Posted March 13, 200916 yr Vernon Manor to close http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/03/09/daily65.html The Vernon Manor Hotel will close by the end of March, eliminating more than 100 jobs.
March 14, 200916 yr Very sad, but I must admit it made it a lot longer than I thought it would. It is a very obscure location, and that building must cost a mint to keep up. Vernon Manor Hotel ends its 85-year run The famous have graced its suites By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • March 14, 2009 AVONDALE - The historic Vernon Manor Hotel is closing at the end of the month, putting more than 100 employees out of work. Famous guests of the hotel include The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Little Richard, Luther Vandross, The Indigo Girls, Jonny Lang, Smashing Pumpkins, Emmy Lou Harris, Trisha Yearwood, Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, The Allman Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Chesney. Rest of article: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090314/BIZ01/903140321/1001/BIZ
March 14, 200916 yr Sad news to hear, indeed. I hope it also can go the way of condos, but obviously, this market isn't exactly booming for a large condo development like this.
March 14, 200916 yr Wow this is sad - prior to getting into an official career I waited tables in the dining room and worked banquets there in the early 90's. This is a great building, and I have a lot of fond memories. That was a good time because the Rainman crew had just been there two years earlier and the Joe Pesci movie Public Eye actually had on-site auditions and that crew also stayed there - people seemed excited to work there. They always did a great dinner and banquet business, and most of the Bogart's performers stayed there as well as all the families, doctors etc. in town for hospital stays or conferences. One of the best settings in the city is when they did rooftop happy hours, which provided some great views.
March 14, 200916 yr The city needs to make sure this is moth-balled responsibly. It cannot be allowed to decay and go Detroit on us.
March 14, 200916 yr I sure hope not - I have no inside knowledge, but it still seemed to be doing a good business. Even people staying there that were interviewed said it was busy so I always wonder if there was some mismanagement in these situations. I guess they have no reason to lie, but maybe an angel investor will step up. It definitely cannot sit empty.
March 14, 200916 yr Well I always wondered why they did not renovate their rooms to compete with the much more modern, higher end hotels in the area. You can stay at the Marriott at UC for a bit less and get tons more amenities. The VM, from a guest standpoint, while historic, was just not up to par with what the average traveler expects. Historic only goes so far and hotel operators usually understand this. Hence why the Hilton Netherland downtown operates like any luxury hotel in and major city. Other historic properties in the midwest have seen major updates to compete with the growing travel-saavy generation (ie Palmer House in Chicago) The place was very outdated inside, and their rates were too high for the product they were offering. I hope maybe they can renovate the place into condos for the medical community, or renovate and re brand as a luxury hotel again. I will seriously move if they go to Section 8 for this property. That would be a D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R.
March 14, 200916 yr The city needs to make sure this is moth-balled responsibly. It cannot be allowed to decay and go Detroit on us. I wouldn't expect so...given the hints in the article, I bet we see this get taken up by the Uptown Consortium and dealt with appropriately. Lets hope.
March 14, 200916 yr This is not surprising---Between Kingsgate, the new Springhill suites ---which will serve part a large part of the Vernon Manor market, and the planned Hampton Inn, the Vernon Manor would not be able to compete adequately in the future. I think it will be mothballed for awhile. There just isn't the demand for condos or apartments in its location--YET. Give the market a few years---this should allow plenty of good planning time to developed the building appropriately.
April 1, 200916 yr I drove by last night and the building was almost totally dark with only 3 or 4 cars in the front lot.
April 1, 200916 yr Give the market a few years---this should allow plenty of good planning time to developed the building appropriately. I sure hope!! It is a gorgeous building!!
