November 30, 201410 yr Author I personally liked the original square proposal. I think they need a little more than an additional triangle to accomplish the ultimate goal of adding businesses and street life. The property that the Town Square sits on has plenty of green space. The area around it needs buildings built out to the sidewalk with residential on the upper levels and businesses to fill those spaces. Other than a few notable structures near the Montana intersection, most of the buildings that line Harrison are very low density and not architecturally sacred by any means. If the new Subway on the other side of the Honda dealership is any indication, we got a long ways to go.
December 1, 201410 yr I personally liked the original square proposal. I think they need a little more than an additional triangle to accomplish the ultimate goal of adding businesses and street life. The property that the Town Square sits on has plenty of green space. The area around it needs buildings built out to the sidewalk with residential on the upper levels and businesses to fill those spaces. Other than a few notable structures near the Montana intersection, most of the buildings that line Harrison are very low density and not architecturally sacred by any means. If the new Subway on the other side of the Honda dealership is any indication, we got a long ways to go. They had an opportunity to create a unique new sense of place and they threw it away.
February 18, 20178 yr Author New stores and restaurants revitalizing local neighborhood http://local12.com/news/local/new-stores-and-restaurants-revitalizing-local-neighborhood
March 3, 20178 yr McAuley and Mercy High School are merging, with Mercy moving to McAuley's campus. If it happens, and there's a chance it won't because there's already a lot of pushback, it's a great opportunity to turn Mercy into apartments. Hopefully they don't just tear it down.
March 3, 20178 yr McAuley and Mercy High School are merging, with Mercy moving to McAuley's campus. If it happens, and there's a chance it won't because there's already a lot of pushback, it's a great opportunity to turn Mercy into apartments. Hopefully they don't just tear it down. The Mother of Mercy building is pretty, so I hope it gets re-purposed creatively... but it isn't in/near a business district, so there isn't much spillover benefit to adding density to this area. I'd rather see density added in/near the business districts to help support the burgeoning retail scene.
March 3, 20178 yr McAuley and Mercy High School are merging, with Mercy moving to McAuley's campus. If it happens, and there's a chance it won't because there's already a lot of pushback, it's a great opportunity to turn Mercy into apartments. Hopefully they don't just tear it down. The Mother of Mercy building is pretty, so I hope it gets re-purposed creatively... but it isn't in/near a business district, so there isn't much spillover benefit to adding density to this area. I'd rather see density added in/near the business districts to help support the burgeoning retail scene. True, but I still think it would make a good residential conversion. What would be interesting is if that conversion happened and if there was some walkable development proposed at the old Mercy hospital site and if Boudinot Ave could be redone into some kind of pedestrian bike friendly corridor from Westwood town square/Harrison Ave to Glenway Ave. www.cincinnatiideas.com
March 28, 20187 yr Renovation of Westwood theater gets go-ahead The renovation of Madcap Puppets' new home in Westwood has the green light, the theater's parent company announced today. Cincinnati Landmark Productions executives told me on Tuesday that with 94 percent of funding in place, the $4.5 million renovation of the Madcap Education Center at Harrison and Urwiler avenues is a go. The development will serve as home base for Madcap's touring company and a venue for expanded children's programming. In addition to a 124-seat theater, the facility will offer arts education classes, workshops and summer camps. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/03/27/renovation-of-westwood-theater-gets-goahead.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 28, 20187 yr Renovation of Westwood theater gets go-ahead The renovation of Madcap Puppets' new home in Westwood has the green light, the theater's parent company announced today. Cincinnati Landmark Productions executives told me on Tuesday that with 94 percent of funding in place, the $4.5 million renovation of the Madcap Education Center at Harrison and Urwiler avenues is a go. The development will serve as home base for Madcap's touring company and a venue for expanded children's programming. In addition to a 124-seat theater, the facility will offer arts education classes, workshops and summer camps. