May 24, 20223 yr "City Council voted against historic landmark status" I'm interested what that means for the redevelopment. On one hand Birkla and others have said that if it was historically protected it would make redevelopment almost impossible because they wouldn't be allowed to punch windows in the base, but on the other hand if it's not historic they won't be able to apply for historic tax credits (unless those are already available due to it's national status). Either way I really want this building to both be saved and redeveloped, which seems to be at odds but hopefully is possible to convert it to residential or hotel without it losing all of it's Modern character. EDIT- forgot to quote @ucnum1and now we are on a new page... Edited May 24, 20223 yr by ucgrady
May 24, 20223 yr I should correct this as the Council Committee voted historic designation down 7-1.Full council vote tommorow.It will go down in flames.Birkla seems to have the most interest in redevelopment.
May 24, 20223 yr Would be interesting if they brought SOM back in to update it. That being said, it would be more interesting with a whole host of other architects...but either way, I really hope whatever happens adds value to its stature, as well as its functionality.
May 25, 20223 yr Cincinnati committee makes decision on Terrace Plaza’s historic designation A Cincinnati City Council committee has made its decision on the local historic designation of the former Terrace Plaza Hotel. Cincinnati’s Equitable Growth & Housing committee, which includes eight of the city’s nine councilmembers, voted 7-1 against designating the former Terrace Plaza Hotel at 15 W. Sixth St. as a local historic landmark. Jeff Cramerding voted for designating the building as a historic landmark. While this is not the final vote, the outcome at the committee level is expected to be repeated in front of the full city council, likely on Wednesday. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2022/05/24/terrace-plaza-historic-vote.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 21, 20222 yr Former Terrace Plaza hotel marketed for auction It looks like the former Terrace Plaza Hotel, which recently was denied a local historic landmark designation, is headed for the auction block. The Terrace Plaza, a 20-story building located at 15 W. Sixth St. in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, is being marketed for sale at auction as a part of bankruptcy proceedings. The sale could be part of a resolution for the property, which has had an uncertain future for years. Greg Corbin, president of bankruptcy and restructuring and executive managing director with Rosewood Realty Group, which is listing the property for auction along with Colliers, was not immediately available for comment. Corbin is marketing the property for auction with an asking price of $10.5 million. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2022/06/21/former-terrace-plaza-hotel-marketed-for-auction.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 31, 20222 yr auction was scheduled for friday july 29 - anyone know the results? https://rosewoodrg.com/properties/mixed-use/cincinnati/ohio-bankruptcy-sale/ Edited July 31, 20222 yr by dotunderscore added date
August 1, 20222 yr My guess is that it will sit vacant for another few years. Eventually once 3cdc finishes with the convention center hotel project, they will take this on.
August 3, 20222 yr when these types of projects take a decade plus, I truly wonder about the heath of downtown. seems like a zero sum game to me. Walking up vine street from your 6th up is depressing
August 3, 20222 yr 9 hours ago, CincyNY said: when these types of projects take a decade plus, I truly wonder about the heath of downtown. seems like a zero sum game to me. Walking up vine street from your 6th up is depressing It's less about the health of downtown and more about the intricacies and eccentricities of this particular property. If there was a vacant lot here it would've been developed years ago.
August 3, 20222 yr I would agree that the relatively slow pace of development in Cincinnati puts remaining vacant historic buildings at risk. If we had a major boom due to a new Fortune 500 employer coming to town, for example, you'd see the remaining vacant lots gobbled up and then developers starting to rehab some of the more challenging historic buildings that they don't have the motivation to take on right now.
August 3, 20222 yr 2 hours ago, taestell said: I would agree that the relatively slow pace of development in Cincinnati puts remaining vacant historic buildings at risk. If we had a major boom due to a new Fortune 500 employer coming to town, for example, you'd see the remaining vacant lots gobbled up and then developers starting to rehab some of the more challenging historic buildings that they don't have the motivation to take on right now. Get TQL to open a new downtown office. They're expanding like crazy and have already outgrown their Clermont County HQ with plans to add more space there.
