Posted June 22, 200420 yr Here are some pics of the new Marburg Square Development behind the Thriftway and Post Office in Hyde Park Plaza. It consists of some mid rise buildings and row houses. They are currently demolishing about 10 older homes to build this thing. The website is http://www.marburgsquare.com. The only thing there besides these pics is the floor plans. [Direct links removed]
June 22, 200420 yr Surprising that there's not more parking than I can see in these renderings... As long as this is mostly owner occupied, I say it's more good news for Cincinnati.
June 22, 200420 yr looks like the rowhouses have garages, probably some built in parking in the mid rise buildings.
June 22, 200420 yr It looks like the townhouses have their own garages and perhaps the larger buildings have underground garages? That area is changing from single family homes to heavier density housing. I guess it is inevitable, but I wouldn't be too happy if I owned a nice house and was happy until all this redevelopment started. It is a great area though, so many people would probably want to live there. This particular project seems to have absolutely no charm, beauty or grace however. I don't think it would help the area much.
June 22, 200420 yr hmm, haven't heard of this before. personally, i think it'll be as much of a suburban eyesore as the drexel. that area is hopeless.
February 6, 200520 yr No updates on the website, and I haven't been over there in a while. Are these things finished? According to Oakley Community Council, the townhouses along Marburg and Wasson were supposed to be done by the end of 2004.
March 3, 200520 yr Here's an update from the Oakley Community Council Land Use and Zoning report, February 2005. Apparently they are stalled due to lack of interest!: Westfield Avenue - Marburg Square The Ackermann Group project includes most of the property in a contiguous block, including Westfield Avenue and bounded by Eastern Hills Lane, Marburg Avenue and Wasson Road. Representatives of the developer met with neighboring property owners and members of the OCC Zoning Committee over several months in 2003 to discuss a variety of development plans and market strategies. Ultimately, the development team explained their research indicated an owner-occupied, empty-nest senior focus was most likely to succeed. A zone change from R-3 Residential to a higher density R-5 classification was passed by City Council on 6/25/03 with the OCC's support. A Planned Unit Development (PUD) was approved in 7/03, also supported by the OCC. The project was to consist of two tiered 3 to 4 story buildings, two 5-story buildings, a central community building and rowhouses along Marburg Avenue and Wasson Road. However, due to problems in securing funding and poor sales of the flat style condominium units, the project is currently on hold pending changes to the plan. http://www.oakley09.org/zoning02-2005.htm
March 3, 200520 yr This thing is hideous...just reiterates the need for design standards and controls
March 3, 200520 yr If I lived around this site, I would be totally pissed. It is a huge eyesore and good luck if you were trying to sell your house. There has to be more to the story than design change. They could at least tear down those houses they started demolishing, it would not cost that much to bulldoze and they have already removed all the asbestos as far as I can tell. Patio roofs are sitting in the front yards and there is trash everywhere. Of course, this also proves how much Ackermann sucks.
March 24, 200520 yr Well, I just drove by the site and they are tearing the houses down today. Maybe they are finally moving forward.
March 25, 200520 yr That's surprising. Well, the developer already owns the land so maybe the funding came through to go ahead and demolish. But that still doesn't address the issue of the lack of demand, or the fact that none of these units are even available in pre-sales.
March 26, 200520 yr Well, holy crap. I didn't expect the entire site to be a fenced-in pile of rubble!
March 27, 200520 yr Yeah, it looks like a war zone. I hope they do something nice. It is an interesting location and one that needs cleanup.
March 29, 200520 yr yep, another wonderful attempt by our friends, the ackermann group. ugh... I still think the Ackerman Group has much more appealing designs than Neyer
April 17, 200520 yr From the 4/17/05 Enquirer "Briefly" section: Development plan downsized The proposed Marburg Square development won't be quite as big as previously proposed. Instead of 119 townhouses and flats, the 4.5-acre site at Marburg Avenue and Wasson Road calls for 49 to 76 units, according to a plan approved Friday by the Cincinnati Planning Commission. The project could take two years to complete. It is being developed by the Ackermann Group. Oakley Community Council voted to support the plan on April 5. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050417/NEWS01/504170420/1056/rss02
May 5, 200520 yr Here are further excerpts from the 4/15/05 Planning Commission meeting referred to in the story above: ITEM #8 Final Development Plan for Marburg Square in Oakley presented by Katherine Keough-Jurs, Senior City Planner. ... The Final Development Plan has been drastically changed from the Concept Plan. It was determined that public funding would not be available for this project and therefore, it was necessary to change the scope of this project. Staff passed out letters of support received from the Oakley Community Council who voted on April 5, 2005 to accept the plans. In addition, a letter of initial approval from the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) was handed out. ... Katherine explained that under Section 1429-15 of the Zoning Code, the City Planning Commission may approve a final Development Plan for a PD District on consideration of (8) findings: (b) Adequate Streets The development has an adequate street network because it allows access to each unit from both front and rear of the unit (outer ring of units from main streets and road, inner ring of units from main roadway and roadway surrounding greenspace) and it provides a main entrance from Wasson and an auxiliary entrance from Eastern Hills Lane. (h) Sufficiency of Provisions for Maintenance of Common Areas The Ackermann Group has provided the City's Law Department with a draft copy of the covenant creating a Unit Owners Association and indicating that all property in the development including streets, open space, parking areas and walkways will be owned and maintained by the association. The Law Department has reviewed this covenant and has approved it's form. ... Staff stated that the proposed Marburg Square development is in compliance and consistent with the purpose of Planned Development District Regulations and the previously accepted Concept Plan. Dobbs Ackermann and Lasserre Bradley addressed the Commission. Mr. Ackermann stated that the Ackerman Group has been working on the project for (3) three years and after working with the City concerning financing it made sense for them to change directions. They decided to go from a public/private partnership to private partnership and a plan that is in keeping with the community desires. In addition, they decided on using the same design principles as in the community of Mariemount. Mr. Paddock asked about the total number of units and Mr. Ackerman responded by stating that the number of units would be between 49 and 76 units. Through a marketing strategy, Mr. Ackermann found a huge demand for 1,000 sq. ft. units at a price range of $200,000. The Ackermann Group wants to keep the units within the price range of the Oakley community. Oakley at this time has a property price range of $140,000 to $700,000. The development plan allows for an 1800 sq. ft. townhouse unit or two flats. The mix of these flats and townhouse units will determine the final total number of units for the development. Motion: Donald Mooney motioned to approve the Final Development Plan as presented. Second: Jacqueline McCray Vote: All ayes (7-0), motion carried http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/downloads/cdap_pdf10546.pdf
May 11, 200520 yr BTW...I have read that this project will be completed in 4 similarly-sized phases. Each phase will take approximately 6 months, with limited overlap. Total build-out is expected in two years.