April 10, 200916 yr Vernon Manor to close http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/03/09/daily65.html The Vernon Manor Hotel will close by the end of March, eliminating more than 100 jobs. This very difficult decision was made due to current market conditions, said Matthew Coffey, the hotels general manager, in a prepared statement. Built in 1924, the Vernon Manor is modeled after the Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, England and built a reputation for being the place to stay for musicians visiting or performing in Cincinnati, according to its Web site. Among those whove booked rooms at 400 Oak St. were The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Kenny Chesney. The 177-room hotel has been owned since 1986 by Belvedere Corp., which is reviewing alternate uses for the property. At this point it is too early in the process to speculate on future plans, said Coffeys statement. We are confident that the redevelopment of this property will be part of the continuing vibrant growth of the Uptown area. I am SO sad to hear this!! I no longer cover Cincinnati for my job but when I did I ALWAYS stayed at VM. I loved that place, large rooms, good room service, free wonderful breakfast. I loved the historic aspect of the place. Further, we had a training unit in the city and always put our trainees up at the Vernon Manor for the 2 to 3 weeks they were there. Some of the rooms were mini suites with kitchenettes so the trainees really appreciated that aspect. Sad news indeed. I hope it goes condo. The view from the 6th Floor roof top lounge is great.
April 10, 200916 yr Stayed in the VM when I interviewed at UC many years ago - it was definitely a grand hotel but dated. Too bad to see a historic place close, and the parking lots at the generic Courtyards, etc. along the highway remain full.
April 15, 200916 yr Wow -- they've boarded up the bottom three floors with aluminum sheeting. It looks absolutely awful. Also two old mansions on the block were demo'd this past week. Makes me think the closing of the hotel was part of something bigger. I had thought the restaurant might stay open but stick a fork in it -- the place is on ice. And it'll look like a Detroit shell once vandals and urban explorers get to it.
April 15, 200916 yr Damn. I thought that the mansions were set for restoration when I came to Cinci last July, but it became readily apparent that they were being primed for demolition instead. And to clarify, urban explorers do not cause the destruction you see in Detroit. Arsonists, scrappers, vandals and those who break-and-enter cause the damage.
April 15, 200916 yr Vernon Manor EXECUTIVE BUILDING LIMITED PTNSHP 400 OAK ST CINCINNATI, OH 45219 USA 1) 12-20-04 30 YEAR TIF ABATEMENT BEGAN 2003 THRU 2032 I'm not sure on the mansions that were demolished but will check it out today going home. Here is the info on those -- 2840 BURNET AVE CAMPUS MANAGEMENT LTD P O BOX 19701 CINCINNATI, OH 45219 USA 2909 VERNON PL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER 3333 BURNET AVE CINCINNATI, OH 45229 USA 2905 VERNON PL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER 3333 BURNET AVE CINCINNATI, OH 45229 USA 2831 VERNON PL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER 3333 BURNET AVE CINCINNATI, OH 45229 USA
April 15, 200916 yr One of the hospitals is behind this. Children's controls the old Bethesda complex. I'm guessing they are prepping for a big expansion.
April 15, 200916 yr The Vernon Manor needs major, major work to be rehabbed as a competitive hotel, as offices, or as condos/apartments. Unfortunately in just weeks rocks will start flying through the fourth and fifth floor windows.
April 16, 200916 yr Here are some of the building being demolished behind the Vernon Manor: http://queencitysurvey.blogspot.com/2009/04/demolition-in-vernonville.html
April 17, 200916 yr Children's Hospital always needs places to put up families, potentially the Vernon would be a good place for this.
April 18, 200916 yr April 17, 2009: This is an alcoholics anonymous house, or something of that ilk. The dudes are always out partying in front:
April 26, 200916 yr Coming soon to Vernonville.... http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2009/04/coming-soon-to-vernonville.html
May 1, 200916 yr Vernon Manor barber shop closing doors http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090430/NEWS01/905010361/1055/NEWS The last customers at the Vernon Manor Barber Shop on Thursday all had the same expression on their faces: One of disbelief. Link above has the rest of the article.
May 11, 200916 yr Owner: Vernon Manor should be adapted for new uses http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/05/11/story5.html The Vernon Manor hotel is in no danger of being demolished anytime soon. But neither is it likely to be rapidly returned to use. Click on link above for the full article.
May 11, 200916 yr Still, in the middle of the night some heavy equipment could show up, take a few bites out, then the place is condemned. They pulled that crap when I was in Knoxville.
May 12, 200916 yr ^ Like in 1989 when then-mayor of Columbus Buck Reinhart jumped on a piece of equipment and started tearing down the Ohio Pen himself.