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/03/27/renovation-of-westwood-theater-gets-goahead.html There's quite a solid core building up around the Town Hall and Epworth Ave area. I've also heard the theater will be joined by a renovation of the town hall grounds to provide community programming. Wonder if city finances will still allow it to happen. With a cafe, brewery, yoga studio, a winery/restauarant, and some new shops, Westwood has come a long way!! This area of the neighborhood also has pretty good access to uptown and downtown. Some family may want to snatch this property up!! It's right there in the walkable area, and is an unusual find amongst older homes. A spacious renovated mid-century on a largish lot in a walkable area. https://www.comey.com/p/2930-Montclair-Ave-Cincinnati-Westwood-OH-45211/mls_cincy/1572393
March 28, 20187 yr Author This area is buzzing within the past year or two and doesn't show signs of letting up. If you haven't checked Westside Brewery out, I'd highly recommend it! More news right across the town hall green at the former firehouse off Epworth. City accepting proposals for redeveloping old Westwood firehouse http://local12.com/news/local/city-accepting-proposals-for-redeveloping-old-westwood-firehouse
March 28, 20187 yr This area is buzzing within the past year or two and doesn't show signs of letting up. If you haven't checked Westside Brewery out, I'd highly recommend it! More news right across the town hall green at the former firehouse off Epworth. City accepting proposals for redeveloping old Westwood firehouse http://local12.com/news/local/city-accepting-proposals-for-redeveloping-old-westwood-firehouse Hopefully the city has its crap together, and it sticks this time. About a year ago, I was chatting with the owner of Incline Public House, and they were going to open a location here when the city originally vacated the building a few years ago. Apparently transfer of ownership was tied up. Same for Catch A Fire pizza. They moved on to partner with Madtree. We will see if the "neighborhoods" mayor can clean up the city end of this development in his second term, or if it'll remain in a state of constant stagnation as has come of 4th and Race.
May 31, 20187 yr This is a pretty big deal for Westwood: Nation Kitchen and Bar shared a post. 40 mins · The cat's out of the bag... We're thrilled to have been awarded the opportunity to expand the Nation brand to the neighborhood of Westwood. What a beautiful building that we get to breathe life back into, we can't wait to get started! We hope you like burgers and beer over there! More info to come soon..
June 1, 20187 yr Huge win for Westwood, who has been working hard to become a neighborhood of choice. CPA did their spring home tour there this past Mother's Day weekend,and wow are people spending a lot of money on the homes along the Epworth spine and adjoining streets. So close to downtown and the UC and hospitals area. This is the next area to pop. Also, two other big projects right there in the center of Westwood are transforming the area. First, the Westwood Town Hall grounds will be redone starting this summer. More importantly, Landmark Productions, (Incline and Covedale theaters), is well underway, transforming the former Bell Building into an arts center. All the building blocks are in place for this neighborhood to rise from the ashes of complacency and disinvestment is saw in the not so distant past.
June 1, 20187 yr Huge win for Westwood, who has been working hard to become a neighborhood of choice. CPA did their spring home tour there this past Mother's Day weekend,and wow are people spending a lot of money on the homes along the Epworth spine and adjoining streets. So close to downtown and the UC and hospitals area. This is the next area to pop. Also, two other big projects right there in the center of Westwood are transforming the area. First, the Westwood Town Hall grounds will be redone starting this summer. More importantly, Landmark Productions, (Incline and Covedale theaters), is well underway, transforming the former Bell Building into an arts center. All the building blocks are in place for this neighborhood to rise from the ashes of complacency and disinvestment is saw in the not so distant past. Just a few years ago I never would have considered moving to Westwood, but it's quickly moving up my list for the reasons you mentioned. If I were an investor, I'd be directing a lot of money towards Westwood.
June 1, 20187 yr Before I left Cincy a couple years ago I seriously thought about buying an investment property in Westwood. In terms of long-term financial stability, it probably would have been a wise choice to do so...oh well. I love seeing more neighborhoods having new life breathed into them. Who knows, maybe when these first and second ring neighborhood nodes are active it'll help the push for better transit.
