It’s beautiful in how it represents its era.  Some architects of the time believed the best interior conditions for offices like this were completely isolated from the noise, dirt, and pollution of the outside world.  The terrace plaza is a direct result of that concept.  Even so, it manages to keep a street presence with the 2 floor (originally) storefront, and the sky lobby hotel is interesting as well.

Just got this message from the city:

 

“Sixth Street between Vine and Race is closed and will remain closed until 9pm tonight. The reason for the closure is due to the heavy winds, which are causing debris to fall from upper levels of the Terrace Building. Please consider alternate routes for your evening commute.”

 

Yet to find any coverage of it on local news sites.

Just got this message from the city:

 

“Sixth Street between Vine and Race is closed and will remain closed until 9pm tonight. The reason for the closure is due to the heavy winds, which are causing debris to fall from upper levels of the Terrace Building. Please consider alternate routes for your evening commute.”

 

Yet to find any coverage of it on local news sites.

 

I got excited for a minute when clicking on this thread, thinking something positive was brewing. Sadly, this is anything but.  :-(

Sixth Street Closed After Wind Blows Out Building Windows

 

http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Sixth-Street-Closed-After-Wind-Blows-Out-Building/u-YBlln6l0Cj248EYpfxPg.cspx

At what point can the city step in with this property and force the owner to at least maintain the building? ...it's literally rotting and is quickly becoming an eyesore. It's truly going to be an embarassment for the World Choir Games due to its prominent location. Nearly half of the storefronts are vacant, the flashing is falling off the building, windows boarded up, overgrown shurbbery on the terraces, the terrible vinyl awning with the Crowne Plaza logo so skillfully duct-taped over....I could go on and on. I have to imagine that at this point the roof leaks, ventialtion systems are shot and the rooms are mold and mildew infested. It just makes me sad. This piece of property is as important at the Banks or 5th/Race IMO.

 

In this article from February 2010, one of the owners said “We want to be quick about making a decision, but we want to make the right decision,” he said. “The carrying charges are huge, so we can’t take forever. Within three months, we should definitely have decided what we’ll do with the property.” Here we are two years later with absolutely no progress whatsoever. What gives? Very disappointing.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2010/02/08/story1.html?page=all

Also, found an article from last year that for some reason never was posted here. The last quarter or so reveals lots of details about the recent history of the property. Basically it sounds like it's sitting in the hands of a slumlord who bit off more than he could chew (he also bought Cincinnati Mall around the same time as this, so that probably speaks to his business saavy of lack thereof)

 

http://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/cincinnatihistory/Story.aspx?id=1378904

That's sad.

^^ That's a great story, thanks for posting.

In the August issue of Cincinnati Magazine that arrived at my house today, there's a story about the "10 Buildings that Changed Cincinnati." While the Terrace Plaza Hotel wasn't one of the 10 buildings they spotlighted, they did have a sidebar titled "Will someone please draft a future for the Terrace Plaza?"

 

In it was the following:

 

The current owner, New York-based real estate investment group World Properties LLC, bought it in 2010 with the intent of re-opening the hotel. Unfortunately, Vice President Tommy Demetriades says plans are "sort of on hold at this point."

 

Whatever that means.

 

The story, incidentally, is outstanding. ... Worth picking up a copy.

What do you think would be a good use for the windowless section of that building?  Something touristy would be ideal.  Children's museum?

^I doubt you'd see the Children's Museum move from Union Terminal. Although a nice tourist attraction right in the heart of downtown like that could be cool.

 

Contract some artist to put some cool murals up on the windowless section.

The windowless portion should be something like a data center. It sounds like a lame idea, but there are a few data centers downtown that I know of that take up office space that has windows, yet they just cage them off and tint over them. 

 

The second floor was originally glass curtain wall like the first floor, though, and I think restoring that would be a nice touch.  I think the solid brick is a historically significant part of the building and I'd hate to lose it, even though it's hard to program a use for such a windowless space. 

