Posted February 29, 200817 yr I went out and attempted taking some pics of some of the activity taking place on a 3-4 mile stretch of Glenway deep in the heart of the Westsiiyyde. You all need to bear with me because of my ignorance of posting pictures so this may take a couple days. Let me break down just some of the sites of what you could consider 1st generation suburban infill. All of these are taking place within the already established suburbs on the west side of Cincinnati approx. 50-70 yrs old. These are some of the properties that are being demolished in the name of progress and or Economic Redevelopment. Needless to say NONE of these will be missed and are not what you would consider Architecturally pleasing to look at. Almost any new development will be a step up from it's predecessor: 1.) Western Hills Plaza - (Glenway) Owner Centro, is now demolishing the old Media Play and Kroger with hopes to build a new $10 mil Target and $5 mil worth of upgrades and remodeling for one of Cincinnati OLDEST shopping centers. (Hopefully they will make it similar to the new Kroger Center in the Western Village across the street from WHP, which Centro also owns. Latest news is Centro is trying to liquidate there Cincy assets though) 2.) Glenway Dodge - (Glenway) Recently closed for demolishing for a proposed strip center with possibly two restaraunts on site. 3.) Shell Station - (Werk & Glenway) Recently demolished after sitting vacant for years. (Hopefully one of Dunkin Doughnuts future sites!) 4.) Oskamp Fields - (Glenway & Midway) Recently demolished conscession stands to make way for a proposed baseball complex for ADA kids. Sounds cool and the renderings look great on another thread. (With some help from this years Reds Community Fund and CRC.) 5.) Wagon Wheel - (Bridgetown & Glenway) This one hurts me personally due to the many memories of the past 7 yrs. Yes, this pillar of the community is coming down in the name of traffic progress. Widening of the bottleneck of Bridgetown Rd., Glenway, and Race. They are doing away with the "merge" style ramps, which our society cannot maneuver through, and has deemed this one of the states most dangerous and accident prone intersections. Oy!! There are plenty more and I will attempt to stay on this and LEARN how to post some pics. (Any advice would greatly appreciated!) I can't do much though about the 3.2 mp camera's quality. I know, it's time to upgrade put I am not a Photographer Master, as some of you are.!!! :wink:
February 29, 200817 yr Author Ok, here goes nothing! This is the Wagon Wheel near the Bridgetown-Race-Glenway intersection. As you can (barely) see, any widening of the road is going to effect this structure dated from the late 1800's I believe. Rumor is it used to be a brothel way back in the day. Inside are pictures of horse and buggy's on a dirt B-town Rd. Slated for demo in March as of right now. Many great memories when I was underage and it was under different ownership than today. So sad! I wish I could find a way to get that neon sign before they F it up.
February 29, 200817 yr Nice recap of some westside action. I believe I can confirm that Dunkin Doughnuts will be appearing on Werk & Glenway. Now where will I buy some rugs and Elvis paintings. ;-) I didn't know the Wagon Wheel will be history. In Junior High that place was considered "scary". We always cross at "the Ballgame" (was that the name) when we walk to Stumps for .50 bowling. Does Pete Roses' first wife still work at the Wagon Wheel? She might of been an owner at one time. I think Fawn(Pete's daughter) work there for a bit. I hope the sign can be sent to the American Sign Museum.
February 29, 200817 yr Author Good idea on the sign! It has been through quite a few owners since Pete's 1st wife. The Lambernedies sold to an ex marine within the last couple years. It never was a bad neighborhood hole in the wall. I have been in there so much in my life that I never really considered it scary. It might just give off that perception with all the bikes and characters that walk out of there though. Stumps, The Ballgame, hahaha Don't forget Osterhues and that kick ars bridge that used to span that entire intersection back in the early 80's. I have never been able to find a picture of that bridge. That was the biggest loss of that intersection because that was what should have been the Westside Lt. rail line.
