Selling Points
In the market for a new house? We’ve got 10 great neighborhoods you might want too take a look at.
It’s a buyer’s market in real estate these days, and if you’re ready to take advantage of desperate sellers and low interest rates, it’s time for you to get busy. Rehabbers, bargain hunters, and urban pioneers: Here are five spots on the verge of their Next Big Thing moments. Families, baby boomers, and hot spot seekers: These five areas have perks for you that are in high demand. Read before you leap.
By Jennifer Ball
In High Demand: Fourth Street
Eight years ago, when the rest of Cincinnati saw Fourth Street as empty facades and rundown businesses, Glenn Kukla, a partner at Middle Earth Developers, Inc., saw possibilities. “When we started our first project in the historic Fourth Street district, we recognized a lot of potential,” Kukla says. That project, a former heating and air conditioning factory, became Williamson Lofts, a 26-apartment building at 335 W. Fifth St. with exposed beams, large windows, and open space.
Excited by their first foray into downtown, Middle Earth put together more developments, including Kinsey Flats apartments on West Fourth Street, The Lofts on Fifth Street condos, and the Parker Flats condos, on the corner of Central Avenue and Fourth. “There’s an underserved market for creative loft spaces,” Kukla says.
David Dawson, senior sales vice president for Sibcy Cline, agrees that Fourth Street is finally coming into its own. “I think the success of Park Place at Lytle really made a statement for downtown living,” says Dawson. “That was the first large scale reuse of an existing building—it wasn’t just five or 20 condos. It was 100. That project was a defining moment for downtown.”
ON THE MARKET>> Parker Flats condos start at $235,000. Units will have stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, and glass exterior walls. At The McAlpin, you’ll pay $270,380–$784,500 for 1,100- to 3,000-square-foot spaces with 12- to 14-foot ceilings, bamboo flooring, and GE appliances.
SCHOOL ZONE>> The public Washington Park Elementary in Over-the-Rhine, rated Academic Emergency, serves downtown. Aspiring actors, artists, and dancers study at the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) on Sycamore Street.
WHY IT’S COOL>> So much is within easy walking distance: Jean-Robert at Pigall’s. Saks. The Poison Room. Bromwell’s. Bolero. The Mercantile Library. The CAC. Tina’s. “It’s just a few blocks to the Aronoff, a couple of blocks to the baseball game, and a walk to restaurants,” says Dawson.
ON THE HORIZON>> Keep an eye out for more restaurants and clubs like Bang Nightclub, which opened in April. And, of course, The Banks project. But...
REALITY CHECK>> ...The Banks has been on its way for years now. We’ll believe it when we see it.
On the Verge: Walnut Hills
Stroll down the streets of Walnut Hills, and you’ll find stately 18th-century mansions next to modern apartment buildings and historic row houses living in harmony with new condominiums. According to Daniel Goepper, president of the Walnut Hills Area Council, this glorious hodgepodge of housing is an apt metaphor for the neighborhood. “Walnut Hills is a wonderful mix of people, from professionals to creatives,” he says.
The moderate cost of real estate—housing prices average out at $189,933—has made Walnut Hills increasingly attractive to local musicians, artists, and small businesses. Goepper attributes this increase in affordable housing to the work of nonprofit organizations such as The Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation (WHRF), which in conjunction with the Walnut Hills Community Council and concerned residents, has been acquiring, developing, and managing local real estate since the 1970s.
This couldn’t have been done without the help of the 06 Alliance, a partnership between Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills, named after their shared 45206 zip code. The two neighborhoods have addressed housing renovation issues, discussed ways they can retain businesses, and started several youth education programs. “We cooperate and we talk to each other a lot,” Goepper says, “which is great.”
The collaboration will ultimately pay off for Walnut Hills. In fact, Goepper advises anyone interested to buy now before it’s too late. “It’s a good time to get in the community,” says Goepper. “The cost of housing for redevelopment and rehabilitation is relatively moderate, but once this area takes off the price of buying and renovating is going to go up dramatically.”
