Topic: Cincinnati: Over-the-Rhine projects

[mcadrenaline]

Terrible reporting. What does "steering clear of alcohol in the area" mean? Are these going to be subsidized units?

[JYP]

Yeah I have no idea. I went on CAGIS and found they have 3 buildings on Vine and 1 on Green Street. Aside from that there's very little information on the development or any indication of what their appeal will be.

[diggingcincihistory]

Property Acquisitions address is 1526 Elm which is a nicely rehabbed house.

[climberguy714]

just saw this post on building cincinnati, looks promising.  glad that smaller businesses/orginizations are starting to get into redeveloping instead of just 3cdc and model.

http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2012/06/council-rezones-parts-of-otrs-race-st.html

[mcadrenaline]

Mercer groundbreaking tomorrow! Anyone have the deets?

[OTR]

Mercer groundbreaking tomorrow! Anyone have the deets?

Press Release from 3CDC

$59M MERCER COMMONS BREAKS GROUND TUESDAY

154 housing units, 17,600 SF commercial space, and 359 parking spaces
 

CINCINNATI – (June 25, 2012) – The City of Cincinnati, 3CDC, and its corporate partners will break ground at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, June 26th, on the first of three phases of construction in Over-the-Rhine that will ultimately yield 28 condos, 126 apartments (30 of which will be affordable to those making 50-60% of area median income), 359 parking spaces, and 26,000 SF of commercial space.

 

The $59 million project, dubbed Mercer Commons, includes the redevelopment of 19 historic buildings and 26 vacant parcels of land on a total of 2.67 acres between East 13th and 14th streets, bounded by Vine Street on the west and Walnut Street on the east.   

 

Mercer Commons represents the largest mixed-use project to date for 3CDC. Since 2007, 3CDC has completely restored 57 historic buildings in Over-the-Rhine, creating 186 condominiums that are 97% sold, over 90,000 SF of commercial space that is 85% leased, and 68 market-rate rental units that have been fully leased for years. 3CDC and its partners have invested over $200 million in Over-the-Rhine developments, including the redeveloped Washington park, streetscapes, land-banked buildings, and annual carrying costs associated with future development sites.
 
3CDC solicited feedback on the Mercer Commons project through a series of community input session held from 2008 to 2011, involving representatives from dozens of organizations. Feedback included the need for more apartments to meet increased demand for rental housing, the need for affordable units to continue developing a mixed-income neighborhood, more retail and commercial space on Walnut to begin to create a critical mass, and more parking and green space needed by neighborhood business owners and residents. The project meets these community needs and creates a connection between already completed projects by redeveloping vacant buildings and parcels into a more unified district.
 
The first phase of construction includes the restoration of 4 historic buildings into 11 for-sale units, and the construction of 5 new townhomes, 1 new 340-space parking garage, and 1 new mixed-use building to include 12 for-sale units and 3,900 SF of commercial space. Tuesday’s groundbreaking will be followed by a 16-month construction schedule, with the garage opening in March 2013.
 
Funding partners include PNC Bank, JobsOhio, the City of Cincinnati, 3CDC, Cincinnati Development Fund, Cincinnati Equity Fund II, and Cincinnati New Markets Fund. Messer Construction is the general contractor, and the design team includes City Studios, and City Architecture.

[edale]

Some good news regarding some new rehabs in OTR! Anyone know any more information on any of these?

1) "Repairs to nearly 100-year-old Central Parkway YMCA at 1105 Elm St. It’s receiving $5 million in tax credits to help remake the six, vacant upper floors of the nine-story building into 60 senior apartments."

2) St. Paulus Church

• Total project cost: $8.2 million
• Total tax credit: $1.8 million
• Where: Over-the-Rhine

Emergency repairs to stabilize the roof and masonry walls in 2011 prevented the collapse of this abandoned Greek Revival building, believed to be the third oldest church in the Over-the-Rhine Historic District. Work will now proceed to create a restaurant and entertainment facility in the former sanctuary space and additional retail space on the ground level.

3) 1405-07 Republic St.

• Total project cost: $3.4 million
• Total tax credit: $751,000
• Where: Over-the-Rhine

Currently vacant and uninhabitable, this five-story building will be reconfigured into 13 new affordable apartments and student housing units by Over-the-Rhine Community Housing. The building dates to 1897.

4) 1500-06 Elm St.

• Total project cost: $3.6 million
• Total tax credit: $644,000
• Where: Over-the-Rhine

This building has been vacant for several decades and will be rehabilitated into 15 apartments.