February 29, 200817 yr Ok, here goes nothing! This is the Wagon Wheel near the Bridgetown-Race-Glenway intersection. As you can (barely) see, any widening of the road is going to effect this structure dated from the late 1800's I believe. Rumor is it used to be a brothel way back in the day. Inside are pictures of horse and buggy's on a dirt B-town Rd. Slated for demo in March as of right now. Many great memories when I was underage and it was under different ownership than today. So sad! I wish I could find a way to get that neon sign before they F it up. I can assure you that Wagon Wheel will not be torn down in any improvements that are to be made to the intersection. It is a historic establishment that should protect it from the wrath of consultants. It also should be noted that thankfully in this day and age a major part of an engineering project is community justice, and ensuring that we do not wrong the community. Also, one of my senior projects involved recommending and designing mock improvements for the intersection, so I have a pretty good idea of what needs to go in there. The improvements scheduled to be done this year are minor improvements intended to rebuild the signal and eliminate the channelizing islands. I would think that it should not destroy the building. Edit: I should have read your comments in more detail, how do you know they are demoing the property?
February 29, 200817 yr Author Well, I got nothing in writing! It is just all talk inside of the bar. I was under the impression it was protected under that historic clause as well, which is why most owners couldn't drastically alter the bar, so I was shocked to find that out this past Tuesday. There may be more to this! Your project for the intersection was for school, I take it? No affiliation with the county or ODOT?
February 29, 200817 yr Yeah, just for school. I've seen the ODOT plans though for the short term improvements, but I didn't think to look at ROW takes. But yeah, I did something for school. There is more to the story I guess than what we were told when we were given the class project, but I know not of ODOT's total plans, and due what happens when people see unofficial plans or recommendations, I can't really talk about it, either.
February 29, 200817 yr I was in the Wagon Wheel last week and the word in the bar was that it was indeed going to be torn down. I got to thinking... Is the Wagon Wheel the most historic building in all of Bridgetown?
February 29, 200817 yr Author I think there is a few old farmhouses mixed into the subdivisions. There is an old house on Lawrence for one, and Nick & Tom's dates back quite a while. There definitely aren't many old ones left ,but that would be a good question to do research on. Cheviot has Bridgetown beat in this category hands down and is less than a mile away.
March 1, 200817 yr Author 2.) Glenway Dodge - (Glenway) Recently closed for demolishing for a proposed strip center with possibly two restaraunts on site. 3 acres of anthing better than this crap!!!!!!
March 1, 200817 yr Thanks for posting these pictures, it's amazing how little of the West side I have ever seen. I didn't even know Western Hills Plaza existed!
March 1, 200817 yr I personally think that Green Twp is missing out on an extrodanary opportunity to create a real destination for the area. Currently Green Twp is faceless, and there is no reason whatsoever for outsiders to come to Glenway Ave (sans Western Bowl). These properties could have been acquired and then used to implement some sort of plan for the business corridor. That is essentially what I thought about doing - creating a long-range plan for the corridor - but it appears as though the political will isn't there to make this kind of thing happen. If any business is willing to go in and contribute to township coffers, then it seems to be good enough. Hopefully the Glenway Dodge site is done well, and somehow ties in to the existing catwalk networks surrounding that site, and really creates a pedestrian oriented project. There are a good amount of people that walk along this very stretch of Glenway Ave...many of which are children walking to/from school. I just hope that these projects don't become the next Western Commons (that crap Kohls, Meijer, etc near I-74). The township officials have admitted to giving in and getting a final product that was not what they had hoped for. Get a backbone and get a nice project done.
March 1, 200817 yr Author ^Agree! I have redone Glenway in my head a million times! Streetscapes, destination places (other than Western Bowl & Western Sports Mall) , etc. There is alot happening now, so we will see if any responsible planning is going to to be included with any of these sites. I think the new Oskamp will be a big destination point for our region if they stick to there guns. I will get some pics of that up soon. Right now it is just a grassy field with the demoed concession/restroom stands.
March 2, 200817 yr I'm glad to see some progress there. I Hardly ever went there cuz bums would hang out there alot and beg for change.. not that I'm opposed to helping bums.. but it got annoying.!!. hopefully that will stop once they rebuild and make it nice.