ON THE MARKET >> Rehabbers’ dreams—like the three-story, six-bedroom, two-bath Victorian on May Street (listed for $99,900)—mix with condos, from a $49,900 one-bedroom, one-bath on Fulton Avenue to the $500,000+ units in The Overlook at Eden Park.
SCHOOL ZONE >> Newsweek recognized Walnut Hills High School, a six-year college preparatory school, as one of the best public high schools in the nation.
WHY IT'S COOL >> It’s mere minutes from Eden Park, Krohn Conservatory, the Cincinnati Art Museum, Playhouse in the Park, the University of Cincinnati, and Xavier University.
ON THE HORIZON >> Luxury condos in The Overlook at Eden Park are nearing completion.
REALITY CHECK >> The DeSales Crossings Partners have worked hard to provide housing and education for the less fortunate in the area. Still, vagrancy and safety are concerns.
In High Demand: East End
Running along the banks of the Ohio River from the base of Mt. Adams to the Little Miami River is a skinny, seven-mile stretch of land known simply as the East End, the heart of Cincinnati’s early manufacturing district. More than a century later, the abandoned lumberyards, factories, and Federal and Greek Revival buildings are gradually becoming small law practices, restaurants, and offices.
Jeanie Sustar moved into one of these historic buildings nearly three years ago to begin TLC Doggie Daycare, a pet-sitting and animal care center. She found the East End an economical place to acquire a large amount of space; in addition to her daycare, she also purchased a neighboring house as a residence and storefront for her new pet bed-and-breakfast, as well as her vintage clothing/antique shop, Groovy Finds. “I probably have about 2,800 square feet,” she says.
Developers are also taking note of the low prices and desirable views. Towne Properties has several new communities on the river, including the luxury landominiums (vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, gourmet kitchens, wet bars) at Foster’s Point, which start at $799,900. The Twain’s Point condos are sold out, while the glass and brick Captain’s Watch high-rise and the faux-Victorian townhomes at Parkside are nearing full capacity. These condos, ranging in price from $389,000 to $990,900, all sit on the new Riverside Drive portion of Eastern Avenue and tout spectacular river views, a quick walk to Mt. Adams, and a short drive to downtown.
ON THE MARKET >> Plenty of folk-Victorian (plainer cousins of traditional Victorians) fixer-uppers, like a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath two-story on Dumont Avenue listed for $75,400.
SCHOOL ZONE >> Riverview East Academy on Kellogg Avenue merged McKinley and Linwood elementary schools to create a K–12 school that’s also a community center. It’s rated Academic Watch.
WHY IT'S COOL >> An abundance of parks, including LeBlond, Ferry Street, Schmidt Memorial Playfield, the Lunken Airport Playfield, and Theodore Berry International Friendship Park. Whew.
ON THE HORIZON >> Will fancy-schmancy new construction move east, changing more of Eastern Avenue into Riverside Drive? No one can say. But a neighborhood culture clash could be brewing.
REALITY CHECK >> Even if you find your dream home, you might have to put up with the run-down house next door—or a big, looming condo development.
In High Demand: Oakley
Oakley has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a rest stop for stagecoaches. For residents like Mindy Stodart-Burke, one of the biggest attractions is Madison Road, the heart of Oakley’s shopping district. “Oakley is no longer the poor man’s Hyde Park,” she says, noting the ever-expanding list of specialty boutiques and independent restaurants, including Boca, Nest, baby a, Denim, Hugo, Blue Manatee, Boutique Hope, and even Fresh Market. “You can get almost anything in Oakley—or close to it.”
Stodart-Burke, a former Bridgetown resident, says she and her husband, Ed, a transplant from the Philadelphia area, moved to Oakley six years ago to be closer to the heart of the city. “[My husband] was looking for a place where we could be close to ethnic restaurants and downtown,” she says. “But he also wanted a neighborhood that was safe, had parking, and cultural things to do.” The couple looked in Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout, and Columbia-Tusculum, but finally settled on Oakley. “I walk to Denim and Coco’s,” she says. “If we need flowers, we go to Jones the Florist; if we need groceries, we can go to The Fresh Market; and for hardware supplies, we can walk to Oakley Paint and Glass. Blue Manatee is where I get all of my gifts for friends who are having children. And Oakley is close to Rookwood and Hyde Park Plaza.” Stodart-Burke admits that she has considered moving in the past, but the constantly evolving atmosphere keeps her committed. “We know we’re in a good situation,” she says, “and things are only going to get better.”
