Posted February 20, 200916 yr RZC to consider $21M Ridge-Highland redevelopment http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2009/02/rzc-to-consider-21m-ridge-highland.html On Thursday, the Hamilton County Rural Zoning Commission (RZC) will consider approval of a planned unit development (PUD) for a $21 million redevelopment of the vacant K-mart building in Columbia Township. Ridge K, LLC, composed of Dan Neyer of Neyer Properties and Steve Miller and Rob Smyjunas of Vandercar Holdings, has proposed Ridge Pointe, a renovation of the vacant building and the creation of three outlots on 10.13 acres near the intersection of Ridge and Highland avenues. The project's first phase, the renovation of the former department store, would alter the façade and shrink the building's footprint to create 68,000 square feet of LEED certified office/warehouse flex space. In future phases, the outlots will include a 30,500-square-foot, two-story LEED certified office building on the north side of the site, a 10,500-square-foot retail building on the south side of the site, and a 14,000-square-foot retail building along Ridge Avenue. Surface parking will provide 383 spaces. PUD districts are overlays of existing zoning that allow the development of property in a manner or intensity not allowed by underlying zoning districts. Once granted a PUD, the owner may only develop the parcel according to that plan. Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission staff has recommended approval of the PUD, noting that the proposal adheres to the Ridge and Highland Special Public Interest District and the township's comprehensive plan, and is compatible with the surrounding commercial uses. However, as a condition of approval, staff concludes that the developers to make minor revisions to the sidewalk locations - including sidewalks along the entire frontage of Ridge Avenue - and that a vacant tire store on the southwest corner of the property should be demolished during the project's first phase. If approved, the Ridge Pointe would require approval by the Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners. Ridge K, LLC is also working with Columbia Township to create a tax increment financing agreement that would provide $2.2 million to cover public improvements to the site.
February 20, 200916 yr Columbia Twp. gets $21 million project http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090219/NEWS01/302190101/1055/NEWS The old Kmart building on Ridge Avenue – vacant for about five years – will be renovated and revived as the anchor of a $21 million redevelopment project. The project, called Ridge Pointe, calls for the Kmart building to be reduced in size and used as an office building with warehouse space. The façade of the 68,000-square-foot building will undergo significant changes. Click link for article.
February 20, 200916 yr Have we heard anything about the OHSAA situation? The OHSAA labs that were supposed to be consolidated sit just across the street. It would be shame if we added this and lost that.
February 23, 200916 yr re: the thread title--this isn't in Madisonville. It's in Columbia Twp., right next to Pleasant Ridge (and also next to Oakley, though I think a lot more people would think of this location as in PRidge and not in Oakley.
February 23, 200916 yr ^Columbia Township doesn't really exist to me given its odd fragmentation and lack of any real community boundaries. So I went for Madisonville as I was deciding between PRidge, Oakley, and so on. If you want I can change it.
February 23, 200916 yr It certainly isn't Mad-ville (which is on the other side of 71). I'd say PRidge is the name for the spot.
February 23, 200916 yr To people familiar with the area, this project is in no way related to Madisonville.
February 23, 200916 yr ^Columbia Township doesn't really exist to me given its odd fragmentation and lack of any real community boundaries. So I went for Madisonville as I was deciding between PRidge, Oakley, and so on. If you want I can change it. I agree with you there on Columbia Twp., and wasn't trying to nitpick. I think people would most likely identify it with Pleasant Ridge. Thanks for changing it.
February 23, 200916 yr On the actual project: I will take just about anything in lieu of the vacant KMart. The new National City branch looks really out of place right now.
February 24, 200916 yr I hope that PRidge doesn't lose the PNC Bank once the NatCity merger is complete - the NatCity in PRidge was replaced by the one in the parking lot.
February 24, 200916 yr Eh, LEED has its merits in this case and the development will be a boost to the tired buildings along the corridor. But I dislike the fact that it is just entirely surface lots. If you are going for a nice LEED certification, why not construct a central parking garage and construct more buildings -- even if it is years down the road?
July 4, 200915 yr Petition drive to support Ridge project http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090703/NEWS01/907040340/1055/NEWS/Petition+drive+to+support+Ridge+project A developer with plans to renovate the old Kmart building on Ridge Avenue is trying to rally public support for a tax-increment-financing deal with Columbia Township. Click link for article.
July 9, 200915 yr I hope that the Kennedy connector is completed before this project. i'm not sure Ridge can sustain much more traffic.
