October 1, 20195 yr Looks like Liberty Center's Forever 21 is one of 178 nationwide that could close with their Chapter 11 bankruptcy. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/01/heres-a-map-of-the-forever-21-stores-set-to-close.html
October 2, 20195 yr Looks like there won't be a Forever 21 in the area between Florence and Beavercreek anymore... they effectively left Cincy altogether. Tbh I'm surprised they are closing at the Dayton Mall but leaving The Greene location open (which is about ~5 miles from their Mall at Fairfield Commons location, which they are also leaving open). Dayton Mall would have been a great compromise location for shuttering The Greene, which has to be higher rent, and Liberty Center. Kenwood is not a surprise given the rent, and Liberty Center is not a surprise given the rent + weak sales.
October 2, 20195 yr ^DM foot traffic has totally tanked in the past 1.5 years. It's been unbelievable how quickly it happened.
October 2, 20195 yr ^I've actually seen the opposite, and am hoping I'm correct, but know you're in there more frequently than me. (they thought the same thing since two anchors closed) The Google reviews are still positive, 4.0 stars out of 5 with many people saying they like the mall. The Ross store is opening in a couple of weeks, and The Room Place is supposed to open shortly after. I've heard they do not own the former Sears or E-B which is unfortunate. The location is solid, with some demolition or rework they could make it at least feel not dead. It'll be interesting to see what happens, but am hoping for the best with Dayton Mall.
October 2, 20195 yr Unfortunately the Ross appears it is going to be outside entry-only and its buildout is going slower than expected. Most likely the furniture store will be done first. I don't think the furniture store is going to do much for foot traffic inside the mall due to the nature of that business.
October 3, 20195 yr ^Actually scratch that, the Ross must have picked up a lot of steam because I checked it out today and it's pretty close to opening.
December 4, 20195 yr Liberty Center faces $700K debt payment shortfall Liberty Center could be more than $700,000 short on debt payments by January 2021 if fund projections don’t increase, the Journal-News reports. That’s according to a forecast from Cincinnati accounting firm Clark Schaeffer Hackett. The shortfall is projected to arrive by July 2020, when payment is due on an Ohio Water Development Authority loan, according to the firm’s cash flow projections. The Liberty Community Authority, which pays the debts with fees it collects from businesses, faces its next shortfall for that payment. MORE
December 4, 20195 yr There are almost no national retail tenants expanding right now. The ones that are already have locations here, are expanding on a very limited basis or are stuff like Ollie's.
December 4, 20195 yr On 3/19/2014 at 1:56 AM, SAF said: Liberty Center keeps getting better and better. I'll bet the location at the SCPA will be scrapped. Prosperous suburban areas are so much easier to deal with than urban cities with their outrageous rules and taxes. And for the record, as it's been alluded to multiple times, I do not work for Steiner. I don't even live by the site. I live near Kings Island. I just love retail. And love the northern 'burbs. Of course, I studied hard so that I don't have to work a retail job. Really hoping this guy returns to reassure us everything is going to be ok ?
December 4, 20195 yr I love how gung-ho they were about this development then just fell off the face of the earth the moment it opened and became clear it was going to struggle. I still remember my one and only visit shortly after opening and seeing water damage in the residential buildings, the hotel and on that weird rooftop park space and just knowing this things was thrown up to make a quick buck (which seems to not even have happened) with no care really for the future.
December 4, 20195 yr 1 hour ago, nicker66 said: Really hoping this guy returns to reassure us everything is going to be ok ? It's unlikely since the company he worked for is no longer involved with the retail aspect of the development.
December 4, 20195 yr Every time I've come back to Cincinnati I've checked on this development since its so close to where I used to live. It really is an accomplishment that Steiner has been able to create a brand new mall that is just as depressing as Cincinnati Mils!
December 5, 20195 yr It seems like a dumb point but they really need to put in that pedestrian bridge to Lakota East HS. Teens + wealthy white parents = '80's style mall culture
December 5, 20195 yr 12 minutes ago, SWOH said: It seems like a dumb point but they really need to put in that pedestrian bridge to Lakota East HS. Bridge Over Troubled Fiji Water
December 5, 20195 yr 48 minutes ago, SWOH said: It seems like a dumb point but they really need to put in that pedestrian bridge to Lakota East HS. Teens + wealthy white parents = '80's style mall culture Nonsense, this is an easy walk Edited December 5, 20195 yr by seaswan
December 23, 20195 yr Quote Egelanian said Butler County’s Liberty Center is another example of how turbulent the market has become. Six years after its opening, it’s now owned by its lender, Apollo Real Estate Finance Inc., and managed by a third-party operator. “It’s going to have to be repurposed in some way,” Egelanian said. “Will it stay a shopping center? Most likely. Will it function at the high end as it was intended to? Probably not.” https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/king-of-kenwood-will-election-controversy-leave-a-mark-on-sycamore-township
December 23, 20195 yr Quote “Will it stay a shopping center? Most likely. Will it function at the high end as it was intended to? Probably not.” I think more developers need to read UrbanOhio as a sanity check. The consensus here (literally over a decade ago) was that this was not going to be a successful "upscale" development. On 5/21/2008 at 12:34 PM, CincyDad said: "If we're going to bring retail in, it needs to be the crown jewel of Butler County and Southwest Ohio." "upscale apartments" "an upscale theater" I love all the rheteric in all the proposals. Why doesn't anyone ever say the trueth.... "we're building a bunch of basic appartments, along with some basic stores, basic restaurants, and a typical, standard theatre. You know, the common, basic stuff you see everywhere". Because after the proposal is accepted, that's what they will end up building. On 5/22/2008 at 2:28 PM, CincyDad said: I don't understand why the region does not concentrate on bringing in high-paying jobs first, with retail to follow. By high-paying jobs, I mean $70k+. Anything less, you are just going to promote more Sears and JCPenney demographics. And anything less, you are not going to attract out-side people to move to the area and bring a demand for more upscale amenities.
