CINCINNATI | Development Thread

[natiboy]

^I'll have to figure out how to do that one of these days. I'm pretty bad with stuff like that.

[natiboy]

The Washington Park opening will take place on Friday, July 6th.

Mercer Commons groundbreaking is Tuesday, June 26th.

[natiboy]

SouthShore developer starting second phase

A more than $15 million apartment development is breaking ground in Newport Thursday, adding 93 residential units along the Ohio River.

Capital Investment Group Inc., the Cincinnati development company that developed SouthShore Condominiums, is starting on the second phase of the development, to be called Vue 180. The 93 rental units will be built above structured parking.

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnat...ng-second.html

[natiboy]

Rebirth for development near XU?

Developers say they are moving ahead with a long-delayed project near Xavier University at Dana Avenue and Montgomery Road.

It will include an XU bookstore and health center, more than 400 student apartments, plus retail along Montgomery Road, offices and a potential hotel.
..........
Once called Xavier Square, the development includes two $50 million phases and has been in the XU's plans for years, representing a step out from its leafy campus to integrating more with the surrounding neighborhoods.

Source: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs...EWS/306210097/

[natiboy]

Music Hall group: We'll just rent it

Ending a stalemate over the fate of one of Greater Cincinnati’s iconic buildings, a group hoping to revitalize Music Hall late Friday backed down from demands that it buy the building from the city.

The Music Hall Revitalization Co. submitted a proposal to the City of Cincinnati on Friday to lease the historic 134-year-old hall from the City for 99 years in order to move forward with its $165 million renovation project.

Source: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...l-just-rent-it

[natiboy]

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.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...on-project-OTR

[natiboy]

Here's a Washington park construction update from their facebook page:


More pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/washingtonpark/

[ColDayMan]

Lookin' good.

[natiboy]

$10.6M for five rehab projects
Historic buildings get Ohio tax credits

Five historic buildings in Greater Cincinnati will be rehabilitated into more than 130 new residences and retail and office space, helped by the award Tuesday of more than $10.6 million in Ohio Preservation Tax Credits.

Source: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...ts?odyssey=mod

Projects include:
Central Parkway YMCA Renovations: $27 million
Artspace Hamilton Lofts: $10.2 million
St. Paulus Church: $8.2 million
1405-07 Republic: $3.4 million
1500-06 Elm: $3.6 million

[natiboy]

Metro to debut real-time arrival screens at transit centers

Metro will debut real-time arrival screens at its Government Square transit center on Friday. The announcement is part of a recent series of moves by the transit agency to modernize its operations.

Since 2010, Metro has implemented a new electronic fare payment system, GPS tracking, GoogleTransit interface, articulated buses, and a new westside commuter hub.

Source: http://www.urbancincy.com/

[Dale]

So, just to clarify, the initial streetcar line will not be affected by this new bill ?

[natiboy]

Originally Posted by Dale

So, just to clarify, the initial streetcar line will not be affected by this new bill ?

As far as I know, It won't be. I think the bill prevents any further federal funds going to the project for the length of the bill (2 years). I can't believe Rep. Chabot would do that, after we have already had 2 votes on the matter.

[natiboy]

The park opens on the 6th. There are some good pictures of the park in the article:

Extreme makeover: Washington Park edition
$48 million remake has turned it from frightful to friendly

OVER-THE-RHINE — Short decorative iron fences have replaced the ugly concrete walls that just two years ago surrounded old and battered Washington Park.

The view now unobstructed, people see grassy lawns and blossoming beds, carefully crafted play structures and streams of clear blue water shooting in the air. Stages suggest lively entertainment. Simple strands of lighting promise romantic evening strolls. And 124 wooden benches ensure seating for all.

In six days, Washington Park becomes Over-the-Rhine’s latest symbol of transformation, revealing $48 million worth of improvements to create a place that complements a new school, new residents, new businesses and soon, a new Music Hall.