ON THE MARKET >> Brick ranches and Cape Cods line the streets of the Pillars subdivision, between Brotherton and Paxton (a two-bed, one-and-a-half bath on Club View Drive recently listed at $209,000). Two- and three-story foursquares, many with stained-glass windows and original woodwork, start in the mid-$200s.
SCHOOL ZONE >> Withrow High School is now two schools in one. Withrow’s International program provides four years of language study and courses in international law. The University program allows students to take classes for college credit. Clark Montessori and Seven Hills School are also nearby.
WHY IT'S COOL >> The boutiques, bars, and trendy restaurants lining Madison Road are a shopper’s dream.
ON THE HORIZON >> > Bear Creek Capital hopes to begin work on Millworks in late fall, with a planned spring 2009 opening. The $245 million development could include both large and small retail (no one’s officially signed yet), office space, a park, a movie theater, and a parking garage.
REALITY CHECK > Parking disappears and traffic snarls during peak shopping hours. It will get worse as Millworks gets underway.
On the Verge: Bellevue
For a small river town like Bellevue, competing with Newport, Covington, and Ft. Thomas can be formidable. The neighborhood’s Fairfield Avenue shopping district, a modest square mile of brick storefronts, is a sharp contrast to the bustling sprawl of its neighbors. Here, neat houses painted cheerful colors pack hilly streets. But Ken Bowman, a real estate agent for Huff Realty in Campbell County, believes in Bellevue. “It seems like a no-brainer that this is the place to be,” says Bowman, a Ft. Thomas resident. “I bought a single family [rental] home here. It seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up.”
To encourage home purchases and renovations, the city supports programs that help residents and first-time buyers improve properties. The Rental Conversion Grant Program provides money to return rental properties to single-family status, while the Kentucky Historic Preservation Tax Credit helps with the expense of preserving historic properties.
Bowman says many potential buyers looking at Newport and Covington are landing in Bellevue instead. “Anything you need is right here—dry cleaners, grocery stores, hardware stores,” he says. Bellevue is beginning to hold its own.
ON THE MARKET >> A brick two-story with five stained glass windows, decorative fireplaces, and a leaded-glass front door on Center Street listed for $99,500 (yes, it was under contract at press time).
SCHOOL ZONE >> Bellevue Independent is a two-school 841-student district; the Catholic Holy Trinity Elementary School serves 185 students.
WHY IT'S COOL >> You’ve got yacht clubs, historic homes, great views, restaurants, and a growing shopping district all in one square mile. Property values have nowhere to go but up.
ON THE HORIZON >> Bellevue recently joined Newport and Covington in the development group Southbank Partners. The group hopes to create a walking path along the river that connects Covington Landing, Newport on the Levee, and Bellevue.
REALITY CHECK >> New development, like The Residences at Harbor Greene right on the riverfront, will strain the already overloaded stretch of Kentucky Route 8 that runs through Bellevue. The Commonwealth says a new I-471 Route 8 interchange is coming, but don’t look for it before 2014.
On the Verge: Madisonville
For decades Madisonville has been just another neighborhood you pass on the way to Mariemont, Indian Hill, or Oakley. But Prencis Wilson, president of the Madisonville Community Council, wants to make that an opinion of the past. “It’s my goal to put Madisonville back to where it was 20 to 30 years ago,” says Wilson. “I want to see different stores like there are in Oakley, and I’d like to see interest from even more developers.”
Wilson says that one of the first steps is developing available houses. The community council has begun working with the city’s Department of Community Development and Planning, and they’re also taking lessons from College Hill’s Quality of Life Committee by encouraging property owners to clean up. “The city is backing us up,” Wilson says. “Once we’ve notified property owners about the need to improve their land, the city is pressuring them to either fix it up or sell it.”