March 2, 200817 yr I used to practice in the Ball Game batting cages a lot. It seems like nobody has a picture of the old bridge, I think it was torn down around 1990. That was a fantastic intersection before it was torn down, I think the traffic lights were bolted right onto the girders. The Wagon Wheel hung out in the shadow of the bridge like how that liquor store in Covington hides under the C&O approach viaduct. In case anyone's wondering, the cleanup at Fernald is complete but the line is actually still active over there serving a small but intense-looking little plant opposite Stricker's Grove. The piers for the Great Miami River bridge are nearby and still visible. The demolition of the Wagon Wheel is just one more example of the total idiocy of traffic policy. It's not 1964 anymore. I have now had two former apartments in different parts of town here in Cincinnati demolished for street widening projects, most recently the Vine St. widening by the zoo, which is totally unecessary. They tore down all the trees and the whole area looks terrible now. Great job traffic planners. What would this county be without you? A bit ironic since they used to sing God Bless America every night there at midnight.
March 2, 200817 yr Author Yea, still looking for pictures of that bridge. The Green Twp Admin building has a memorial in front of the complex with an ok pic but there is nothing online and I haven't gotten to the library yet. I think it came down in '84, because I was under 5 years old but was born in the house where the Family Dollar now sits across from Stumps. There were two houses there previously which my Great Aunt owned. I vaguely remember them tearing it down, but it was the early 80's sometime.
March 2, 200817 yr I remember the bridge, so it has be be later than '85. I want to say it was really close to 1990.
March 2, 200817 yr Author ^ Possibly, but my parents bought their current house in '84 and they have even said that the bridge was down before they moved into that house. I don't know, I was way too young to remember the years but I know they tore it down while we were still living in the Bridgetown Rd house where they eventually built a Super-X.
March 3, 200817 yr Author http://books.google.com/books?id=sXjcI6Vzei4C&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&dq=train+bridge+at+bridgetown+and+glenway+cincinnati&source=web&ots=szCg1xLbud&sig=LBYf2taprWr4xaUUZuSG6xZGyGY&hl=en#PPA57,M1 Bridgetown Train bridge photos (page 49) as well as Wagon Wheel photo from turn of the 20th century (page 59 & 60). This book can be purchased at Walden Books on Glenway Ave. Part of ("The Images of America" Hamilton County's Green Township) I just bought the "Over the Rhine" collection at christmas, but didn't see this one at that time. These are awesome books that include many of Cincy's historical neighborhoods.
March 3, 200817 yr I remember the bridge, so it has be be later than '85. I want to say it was really close to 1990. I agree that it has to be later than '85, because I remember that bridge and the rail lines that went under it...and I was born in '85. So I'm guessing somewhere around '90 or so.
March 3, 200817 yr Author ^LOL!!! This one is new to me, but a much needed improvement to the short stretch between Boudinot and North Bend. I will try and get some pics but this is nothing to look at currently http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080228/NEWS01/802280489/1067/RSS1103 Green Township cleaning up corner BY KURT BACKSCHEIDER | [email protected] GREEN TWP. - The township is turning the property at the corner of Westwood Northern Boulevard and Boudinot Avenue into a gateway to the community. Township trustees recently approved buying the Boulevard Tool Rental and Boulevard Party Rental properties with tax increment financing funds. Click on link for article.
March 3, 200817 yr The picture 51 shows dismantling and says '84. If it is anything like the most recent ODOT project regarding fixing an intersection with trains (747 grade separation), it could have been several years before the bridge went down. :lol: I can tell you for a fact (I have the construction drawing), that the latest traffic signal was modified to its current state in the early 90s. If you are really interested, when I get home I can post the exact date associated with that drawing.
March 3, 200817 yr >The picture 51 shows dismantling and says '84. It was definitely after 1984. The line shut down because Fernald stopped production. I think the big viaduct in Fairmount was dismantled a bit before this bridge. There is a guy down at the Cincinnati Railroad Club who rode the last train that ever traveled between the yard where Glenway Crossing is now and the Queensgate Yard. I think that was in 1987 or 88. The viaduct in Fairmount was spectacular, he has a lot of great photos of it but I don't remember him having a single shot of the Bridgetown bridge.