Source: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs...2F306300034%2F

[natiboy]

Council approves 76-unit Delta Flats

Delta Flats, an $8.1 million, 76-unit market-rate apartment planned for the northwest corner of Columbia Parkway and Delta Avenue in Columbia Tusculum, received unanimous approval from Cincinnati City Council last Tuesday.
..........
The project will consist of three buildings, containing 64 one-bedroom units and 12 one-bedroom units with dens. Common areas will include a fitness center, clubroom, and outdoor pool, and surface parking will accommodate 88 cars.
..........
The project's design is still being tweaked due to community concerns over a perceived "generic, uninspired design" that doesn't relate to the historic neighborhood, but completion is still expected by the end of 2013.

Source: http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2...lta-flats.html

[natiboy]

Washington Park's makeover complete
'Every neighborhood needs a center'

Hundreds of local residents are expected at Friday’s opening of historic Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine, which has undergone a $48 million makeover.

A full day of programs and celebrations starts at 10 a.m. at the park’s bandstand, where local leaders including Mayor Mark Mallory, City Manager Milton Dohoney and officials from Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) and PNC Bank will deliver keynote addresses.

The ribbon cutting marks the end of a nearly 20-month-long construction project that has expanded the park from 6 to 8 acres and added a full menu of amenities including a dog park, interactive water fountains, refreshed public restrooms, a concession building and 450-car underground parking garage.

Source: http://communitypress.cincinnati.com...sey=nav%7Chead


Almost 1,000 people were there for the opening today. It looks amazing!

[natiboy]

This project was just recently completed.

Coming soon: Lofts at Harrison Terminal

QUEENSGATE – Elwood Jee is turning the 140-year-old Harrison Terminal warehouse into a new $2 million apartment project along Harrison Avenue.
Jee, owner of E&T Real Estate Holdings in West Chester, is converting the space into 18 loft-style apartments, each with two bedrooms and two baths. Jee owns the company with Tim Mahurin.

Source: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/developi...ison-terminal/

Here's a before pic:


Additional info here: http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/...minal0120.aspx

[natiboy]

Yard House construction to begin

Yard House, the newest restaurant to join the Banks development, will begin to rise this month on the plot of Freedom Way facing the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Boston-based Shawmut Design and Construction is managing the 13,000-square-foot construction project, scheduled to be complete next spring. MBH Architects of Alameda, Calif. has designed the building.

Source:http://cincinnati.com/blogs/developi...tion-to-begin/

[natiboy]

The Banks gearing up for next wave of construction

With phase 1A of The Banks now at capacity, the development team is gearing up to start construction on the next wave of construction.

Project officials said there is a 60-person waiting list for the 300 apartments and 92 percent of the 96,000 square feet of retail space at The Banks are occupied. At the same time, the city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County have finished work on the public infrastructure that will lift future phases of The Banks out of the Ohio River’s 100-year flood plain.

The developers, Atlanta real estate firms Carter and Dawson Co., are optimistic that work can soon begin on phases 1B and 1C which include an office tower at Second and Walnut streets, and a hotel at Freedom Way and Main Street.

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnat....html?page=all

[natiboy]

3CDC released their 2011-2012 annual report about their onging work in downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Lots of good info in here.

http://www.3cdc.org/images/editor/3C..._FA_Web(2).pdf

[natiboy]

Planning Commission to consider concept plan, rezoning for Xavier project

Tomorrow morning at 9 A.M., Cincinnati's City Planning Commission will consider approval of a concept plan and a rezoning for the City's portion of Xavier University's redevelopment of 20 acres at the corner of Montgomery Road and Dana Avenue.

The rezoning of 1728 and 1764 Dana Avenue from CC-A Commercial Community-Auto Oriented to PD Planned Development District would accommodate approximately 150,000 square feet of Class A flex office space, the third and final phase of the development.

Phases one and two of the project, located in the City of Norwood, will include approximately 180 units (480 beds) of market rate rental housing, a 57,000 square foot recreation center, 50,000 square feet of office space, nearly 25,000 square feet of retail, an 11,000-square-foot campus bookstore, and – possibly – a 100-room hotel.

Source: http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2...r-concept.html