lived in until about 6 months ago.  Now the other great thing about both properties is that there are lots attached to both.  140 Must be owner occupied but 18 is a regular sale.

 

One thing you can not tell in the pics is the back side of 18 keeps going back.  There are actually 2 entrances to the house (frontside and backside) and you can not access one from the other except through the bacement.

 

here is the MLS link for 18 with enterior pics and you can see the size of this thing.

http://cincy.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Cincynky&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=mGfSSlDBb01wdov%2FkctnFA%3D%3D

Looks like construction of the new home at the corner of Milton st/cumber has started.

 

18 Mulberry reminds me of that condo on Highland.  That's a pretty building!

I have been waiting a long time for this.

 

72 E Clifton, A, B, and C

79 Peete St. A, B and C

Are now available! Luxury condos on Peete and E Clifton. This is not a sales pitch (although I do have the listings) it is an sheer excitement that this is here now and so much more are coming on streets that have been long forgoten.

This is in Presale stage but the E. Clifton units will be done in approx 3 weeks. Site preparation has begun on 5 of the vacant lots on the North side of Peete, trees are coming down and new construction is almost ready to go up. For the first time in a long time, sunshine will hit Peete St. (the overgrowth is terrible) The Park board is meeting with us next week to discuss some beautification projects on E. Clifton and Peete so hopefully you will begin seeing a big change on hill. Pics are being taken today and tonight of the exteriors, I will post them as they come in.

 

Also information on the whole site will be broadcast through "talking house" and you will be able to sit in your car on Mulberry and get the rundown on the whole project via your radio.

 

 

I noticed those listings to--especially the Clifton ones.  They were "de-listed" for a couple of weeks, so it's good to see them back.

 

I still wish the listings included renderings, though.  Any idea what they'll look like?

We are working on that now.  Photos will be up as early as tomorow and we will have floor plans as attachments on the MLS within the next two days.

Gracias.

Remember, these units are still under construction but I will update this site as well as the MLS as we finish more and more.

 

 

several fireplaces are in each units, at least one in each condo will be operational,the A units will have 2 operational.

 

This is a good shot of the mix of old and new. We have a tremendous amount of exposed brick and the bamboo floors should be laid in the first units within a week or so.

 

 

Still a lot of work to be done to the facade, temorary glass is in the picture windows right now during construction.

 

 

Ok, time for the rooftop deck views. A mix of old to the right

 

 

and new to the left.

 

Ok, I can't get that picture to work on here for some reason, just imagine a Cincinnati skyline, and picture it at night, with fireworks... yeah fireworks! And children laughing and playing... well whatever, it was a good pic.

Michael Redmond, what do you know about remodeling work going on at 29 Mulberry?

 

I also saw that permits have been applied for for 1797 Sycamore up at the top of the hill there.

 

I also saw some surveyors out on Boal a week or two ago, in the area of the trees just northeast of that new house being built on the south side of Boal.  (Okay, that sentence was awkward.  If you're standing in front of the house that's being built on the south side of Boal, and you look northeast towards the area of trees across the street, that's where they were.)  I don't know if any of you know anything about this or not.

Went through this intersection this weekend. Demolition signs are up on the builing on the NE corner, so that might be coming down soon.

29 Mulberry, the bottom unit is being split into 2 single bedroom condos. The new owners are Cathy Frank with Comey and my next door neighbor and GBBN architect Michael Evans. I saw the plans early on but I believe they have made some significant changes in the mean time.  There are two other condos in the building already, so this raises the number to 4 total.  The two other units are currently occupied.

 

I will have to check into Boal, this may be a continuation of Kathy Fisher's project.

Grasscat,

http://cincy.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Cincynky&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=qJmmR%2FAQVL%2FLBqM0A3xc1Q%3D%3D

1797 Sycamore just hit the MLS today.  327,400 is the list price.

I spoke with Kathy Fisher the other day at the All Safety Sector Meeting but I forgot to ask her about Boal.  She did say that one of her houses on Dorsey is pending. 

The reason I ask is because JFP is going to be tearing down 4 buildings on the NE and SE corners of McMillan and Highland.  They may even be torn down now...I haven't been in the area for a few days.

 

I drove by today and the NE and SE corners are indeed vacant and now regraded.  I do not know what they plan to do with those sites however.

Word on the street is that 3 apartment buildings north of 1639 Sycamore at the intersection of schiller and sycamore all have received eviction notices. These have been problem properties. Maybe now my back can have rest from the picking up of trash I have done across the street for the last couple of years. The buildings are  to be going condo.  :-) Anybody know the inside scoop??

 

Yeah, I saw that today too and it just felt weird.

140 Mulberry was purchased a couple of weeks ago by a Beth Hailstock.  It looks like she owns about 20 properties, almost entirely in what could be considered "run-down" neighborhoods.  Does anyone know anything about her?

 

25 Mulberry was set to be demolished.  I haven't been in that area recently, so I don't know if it's still standing.  This building has been vacant for at least 5 years and condemned for at least 3.  :(

 

Also, at the top of the hill, Keys Hill Development has purchased 1923-1927 Bigelow St.  These are the ones with the stone exteriors.  There are three units and they're going to rehab those to add to their other development in the area.

 

Beth purchased 140 Mulberry from HUD with the agreement that it was to be lived in for 1 year and was not to be purchased as an investment property.  Big surprise, she is not living there.  HUD will be paying her a visit soon.

 

25 is still standing but I just heard that it is coming down very soon.  It is in very bad shape, you can tell that better from the back.  Next door at 29 Mulberry, the bottom two condos are well under way.  Framing is complete and I believe it just passed its electrical inspection about a week ago.

 

interior plans for 102 Peete and 75 Peete have just been completed and construction may start very soon.  67 Peete has been saved, the crack down the side of that building has been repaired and the building is now structurally sound.  Interior plans for 67 are being worked out now for 2 condos.  If I ever figure out how, I will begin posting some of these on this thread.

4 teardowns on Mulberry St alone this week.  But before everyone gets to upset about this, all of these buildings were in such terrible shape due to years of neglect that they needed to come down.  25 Mulberry, 146 and 148 Mulberry (both owned by Larry Rhodes) and Jerry Hunderlaw's property on the south east side of Mulberry, 323 Mulberry was fire damaged by arsonist to the point it had to come down immediatly.

Thanks for the update.  Agreed that those had to be done.