Full article here:
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120626/BIZ/306260105/-10-6M-five-rehab-projects?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

[Sherman Cahal]

To an extent. How much information are you wanting to know? Here is what I wrote June 26:

1405-07 Republic Street in Over-the-Rhine received $751,362 for a $3,405,702 rehabilitation. The five-story building was built in 1897 and will be converted into 13 affordable apartments and student housing. The project is being undertaken by Over-the-Rhine Community Housing.

1500-06 Elm Street  in Over-the-Rhine (Google Streetview) received $643,601 for a $3,557,880 restoration. The building, which has been vacant for decades, will be converted into 15 apartments and amenity space.

Artspace Hamilton at 222 High Street received $2,332,373 millon for a $10,209,024 rehabilitation of the Mehrum and Lindley Buildings. The facade will be restored and 42 apartments will be constructed, along with first-level retail. The buildings were connected in the 1920s for the Strauss Clothing Company. In the 1970s, the buildings became home to the Hamilton Center and were given a facade cover.

Central Parkway YMCA (pictured right), at 1105 Elm Street and Central Parkway, received $5 million in tax credits for a $27,131,432 rehabilitation project. President William Howard Taft laid the cornerstone of the YMCA in 1917. The upper six floors are currently vacant and will be converted into 60 senior apartments. YMCA offices will be consolidated, and a wellness center will be built. The apartments are being managed by Model Management. 132 jobs are expected to be created throughout this process.

St. Paulus Church, at 1429 Race Street in Over-the-Rhine, received $1,854,667 for a $8,227,124 million restoration that will create a restaurant and entertainment facility, along with first-level retail. 77 jobs are expected to be created throughout this process. The church was abandoned in the 1980s, and was given emergency repairs to the roof and masonry walls in 2011 to prevent the collapse of the structure.

[Sherman Cahal]

I also have more building specific data, such as histories and photos, but those are still in queue.

[CincyGuy45202]

^ where is your original posts with the links you mention?

[edale]

Are the Elm St. apartments going to be affordable or market rate? Who is their developer?

[CincyGuy45202]

Low income. Property owner is Race Street Tenant, formerly known as ReStoc, founded by Buddy Gray.

[OTR]

It's the Choices Cafe building and they're working with OTRCH and 3CDC IIRC.

http://www.choicescafe.org/

[natininja]

^^ What about the High Street apartments?

[bfwissel]

Low income. Property owner is Race Street Tenant, formerly known as ReStoc, founded by Buddy Gray.

Oh crap, really?  This seems like it could be pretty bad for the neighborhood then.  These are the same people who were complaining loudly about any general improvement of OTR including public amenities.  In their minds projects like parks improve the neighborhood, increases property values, and pushes out the poor and elderly.  Apparently, the fact that there are so many empty buildings in OTR has nothing to do with their efforts.    Luckily, groups like 3CDC have thwarted their efforts to make OTR the Crack Alley of the Midwest.

[diggingcincihistory]

Saw this on Over-the-Rhine Community Housing facebook page for today's Final Friday:

[diggingcincihistory]

Wow, sorry that is so big. I'm new to posting here. 
Edited to change my tone:
"effecting the lives of us who live here." Who is us and our own opinions?

I love the changes that have come to OTR (except when my son and I got panhandled on 14th Street, walking to the City Flea).

[northsider]

To be fair, some of the changes could be "effecting [sic] the lives of us who live here" in a positive way.  The flier doesn't say.

Also, some of these organizations do really good work.  OTRCH has rehabbed buildings into clean, safe affordable housing, and some of their initiatives like Recovery Hotel and Buddy's Place are aimed at combatting homelessness by getting folks off the streets and trying to address the root causes of their homelessness.  We need organizations like OTRCH if we're going to improve life for everyone in the city by reducing homelessness.

The Mohawk Area Development Corporation is a weird one though - they don't even have a website. in 2012.

[diggingcincihistory]

I agree they do good work. It's just the italics in the poster seems to come off as an "us vs them" perspective.
Edited to add:
I need to learn more about OTRCH and the People's Platform to understand their perspective on the development of OTR.

Also, what is considered "affordable housing" vs "market rate"? As much as I would love to move to OTR, my family needs a 3 bed/2 bath home but we can't afford over $200,000. I guess we fall somewhere in between.

[appleaday]

Are the Elm St. apartments going to be affordable or market rate? Who is their developer?

The apartments on Elm Street will be affordable housing for senior citizens with onsite services - enabling seniors to "age in place."

There will be an elevator installed in the building and a common gathering area on the first floor.