August 2, 201311 yr Nothing is really done in the area. They just put a Family dollar in where the old golden coral used to be. The whole site is an eye sore. Im surprised gold star is able to survive right next too it.
August 3, 201311 yr Apparently this project just fell off the face of a cliff. After 4 years nothing has happened. When the Kennedy connector is completed that may rejuvenate something. It better rejuvenate something at a price tag of $35 million.
February 18, 201510 yr Here's how Pleasant Ridge plans to spur development Last month, UrbanCincy broke the news that a new brewpub would be opening in the heart of the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood business district. The announcement was much bigger news that we had anticipated, but during the research for that story we found that even that was only the tip of the iceberg. Neighborhood leaders in Pleasant Ridge say the community has been meticulously studying and developing ideas for how to improve the business district for more than a decade. Research on demographics, assessments of existing conditions and visioning sessions have all been conducted over the years. This work has resulted in numerous planning documents that neighborhood activists today believe create a strong foundation for future success. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2015/02/heres-how-pleasant-ridge-plans-to-spur-development.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 18, 201510 yr Pretty excited to see what these plans bring. I'm in kennedy heights within walking diatance and very excited about the brewpub.
February 25, 201510 yr I am not sure this belongs here, but there is a new children's play cafe opening soon on Montgomery: Red Balloon Play + Cafe. They are occupying the old Beans and Grapes space next to Walgreen's. The back half will be a play area for children from babies through school age and the front will be a coffee shop/cafe. Also -- the VFW building was purchased and it will become a restaurant. http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/dining/2015/02/18/casa-figuero/23618291/ :clap: Very exciting news along with the Nine Giant announcement. Its nice to see vacant storefronts become businesses again.
February 25, 201510 yr I've always liked Pleasant Ridge. Very nice outer neighborhood with a business district with great potential. And right along the Metro Plus route.
February 25, 201510 yr I am not sure this belongs here, but there is a new children's play cafe opening soon on Montgomery: Red Balloon Play + Cafe. They are occupying the old Beans and Grapes space next to Walgreen's. The back half will be a play area for children from babies through school age and the front will be a coffee shop/cafe. Also -- the VFW building was purchased and it will become a restaurant. http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/dining/2015/02/18/casa-figuero/23618291/ :clap: Very exciting news along with the Nine Giant announcement. Its nice to see vacant storefronts become businesses again. Very good news! This was made possible by the neighborhood banding together a couple years ago and blocking walgreens, which wanted to tear down the vfw and the building with everybodys to build a new drive thru walgreens. I'd prefer mexican any day!
March 17, 201510 yr Bump. City Council voted at the beginning of the month to approve PR to work with planning on form based code: ====================== 34-201500179 MOTION, dated 02/09/2015 submitted by Councilmembers Simpson, Young, Sittenfeld, Seelbach, Winburn and Vice Mayor Mann, We MOVE that the Administration initiate the steps necessary to determine whether to establish Form-Based Code zoning in Pleasant Ridge and, if so, to determine the details thereof including the appropriate area subject to the Form-Based Code. We further MOVE that the Administration identify the specific amount and potential sources of funding necessary to establish Form-Based Code zoning in Pleasant Ridge.
April 27, 201510 yr Another Pleasant Ridge Development: Fiberge Cincinnati is reopening in the 6200 Montgomery Building. This is where the old 4 Wireless store is. This is also next door to Red Balloon Play Cafe which is opening next month I believe. Fiberge will be a yarn, needlecraft and fabric/sewing store. The owner plans to have classes as well. Here is more information (and an official announcement) from their Facebook page. As of this week, there are already things being done on the inside of the space, including removal of the ugly metal bars on the windows. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiberg%C3%A9/147523255287437?ref=stream&fref=nf
January 22, 20169 yr Construction underway on one of Cincinnati's newest breweries One of Cincinnati's newest breweries is under construction with plans to be open by this spring. Nine Giant Brewing signed a lease at the corner of Montgomery and Ridge roads in January 2015, and construction is now underway. Co-founder Brandon Hughes told me he's aiming to open at the site by May. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/01/22/construction-underway-on-one-of-cincinnatis-newest.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 9, 20169 yr This Greater Cincinnati Remke store is closing The Erlanger-based independent grocer won’t renew its lease at its Pleasant Ridge store location in order to focus its efforts on remodeling and upgrading more viable store locations, it announced Monday. The cycle of suburban development continues. New strip malls are built on fresh land and the older ones are left to decay until the retailers leave...