August 3, 20222 yr 13 hours ago, CincyNY said: Walking up vine street from your 6th up is depressing The renovated Macy's HQ (apartments) and redesigned plaza in front of the Library will help over the short-term to bridge the connection between Fountain Square and Court Street, which is dramatically changed over the last couple years with new Kroger, reconfigured streetscape, and new retail. I agree that over the long-term, it will be important to get the Terrace Plaza and Garfield Suites buildings (the two biggest, empty buildings on that stretch of Vine) renovated and activated.
August 3, 20222 yr On 8/1/2022 at 9:01 AM, JoeHarmon said: My guess is that it will sit vacant for another few years. Eventually once 3cdc finishes with the convention center hotel project, they will take this on. This may be becoming a problem tho, 3CDC is AMAZING but I’m starting to wonder if they are biting off more than they can chew. Out of curiosity I wonder how much the organization has grown over the past several years staffing wise? I’ve gotten the impression not much but on the flip side they are adding more and more to their plate. Just a thought.
August 4, 20222 yr 19 hours ago, 646empire said: This may be becoming a problem tho, 3CDC is AMAZING but I’m starting to wonder if they are biting off more than they can chew. Out of curiosity I wonder how much the organization has grown over the past several years staffing wise? I’ve gotten the impression not much but on the flip side they are adding more and more to their plate. Just a thought. I really don't think this will end up being a 3CDC project. City Council rejected the historic designation because there is a specific developer interested.
October 10, 20222 yr Update: Turner construction has been hired by BIG development the name of Tony Birkla's firm. They are being brought in to secure the shell, and make sure it's waterproof. Fixing the roof and exterior walls. Then they will begin to remediation of all the mold on the interior.
October 10, 20222 yr I did not like the previous Birkla proposal for this project back in 2018, mostly because it retained zero of the original brick or character, but at this point I'm just happy to see it getting some much much needed differed maintenance and I'm happy that the ownership dilemma is finally over.
October 10, 20222 yr 21 minutes ago, ucgrady said: I did not like the previous Birkla proposal for this project back in 2018, mostly because it retained zero of the original brick or character, but at this point I'm just happy to see it getting some much much needed differed maintenance and I'm happy that the ownership dilemma is finally over. Yeah I wasnt thrilled with the GBBN approach of the department store base of the building. But I am glad to see the roof to be repaired to fix what the last idiot did and puncture the roof and allow massive weather and water into the hotel portion of the building.
October 19, 20222 yr So is Birkla going to update his concept drawing for the property or is his plan to use what he submitted 3 years ago for his concept?
October 29, 20222 yr 5 hours ago, dotunderscore said: lobby windows being removed as well as the water reservoir support It’s amazing that somethings finally being done with this building.
October 30, 20222 yr Scaffolding has been erected on the north sidewalk of 6th street for the entire block. Does anyone know if that is temporary protection for peds during this weekends demo work or will be in place for the long term?
October 30, 20222 yr 2 hours ago, dotunderscore said: windows being removed from restaurant section as well What’s the big metal structure in the top?
October 30, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, Ucgrad2015 said: What’s the big metal structure in the top? originally the brick used to wrap it and hosted the name of the hotel. I recall it having a water reservoir there but was later removed
October 31, 20222 yr 6th street is completely closed this morning and a large crane appears to be removing the awning. My guess is they will close that southern sidewalk for the duration of the project after the awning is removed and they will reopen a couple lanes of 6th once that's all set up.
October 31, 20222 yr 17 hours ago, dotunderscore said: originally the brick used to wrap it and hosted the name of the hotel. I recall it having a water reservoir there but was later removed Yes the last owners, removed the brick facade off the steel structure a couple years ago, puncturing the roof of the building. Since then the elements have been raining down and through the hotel tower of the building. Last I was told the steel structure is an imminent danger of collapsing, so Turner and a group of engineers are best deciding to either remove completely or try and secure on the roof better.
October 31, 20222 yr Wish we were able to see the existing conditions and assessment from Turner. If the steel structure is that compromised it must've been pretty wild when they first surveyed it. I wonder if there's any worry about further damage to the structure being caused from freezing weather, and that's why they're going as fast as they are.
