The owners of the vacant land at 442-444 Milton St want to build two attached townhomes on the site.  Both would be built of brick and stone and would match the surrounding properties as far as setbacks.  A retaining wall will have to be built which will be on the Boal St side, since these are through lots.  This was before the Historic Conservation Board in April and it looked like it would sail through with the zoning varainces and certificate of appropriateness required.  They do not have an application for a building permit yet.

 

At the top of the hill the city is looking at awarding Glen Kukla preferred developer status for the city-owned land at 141 Dorchester Ave.  (This is the land above the retaining wall on the curve and across from those ass-ugly garages...erm, condos.)  Kukla is a Covington developer who's done a lot of work on buildings in the Madison Ave area.  He's also a board member of Renaissance Covington.  Anyway, Kukla is proposing to build four market-rate townhomes on the site.  I don't know if they will face Dorchester or if they will front on Sycamore.  The Preferred Developer Agreement will allow Kukla 12 months to investigate the feasibility of this project.  This ordinance is currently in Finance Committee.

 

328 Milton St is currently being converted from a three-family to a single-family.  This building dates back to the 1870s.

 

550 Boal St was bought by a guy who lives down at 321 Boal.  This property had been vacant for a very long time.  The former owner, who had a lenghty criminal history, lost the house to foreclosure.

 

207 Mulberry is supposed to be rehabbed.  Then again, I said that last June.  This is a Kelvin Johnson property.  Here are the pictures I posted on here last June:

   

 

I also heard that someone wanted to build a house at 313 Boal St (316 Milton), but I don't know what became of that.

 

^I've been inside 550 Boal. It's huge, and could be really excellent if rehabbed right. Would make two solid apartments, maybe three. Big yard in back too and parking access from an alley in rear.

The only difference I see with 207 is that he removed the cornice and gave it an uneven roof line then slapped a For Sale by Owner Sign on it.

Update...the city did pass the ordinance entering into the PDA for 141 Dorchester.

Re: The scoop on the vacant corners at Highland and McMillan.

 

The developers of McMillan Manor want to build:

 

1) SE corner: Highland Lofts - 30-31 condo units with parking within the building, and possible retail storefronts along Highland.  This will require a rezoning from RMX Residential Mixed Multi-Family District to CC-P Commercial Community Pedestrian District.

2) NE corner: A drive-thru Taco Bell with 25 parking spaces.  This would require a rezoning from CC-P to CC-M Commercial Community Mixed District.

 

The Planning Commission has found no problem with the Highland Lofts, as it conforms to the neighborhood plan.

 

The city's DOTE had found that the major thoroughfares could not handle an additional auto-oriented use.  The Planning Commission also had issues with possible litter, not enough parking for the 50 employees, etc.

 

The Mt. Auburn Community Council, as well as three neighbors of the proposed developments, were against this rezoning because of the influx of residents and traffic to the area.  (Yes, disinvestment would be better.)  And, of course, there wasn't enough community input and minority inclusion.

 

The Corryville Community Council supported the rezoning.

 

I believe the Planning Commission approved the rezoning for the condos, but not for the Taco Bell.

 

I believe the Planning Commission approved the rezoning for the condos, but not for the Taco Bell.

 

 

Way to go, planning commission!

That would be a terrible spot for a Taco Bell with a drive-thru.  Here they've gone and built a huge apartment building that's well-positioned to encourage pedestrian activity, and they want to build a 30-unit condo building that will likely be similar.  Then they'd put a drive-thru restaurant right in the middle of it?  I doubt this is the last we'll hear of the plan, unfortunately. 

Definitely agreed...although, as much a step in the wrong direction as it would be, I've gotta say, it would be nice to have a Taco Bell that close to home - I've got to drive a long ways for Taco Bell right now (far side of Avondale, Norwood, Lower Price Hill, Newport), and having one just up the street aargh MMMPH ach!

