These historic buildings need committed new owners. They are vacant, condemned and on the road to demolition.
Buying any of these properties is a serious undertaking. All have been empty for years, with orders that have not been complied with, and need total rehabilitation. But you will save an important piece of Cincinnati history, with style, craftsmanship and materials that will never be seen again.
If you would like more information about any of these buildings, or have questions about buying and re-inhabiting a condemned building, contact CPA at 513-721-4506 or info@cincinnatipreservation.org.
Every two to four weeks, the City of Cincinnati’s Department of Planning & Buildings conducts a Public Nuisance Hearing to determine whether problem buildings are public nuisances and should be demolished. Once a building has been declared a nuisance, it is fast-tracked for demolition, and only quick action can save it. So it’s important to intervene before that decision is made.
The following properties are scheduled to be on the agenda of the November 20th hearing:
292 McGregor Avenue
Mt. Auburn
1890
Queen Anne Free Classic frame dwelling with exquisite detailing. Located in the McGregor Park area of Mt. Auburn, which is in the early stages of revitalization.
708 Delhi Avenue
Sedamsville
Proposed historic district
1913
Frame-and-concrete block bungalow on hillside lot.
654 Neave Street
Lower Price Hill Historic District
1890
Brick Italianate commercial/residential building. Vacant lot next door under different ownership.
214 Magnolia Street
Over-the-Rhine Historic District
c. 1880
Two-story brick Italianate townhouse.
961 East McMillan Street
Walnut Hills
Peebles Corner Historic District
1885
Large, four-story Romanesque Revival brick apartment house with ground-floor storefront.
289 West McMicken Avenue
Over-the-Rhine Historic District
1882
Three-story brick tenement building.
1611 Waverly Avenue, South Fairmount: Brick Italianate With City View
A classic Cincinnati Italianate townhouse in South Fairmount is facing the bulldozers unless a new owner can be found to purchase and renovate it. Located at 1611 Waverly Avenue, it is a handsome brick residence with bracketed window hoods, metal cornice and shed roof. From its hillside perch, the house enjoys a panoramic view of the city and the Lick Run Valley.
Inside are three levels of living space. The walkout lower level contains the original kitchen and servants’ quarters. The main level has a front parlor and a large dining room, later cobbled into a kitchen. Upstairs are two large bedrooms.
The house is an excellent candidate for renovation. It needs a new roof but appears structurally sound. It retains original woodwork, beaded wainscoting and wood floors. The 2/2 windows appear repairable.
There are vacant parcels on either side of the house that possibly could be purchased to create a large lot. The nearby neighborhood of Knox Hill is in the early stages of revitalization, with an active, preservation-minded neighborhood association that works to save buildings like this one.
The house is condemned, has been declared a public nuisance and is in tax foreclosure. The demolition has not yet been put out to bid, giving preservationists a brief window of opportunity to save it. For more information about 1611 Waverly or other endangered vacant buildings, contact CPA at 513-721-4506 or info@cincinnatipreservation.org
Over-the-Rhine at the Tipping Point: Friedrich Schmidt House, 1711 Lang Street
After years of slow decay, Over-the-Rhine is now at the tipping point. Over the past eight decades, nearly half of its buildings have been demolished. In 1930 there were 3,157 total buildings in the neighborhood. By 2006, 1,560forty-nine percenthad been lost. As of this writing, OTR is only four demolitions away from losing over half of its buildings. (For dramatic before-and-after graphics illustrating the extent of the destruction, visit http://otrfoundation.org/historic_preservation.php.) otr_lang_1711_facade
One of the buildings critically at risk is 1711 Lang Street. Built in 1890, it is a brick Mansard townhouse overlooking the city, with slate roof and handsome stone detailing. In 1897 this was the home of brewer and grocer Friedrich Schmidt. In 1870 Friedrich and his brother, Heinrich, founded the Schmidt Brothers Brewery on East McMicken Avenue. Later known as the Crown Brewery, it remained in operation through the early twentieth century.
On September 29, the owner applied for a permit to demolish 1711 Lang Street. The Citys Building Department also judged the building in danger of imminent collapse due to a weakened roof and floors. As of this writing the City has put demolition on hold to allow preservationists time to seek an opinion from a structural engineer. Updates about the Schmidt House will be posted as they become available.
For more information about preservation issues in Over-the-Rhine, contact CPA at 513-721-4506.
As of this writing, the owner has indicated he is willing to give the building to a responsible buyer. This is a rare opportunity for a serious renovator to save a historically significant property that is also one of the few buildings in Over-the-Rhine built as a single-family, middle-class residence.
Updated November 9, 2009
Historic Funeral Home to be Laid to Rest?
Last rites may be held for a 96-year-old funeral home featured on Cincinnati Preservation Associations Architreks walking tour of Northside.
The Dhonau Building at 1608 Hoffner Street was built in 1913 as a state-of-the-art funeral parlor and embalming facility. The three-story brick Commercial Style building housed apartments on the upper floors. The proprietor, Charles H. Dhonau, investigated the best funeral parlors in the United States before building the new facility.
The building is located just outside the Northside NBD Local Historic District and has no historic designation. It is located about four blocks from the American Can Company Building, which is scheduled for mixed-use redevelopment.
The Dhonau Building was condemned on October 20, 2008. Violations noted included water damage, damaged plaster, rusted fire escapes, and junked cars parked on the property. The building was on the agenda of the Citys June 12 Public Nuisance Hearing.
The Northside Business Association has tried to purchase the building to renovate it but to date has not been able to reach the owner. CPA is working with the business association to try to save the building before time runs out.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Update:
The building at 1608 Hoffner Street is now out of immediate danger because the City of Cincinnati placed a hold on its demolition last August. However, it still needs major roof repairs. The building went into tax foreclosure and did not sell for want of bidders on two occasions, so it was forfeited to the State. Tax sales are held periodically throughout the year: As of this writing it is not known when the building will be going up for sale again. The Northside Business Association, which has purchased several other properties in the area, still hopes to buy and renovate 1608 Hoffner.
The Dhonau Building at 1608 Hoffner Street was built in 1913 as a state-of-the-art funeral parlor and embalming facility. The three-story brick Commercial Style building housed apartments on the upper floors. The proprietor, Charles H. Dhonau, investigated the best funeral parlors in the United States before building the new facility.