City Plans to bulldoze more historic property (Cincinnati, Dayton: for sale, real estate)

[restorationconsultant]

The city is planning on bulldozing 4 historic homes in the 800 block of Bank street. These are directly behind Historic Dayton Street, some of the most valuable and expensive downtown real estate. Now these homes have been vacant for years and they all need total restoration but given their location it would seem to be a terrible loss for these 4 homes to be bulldozed.

Surely there has to be a way for city legal to reach some compromise? Obviously the current owner has no use for them. Perhaps they could be donated to a non profit who could stabilize them and re-sell them with protective covenants. There would be people intersted in buying and restoring these homes. In any other major city the bulldozing of historic buildings adjacient to a historic district would have some sort of review and public comment. Why is Cincinnati bulldoze happy?

[hillside]

^There's a reason Cincinnati is in the position it is now. Decisions like these make it evident.

[Cincy-Rise]

What block is this? Can you post a Google Maps link?

[Hartwell Girl]

The auditors page says that 800 Bank Street is owned by CityLink Center but I see across the street the 4 buildings I think you are referring to. Those windows on those buildings are wonderful. Such a shame.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by restorationconsultant

... These are directly behind Historic Dayton Street, some of the most valuable and expensive downtown real estate. Now these homes have been vacant for years ....

If they have been vacant for years, they can't be too valuable.
In my opinion, Dayton street is way over-valued - the neighborhood is just too dangerous.

[restorationconsultant]

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

What block is this? Can you post a Google Maps link?

There is a photo of the block on the Building Cincinnati Blog the addresses are 833-839.

I will be the first to admit that these need a ton of work but I've personally restored far worse. Structurally they are fine. I have to think there has to be some compromise possible. Maybe let the owner put them up for sale with a restrictive covenant that the new owner must pull permits and begin work within 90 days of closing?

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by restorationconsultant

There is a photo of the block on the Building Cincinnati Blog the addresses are 833-839.

Oh, ok ... that's a great blog.

RC, have you ever checked out UrbanOhio.com - Index ?

[restorationconsultant]

I have walked all around Dayton Street, Baymiller and the whole area not had any problems. Frankly the houses that sell on Dayton street for 150-200K would cost you half a mil, or more in the Indianapolis Old Northside or Old Louisville.

[hillside]

^That's because the area is behind those in Indy and others. Now when we get downtown hoppin' again...shoot, an original on York might go for a cool one...

[restorationconsultant]

Originally Posted by hillside

^That's because the area is behind those in Indy and others. Now when we get downtown hoppin' again...shoot, an original on York might go for a cool one...

And therin is the rub. Cities like Indianapolis lost blocks of downtown residential housing for parking lots in the 1960's Today those lots have been rebuilt with infill housing but the historic feel of the downtown is gone. Cincinnati seems destined to follow a failed urban model of spending thousands to bulldoze 120 yr old homes in the 'hope' that 'someday' someone will rebuild on them. It took 45 years for that to happen in Indianapolis, yet there is not a single unrestored home in the citie's downtown neighbrohoods that were left and they are some of thr most expensive and as a result most tax generating residential properties in the city. So if Cincinnati folows that model is will be about 2055 before the downtown is redone.