 

[screams and shouts while RiverViewer is dragged off by an Urbanist Assault Force]

UPDATE ON NEWS FROM 6/22/06:

Okay, so the owners of the vacant land at 442-444 Milton St have applied for the permits for their two-townhouse development.  One for the retaining wall has been approved and the general one for the building/HVAC is in route.  The developer is Frank Fieler, the same guy who is responsible for the Fort Washington Hotel.

 

A massive renovation is about to happen at 160 Goethe St.  This is the only house on that side of the street.  They are also building a 1000+ square-foot addition.  My guess is that they'll build up to take advantage of the view.

 

Eber Development has purchased the vacant land at 1604-1606 Mansfield St.  They are also property managers, so this may or may not mean development.

 

 

Eber Development has purchased the vacant land at 1604-1606 Mansfield St.  They are also property managers, so this may or may not mean development.

　I saw several people with clip boards looking at that land less than a year ago. I asked them what was going on and they said it was going to become a parking lot for a nursing home on broadway. This better not be true because you can't just put an asphalt parking lot in a historic district without review from the historic review board.  :x We need to dig into this and make sure this is not the case.

 

Also I heard the land that was for sale that extends from liberty hill to corporation alley has been sold. 2 vacant lots sold for over $90,000.  Condos are being planned at this time.

 

Okay, so the owners of the vacant land at 442-444 Milton St have applied for the permits for their two-townhouse development.  One for the retaining wall has been approved and the general one for the building/HVAC is in route.  The developer is Frank Fieler, the same guy who is responsible for the Fort Washington Hotel.

 

I represent Frank on the Ft. Washington and have seen the plans for Milton.  They will be sharp, he is building one for his personal home.

Is this thread limited to 2005 projects...or is the thread title just outdated??

Oops....I never even noticed that.  Good call.

^Thanks Grasscat.  I have a lot of 2003 stuff I wanted to discuss but the title of the thread has been holding me back  :-D

^Thanks Grasscat.  I have a lot of 2003 stuff I wanted to discuss but the title of the thread has been holding me back  :-D

 

...that's really funny...

You guys are easily amused.

The City Council has sent to the City Planning Commission a request to allow them to sell (through the CLRP program) the vacant lot at 312 Mulberry St to Citadel Building Group (Doug Spitz).

 

The sale price would be $3100, the fair market value as assessed by the auditor.

 

Citadel owns the neighboring property at 314 Mulberry St.  This property is currently occupied by a long-vacant, heavily-damaged three-family structure built in 1875.

 

Ostensibly this sale by the city and the impending demolition of 314 by Spitz will result in two new single-family houses being constructed.

 

Expect the City Planning Commission to approve and for the City Council to pass the ordinance unanimously.

(314 Mulberry)

 

1615 and 1617 Hughes St have still not been razed.  These were supposed to have been razed a year or more ago, and I don't know what the holdup is.  I know the case went criminal, the property changed hands, and there were historic concerns.  But come on.  These buildings have been in horrible shape for years and years.

(1615 and 1617 Hughes)

   

 

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

Construction is complete and my brother in law and his wife moved in on Wed.  Doug Spitz was the builder and the house turned out great.  I took a few pictures of the house I was going to post, but my wife left for Vegas today with the camera before I could upload them. 

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

Construction is complete and my brother in law and his wife moved in on Wed.  Doug Spitz was the builder and the house turned out great.  I took a few pictures of the house I was going to post, but my wife left for Vegas today with the camera before I could upload them.  

 

It looks awesome from the outside.  I would be very interested to know what their construction cost per square foot was.

There's going to be a meeting on the proposed Highland Lofts in front of the Economic Development Committee on October 3, 2006, at 1 PM.

 

JFP is seeking a change in zoning from RMX Residential Mixed Multi-family District to CC-P Commercial Community Pedestrian District.

 

The plan is to build a 30-31 condo development at 2446 Highland Ave, the SE corner of McMillan and Highland.