June 1, 20187 yr Haven't been to the Westside in a while so hopped on google maps for a street tour and came upon this from July 2017. Curious what they could have been meeting about. Any ideas? https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1494743,-84.5990877,3a,75y,250.79h,76.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0U1jPnCakjaOceAQ29FnBw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
June 1, 20187 yr Haven't been to the Westside in a while so hopped on google maps for a street tour and came upon this from July 2017. Curious what they could have been meeting about. Any ideas? https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1494743,-84.5990877,3a,75y,250.79h,76.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0U1jPnCakjaOceAQ29FnBw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 That is exactly where the new 'Westwood Square' park is going so probably something related to that?
June 1, 20187 yr Haven't been to the Westside in a while so hopped on google maps for a street tour and came upon this from July 2017. Curious what they could have been meeting about. Any ideas? https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1494743,-84.5990877,3a,75y,250.79h,76.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0U1jPnCakjaOceAQ29FnBw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 It looks like Westside Brewing is actively under construction across the street. Perhaps a hard hat tour of the building.
June 1, 20187 yr Sorry this may be an annoying question, more suited for City-Data really but you all are the people I trust most ;-) My fiance and I are looking at housing. We can't afford a ton before we are married, around 150k tops, but in a year that is bumped up significantly due to my pay off of student loans in November, combining on her great insurance plan (I buy individual currently which is hefty), and then overall combining expenses. So next year say by September 2019 we can afford around 225-250k. We want to live near a NBD that is at least having signs of life and is safe enough to not feel uncomfortable going for walks to the park, going for runs in the neighborhood, and walking to the NBD. I've been interested in Westwood but don't know much about it. Obviously, the pricing is good and the homes are beautiful. She and I are also high on College Hill. To me they are fairly similar just driving through, though it seems like the NE quadrant of Hamilton and North Bend seems fairly stable, but it seems to drop off quick. The other more established neighborhoods, I don't know what we could afford besides maybe Pleasant Ridge and that's a big maybe. I am talking even at a year from now with a budget of 250k tops. College Hill pricing seems to be trending up pretty quickly especially in that quadrant mentioned and also inching up in the NW quadrant. I also don't want to just have basically an investment home as our first home. I want to be comfortable being there right from the start and at least not lose any money on the house for a period of 5 years or so. When I talk about being uncomfortable, I am pretty much good with anything. I was mugged and robbed in OTR before but didn't really have much of a problem living there, but for my fiance I want to feel comfortable if she goes on a run alone. So by that I mean (impossible to know for certain) her running and getting catcalled randomly or a lot of shady characters around. All that said, what do you all feel about Westwood and that Epworth spine mentioned compared to say the NE or NW quadrant of College Hill. We are definitely comfortable now on the NE quadrant of College Hill and 50/50 on the NW quadrant, so those would be the benchmarks when comparing with Westwood. I really appreciate anyone's response to this!
June 1, 20187 yr Westwood and College Hill are each very similar to Hyde Park in scale and housing mix. Even if each revives their respective strips into a "Hyde Park Square", they're still going to be far from Kenwood and Rookwood -- the area's only two strong shopping areas -- and the many professional jobs that line I-71 all the way up to Mason.
June 1, 20187 yr Author All that said, what do you all feel about Westwood and that Epworth spine mentioned compared to say the NE or NW quadrant of College Hill. We are definitely comfortable now on the NE quadrant of College Hill and 50/50 on the NW quadrant, so those would be the benchmarks when comparing with Westwood. That area has always been pretty solid with close knit neighbors even in the darkest days for Westwood. With all the businesses opening in the past year or two it's only gotten stronger. I'd advise making a couple trips to the area yourself for beer at Westside Brewery or coffee at Muse. See what kind of feel you get from the experience. They have pretty many events now a days in the summer on the Town Hall property, plus a rather big and still growing Christmas tree event in the winter. In regards to safety, the two biggest crime areas in Westwood (at least last time I checked) were around the McHenry - Harrison Ave area and certain spots of Montana towards I-74. In saying that though even these areas are much better than they have been in the past and I consider them as improving.