It is a partnership with OTRCH and Model Management.

OTRCH was awarded a $1.75 million dollar HUD 202 grant last fall and this tax credit award is an additional portion of the financing for the project.

[appleaday]

It's the Choices Cafe building and they're working with OTRCH and 3CDC IIRC.

http://www.choicescafe.org/

OTRCH & Model Management, not 3CDC.

OTRCH is also working on a visioning study for the 1500 blocks of Elm, Pleasant & Race to guide future development. There will be a public charette in July.

[appleaday]

Low income. Property owner is Race Street Tenant, formerly known as ReStoc, founded by Buddy Gray.

ReSTOC stood for "Race Street Tenants Organization Cooperative", it was a grassroots, volunteer driven housing developer started by buddy gray (he did not capitalize his name) in 1978.

In 2006 ReSTOC merged with Over-the-Rhine Housing Network (founded in 1988) to form Over-the-Rhine Community Housing. Today OTRCH owns and manages 93 fully renovated buildings with approximately 380 apartments, all of which are in OTR. Many of OTRCH's buildings are still listed on the auditor's website as being owned by ReSTOC.

[northsider]

OTRCH & Model Management, not 3CDC.

Huh, the Choices website says they're working with 3CDC on 1421 Elm: http://www.choicescafe.org/pages/programs/ .  It's the second one on the page.

[appleaday]

Low income. Property owner is Race Street Tenant, formerly known as ReStoc, founded by Buddy Gray.

Oh crap, really?  This seems like it could be pretty bad for the neighborhood then.  These are the same people who were complaining loudly about any general improvement of OTR including public amenities.  In their minds projects like parks improve the neighborhood, increases property values, and pushes out the poor and elderly.  Apparently, the fact that there are so many empty buildings in OTR has nothing to do with their efforts.    Luckily, groups like 3CDC have thwarted their efforts to make OTR the Crack Alley of the Midwest.

Bfwissel, today is June 29th 2012 and your comment is wildly inaccurate and does not reflect reality today. Full disclosure: I work for Over-the-Rhine Community Housing.

"This seems like it could be pretty bad for the neighborhood" - do you know anything about this project at all? The Elm Street project will provide 15 units of supportive housing for senior citizens. The development will allow seniors in our community to "age in place".

"These are the same people who were complaining loudly about any general improvement of OTR including public amenities.  In their minds projects like parks improve the neighborhood, increases property values, and pushes out the poor and elderly." - First, these are not the "same people" - only a few staff people at OTRCH today were around when ReSTOC was lead by buddy and ReSTOC and OTRHN were separate organizations. Second, it was decades ago that buddy rallied residents, advocates, friends and supporters to stand up and have their voices heard at City Hall, in the media, etc. Today there is less "complaining loudly" from OTRCH than there is working day in and day out toward the organization's mission statement, which is: "[working] to build and sustain a diverse neighborhood that values and benefits low-income residents" and "[focusing] on developing and managing resident-centered, affordable housing in an effort to promote inclusive community." Key words and phrases being build, sustain, diverse neighborhood, inclusive community, value and benefit low income residents.

Third, it is absolutely true that "revitalization", "redevelopment", "urban renewal", and "renaissance" often result in the displacement of the poor and elderly - read any academic literature, book, or peer reviewed study on gentrification. Furthermore, there have already been low income individuals and families who resided on Race Street in OTR who have been displaced as a result of 3CDC's actions.

"Luckily, groups like 3CDC have thwarted their efforts to make OTR the Crack Alley of the Midwest" - OTRCH has not attempted to make OTR the "Crack Alley of the Midwest" in any way, shape or form. You are welcome to refer to OTRCH's actual, physical, tangible building developments - our new construction of market rate and affordable units on Pleasant Street, our Housing First project on Odeon Street the Jimmy Heath House, a recently rehabbed single family home on Republic Street are recent examples. They are safe, clean, dignified, decent places to call home.

You can also refer to all of the work OTRCH does day in and day out in providing resident services, whether it is hosting NA and AA meetings in our Recovery Hotel building on Vine Street (aiming to help people achieve sobriety, the opposite of fostering a "Crack Alley"), or holding meetings with residents to empower residents to be eyes on the street on their blocks, or our collaboration and partnership with the Cincinnati Police Department to deter crime. (Did you know that OTRCH gave CPD permission to mount two of their new high resolution cameras on top of two of our Vine Street buildings for the purpose of prosecuting criminals and deterring further criminal activity?)