May 11, 200520 yr I don't know why they would take so long to do the buildout. Any new construction in a good neighborhood in the city limits, especially in that price range, will sell very quickly. I bet after the first phase is done, they will push forward with all the phases on a much quicker schedule.
May 25, 200520 yr Ackerman has stuff on its site now. The project is called Westfield Station. It will be: 23 single-family 2-3 story rowhouses 96 condo flats 2,000 sq. ft. community building outdoor pool 50 surface parking spaces 200 car garage under condos two-car garages attached to each row house The renderings of the units are pretty tiny and not very special looking, but they're all here: http://www.ackermanngroup.com/res_westfield.htm
May 26, 200520 yr Well, that's a great spot - I'd think they'll sell the hell out of those. Walk to that park with the unmaintained sculpture, walk to that Indian place up on Erie, pretty easy highway access, nice neighborhood...it'll be interesting to see rowhouses in Oakley, though - I can't think of any offhand.
May 26, 200520 yr it'll be interesting to see rowhouses in Oakley, though - I can't think of any offhand. we have a few. i'll try to take some photos at some point if i remember.
May 26, 200520 yr At least the residential units front the roads, with the parking on the inside. That's something to be grateful for.
June 7, 200520 yr Ugh...it appears that Westfield Ave. will now be a "private" street. The city has recommended selling it to Westfield Station LLC: Westfield Station, LLC, has requested the purchase of Westfield Avenue north of Wasson Road for use in a residential development. An appraisal of Westfield performed by Real Estate Services has determined that its fair market value is $72,000.00. However, Westfield will be sold for $30,000.00 because of the benefits to be received by the City as a result of the housing development and the elimination of a non-productive property from the City inventory. http://city-egov.rcc.org/BASISCGI/BASIS/council/public/child/DDD/13125.pdf EDIT (7/5/05): City council passed an ordinance unanimously on 6/29/05 authorizing the sale of Westfield Ave. for $30K.
September 3, 200519 yr It's got a nice classic feel to it. It's appropriately bland without being appalling. I like it.
September 22, 200519 yr Well, I drove by last night and there was a backhow digging what looked like a foundation trench. So, hopefully this thing is on the move.
October 6, 200519 yr Happily, there are now two job trailers on the site and work is progressing on the sitework, foundations, etc.
October 28, 200519 yr Look for action here soon. Permits are in route for foundations. There is a delay in some of the other permits that might hold them back. I wouldn't be surprised to see people at the work site next week.
December 19, 200519 yr At least one of the units is for sale for $419,000. It's a two-story 2 BR, 2.5 BA. http://www.cbws.com/property/propertydetail.aspx?property=7de64a66-c04c-4d20-a01c-6ab85a289f9e There haven't been any pics posted on here in a while. The heavy work has begun. These photos are from 11/30. There's not a lot to see yet, but the equipment is in place:
January 16, 200619 yr Yeah, there's that one above the pic up there for $419,000, and there was one I ran across the other day for $639,900: http://www.cbws.com/property/propertydetail.aspx?property=279ff86c-4c2e-47a8-8cf8-5052b3dc0b87 Pretty steep....
February 25, 200619 yr Nice layout. I like how every part of the plat is accessible by sidewalks, and how the houses front the existing street grid. I hope they manage to vary the facades and use quality building materials throughout. Given the price points, I imagine they will.
May 23, 200619 yr Townhouses key Oakley's resurgence BY STEVE KEMME | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER OAKLEY - A 5-acre tract that consisted mostly of small, deteriorating rental houses will soon feature a carefully landscaped complex of townhouses and row houses selling for as much as $640,000. The construction of the development, Marburg Square, has begun on land at the northwest corner of Marburg Avenue and Wasson Road. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060523/NEWS01/605230362/1056
May 23, 200619 yr A very positive story about the city...maybe it's just suburban enough to get good press - but hey, it's the city, so I'll take it!
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