December 23, 20195 yr I was at liberty not too long ago. The only saving grace about liberty mall is the outdoor portion. Feels like a tiny urban shopping district which I wish downtown cincy could have one day in the future. Also, they have a North star Cafe which makes me jealous. The actual mall is in this awkward phase of tri-county and Kenwood. The food court is really nice, and so is the Dillard's H & M, and Dicks they have there. That said there is a good amount of vacant retail spots, closed food court resturaunts, and awkward businesses like an event space, photography studio inside the mall that make you feel like your back in tri-county mall. Forever 21 is nearly closed in the outdoor portion as well. I'm not sure what liberty mall future is, but I just have a bad feeling that this will be forest fair mall 2.0 in the next 10 years..at the very least the inside portion of the mall.
December 23, 20195 yr 36 minutes ago, troeros said: Feels like a tiny urban shopping district which I wish downtown cincy could have one day in the future. Have you ever been on Main or Vine streets in OTR?
December 23, 20195 yr 17 minutes ago, Gordon Bombay said: Have you ever been on Main or Vine streets in OTR? I meant in terms of chain retail. I'm very supportive of "shop small" but by and large I spend most of my money at chains like H&M, Bath and Body, Victoria Secret for my GF. Downtown has none of this. It's very difficult to find men clothes in general downtown.
June 16, 20204 yr No second phase for Liberty Center; 356-unit apartment development planned Land that was originally slated for the second phase of Liberty Center could soon be home to hundreds of apartments from a different developer. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/06/16/no-second-phase-for-liberty-center-356-apartments.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 16, 20204 yr Bridge Park @ Liberty Center! “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
June 16, 20204 yr I thought this was going to be the retail hub of the entire midwest? I'll take some somewhat-walkable dense housing in a far-flung township. regardless. “To an Ohio resident - wherever he lives - some other part of his state seems unreal.”
June 18, 20204 yr Township votes on plan for 356 apartments next to Liberty Center A developer planning to build hundreds of apartments next to the $350 million Liberty Center received approval for a zoning change for the project. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/06/18/township-votes-on-plan-for-356-apartments-next-to.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 18, 20204 yr This is a huge strategy departure for Steiner and their development team. They are looking at the fall of box retail and the precarious position their existing leasing is in and making major course corrections. I don't blame them. Build more residential to help support the town center. I think what hurts them is that Hamilton is doing really well. Why settle for "new urbanism" when you have some really good old urbanism down the road? “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
June 18, 20204 yr 6 minutes ago, JYP said: I don't blame them. Build more residential to help support the town center 300 apartments gets you maybe 600 residents at full build-out. No doubt some people will still get Amazon deliveries of things they could buy in person just a few blocks away. 7 minutes ago, JYP said: Hamilton The parents of one of my friends just retired to...Hamilton.
June 18, 20204 yr I stopped by Hamilton the other weekend to check out the sculpture park and stop at Municipal Brew Works downtown. It was hopping. It's like a boomer Yellow Springs!
June 18, 20204 yr 13 minutes ago, taestell said: It's like a boomer Yellow Springs! No. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 18, 20204 yr 15 minutes ago, taestell said: I stopped by Hamilton the other weekend to check out the sculpture park and stop at Municipal Brew Works downtown. It was hopping. It's like a boomer Yellow Springs! This is going to sound creepy, but was it the Sunday before last? I was driving down Main Street in the afternoon and thought I saw you walking on the south side of the street.
June 18, 20204 yr 2 minutes ago, ink said: This is going to sound creepy, but was it the Sunday before last? I was driving down Main Street in the afternoon and thought I saw you walking on the south side of the street. Yes, that was the day!