I can say with 100% confidence that there is not a single person who works for OTRCH who wishes to see OTR as a "Crack Alley of the Midwest." In fact, just today I was at a meeting where our directors, social workers, and residents of a building we recently bought and assumed management of were all present. The building is on Findlay Street directly across the street from Findlay Market, is a building with a HUD subsidy attached, and was not previously managed by OTRCH. Over and over again, the theme out of OTRCH as well as residents' mouths was concern and care about ensuring the building was as safe of a place and as welcoming of place as possible to live.

If these words mean nothing to you, you are more than welcome to volunteer at OTRCH and see and experience for yourself what the organization is all about. If you do not want to see OTR as a "Crack Alley of the Midwest" you could take an active role and contribute something positive to OTR rather than just complaining loudly about what you do not like.

OTRCH has a Saturday morning volunteer program - every Saturday morning year round from 9 am to noon, rain or shine - volunteers gather at our office on Washington Park, form teams, walk to our warehouse and gear up with supplies and then disperse though the neighborhood to work on anything from beautification projects (like picking up litter, maintaining vacant lots) to assisting residents with projects in their homes, to preparing vacated units for turnovers. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening year round from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm we also host a free youth arts program called Children's Creative Corner. CCC is always looking for volunteers to get involved and make art with the children of OTR!

[appleaday]

OTRCH & Model Management, not 3CDC.

Huh, the Choices website says they're working with 3CDC on 1421 Elm: http://www.choicescafe.org/pages/programs/ .  It's the second one on the page.

Choices Cafe rents space in 1500-06 Elm Street. I think (but am not 100% certain) that 3CDC and Choices will be working on renovating 1421 Elm Street. 3CDC isn't involved with renovation of 1500-06 Elm.

[CincyGuy45202]

OTRCH applied for their tax credits with 3CDC's help. 3CDC has helped OTRCH get tax credits on several occasions.

Also I don't care if someone chose to misspell their name all the time, I'm spelling it correctly: Buddy Gray. The idea that it's a social movement to defy proper grammar is a bit silly.

[bfwissel]

Bfwissel, today is June 29th 2012 and your comment is wildly inaccurate and does not reflect reality today.
...
First, these are not the "same people" - only a few staff people at OTRCH today were around when ReSTOC was lead by buddy and ReSTOC and OTRHN were separate organizations.
...
OTRCH has not attempted to make OTR the "Crack Alley of the Midwest" in any way, shape or form. You are welcome to refer to OTRCH's actual, physical, tangible building developments - our new construction of market rate and affordable units on Pleasant Street, our Housing First project on Odeon Street the Jimmy Heath House, a recently rehabbed single family home on Republic Street are recent examples. They are safe, clean, dignified, decent places to call home.
...
I can say with 100% confidence that there is not a single person who works for OTRCH who wishes to see OTR as a "Crack Alley of the Midwest."
...
You can also refer to all of the work OTRCH does day in and day out in providing resident services, whether it is hosting NA and AA meetings in our Recovery Hotel building on Vine Street (aiming to help people achieve sobriety, the opposite of fostering a "Crack Alley"), or holding meetings with residents to empower residents to be eyes on the street on their blocks, or our collaboration and partnership with the Cincinnati Police Department to deter crime. (Did you know that OTRCH gave CPD permission to mount two of their new high resolution cameras on top of two of our Vine Street buildings for the purpose of prosecuting criminals and deterring further criminal activity?)
...
If you do not want to see OTR as a "Crack Alley of the Midwest" you could take an active role and contribute something positive to OTR rather than just complaining loudly about what you do not like.
...
OTRCH has a Saturday morning volunteer program

I am admittedly out off date with OTRCH's efforts.  I am very familiar with its past and how devastating the previous incarnation of the organization was to the neighborhood as well as countless individuals.  That is where my concern lies.  In the past there have been some terrible things done by many organizations in OTR with good intentions (the road to hell is paved with good intentions).  I'm glad to hear that Buddy Gray's ideals of running the world on rainbows and puppy farts has been replaced with a more rational approach that works to actually reduce homelessness, addiction and crime.  If you're truly working to make our community a better, more diverse place for all (regardless of age, race, or social-economic level), then I'm grateful.  Given your organization's history, however, I still feel like a good dose of skepticism is warranted.

As for volunteering, I just got off a busy two year stint on the Downtown Residents Council board and have been cutting back my volunteering in the short term to spend more time with my family including two year old son (although I still help the DRC with their communications).  That being said, I will try to do a Saturday some time in the next couple of months.