June 1, 20187 yr consider Monfort Heights and White Oak... Realtors have invented the term "White Oak West" which refers to everything west of Cheviot Rd., which historically did not have sewers because it's in the Great Miami watershed (as kids we learned that Cheviot Rd. formed the division between the Mill Creek and Great Miami). A new sewage treatment plant was built in Miamitown in the mid-1990s and sewers were installed next to the creeks. The various subdivisions and condo complexes that had maintained their own mini-treatment plants switched over in the early 2000s, just in time for the housing collapse. I'm not quite sure why "White Oak West" has taken off as a valuable area since the recovery, other than it sort-of resembles Anderson Township. There are a lot of homes sitting on 100x200 lots that back up to woods, so it gives the impression that you own more land than you usually do. "White Oak East" is comprised almost entirely of 1960s ranches and looked like it was in trouble during the recession but prices have surprisingly surged back with many fetching $150k. That's good because the prevailing price is now higher than what an investor can make renting the place, so that will mean more owner-occupants.
June 1, 20187 yr Author consider Monfort Heights and White Oak... These are good neighborhoods too but the only drawback is they lack walkable NBD such as the Westwood Town Hall area or Cheviot for that matter.
June 1, 20187 yr consider Monfort Heights and White Oak... These are good neighborhoods too but the only drawback is they lack walkable NBD such as the Westwood Town Hall area or Cheviot for that matter. Cheviot definitely should be kept in mind when looking at Westwood. It's NBD is almost completely intact, but it's not considered cool because of how blue collar it is.
June 1, 20187 yr Someone recently told me that the boost in new development in Westwood can be attributed to new leadership within their community council. After some of the anti-development people left (one name in particular might come to mind for some members of this forum) and new leadership came in with a fresh, pro-development vision, things seemed to change almost instantly. More west side neighborhoods would benefit if they had similar shifts in attitude.
June 1, 20187 yr Cheviot definitely should be kept in mind when looking at Westwood. It's NBD is almost completely intact, but it's not considered cool because of how blue collar it is. Yeah I don't think it would take much for Cheviot to suddenly turn the corner and land on the citywide radar. It is a very walkable part of the city. Well, its own city. The homes are 70/30 3-bedrooms versus 2-bedrooms. The problem with 2-bedroom houses is that investors more easily buy them up and turn them into rentals. Monfort Heights has practically zero sidewalks and is completely unwalkable/bikeable. White Oak does have sidewalks but nobody walks or rides bikes there.
June 1, 20187 yr Author Since this thread has been bumped I might as well fill you guys in on some rather dull yet news worthy updates for this side of town for those that don't get over this way. - A Waffle House is now open on Glenway Ave near Midway Ave - New Stand alone Starbucks is being built where the old car wash was on Glenway across from Glen Crossing Way. - Applebees, Sears, and Toys R Us are now all closed to nobody's surprise. - Brand spanking new gigantic UDF's are now open Westwood Northern Blvd & North Bend as well as Harrison Ave & Wesselman - New stand alone Panera now open on Harrison Ave near Valley Ridge Rd - New McAllisters being built on Harrison Ave across from Lowe's - New Kroger (possibly a Marketplace) has broken ground next to the current Dent Kroger. Haven't been able to confirm if it's been scaled back from original Marketplace plans - These three homes and one business on Race Rd have now been demolished and they are in the process of grading the property. https://goo.gl/maps/3e641Z76YiQ2 - Keystone Mac Shack is coming to the former Tom & Chee on Harrison Ave - Heard a rumor that the old motel by Sakura near I-74 has now been demolished https://goo.gl/maps/TPP41aPcqhk
June 1, 20187 yr I have a group of friends who rented a house in Westwood strictly because of lower rents and cheap weekend Uber/Lyft rides to Northside, their favorite nightlife spot. Spending time in Westwood was originally completely off their radar. In fact when they first moved, they got into a strange fight with their parents based on how "safe" Westwood is. A year later they now they spend as much time out in Westwood as in Northside, and are passively looking to buy a house in Westwood. So anecdotally, proximity to Northside is expanding Westwood's reach.