July 18, 200915 yr The area at the corner of Veron and E University where those mansions were torn down... drove by today, and they installed a surface parking lot.. ugh...
September 7, 200915 yr I don't think it's been posted anywhere on here yet, but I heard on 700WLW this morning that plans will be announced shortly that the Vernon Manor will be converted into low income housing. This was reported during an interview with Dan Monk of the Cincinnati Business Courier. Looks like this building will now suffer the same fate as the old Alms Hotel?
September 7, 200915 yr http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/09/07/story5.html Low-income housing could be Cincinnati's Vernon Manor’s future
September 7, 200915 yr Very strange. This is totally different than the rumor I had previously heard for the future of the building.
September 8, 200915 yr This is a low blow to the city. Big time blow. Umm, how is this a blow to the city?? When low-income residents and social services are concentrated in one neighborhood in the city, people cry foul. When there's an opportunity to disperse it among other neighborhoods....you're still crying foul? I see this as a great opportunity, actually. Low-income doesn't need to (and doesn't always) equal crime and dilapidation. Riverside Plaza in Minneapolis is a perfect example. Another plus here is that they'd be using an existing building, instead of razing the site for that use. If this becomes a concentrated Section 8 voucher block, I fully expect that the city will ensure proper management. I do not believe that the recently completed middle to upper income residential in Corryville will suffer as a result of this move. Do we want integrated neighborhoods or not?
September 8, 200915 yr This is not in that desirable of an area, BL. Concentrating a mass of poor individuals into one building is akin to what we did in the 1950s and 1960s with the project towers. Avondale is to the north, which is statistically one of the most crime ridden neighborhoods in Ohio; Auburn -- a middle-income neighborhood, is to the south; college students are to the west. It's a very transitional area -- new developments for students are to the south, redevelopments of blighted properties are taking place to the north, albeit at a haphazard pace, and nothing is happening to the east in Walnut Hills. I'm afraid that this Section 8 sandwich will help destabilize an area that is starting to rebound, or at the least degrade this historic property into what Park Towers now is.
September 8, 200915 yr Well Randy, there's the section 8 you desire! Please don't trivialize my stance on affordable housing, and the concentration thereof, into snide soundbites.
September 8, 200915 yr ^^I'm still going to have to disagree. Section 8 does not equal crime and destabilization in cases where adequate management, screening, and security is in place. In Cincinnati, we have a disproportionate quintile of low-income residents. You're surely not going to see Section 8 pop up in wealthier neighborhoods, as can be judged by Cincinnati's segmented NIMBY views and the city's overall aversion to the poor. Pertaining to the latter, the majority opinion is that we put the poor out of sight and mind. However, this transitional area of Corryville is a perfect location for Section 8--short distance to medical facilities, proximal to Downtown and social services (Job & Family Services is right down the street). The only place you're going to deconcentrate poverty and get something like this is in a transitional neighborhood, where there are multiple projects and efforts that affect all income levels equitably.
September 8, 200915 yr Section 8 is a problem. I'm from Avondale and my family has worked for HUD and to be honest the sheer amount of section 8 housing in that area is ridiculous. Your point about adequate management, screening, and security is fair; however, I will bet that won't be the case. You may ask what I have to go off and experience would be my rejoinder (or at least I hope). This facility in my eyes should be turned into nothing less than market rate.
September 14, 200915 yr It is sad the the city is giving the building to the people that destroyed it.
September 14, 200915 yr I have not seen anywhere that Section 8 was mentioned, most people lump the terms "Section 8", "subsidized housing" and "affordable housing" into one catch all term, which is totally inaccurate. Per this attached article: http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/09/07/daily55.html, affordable senior housing is mentioned, if that is the case (which I think would be the best option) everyone can cool their jets about crime and "there goes the neighborhood" rants. This would save a landmark building, keep residents in the city, fill a big need, and keep the building economically useful. If you want to look at some other great examples of affordable senior housing in the area look at The Alexandra in Walnut Hills (Gilbert & WHT)which was done by Miller-Valentine and the San Marco building in East Walnut Hills which is owned and managed by the CMHA.
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