March 3, 200817 yr Author ^March 24, 1981 was the last train. I don't mean to get too far off course but I found a pic of the Abandoned Cheviot switchyard for the C&O rail line as seen from Glenway Ave. One correction is that (I think) this is technically Westwood at modern day Glenway Crossing. I can't tell which way this would be looking from Glenway. From the main page go to Indian Eastern and check the pics out. The line was abandoned from Cincy to Fernald. http://www.cincyrails.com/ (Is it torwards Glenway Chevrolet or towards Applebees and Circuit City?)
March 4, 200817 yr ^LOL! Yea, I'd be curious as to that date. The signal was first installed on 5-10-50. The plan was drawn to show the new geometrics on 12-19-88. It appears as though the signal as it is today was approved for installation on 10-1-91. There are your "stump your friends with random trivia" content for today. Enjoy!
March 5, 200817 yr The demolition of the Wagon Wheel is just one more example of the total idiocy of traffic policy. It's not 1964 anymore. I have now had two former apartments in different parts of town here in Cincinnati demolished for street widening projects, most recently the Vine St. widening by the zoo, which is totally unecessary. They tore down all the trees and the whole area looks terrible now. Great job traffic planners. What would this county be without you? A bit ironic since they used to sing God Bless America every night there at midnight. Be careful who you point fingers at for this interesting development. Turns out there is more to the story regarding Wagon Wheel than you know.
March 10, 200817 yr Author Area gets much needed attention! Westwood may see teardowns City ready to buy, raze eyesores BY JANE PRENDERGAST | [email protected] http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080310/NEWS01/803100389/ WESTWOOD - For years, neighborhood activists here have pushed the city to do something about dilapidated houses. They might soon get their wish, now that a majority of City Council members has agreed to spend $250,000 to buy and demolish up to a dozen buildings, as long as they're vacant. Nine of them sit on Harrison Avenue. Click on link for article.
March 18, 200817 yr Author First 2 pics are of a new development (Hillsinger Properties) on Race Rd. next to Bridgetown Middle School. The rest are of the school itself along with the new annex built within the past couple years. Nothing special, but I will tell you these kids have it better than we had in the early 90's. "Hail beavers, onward Bridgetown.........Win this game today.......blah blah............ I can't even remember the fight song, but yes we were the Bridgetown Beavers THEN!!!!! Today they are Bobcats.
March 18, 200817 yr I was proud to be a Beaver, but I do remember playing on the basketball team and traveling around to other schools and getting grief for the name. It was changed about a year or two after I left...what a disapointment. On a somewhat related note, that roadway project they did to Race Rd years back was one of the best things they could have done to that area. It was a mess prior and the project has eased congestion and by default brought buildings closer to the road creating a better streetscape in my opinion.
March 20, 200817 yr Author Last call at the Wagon Wheel Cafe BY CLIFF RADEL | [email protected] http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080320/NEWS01/303200095/ GREEN TWP. – The Wheel is heading for the last roundup. After 149 years of satisfying thirsty customers, the Wagon Wheel Café – as the buzzing neon sign proclaims while swinging in breezes stirred by passing cars – is letting its taps go dry. “Closing Forever. Last call March 29,” declares the venerable establishment’s marquee. Click on link for article.
March 20, 200817 yr Haha... this is hilarious in the most terrible of ways. This is what happens when you let Green Township be involved in the design process. The funniest thing about this is that the improvements occurring this year DON'T take that property, and there is no funding as it is currently to do major improvements at the intersection. This is just Green Township getting rid of something they view as a nuisance.