June 1, 20187 yr - These three homes and one business on Race Rd have now been demolished and they are in the process of grading the property. https://goo.gl/maps/3e641Z76YiQ2 I went to the batting cage that used to be located there when I was a kid, and back when the railroad overpass still stood. The batting cage was built into the hill and had two levels, from what I recall. Actually I think there was an indoor soccer field on the "ground" level and then the batting cages were on the higher level on the hill. The loss of the rail ROW was a disaster for the west side. If that had been made into a nice bike trail back in the late 80s I think we'd really be talking about a different place. The loss of the crazy bridge with the pillars in the street and the Wagon Wheel bar for what is now a completely generic intersection...gah.
June 1, 20187 yr Author - These three homes and one business on Race Rd have now been demolished and they are in the process of grading the property. https://goo.gl/maps/3e641Z76YiQ2 I went to the batting cage that used to be located there when I was a kid, and back when the railroad overpass still stood. The batting cage was built into the hill and had two levels, from what I recall. Actually I think there was an indoor soccer field on the "ground" level and then the batting cages were on the higher level on the hill. The loss of the rail ROW was a disaster for the west side. If that had been made into a nice bike trail back in the late 80s I think we'd really be talking about a different place. The loss of the crazy bridge with the pillars in the street and the Wagon Wheel bar for what is now a completely generic intersection...gah. Remember it all very well.
June 1, 20187 yr Ah yes, it's coming back. You walked to the right of the indoor soccer field and then up steps to the batting cages. There was slow, medium, fast, and very fast. The very fast was...very fast. Like 95mph. I think I got in the "fast" one time and barely made contact. They also had that round batting cage out at Farwick Field, near the driving range. I feel like I did better at that one maybe because of the lighting.
June 2, 20187 yr Cheviot definitely should be kept in mind when looking at Westwood. It's NBD is almost completely intact, but it's not considered cool because of how blue collar it is. Yeah I don't think it would take much for Cheviot to suddenly turn the corner and land on the citywide radar. It is a very walkable part of the city. Well, its own city. The homes are 70/30 3-bedrooms versus 2-bedrooms. The problem with 2-bedroom houses is that investors more easily buy them up and turn them into rentals. Monfort Heights has practically zero sidewalks and is completely unwalkable/bikeable. White Oak does have sidewalks but nobody walks or rides bikes there. Are you sure. I swear over the past fews weeks I have noticed lots of walkers and a few bikes or maybe it was bigfoot chasing a coyote.
June 5, 20187 yr Cincinnati's largest neighborhood enters three-year development partnership The largest neighborhood in Cincinnati will soon pioneer new ways to foster growth and encourage real estate investment thanks to a recent partnership between a community-specific nonprofit and an “urban growth firm.” Westwood Works, a community development organization representing the Queen City’s most populous neighborhood, will collaborate with the recently established strategic development consulting firm Yard & Co. to craft and implement a community investment plan over the next three years. The brainchild of Kevin Wright, former executive director of Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, and Joe Nickol, former senior urban designer with MKSK, Yard & Co. aids communities in the planning and implementation stages of strategic development. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/06/05/westwood-enters-three-year-development-partnership.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 24, 20186 yr TriHealth reveals $56M expansion on West Side TriHealth CEO Mark Clement revealed today that the Cincinnati-based hospital system intends to more than double the size of its Good Samaritan Western Ridge medical center in Green Township, a $56.6 million project that will boost primary care as well as specialty care for cancer and heart patients. About 100 new jobs are to be created. More than 500 TriHealth employees are expected to work at Good Samaritan Western Ridge once the project is completed. Most of those positions will be in nursing, medicine and other clinical positions. Site excavation and land preparation for the 88,000-square-foot expansion has begun, and the building is expected to open in winter 2020. The project will result in outpatient medical campus that encompasses 141,000 square feet off of Interstate 74 near the intersection with I-275. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/07/24/trihealth-reveals-56m-expansion-on-west-side.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
December 19, 20186 yr Author Community partnerships usher in new development on the West Side “Westwood had an infamous reputation for saying, ‘No,’” he remembers. “We were our own worst enemy.” http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/Westwood-redevelopment.aspx Edited December 19, 20186 yr by oakiehigh
December 19, 20186 yr Well that article seemed to be all about Mary Kuhl without mentioning her name.
