Cincinnati's Historic Conservation Board gave the green light for a luxury apartment complex at Liberty and Elm streets in Over-the-Rhine in a 3-2 vote, over objections from some who live in the historic neighborhood.
Main objections to the Freeport Row development during a board hearing Monday centered on the building's 5-story height, which is lower than first proposed in 2016 and on the building's balconies, which were criticized as being too suburban-looking.
In favor were Tim Voss, Herb Weiss and Tom Sunderman. Against the project were Allison McKenzie and Pamela Smith-Dobbins. Board member Bob Zielasko recused himself and did not vote. Ean Siemer was not present for the hearing, which was conducted via Zoom because of pandemic safety measures.
The board's discussion was held in private, which is allowed by law. When board members returned to the public portion of the meeting, a vote was taken with no explanations given.
A city Urban Conservation Office staff report had recommended going ahead with the apartment complex because it adheres to new construction guidelines for the historic neighborhood.
The project was assessed on things like building height, materials and how far off the street it's set back.
The project drew scrutiny by some in the neighborhood earlier this year when Cincinnati City Council approved tax incentives for the project. But today's vote is not the final step. After this a second Planning Commission vote is needed, as is a final City Council vote for approval.
Cincinnati City Council approved roughly $20 million in tax incentives for the $80 million mixed-use project on Feb. 3, in a 5-4 vote.
The project is a 300-unit apartment building with 15,000 square feet of commercial space, a 200-space parking garage, a pool, a roof-top deck and other amenities to be built on a mostly vacant lot and Liberty and Elm streets.
Neighborhood groups and community activists demanded affordable housing be included in the project, but an alternative, last-minute plan to do that didn't garner enough support.
Source link