October 31, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, RealAdamP said: Wish we were able to see the existing conditions and assessment from Turner. If the steel structure is that compromised it must've been pretty wild when they first surveyed it. I wonder if there's any worry about further damage to the structure being caused from freezing weather, and that's why they're going as fast as they are. I walked through the building about three or four years ago, the mold was really bad on the upper guest room floors, to the point, where we didnt walk due to potential inhalant dangers. Structure of the building was still in good condition then, its just the steel cage structure above is badly damaged from the last "wrecking crew" they cut down steel members and cross bracing, just basically butchered the structure.
October 31, 20222 yr 6 hours ago, ucgrady said: 6th street is completely closed this morning and a large crane appears to be removing the awning. My guess is they will close that southern sidewalk for the duration of the project after the awning is removed and they will reopen a couple lanes of 6th once that's all set up.
October 31, 20222 yr Terrace Plaza Hotel 'make-safe' plan implementation now underway By Abby Miller – Reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier Oct 31, 2022 Portions of the former Terrace Plaza Hotel are being stabilized in line with its new owner’s “make-safe” plan to help prime the building for redevelopment. Tony Birkla, the Indianapolis developer who purchased the Terrace Plaza in September for at least $9 million, told the Courier he would spend about $3 million to develop a “make-safe” plan ahead of the property's redevelopment into a mixed-use building. That plan was finalized in mid- to late-September with work ongoing for about 10 to 14 days now, Doug Moormann, vice president with Development Strategies Group, told the Courier. Moormann represents Birkla on the Terrace Plaza. Birkla told the Courier in September he and his team planned to tear down the metal structure on top of the Terrace Plaza and make other necessary changes identified in the plan before receiving approval for development. As of Monday, rusted parts of the air handling equipment started being removed via a crane, Moormann said. MORE
November 2, 20222 yr On 10/31/2022 at 3:46 PM, carnevalem said: On 10/31/2022 at 3:46 PM, carnevalem said: If anyone gets some pictures of what is under that red fabric awning post them on here. There is speculation that the original one is in some state underneath and it would be cool to see one last time. Edited November 2, 20222 yr by SleepyLeroy
November 2, 20222 yr 4 hours ago, SleepyLeroy said: If anyone gets some pictures of what is under that red fabric awning post them on here. There is speculation that the original one is in some state underneath and it would be cool to see one last time. I'll take a walk over at lunch. I'm almost certain it is still under there, there isn't many other ways for there to be recessed lighting in a canopy like that. Edit: The current canopy is still there. But it almost appears that they built a ceiling below that previous overhang. It slopes from underneath the building to the edge without that Z shape. Edited November 2, 20222 yr by RealAdamP
November 2, 20222 yr Upon closer inspection of the photos I took, I don't think the original awning/canopy is there at all. The current canopy appears too high compared to the photo you posted.
November 7, 20222 yr Walked by today, they punched a hole in a canopy. Hopefully one of y’all are able to get more information out of what is visible.
November 10, 20222 yr Thank you very much for watching. I've walked by and driven past after dark and didnt even see the giant new hole. Below is a photo from the post 'Hotel' days with the possible false drop ceiling. Will be an interesting adventure watching this place come back I just hope it isnt as extensive a "remodel' as the sears building in Avondale had to go through due to it's deterioration and new purpose.
December 7, 20222 yr Cincinnati kicks in millions for Terrace Plaza stabilization The city of Cincinnati will contribute a $3 million loan to help abate hazardous conditions at the former Terrace Plaza Hotel downtown, the first injection of taxpayer money into the hulking, vacant building. Council unanimously approved the funding at its Wednesday meeting. The money will be a loan to the limited liability company controlled by the developer, Tony Birkla, who intends to renovate and repurpose the former hotel. Birkla acquired the building in September for at least $9 million. "I’ve been waiting years for this vote. There will be many more," Councilman Greg Landsman said. "These are the first dollars going into the building from the city. Of course, the developer is investing a lot in renovating and bringing this building back to life." More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2022/12/07/cincinnati-terrace-plaza-funds.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
December 8, 20222 yr Wonder what they uncovered that prompted this. I see they still haven't taken off the canopy cover, so I assume it can't be that.