 

On a side note, I've gotten a couple emails from developers over the past month or so asking if I had plans for this building (my blog has an old post about it).  Not sure if that means there is interest outside of the current owner or not, but they were at least asking.

or they could re-install the windows.

Personally, I'd like to see a decent movie theater go into the windowless portion (ideally something that runs independent and foreign movies, rather than the same Hollywood crap people can see at the Levee). This works for several reasons:

 

1) Movie theaters can't have windows.

 

2) Those floors of the hotel formerly housed meeting spaces and ballrooms, which have similar occupant loads as movie theaters. As such, the sizing of things like fire exits and emergency stairs would presumably be less of an issue than if you were trying to put theaters into some other building.

 

3) It would be the perfect addition to the budding entertainment / nightlife district along 6th Street, in addition to being a stone's throw from Fountain Square.

 

As for the upper floors, they'd be ideal for a boutique hotel with a strong modernist design aesthetic, such as the W hotel chain.

^I like the idea of a Movie Theatre especially if it's showing something different than what the typical theatres have. Newport's AMC is actually very nice and the most convenient place for me to see a flick, but if we had somewhat more of an art house theatre maybe Cincinnati could be one of those "select cities" that gets films I always want to see but are never here.

Something like this...

http://angelikafilmcenter.com/angelika_index.asp?hID=7915

 

...would work very well.

The Esquire fills the independent void in Cincinnati pretty well, I wonder how another, larger theater would do?

 

And just to note again, there were never windows over the lower half of the building, only the second floor was covered over.  The lower half originally housed two department stores, which also work well without windows, but I'm afraid the ship has sailed on the downtown department store model.

Nearly all of those artsy films on that website are playing at the Esquire as we speak.

 

The likelyhood of a movie theater there is almost 0.  We're adding a second major multiplex in Oakley & there are three  independent theaters already (Esquire, Mariemont & Kenwood) that play great movies.

yeah, I thought it would be a challenge to move the children's museum from Union terminal but I think as part of a hotel complex, it could be a really attractive venue/destination,especially in the heart of downtown.  I stilll think the urban core could use additional toursit attractions and something that is kid friendly that would attract families would be grea.  I always thought Cincy's children museum was just ok so maybe a change of venue could be a positive?  I like the movie theatre idea but would it bring folks downtown? Probably only if it is something unique

Children's Museum was just renovated a few years ago and CMC just absorbed Freedom Center & are trying to raise money to renovate Union Termjnal.

Unless someone is going to donate $1,000,000 ONLY if it moves to that location, it also has no chance of happening.

The likelyhood of a movie theater there is almost 0.  We're adding a second major multiplex in Oakley & there are three  independent theaters already (Esquire, Mariemont & Kenwood) that play great movies.

 

Their all run by the same guy and in the grand scheme of things aren't that good an indie theaters, Cincy doesn't get a lot of movies or gets them like 6-9 months after big cities play them unless they are more hollywood friendly indie movies.  There is a nice niche to see a better run arthouse theater that does more retrospectives and what not.  Sadly the economics of this business are already kind of tough so might be a tough start but Cincy does need a better arthouse.  On top of that there are film clubs that fill the void of the more esoteric indie movies...

The windowless portion should be something like a data center. It sounds like a lame idea, but there are a few data centers downtown that I know of that take up office space that has windows, yet they just cage them off and tint over them. 

 

The second floor was originally glass curtain wall like the first floor, though, and I think restoring that would be a nice touch.  I think the solid brick is a historically significant part of the building and I'd hate to lose it, even though it's hard to program a use for such a windowless space. 

 

Reminds me of the hideous 10 South Canal building in Chicago. The bottom 20 floors or so are solid concrete walls, as it serves as an AT&T data center.

The windowless portion should be something like a data center. It sounds like a lame idea, but there are a few data centers downtown that I know of that take up office space that has windows, yet they just cage them off and tint over them. 

 

The second floor was originally glass curtain wall like the first floor, though, and I think restoring that would be a nice touch.  I think the solid brick is a historically significant part of the building and I'd hate to lose it, even though it's hard to program a use for such a windowless space. 