 

The JFP properties to the north of 2446, all the way up to McMillan, are already zoned CC-P.

 

Fifty-two parking spaces would be within the building itself, and their would be a first-floor retail element.

 

In early July, the City Planning Commission approved the zoning change, as it was not believed that it would have any negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhood.  (There were concerns about traffic and egress.  The current, preliminary plan is to have the garage accessible from both McMillan St and Highland Ave.)

 

I would expect this to have smooth sailing through EDC and Council.

 

After about a year of claiming I would post a picture of my brother-in-law's house, Grasscat beat me to it.  This is it from his "Cincinnati: Late September 2006 - Around the city, construction, etc." thread: <img src="http://www.urbanohio.com/grasscat/0609-2/060906002prospecte.jpg">

^Sorry if this is posted somewhere already, but is this a developed project, or did he buy a lot and build?

I like that they built in the italianate style, but something has to be done about all that exposed poured concrete.

^Sorry if this is posted somewhere already, but is this a developed project, or did he buy a lot and build?

They bought the lot and built

I like that they built in the italianate style, but something has to be done about all that exposed poured concrete.

They are going to have landscaping of some sort along the sides that should break up the exposed concrete below the brick.  The house is self was just completed and the builder just added topsoil between the sidewalk and the house yesterday. 

^Sorry if this is posted somewhere already, but is this a developed project, or did he buy a lot and build?

They bought the lot and built

 

Good Show! That is great to hear!

The rezoning was approved by the EDC and was unanimously approved by Council (Berding absent).

 

Just to update my August 27, 2006 post....

 

The City Council has approved unanimously an ordinance to allow them to sell (through the CLRP program) the vacant lot at 312 Mulberry St to Citadel Building Group (Doug Spitz).  This was approved at their September 27, 2006 meeting.

 

The City Planning Commission had approved it at their September 15, 2006 meeting.

 

To recap what this all means:

 

The sale price would be $3100, the fair market value as assessed by the auditor.

 

Citadel owns the neighboring property at 314 Mulberry St.  This property is currently occupied by a long-vacant, heavily-damaged three-family structure built in 1875.

 

Ostensibly this sale by the city and the impending demolition of 314 by Spitz will result in two new single-family houses being constructed.

 

They are going to have landscaping of some sort along the sides that should break up the exposed concrete below the brick.

They planted grass and tulip bulbs...

I just finished with a meeting with Robin Hunt (Great Guy) with Urban Forestry.  Frintz, and E. Clifton (from Frintz to Vine) will be treescaped this upcoming spring.  We marked all of the tree well sites today and got the ok from the DOT.  Also the Frintz st Steps will be lined with 8 Brandywine Maples with an entrance of two Magnolias leading from Mulberry to Frintz.  This will happen on the 28th of this month.

Just an FYI, and then hopefully we can put this Taco Bell nonsense to bed....

 

The rezoning to allow a Taco Bell (info on which can be found up the page) was disapproved by the City Planning Commission.

 

There is a public hearing in front of the Economic Development Committee on October 24.  It's pretty certain that it will be disapproved there, too.

 

A few days after that is when it usually shows up on the Council agenda.  If both the CPC and the EDC have disapproved, it's pretty likely the Council will vote no and we can put this nonsense to bed.

 

McMillan Manor....Highland Lofts...Taco Bell...?

 

The three units from the condo conversion at 318 Mulberry St are now on the market.  The pricing is $125K, $130K and $135K, and all three are 2 BR/1 BA.

 

Also, Vineyard Homes has purchased the vacant land at 1789 Sycamore St.  I would assume that this would be tied in with the rest of the development at the top of Sycamore Hill.

 

:x

 

The City Planning Commission disapproved of the zoning change for the Taco Bell.

 

The Economic Development Committee disapproved of the zoning change for the Taco Bell.

 

City Council APPROVED the zoning change for the Taco Bell.  Only Jim Tarbell voted "no".