Out of curiosity, do you count Josh Spring or Justin Jeffre among your members?  Also, is it your organization (or an affiliated organization) that will be protesting at the grand opening of Washington Park during the World Choir Games?

[Cygnus]

Anyone aware of any work going on in this area?

Enclosed four-story stairwell collapses in OTR

A four-story enclosed stairway collapsed this afternoon at Main and 13th streets.

The building department has been called, and the area has been cordoned off to pedestrians.

[jmblec2]

^ news reported, that the owner was cited a few months ago to repair the deck (it was rotting away). Well it finally came down today. Nothing more nothing less.

[Jskinner]

If this is the deck at the rear of the Circle A market I would not be surprised.  I took pictures of it last year when I was in the alley because it looked so decrepit.

I just looked up Circle A, 1304 Main, and they did indeed have orders to get a permit to rebuild the rear porches.  Orders were written in March 2011:

OVERHAUL PORCH Overhaul porch (s), replacing all rotted, broken, or missing parts with sound material. CBC SECTION: 1117-45.1 General maintenance and repair:

1304 MAIN ST   3/3/2011 8:10:07 AM   N   OBTAIN PERMIT PLANS REQUIRED   OBTAIN PERMIT - PLANS REQUIRED FOR PORCH OVERHAUL Submit plans and obtain required permits for all work. Discontinue work until permits are obtained. CBC SECTION: 1101-17.1 Permits required: It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, relocate, or demolish a structure of building equipment installed therein; change a structure to another use, or to allow any excavation or filling of land, without first filing an application and obtaining a proper permit from the Director of Buildings and Inspections...

[nati streets]

Glad money is coming in for developments (from city homes to Mercer), but hopefully we can get some more cash and thus even better contemporary  OTR buildings with the help of our visiting Choir fans....  like this from Constance, Germany http://www.archdaily.com/250513/h27d-kraus-schoenberg-architects/

OTR/Brewery District folks its on you to court some foreign money!

[bfwissel]

Today there is less "complaining loudly" from OTRCH than there is working day in and day out toward the organization's mission statement, which is: "[working] to build and sustain a diverse neighborhood that values and benefits low-income residents" and "[focusing] on developing and managing resident-centered, affordable housing in an effort to promote inclusive community." Key words and phrases being build, sustain, diverse neighborhood, inclusive community, value and benefit low income residents.

Out of curiosity, do you count Josh Spring or Justin Jeffre among your members?  Also, is it your organization (or an affiliated organization) that will be protesting at the grand opening of Washington Park during the World Choir Games?

I've done a bit more research on Over-the-Rhine Community Housing (OTRCH) and found that Josh Spring and Justin Jeffre are at least tangentially involved with OTRCH and that OTRCH is closely affiliated with the "Peoples Platform" which plans to protest at the Washington Park ribbon cutting this morning.  While this organization has made some strides to clean up their act and do more for the neighborhood, they still hold on to outdated ideals that have done so much damage to OTR in the past.  There are so, so, so many non-profits in OTR.  I would highly recommend that if you're looking to improve the OTR via a non-profit, do some research on it before getting involved with the organization.  Do not take at face value everything that they say they do and/or have done for the community.  Look at their history, look at their projects, look critically at their actions, and talk to others in the neighborhood.  While not everyone got what they wanted with Washington Park, the final $46 million product is on the whole an improvement for our neighborhood.  To protest at the event, especially with a large international event taking place in the neighborhood, is shameful.

[jdm00]

When the Josh Spring comments were posted in the Washington Park thread, it sadly appeared to be a case of same-old, same-old.  Appleaday has not been around to offer any further insight into what is apparently a protest along the lines of what many here were expecting. 

[northsider]

Look, this "guilt by association" thing is silly.  Yes, some people that work with OTRCH are involved with this misguided protest.  but OTRCH is not supporting this protest and is collaborating with 3CDC.  It's unfair to OTRCH to hold it accountable for what people who aren't even part of OTRCH are doing.

[ryanlammi]

^ I agree with Northsider...

Pro-lifers constantly say that people supportive of Planned Parenthood are racists who believe in Eugenics because their founder believed that. That doesn't mean that is their current philosophy.

I believe OTRCH does incredible work and is a great organization. They host social events for their residents, maintain buildings to the best of their ability (they have 1 maintenance guy for about 400 units), and provide a service that would otherwise be turned over to slumlords who fail to provide adequate housing needs. I think everyone needs to do a lot of research about OTRCH before jumping to conclusions. Just because their roots go back to Buddy Gray (a lot of OTR non-profits do) doesn't mean that they believe the same things he does.