Todd Vollmer, an investment specialist Realtor with Sibcy Cline, identifies areas that are in an economic upswing, like Madisonville. “Madisonville is heating up,” Vollmer says. “Contractors can buy properties from the bank and give these houses and streets a rebirth. Pride in ownership helps stabilize a neighborhood—vacant houses breed trouble.”
To curb that trouble, the Community Problem Oriented Policing group (CPOP) has been working to identify hot spots and figure out ways to prevent crime there. “Sometimes just cleaning up an area will deter people from loitering,” says Wilson. “We’re also planning activities on certain street corners, like grill-outs and get-togethers, so that we can take those corners back.”
The initiatives seem to be working; Wilson says she’s starting to see a reduction in crime and more interest from first-time home owners. “I’m getting calls every day from people interested in purchasing property in Madisonville,” Wilson says. “Either they want to live here or they want to rehab and sell buildings in the area.”
ON THE MARKET >> Rehab-ready one- and two-bedroom ranches and bungalows here list between $17,000 and $60,000. An updated two-bedroom, one-bath cottage on Ward Street, with a kitchen full of brand-new stainless-steel appliances, recently listed for $59,900.
SCHOOL ZONE >> Students entering grades seven through 12 can enroll in the public Shroder High School on Duck Creek Road. The school, which opened its new building in January 2007, operates on the Paideia philosophy, a Greek term that refers to the intellectual, physical, and emotional development of its students. It’s rated Continuous Improvement by the state of Ohio.
WHY IT'S COOL >>Houses here are charming, small, and affordable. Buy in, and you’re a pioneer, helping to make Madisonville better.
ON THE HORIZON >> The Madison Circle development, on the site of the Oakley Drive-In, promises retail, restaurants, an assisted living complex, a nursing home, and a doggie daycare—in 2010.
REALITY CHECK >> This is very much a neighborhood work-in-progress, which means that even though you can score a house for a song, you’re still liable to face crime, run-down areas, and the lack of commercial development.
In High Demand: Mainville
Maineville got its name in the 1850s as immigrants from Maine began to settle there. The first home, built by a blacksmith, was a simple log cabin. A century and a half later, homes in the area have come a long way, but the landscape—lazy hills, farmland, and winding roads—has stayed pretty much the same. The main intersection, where Ohio Route 48 crosses Maineville Road, is home to a gas station, the Crossroads Café, and several Baptist churches.
But appearances can be deceiving. Developers see the bucolic setting as a great selling point for baby boomer retirees ready to “get away from it all.” Take Drees’s Heritage at Miami Bluffs, near the intersection of Grandin and Striker roads. Heritage is designed specifically for “active adults,” meaning that 80 percent or more of the development’s units must be occupied by at least one person age 55 or older.
Residents also get the services of a full-time social director who plans daily activities like yoga, bridge tournaments, and fieldtrips to plays and musicals. Plus, an outside home maintenance crew can manage lawns and exteriors. “It’s about the lifestyle,” says Connie Rhoads of Drees Homes. “[Baby boomers] have worked hard, raised their kids, and want to be close to their families and people their own age so they can relax and enjoy their retirement.” Rhoads believes Maineville’s laid-back lifestyle and open spaces make this area a prime choice. “For a community this size, we wanted wide open green spaces and we wanted a lot of land,” she says. “Here you’re close to highways, shopping, hospitals, and you still have that country feel.” The concept has proved popular; Heritage has already sold about 150 homes, ranging in price from $160,000 to $480,000, with plans to build 221 more.
ON THE MARKET >> If an active adult community isn’t for you, we found a two-bedroom, two-bath ranch with a fish pond on Sibcy Road listed for $148,000 and a three-bedroom, two-bath version with a fenced back yard on Night-wind Drive for $175,900.