December 8, 20222 yr They've been working on the roof, where the facade had been removed years ago (photo upthread) to expose the steel at the mechanical tower. When I walked through this building years ago that area looked really bad, and that was years ago so I imagine the steel and potential structural issues from the hole in the roof was causing some real worries that needed to be handled expeditiously.
December 8, 20222 yr 39 minutes ago, ucgrady said: They've been working on the roof, where the facade had been removed years ago (photo upthread) to expose the steel at the mechanical tower. When I walked through this building years ago that area looked really bad, and that was years ago so I imagine the steel and potential structural issues from the hole in the roof was causing some real worries that needed to be handled expeditiously. Well they punctured a number of holes in the roof, when they removed the brick from the steel cage. I am glad the developer is getting it fixed to prevent any further water/weather damage.
December 8, 20222 yr 5 hours ago, ucgrady said: They've been working on the roof, where the facade had been removed years ago (photo upthread) to expose the steel at the mechanical tower. When I walked through this building years ago that area looked really bad, and that was years ago so I imagine the steel and potential structural issues from the hole in the roof was causing some real worries that needed to be handled expeditiously. I heard the same they tossed the bricks from this section to dumpsters in the alley but also messed up/removed all the flashing that went up the knee walls on the roof pretty much making it rain indoors. You can see from the pic on the left that the brick that should be covered by the roof flashing is all exposed, and this is from 2017. I hope they attempt to recreate the removed part as it made the gourmet room section balanced but with the Huntington bank building built right next to it now it isn't nearly as visible as it was.
December 8, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, SleepyLeroy said: I heard the same they tossed the bricks from this section to dumpsters in the alley but also messed up/removed all the flashing that went up the knee walls on the roof pretty much making it rain indoors. You can see from the pic on the left that the brick that should be covered by the roof flashing is all exposed, and this is from 2017. I hope they attempt to recreate the removed part as it made the gourmet room section balanced but with the Huntington bank building built right next to it now it isn't nearly as visible as it was. That was a good site visit, and that was every bit 5 years ago now, consider how much more damage in the hotel tower since that tour.
January 6, 20232 yr I had never seen the Reztark renderings of the Terrace plaza, or the Terraces as they are calling it. I like it better than the previous iteration but still don't like that it removes literally all the brick.
January 6, 20232 yr Not gonna lie.....I love the Terrace Hilton in it's original Moderinist form but i'm really digging alot of the choices they made on this. The stepback at street level on Vine, the return of the two story open base, elimination of the covered car check-in on 6th, keeping the spirit of the original massing, the addition of balconies to the residential portion, keeping the scaling of the roof top gormet room, keeping the terrace plaza at 6th and Vine atop the base........ I even like the glass addition to the Vine Street side of the residential tower part with the new glass rail deck. The textures 3/d metal replacement to the brick is shocking but i like it and it should kill all the negative comments by the people who complain how it is just a flat box at the street level. This is much better than the plan that just made the base a glass curtain wall and painted all the brick that remained a dark 'flipper' gray.
January 6, 20232 yr I could be wrong, but the metal textured panels also look to include an uplighting element. That will make this corner really stand out as you approach from the east, and help bring some energy into this spot.
January 6, 20232 yr They could make things more interesting by keeping the original brick on one side or at least in some sort of pattern. Be really blatant in showing how the building used to look.
January 6, 20232 yr 18 minutes ago, Lazarus said: They could make things more interesting by keeping the original brick on one side or at least in some sort of pattern. Be really blatant in showing how the building used to look. I'm betting that is the plan for the alley side. Not what you are meaning i'd guess but it would save some of the previous stacked bond brick look.
January 6, 20232 yr I will never understand why a giant brick wall is looked at as historic or a positive thing. It's a complete eyesore and is preventing the building from getting re-developed. Get rid of it.
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