June 18, 20204 yr 7 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said: Yes. Free your mind and the rest will follow. Thanks, En Vogue. 6 minutes ago, ink said: This is going to sound creepy, but was it the Sunday before last? I was driving down Main Street in the afternoon and thought I saw you walking on the south side of the street. Child, this isn't the first time you stalked an UrbanOhioan. You'd might as well paid for Travis' beers if ya gonna drive by. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 24, 20204 yr https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3712726,-84.3726019,3a,60.6y,145.1h,113.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sr6doHYJ-kP0LqFMSBRv8Dg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3705761,-84.3718405,3a,15y,289.04h,98.32t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swSG2jVyNCGVRBCdJhh7AWQ!2e0!5s20190501T000000!7i16384!8i8192 https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3706998,-84.3736247,3a,20.4y,38.4h,119t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sA3xQwAaShkbKmH9zUfWJww!2e0!5s20190501T000000!7i16384!8i8192 Was having a discussion with a coworker about "instant downtown" developments and dropped the streetview man into Liberty Center. Appears the apartment buildings did indeed have quality issues like I pointed out in this thread somewhere after I visited shortly after it opened. I pointed out what looked like water infiltration and looks like they already had to do facade repairs to the EFIS. Edited June 24, 20204 yr by jmicha
June 24, 20204 yr ^Yes, they did significant repairs to the apartment exteriors. Both Easton and The Greene have better quality exteriors, including much more brick.
June 24, 20204 yr Crazy how quickly they needed to repair these buildings. Cost savings at time of construction become expensive repairs down the line. I wish more developers would realize this.
June 25, 20204 yr Value engineering at it's finest. Can't tell you how many times I just want to walk away from projects when a clients lender starts suggesting EIFS and hardy board for the exterior or a project instead of brick or stone products
June 25, 20204 yr It's part of why I'm glad most of my work these days is on larger multi-family projects in markets where those products either flat out aren't allowed or are so far below the price point expectations that we can push back on our development partners if they suggest it. Being an architect working for an in house design team for a property management company that is 100% about brand and has contractual control over design choices is a weird niche, but it does present opportunities to push for much higher quality multi-family housing.
February 3, 20223 yr Could we finally be getting our first Shake Shack? https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2022/02/03/shake-shack-first-location.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_6&cx_artPos=0#cxrecs_s Edited February 3, 20223 yr by Ucgrad2015
February 3, 20223 yr 22 minutes ago, Ucgrad2015 said: Could we finally be getting our first Shake Shack? https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2022/02/03/shake-shack-first-location.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_6&cx_artPos=0#cxrecs_s Interesting. Shake Shack would make a killing in Kenwood.
February 3, 20223 yr Assume this will be one of several Shake Shakes in the Cincinnati metro market. They already exist in Columbus/Cleveland/Indy. Guess it was just a matter of time. Locations | Shake Shack
February 3, 20223 yr 3 hours ago, 646empire said: Interesting. Shake Shack would make a killing in Kenwood. I would say The Banks or Newport on the Levee as well as Oakley station will prolly be their next location.
February 3, 20223 yr 1 hour ago, Ucgrad2015 said: I would say The Banks or Newport on the Levee as well as Oakley station will prolly be their next location. The BurgerFi spot at the banks would be a great locations, since I doubt we'll see BurgerFi reopening. But a Shake Shack might be the only reason worth me driving to Liberty Center for anything TBH.
February 5, 20223 yr Liberty Center wants to demolish retail buildings for $50M-plus apartment project Developers working with the owner of Liberty Center are hoping a planned $50 million-plus apartment project will help the ailing mixed-use center in Liberty Township. Developers Bayer Properties and Dobbins Group, along with Liberty Center owner Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Inc., are requesting a major modification to a preliminary planned unit development plan that would allow for the construction of additional apartments at the $350 million center. The group is proposing to demolish two existing retail buildings at the southwest corner of the property to make way for a 273-unit apartment building. During a Jan. 11 Butler County Planning Commission meeting, Eric Morrison, director of development with Bayer Properties, laid out their reasoning for wanting to demolish the existing retail buildings to make way for additional apartments. He said Liberty Center and the Liberty Way corridor are “massively overbuilt” when it comes to the amount of retail space. Reducing the amount of retail space will improve the overall vacancy rate in the center and the larger Liberty Way corridor. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2022/02/04/liberty-center-plans-apartments.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 5, 20223 yr What time does the guy who first proposed Liberty Center begin his new janitorial shift at the company?
February 6, 20223 yr It’s insane that they are going to demolish a brand new set of buildings because they can’t fill the space. Maybe I’m wrong but this whole project has to be one of the worst performing lifestyle centers built after the Great Recession in the US.But Shake Shack will cure all of its ills I’m sure lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
February 6, 20223 yr 44 minutes ago, SWOH said: It’s insane that they are going to demolish a brand new set of buildings because they can’t fill the space. Maybe I’m wrong but this whole project has to be one of the worst performing lifestyle centers built after the Great Recession in the US. But Shake Shack will cure all of its ills I’m sure lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I’m sure shake shack will definitely help. I think the new Costco will be a major benefit to Liberty center. I would say all of the new businesses that have opened up around the center have helped it.
February 6, 20223 yr 13 hours ago, Ucgrad2015 said: I’m sure shake shack will definitely help. I think the new Costco will be a major benefit to Liberty center. I would say all of the new businesses that have opened up around the center have helped it. Something like a Shake Shack new to a region is a destination draw for 5-6 months. After than it is just another restaurant.
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