SCHOOL ZONE >> The vast majority of Hamilton Township is served by the Little Miami Local School District, rated Excellent by the Ohio Department of Education. Plans for the new Little Miami Intermediate School, to be located at Zoar and Stephens roads, call for a central core with a gym, dining room, and offices, between two 800-student classroom facilities. It’s scheduled to open for the 2009–2010 school year.
WHY IT'S COOL >> Having the Little Miami Bike Trail in your backyard is a nice perk.
ON THE HORIZON >> Foster’s Pointe, a development from Drees just off of Sibcy Road. While not exclusively designed for the over-50 set, these free-standing single-family homes have manageable yards, which appeals to those who want a comfortable house with low upkeep.
REALITY CHECK >> The things that give the area its charm—rolling farmland, quiet streets, safe neighborhoods—will fade as housing proliferates. And the long commutes to work, play, friends, and downtown can get tiresome.
On the Verge: Camp Washington
Camp Washington is wedged onto a sliver of land south of Northside, at the base of the western slope of Clifton, and hard up against I-75. Johnny Johnson has mixed up his secret-recipe Camp Washington chili here for more than 50 years, and Pat Staples, president of the Camp Washington Community Council, and his wife have lived here for more than a decade. It’s a neighborhood with a much slower, steadier pace. “The world is all high-tech and low-touch these days,” Staples says. “Camp Washington still has that old world feel.”
Not everything has stayed the same. Over the years, business and residential properties have fallen into disrepair, which has chased prospective buyers away. But that’s changing. “The community board is buying up foreclosed houses,” Staples explains. “They’re finding people interested in the properties to get together and hire an architect, [who] designs the house, and community members rebuild the house to offset the cost.” This method has helped rehab more than a dozen homes, including Staples’s own three-story Victorian.
Developers are beginning to take interest in the area’s unique mix of empty industrial spaces and historic 19th-century houses. The former Oesterlein Machine Company is now a new set of industrial loft apartments called Machine Flats. The building will soon claim the American Sign Museum as a tenant.
The secret behind the successful growth, Staples insists, comes back to the human touch. “The residents get involved, they have a good relationship with the police, and our business owners get involved in the community,” he says.
ON THE MARKET >> We found six Italianate row houses available. All but one needed work, from a full rehab (two-bedrooms, one-and-a-half bath, $15,000) to “minor repairs” (three bedrooms, two baths, and an extra lot, $65,000).
SCHOOL ZONE >> Ethel M. Taylor Academy (rated Continuous Improvement) on Fricke Road, is the area’s public K–8 school. A new building opened in January, complete with computer lab, science lab, gymnasium, and five extended learning areas.
WHY IT'S COOL >> Glenn Kukla, of Middle Earth Developers, Inc., helped to develop Machine Flats. “It’s a little more Bohemian in Camp Washington,” Kukla says. “And that’s attracting a lot of young artists, musicians, and progressive urban types.”
ON THE HORIZON >> The former Kahn’s plant on Spring Grove Avenue is slated to become a Hamilton County jail. The 1,800-bed facility, estimated to cost $198 million, promises to bring new jobs to the area as well as several crime prevention and rehabilitation initiatives.
REALITY CHECK >> Whatever jobs or crime prevention and rehabilitation initiatives come with it, it’s still a jail.
In High Demand: Ft. Mitchell
It’s one of Northern Kentucky’s oldest suburbs, and you can see 1920s charm in Ft. Mitchell’s tree-lined avenues, fenced backyards, charming parks, and roomy homes, especially in the Beechwood historic district, with its rows of Tudors and Colonial Revivals.
Mary Ann Burns, a nurse at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, likes the comfortable feeling here. “A lot of people who live in Ft. Mitchell come back,” she says. She should know. Burns and her husband, T.J., met at Beechwood High School and returned to the area to raise their boys and be near their parents, T.J.’s seven siblings, and their 21 nieces and nephews. “We have about every street in the city covered,” Burns jokes. She says that, in addition to the great people and the many events sponsored by the city’s recreation department, it’s the quality of the public Beechwood Independent School District that really makes Ft. Mitchell special. “Kids stay friends from kindergarten through 12th grade,” she says. “They build strong relationships with each other.”