February 11, 20196 yr Latest blog post: https://cincinnatiideas.com/2019/02/10/a-concept-for-a-samuel-hannaford-memorial-in-westwood/ www.cincinnatiideas.com
June 5, 20196 yr Author Restaurant, 7 new retailers to replace vacant Sears store at Western Hills Plaza https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/westwood/restaurant-7-new-retailers-to-replace-vacant-sears-store-at-western-hills-plaza Edited June 5, 20196 yr by oakiehigh
June 5, 20196 yr Author A town square? Community center? Apartments? What will replace the former Delhi Remke? https://www.wcpo.com/news/transportation-development/move-up-cincinnati/a-town-square-community-center-apartments-what-will-replace-the-former-delhi-remke Edited June 5, 20196 yr by oakiehigh
June 5, 20196 yr 1 hour ago, oakiehigh said: A town square? Community center? Apartments? What will replace the former Delhi Remke? https://www.wcpo.com/news/transportation-development/move-up-cincinnati/a-town-square-community-center-apartments-what-will-replace-the-former-delhi-remke If there were a west side bridge to the airport and I-275, it would bring Delhi out of its isolation and provide the demand for mixed use development. (Side Note: that bottom rending looks like having your cake and eating it too, with lots of pedestrians walking down a wide open road with fast moving cars) Edited June 5, 20196 yr by thebillshark www.cincinnatiideas.com
June 5, 20196 yr It boggles the mind that several Cincinnati suburbs are now building mixed-use new urbanist infill, yet Cincinnati continues to settle for suburban strip malls within city limits.
June 5, 20196 yr 5 minutes ago, taestell said: It boggles the mind that several Cincinnati suburbs are now building mixed-use new urbanist infill, yet Cincinnati continues to settle for suburban strip malls within city limits. are you saying that Oakley station isnt urban??
June 5, 20196 yr 11 minutes ago, taestell said: It boggles the mind that several Cincinnati suburbs are now building mixed-use new urbanist infill, yet Cincinnati continues to settle for suburban strip malls within city limits. Well, we’ll see which places can execute the vision into reality. A lot of it depends on being willing and having the courage to change the roads and stroads into real streets as I allude to above. Another model out there that I think misses the mark is to have mixed use all confined to a designated area, hemmed in by high speed arterials or vast parking lots, that is not walkable from or to any other locations outside the development (for example Liberty Center) Edited June 5, 20196 yr by thebillshark www.cincinnatiideas.com
June 5, 20196 yr 10 minutes ago, seaswan said: are you saying that Oakley station isnt urban?? What was originally proposed for "Millworks": What was actually built after it was renamed Oakley Station: While Newport on the Levee and Liberty Town Center are not great examples of new urbanism, at least developers made an attempt with those projects.
June 5, 20196 yr 15 minutes ago, taestell said: What was originally proposed for "Millworks": What was actually built after it was renamed Oakley Station: While Newport on the Levee and Liberty Town Center are not great examples of new urbanism, at least developers made an attempt with those projects. dont worry, I was just messing around. Seeing the millworks proposal hurts my soul
June 6, 20196 yr I don't see this type of development being built in Delhi. Mixed use involving a few apartments and maybe getting a Starbucks would be a benefit
August 9, 20195 yr Author Nation Kitchen & Bar closes the deal in Westwood https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/dining/2019/07/31/nation-kitchen-bar-closes-deal-westwood-city-cincinnati/1876921001/
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