 

There has been a lot of discussion regarding reinstating the Planning Department.  Why bother if City Council rarely, if ever, listens to recommendations?

 

We are powerless when the Council is accepting "smunchy" tacos under the table.

Interesting news.

1 step forward, 2 steps back...

We demolished fast food restaurants deemed tacky (including Taco Bell) on McMillan only to rezone land in the same area that allows a Taco Bell to be built!?  This area does not need this kind of development.

We are powerless when the Council is accepting "smunchy" tacos under the table.

 

lmao

1 step forward, 2 steps back...

 

Well, given what used to be there, I'd probably call it two steps forward, one back...but your point is well taken.  And here's one decision, made against advice by city council, which is going to doom that intersection for a generation or more...alas...

 

I don't know, Taco Bell will attract vehicular traffic until the middle of the night and generate significant light pollution.  I wouldn't want to buy a condo across the street from it.  Or have they ditched the condo plan?

I'm not sure why, but it seams that Taco Bell always gets the short end of the stick in terms of being allowed to operate where it chooses...as opposed to McDonald's and some others that seem to be able to do what ever the hell they want?!?!

 

Take that for what its worth...

I think its a bad location for any fast food joint with a drive threw.  Taco Bell doesn't equal redevelopment.  I would rather have the women's panty shop that used to be at that corner instead!

I wouldn't want to buy a condo across the street from it.  Or have they ditched the condo plan?

 

It's still on as far as I know.  The preliminary development plan was approved in October.  I think they're fleshing out the final development plan and need to get it approved.

442-444 Milton St two-townhouse development has started.  The stone wall and land is being leveled. Lets hope this one doesnt end up looking like the new house that was built on milton with the blank concrete foundation totally exposed on 2 sides.

I have the plans sitting here in front of me for those two.  The Fielers are doing them, one to sell, one to occupy themselves.  Elevators in both, two car tandem garage.  The Fielers are the same one's who did the Ft. Washington so if that gives you any indication of what quality is going there.

I have the plans sitting here in front of me for those two.  The Fielers are doing them, one to sell, one to occupy themselves.  Elevators in both, two car tandem garage.  The Fielers are the same one's who did the Ft. Washington so if that gives you any indication of what quality is going there.

 

Excellent!  The Ft. Washington is amazing.

Plans are now being drawn for 111 Mulberry Street as well.  A great P&G couple from Iowa are looking to turn this former 3 family (now just a shell) into a single family, owner occupied residence.

Crime Wave Hits Home For Residents Of Tri-state Street

<i>Reported by: Jenell Walton

Web produced by: Neil Relyea, Photographed by: 9News

First posted: 1/9/2007 8:33:17 PM</i>

 

One neighbor found their car set on fire. A bullet whistled through another's bedroom window. A group of residents on Mulberry Street in Over-the-Rhine says the crime is getting out of hand and they want it stopped before someone is seriously hurt. Mulberry Street is relatively quiet. It sits next to Mt. Auburn in Over-the-Rhine just off Vine Street.

 

To read more: http://wcpo.com/news/2007/local/01/09/mulberry.html

Stray New Year's Eve bullets aren't a new phenomenon anywhere.  In fact there was a story in the local news about it happening somewhere in NKy this year, too. 

 

As for the rest, it sounds like a relatively isolated situation in that most of the trouble has been caused by a single cohort of troublemakers.  Hopefully the residents and police can find a way to curtail the activity.

^I hope you're right Kendall. We here on the forum tend to view otr through rose colored glasses.Even the bad news, we chalk it up to carelessness on a crime victims part, a lack of common sense or even stupidity. In most cases this is the case.Then there is always the sensationalism of the media.... I don't know in this instance tho, it just sounds really bad to me.  Sorry to sound a little alarmist, but if someone had been shot or killed, GOD forbid, wer'e set back 10 years. Can't wait to get Michael Redmonds take on this one.