 

Reminds me of the hideous 10 South Canal building in Chicago. The bottom 20 floors or so are solid concrete walls, as it serves as an AT&T data center.

 

This has way more class than the Chicago version.  Plus, even the name "Terrace Plaza" is dependent upon the idea that the hotel sits atop a bulky mass.

 

NYC's data center building is also way classier than the Chicago verison: See 375 Pearl St. It's beautiful if judged from a "form follows function" perspective.  The building in Chicago looks like it was turned into a data center as an after thought - it looks like a typical office tower with solid walls where windows should be.

It's not as bad as this gem in Lower Manhattan.

 

 

(This is the AT&T Long Lines building, where many transatlantic telephone cables terminate. I have no idea how relevant this building remains, with the advent of satellite-based telecommunications. Just to give you a sense of scale, this is about the same height as the 5/3 Bank building on Fountain Square.)

The Terrace Plaza has a ton of potential as a mixed use development - commercial, hotel, condos, apartments, restaurants, galleries --- hotel would only be possible at the exclusion of the residential options - unless windows could be added to the 7 (I think) story block.

(This is the AT&T Long Lines building, where many transatlantic telephone cables terminate. I have no idea how relevant this building remains, with the advent of satellite-based telecommunications. Just to give you a sense of scale, this is about the same height as the 5/3 Bank building on Fountain Square.)

 

Quick tangent: virtually all data transmitted between continents is sent via submerged fiber optic cables, as satellites would have too much latency. So I assume buildings like this will remain necessary. It would be fascinating to see inside, though, and see how much of the traditional telephone switching infrastructure has been replaced with racks of switches and routers for Internet traffic.

^ Yeah, I'd love to get a tour of that place, although I'm sure it's locked down tighter than Fort Knox security-wise.

^ Yeah, I'd love to get a tour of that place, although I'm sure it's locked down tighter than Fort Knox security-wise.

Unless you work for the NSA! 

I have not seen it reported, but CarterDawson has bought the Terrace Plaza. CR are the architects. Lower floors will be a parking structure and residential above. 

I have not seen it reported, but CarterDawson has bought the Terrace Plaza. CR are the architects. Lower floors will be a parking structure and residential above. 

 

Does that mean demoing the windowless juggernaut?

I have not seen it reported, but CarterDawson has bought the Terrace Plaza. CR are the architects. Lower floors will be a parking structure and residential above. 

 

Does that mean demoing the windowless juggernaut?

 

Presumably they will carve the garage out of the base.

mehh, I'll take what I can get at this point. Seeing as how CarterDawson is behind the Banks I'm not expecting anything fabulous but it's still a win considering there is a huge need for residential downtown this building is literally crumbling as we speak and needs immiedete attention.

 

I'm assuming these will be apartments?

This could be scary. A modernist landmark lost.

This could be scary. A modernist landmark lost.

 

I'm all for historic preservation, but I wouldn't mind letting this one go. Or letting it go through some thorough alterations, e.g. WINDOWS!

This could be scary. A modernist landmark lost.

 

I'm all for historic preservation, but I wouldn't mind letting this one go. Or letting it go through some thorough alterations, e.g. WINDOWS!

 

Agreed, just cause it was designed by SOM doesn't mean it's anything special.

Also, CR has some concept renders of the building that they did some time ago. Now the quality of the renders is pretty bad, but it in no way an excuse for how disjointed and ugly it looks. I believe these were also for a hotel concept, and it sounds like this might turn residential. Personally I would like to see the bottom part made of completely brick and turned into a parking garage, bottom floor being retail and a lobby. And the rest being the terrace, a remodeled residential part, and one hella dope penthouse, or maybe a public restaurant, either would be fine and a roof top restaurant would be interesting to say the least.

I just hope they bring back the rooftop bar.

My dream for this building is for the lower, windowless part to be gutted and turned into a movie theatre and the top portion to be residential or hotel with a rooftop bar.

^ Sounds like your dream is rapidly fading.

This could be scary. A modernist landmark lost.