May 9, 20169 yr Construction underway on one of Cincinnati's newest breweries One of Cincinnati's newest breweries is under construction with plans to be open by this spring. Nine Giant Brewing signed a lease at the corner of Montgomery and Ridge roads in January 2015, and construction is now underway. Co-founder Brandon Hughes told me he's aiming to open at the site by May. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/01/22/construction-underway-on-one-of-cincinnatis-newest.html Nine Giant is now brewing beer and will be announcing their grand opening date soon.
May 9, 20169 yr This Greater Cincinnati Remke store is closing The Erlanger-based independent grocer won’t renew its lease at its Pleasant Ridge store location in order to focus its efforts on remodeling and upgrading more viable store locations, it announced Monday. The cycle of suburban development continues. New strip malls are built on fresh land and the older ones are left to decay until the retailers leave... Just the first domino to fall in that area resulting from the MegaKroger just the other side of 71. With two Krogers, Meijer, two Remkes, Target, Fresh Thyme, Fresh Market, Whole Foods, and Sam's within a couple miles of one another, something was going to change. But yeah, too many big boxes sitting empty near Ridge and Highland. Remke, the building supply place behind Aldi, the former K-mart...
May 9, 20169 yr Isn't there some construction going on at the K-mart site? CBT president: City didn't do enough to help us http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2016/02/12/cincinnati-company-moving-jobs-columbia-twp/80241254/
September 21, 20177 yr Not sure on where exactly to post this but the city is looking for input on Montgomery Rd through Pleasant Ridge and KH: http://cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/dote-projects/montgomery-road-safety-project/ I live in Pleasant Ridge and am a member of Pleasant Streets, an small group of citizens trying to calm traffic in our growing biz district. This project should really help. We actually sent a list of 10 items to DOTE months ago and have seen a little bit of change (painting faded crosswalks) but nowhere near what we'd like to see. Hopefully they'll select Alternative 4. I know it says to stop voting in August, but never hurts to keep submitting.
September 21, 20177 yr So if I'm looking at that correctly, the city is going to be adding a center turn lane, and the only option is whether there's no parking on both sides of the street during rush hour, or whether there's no parking eastbound in the AM and no parking westbound in the PM. It seems weird that the city is even giving the neighborhood those options. Usually the DOTE would do a traffic study and simply decide what makes the most sense for traffic flow. For example, with Liberty Street, they told OTR that there is no "peak direction". In other words, there is a similar amount of traffic going eastbound and westbound during both the AM and PM rush hours. Therefore, both both sides of the street would need to have no parking during rush hour so that they could be used as travel lanes.
September 21, 20177 yr Does anyone have any inside information about who is planning on buying these properties? And what they plan on doing with it? 1. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485587/6016-6018-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 2. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485410/6024-6026-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 3. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485481/6010-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213
September 21, 20177 yr So if I'm looking at that correctly, the city is going to be adding a center turn lane, and the only option is whether there's no parking on both sides of the street during rush hour, or whether there's no parking eastbound in the AM and no parking westbound in the PM. It seems weird that the city is even giving the neighborhood those options. Usually the DOTE would do a traffic study and simply decide what makes the most sense for traffic flow. For example, with Liberty Street, they told OTR that there is no "peak direction". In other words, there is a similar amount of traffic going eastbound and westbound during both the AM and PM rush hours. Therefore, both both sides of the street would need to have no parking during rush hour so that they could be used as travel lanes. We've been told that ODOT is repaving the entire road, so then the city will restripe it. We've been pushing very hard to have a bike lane on one side of the street with 24 hour parking on the other side. Similar to parts of Madison Rd in E Walnut Hills. That design is actually listed in the drop down as Alternative 4, but isn't in any of the maps.
September 21, 20177 yr Does anyone have any inside information about who is planning on buying these properties? And what they plan on doing with it? 1. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485587/6016-6018-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 2. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485410/6024-6026-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 3. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485481/6010-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 Unfortunately, I do not. I do know that the old movie theater next to Pleasant Ridge Chili has been bought by the owners of The Overlook but I don't know what plans they have for it. Also, the now empty Burger King should be up for sale soon.