Fred Bassett, Beechwood’s superintendent for more than 11 years, believes the district’s small size (it serves approximately 1,000 K–12 students) is part of what makes it so successful. “Our student to teacher ratio is about 17 to one,” he says, “The children here get a lot of personal attention.” Bassett says this also allows for more student participation—nearly 85 percent of students are actively involved in extracurricular activities. “It’s a world of opportunity for kids who want to get involved,” he explains. “We focus on academic rigor, but we also expect students to do well in extracurricular activities. When you have a school this small, you need everyone to pitch in.”
Burns agrees. “I like that there are so many people here I know, so there’s a good parental network.” She likes that her kids can walk to their friends’ houses, and that all the families look out for one another. “I tell my kids, ‘You’re leaving the house, but everyone here knows you, so watch what you do,’ ” she says. “I think it’s a little easier raising kids here.” Sometimes it really does take a village.
ON THE MARKET >> Historic district homes list at around a quarter of a million dollars (a deep-porched three-bedroom, two-bath Cape Cod on Beechwood Road recently listed at $272,900). Elsewhere, a three-bedroom, two-bath brick ranch listed for $180,000.
SCHOOL ZONE >> In addition to Beechwood Independent Schools, elementary students can attend the K–8 Blessed Sacrament School, a National School of Excellence—Blue Ribbon School. The student-teacher ratio there is approximately 23 to 1.
WHY IT'S COOL >> The proximity to I-71, 1-75, and I-275 gives residents quick access to downtown Cincinnati and CVG. And did we mention the big yards and tree-lined streets?
ON THE HORIZON >> The continued Expressway Plaza Kroger expansion on Dixie Highway will give Ft. Mitchell a newer, 90,000-square-foot version of their current grocery store.
REALITY CHECK >> Ft. Mitchell may seem development-proof, but don’t count on it. This is the home base for the Drees Company, after all.
On the Verge: Sayler Park
Approximately two miles long and a mile wide, Sayler Park is as far west as you can travel along the river and still be in Cincinnati. Stand on any of the neighborhood’s tree-lined streets, dotted with clapboard houses, and you can almost imagine what Sayler Park must have looked like when it was first founded.
On this lazy weekday evening, locals at Parkland, a local bar and grill a block up from the main drag, watch basketball over a dinner of cold beer, burgers, and a potluck spread made by some of the customers. Parkland’s owner, Rick Kuntz, has spent his afternoon in front of a hot grill outside, making homemade hamburgers. “I served 100 sandwiches in 35 minutes tonight,” he says. “I always like to grill out if I can.”
Kuntz says he works in this neighborhood because of the close-knit community and small-town mentality. “I ran a nightclub that held more than 400 people,” he says. “There you have a very transient crowd, people you see once a month. But here, I know everyone. I don’t even need a clock. I can tell you what time it is by what customers are sitting at the bar.” Kuntz believes that friendliness and familiarity are also what makes the area feel so safe. “I haven’t really had any incidents in the 10 years I’ve run this place,” he says.
Parkland’s manager, Chris Schilling, agrees. “It’s a great neighborhood,” he says. “Everybody knows everybody here.” A 30-year resident, Schilling works at Parkland and runs the Parkland Fine Arts Cinema, which brings in 30 to 80 residents per show. Asked if he thinks about moving, Schilling claims he’ll most likely raise his own family here someday: “Once you’re in Sayler Park, you’re always in Sayler Park.”
ON THE MARKET >> Though you’ll find smaller brick ranches throughout this community, check out the Victorians. A four-bedroom, one-bath two-story with three fireplaces and stained glass windows on River Road listed for $90,000.
SCHOOL ZONE >> St. Aloysius on-the-Ohio School provides a traditional Catholic education for K–8 students with a 17 to one student-teacher ratio. This grade school feeds its students into Catholic secondary schools like Seton, St. Ursula, and Elder. In 2002, four of the top 10 Elder graduates were St. Aloysius alums.