 

I'm all for historic preservation, but I wouldn't mind letting this one go. Or letting it go through some thorough alterations, e.g. WINDOWS!

 

Agreed, just cause it was designed by SOM doesn't mean it's anything special.

 

What makes this building special is that it was designed and built as one of the first modernist post-WWII buildings in the world, and there aren’t a whole lot of examples left of this type of building.  In fact, it’s very indicative of the 1950’s urban life in general – with the department store base, and clean, chic hotel atop with just enough funkiness via the lounge on the rooftop.  Altering too much of this building would ruin the historic value, especially when the only case for it is that it “looks ugly.”  To put it into perspective, people in the 1950’s thought the 1880’s buildings all over downtown and OTR were ugly and tore them down en masse.  Give it another 50 years and people will be shaking their heads at those who wanted to rip the Terrace Plaza apart.

The problem is that they would probably not being trying to restore the building but modernizing it in some way, which we here all know often ends up looking pretty bad. BUT! They could do something nice, it is very possible, not sure tho after seeing the CR portfolio. But have you seen the progress on the apt. towers on UC's campus? I think they're going to look fantastic, however in this case the entire facade is being completely replaced. Regardless tho no one should tear that thing down, either do a resto or go full throttle modern and keep it very clean.

Agreed.  the UC towers will look fantastic when complete.  No indication of how hideous they previously were.

 

What exactly is contained in the windowless portion?  Guest rooms?  Open floors?

^ The first six stories contained two department stores, which is why they have no windows.

 

The second floor was originally glass on half of the building:

 

 

 

An article I did in '09 Unfortunately the photos were all lost in an archive changeover). http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/01006terracehotel.aspx

 

The windowless portion last saw use as an IBM processing center. I have been in the rooms and they're just huge and lifeless.

 

The hotel itself could be pretty awesome. The 8th floor lobby has a decent-sized terrace facing east along Vine, and they used to do ice skating up there in the winter. The Grill Room on top is pretty cozy but undeniably cool. Unfortunately it suffered from a bit of an 80's makeover, but that can be easily addressed.

 

A local architect told me that Carter likes using CR as they are relatively less expensive and will do what they ask.

 

Then again, the building does not need a wholesale makeover. More of a retrofit.

Here is a great collection of historical photos and plans, if anyone is interested:

 

http://www.cf3.org/Terrace-Plaza-Cincinnati/Terrace-Plaza-Cincinnati.html

It's pretty incredible that this hotel had a Miro mural in the restaurant, and a Calder mobile in the lobby.  Art of that caliber really speaks to the ambitions of the project when it was constructed

Perhaps it's just me, but I hate this building. It's so ugly. So drab. Bricks. So many bricks. The hotel portion? No one can see it from the street, so it doesn't really matter if it's there or not. All you see are bricks. You'll never be walking around this building and see some visitors or suburbanites point to it and say, "Isn't that a great building?" No, the only love this building gets is from urban wonks, for good reason.

Honestly I'm not too impressed by the historic photos.  Preserving a Modernist building means preserving...no intricate woodwork, no statuary, no nothing.  The Ikea furniture was probably thrown out in the mid-60s.  The Calder mobile is typical of the period and the Miro painting is up at the art museum and it ain't coming back. 

I just hope they bring back the rooftop bar.

 

Yes, and of course someone renovates and reopens the hotel (and makes money so it stays open)

 

21 C hotel has a rooftop bar area, not open yet be should be soon. Isn't Modernist stuff back in style now?

Honestly I'm not too impressed by the historic photos.  Preserving a Modernist building means preserving...no intricate woodwork, no statuary, no nothing.  The Ikea furniture was probably thrown out in the mid-60s.  The Calder mobile is typical of the period and the Miro painting is up at the art museum and it ain't coming back.

 

The only real captivating part was the atrium on the roof, but I think I read here that that it has been modified from it original version. I think that the atrium would be about the only thinkg worth trying to return to original, but without the Miro painting whats the point? (Or was Miro in the lobby??). It's also a bummer that half of the once 360 view is now blocked.