March 20, 200817 yr Author ^I think so too! These trustees have completely lost my faith over the past year. 1. They have let developers make a mess of Harrison/ Rybolt area. 2. Legacy Place issue which I voted FOR, but am rethinking what I 1st considered good economic dev. (I have a feeling these a$$holes will let them build something sh!tty like Meier/Kohls/LAExpress/White Castle/Wendy's/etc.) 3. Now they are taking one of my favorite westside bars, and for What???? I speaking on rage right now, so maybe later I'll be cool!
March 20, 200817 yr I'm not real happy to see the Wheel go. I only went there a few times, but that structure was about the only thing left that reminded me that there used to be an actual identifiable place called Bridgetown. Why not just go ahead and take Nick & Tom's while they are at it!?
March 20, 200817 yr The same thing happened with a "nuissance" bar at the 5-way intersection a few years back when they "cleaned" that up. I just don't understand it...and as it has been said, I have completely lost any/all faith in Green Township leadership. They screwed the pooch on a great opportunity at the I-74 interchange, they are screwing up Harrison Ave and Rybolt Rd in every way imaginable, and now they are doing their best job at screwing up the other business corridor through the township - Glenway Ave. Harrison Ave, near I-74, would have been perfect for TOD type development. The township should have backed the MetroMoves plan that gave more to Green Township than it really deserved. They then could have done some nice TOD mixed-use stuff right there near the proposed station, and possibly even created a focal point for the township. I guess the leadership is content with being just another part of the faceless Westside.
March 20, 200817 yr delhi, green, colerain, miami, crosby, harrison, whitewater townships.....shudder. harrison, cleves, north bend, addyston, cheviot city...shudder. oh west side, how I grew up there and how I would never go back.
March 21, 200817 yr Transit Oriented Development...there are no solid examples in Ohio to point to since there is minimal rail transit. But these are developments that tend to pop up near transit stops and they are typically mixed-use in nature and are higher density. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit-oriented_development www.transitorienteddevelopment.org/
April 20, 200817 yr Author I personally have to hand it to the Cheviot officials for having the initiative to step up and get this job done before ANOTHER absentee Swiss bank allowed it to become a gutted run down disaster. This has to be the Westside's best neighborhood example for community involvement that really makes a difference. Cheviot Population (2000) - Total 9,015 - Density 7,753.5/sq mi (2,993.6/km²) Hopefully they get there hands around this before it will create any ever lasting problems for the city. Cheviot ready to sell its first $1 home BY KURT BACKSCHEIDER | [email protected] http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080411/NEWS01/804110377/1067/RSS1103 CHEVIOT - John Erdman certainly appreciates all the work the city has put into renovating the vacant house next door to him. "It's going to make the value of my house better," said the longtime Davis Avenue resident. Click on link for article.
May 9, 200817 yr Author Proposed Monfort Heights project gets hearing BY JENNIE KEY | [email protected] GREEN TWP. - A preliminary meeting is set next week so the developer of a planned medical office complex at Interstate 74 and North Bend Road can talk with neighbors about the project. Click on link for article.
May 21, 200817 yr Author I don't think I have ever heard of Kroger putting a gas station on the opposite side of the road from their actual store. I don't get on the Pike much but isn't that on the other side of the road? Jiffy Lube site cited; Kroger buys lot next door BY HEIDI FALLON | [email protected] http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080516/NEWS/805150477/1086/RSS1107 DELHI TWP. - While the fate of the Jiffy Lube business on Delhi Road still is in question, Kroger has purchased the property next door. Click on link for article.
May 21, 200817 yr Yes, opposite side of the road. The Kroger's on Mason-Montgomery has the gas station on the opposite side of the road also.
June 14, 200816 yr Author Yard sale will benefit Covedale theater http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/NEWS/806120364/1067/RSS1103 Covedale's new entry plaza is inviting BY KURT BACKSCHEIDER | [email protected] http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/NEWS/806130393/1140/RSS1129
June 14, 200816 yr Author 3 Rivers to seek renewal of tax levy http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/NEWS/806120428/1067/RSS1103
June 14, 200816 yr Author Price Hill Will turning homes around BY KURT BACKSCHEIDER | [email protected] http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/NEWS/806130391/1140/RSS1129
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