September 21, 20177 yr So if I'm looking at that correctly, the city is going to be adding a center turn lane, and the only option is whether there's no parking on both sides of the street during rush hour, or whether there's no parking eastbound in the AM and no parking westbound in the PM. It seems weird that the city is even giving the neighborhood those options. Usually the DOTE would do a traffic study and simply decide what makes the most sense for traffic flow. For example, with Liberty Street, they told OTR that there is no "peak direction". In other words, there is a similar amount of traffic going eastbound and westbound during both the AM and PM rush hours. Therefore, both both sides of the street would need to have no parking during rush hour so that they could be used as travel lanes. We've been told that ODOT is repaving the entire road, so then the city will restripe it. We've been pushing very hard to have a bike lane on one side of the street with 24 hour parking on the other side. Similar to parts of Madison Rd in E Walnut Hills. That design is actually listed in the drop down as Alternative 4, but isn't in any of the maps. The city will never consider the bike lane option unless there are massive community support and tons of media exposure...like what Northside had to do. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
September 22, 20177 yr Does anyone have any inside information about who is planning on buying these properties? And what they plan on doing with it? 1. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485587/6016-6018-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 2. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485410/6024-6026-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 3. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485481/6010-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 Unfortunately, I do not. I do know that the old movie theater next to Pleasant Ridge Chili has been bought by the owners of The Overlook but I don't know what plans they have for it. Also, the now empty Burger King should be up for sale soon. The owners of the overlook eventually wanted to open a theater, so hopefully that's what that is!
September 22, 20177 yr Does anyone have any inside information about who is planning on buying these properties? And what they plan on doing with it? 1. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485587/6016-6018-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 2. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485410/6024-6026-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 3. https://www.sibcycline.com/Listing/CIN/1485481/6010-Montgomery-Rd-Pleasant-Ridge-OH-45213 Unfortunately, I do not. I do know that the old movie theater next to Pleasant Ridge Chili has been bought by the owners of The Overlook but I don't know what plans they have for it. Also, the now empty Burger King should be up for sale soon. The owners of the overlook eventually wanted to open a theater, so hopefully that's what that is! They already have an option on the theater. These are different properties.
April 17, 20187 yr Pleasant Ridge eager to see a safer Montgomery Road https://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/pleasant-ridge-eager-to-see-a-safer-montgomery-road City Manager Harry Black responded to Frost and others' remarks in a memo released April 6, describing an upcoming overhaul of the entire corridor, scheduled to begin in 2019. It will be a $2.5 million "road diet" that will restripe the road into five 10-foot lanes -- one travel lane in each direction with a center turn lane, and two parking lanes. The current configuration is six 9-foot lanes. Other improvements, though, such as relining Ridge Road or adding bike lanes to Langdon Farm, couldn't fit in the DOTE's budget, Black said. Even reducing the speed limit on Losantiville Road from 35 miles per hour to 25 is proving to be a maze of red tape. Ohio law requires state approval, pending a speed study, for any speed limit changes. Black said that speed study on Losantiville is scheduled for this month.
April 18, 20187 yr ^Glad to see something (even if somewhat minor) go forward. The article mentions that the concrete crosswalks will be replaced with asphalt because the paint doesn't stick to the concrete as well. I like having the change in materials at crosswalks, since it clearly signifies a change in use and (hopefully) slows traffic a bit more than just continuous asphalt. Is there any consensus around whether or not it's better to use concrete in crosswalks?
April 18, 20187 yr On Short Vine, they used red concrete for the crosswalks, which makes it obvious that there's a crosswalk there, even if the paint fades. I wish more cities would use colored asphalt or concrete for bike lanes for that reason. But it's true that the paint does not stick to concrete as well as asphalt (you can see this clearly around the streetcar tracks), so maybe plain ol' grey concrete is a bad choice.
April 18, 20187 yr Then just put the paint on the asphalt part with the concrete in between. In fact, that's already how they did it! https://goo.gl/maps/XgWwPYQds5K2 WTF?
April 18, 20187 yr Yeah but then they can't do international style crosswalks / zebra crossings, which are more effective than two painted lines.
April 18, 20187 yr Yeah but then they can't do international style crosswalks / zebra crossings, which are more effective than two painted lines. The photo in the WCPO article shows that they tried to paint those zebra crossings on the concrete... and it's rubbing off, while the "normal" lines on the asphalt are holding up better:
April 18, 20187 yr Then what do they do on concrete streets? There's some places where that's the norm as opposed to asphalt. Maybe they just finished the concrete too smooth in the first place.
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