WHY IT'S COOL >> You can have a stately Victorian home in a quiet, idyllic neighborhood far from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Plus, there are more than half a dozen parks and recreation centers in the neighborhood, including Fernbank, Chestnut Ridge, Hillside, McQueety, Stuart, and Sayler.
ON THE HORIZON >> Recent Fernbank Park improvements include paved walking trails with views of the Ohio River, three picnic shelters, and a new playground.
REALITY CHECK >> Despite a fierce and lengthy fight, Lone Star Industries managed to push a cement plant into this historic neighborhood. Residents complain about the unsightly silos, the dust, and the noise. Its location on River Road also makes it nearly impossible to develop the riverside into anything but more industrial parks.
On The Market: Five Properties in Search of a Buyer
The Wright Way
THE HOUSE >> William P. Boswell House
ADDRESS >> Indian Hill (street address withheld by request)
LIST PRICE >> $3,400,000
BED/BATH >> Five bedrooms, six baths
AGENT >> Sheila E. Miller, Comey & Shepherd, (513) 561-5800 or Carol Harris, Comey & Shepherd, (513) 703-1203
The asking price seems like chump change when you learn the building’s history. This 5,400-square-foot home was designed in the late 1950s by Frank Lloyd Wright, and is one of only three homes in the area that can be attributed to him. Living with terrazzo floors, a wood burning fireplace, glass walls, cathedral ceilings, and a view of Red Bird Hollow Nature Preserve only adds to your bragging rights.
Oh, Give Me Land
THE HOUSE >> Kleeman Green Landominiums
ADDRESS >> 4965 Kleeman Green Dr., Green Twp.
LIST PRICE >> $220,000
BED/BATH >> Two bedrooms, two baths
AGENT >> Teresa C. Middleton, Huff Realty, (513) 304-2646
When you buy a house at Kleeman Green Landominiums in Green Township, you get a two-car garage, walk-in closets, vaulted ceilings, and a large eat-in kitchen. But the best perk by far is owning your own property without having to do any of the yard work. You can’t beat the location, either; the many greenhouses and parks here—like Floral Paradise Gardens, a 2.8-acre addition to Delhi Park that features a variety of different plantings, including a butterfly garden, an herb garden, and a children’s garden—help the township earn its nickname: The Floral Paradise of Ohio.
A Fungus Among Us
THE HOUSE >> The Mushroom House
ADDRESS >> 3331 Erie Ave., East Hyde Park
LIST PRICE >> $525,000
BED/BATH >> One bedroom, one bath
AGENT >> Laurence G. Stillpass, Laurence Stillpass, Inc., (513) 533-9933 or Amanda C. Voss, Laurence Stillpass, Inc., (513) 533-9933
This 15-year experiment in organic architecture, perched on the corner of Tarpis and Erie Avenues in East Hyde Park is finally on the market. It took architect/owner Terry Brown a long time to decide whether or not he could part with his masterpiece. We don’t blame him: Once you’ve seen the hammered-copper ceilings and walls, intricate tile work, undulating wooden bookshelves, and spiral staircase leading to the front door, the price tag doesn’t seem so steep. As long as you like the eclectic look.
Blast Off
THE HOUSE >> Jackson Brewery
ADDRESS >> 208 Mohawk St., Over-the-Rhine
LIST PRICE >> $600,000
BED/BATH >> 50 bedrooms
AGENT >> Katrina Dellinger, Itzhaki Properties, (212) 226-9000 x 30
More commonly known as the Metal Blast building for the metalworking shop it housed late in its previous life, this former brewery is a historic gem that has been left vacant for nearly half a century. Not only is it one of the few brewery buildings left in Cincinnati, it’s also one of the oldest, built in 1860. A fairly massive structure, it sits at the foot of Bellevue Hill and has two levels of underground stone vaults and windows with a view of downtown Cincinnati. Buying this building wouldn’t give you a new home right away, but it would give you a chance to turn an amazing find into a cool new hangout.
Gorgeous Gothic
THE HOUSE >> The John S. Baker House
ADDRESS >> 1887 Madison Rd., East Walnut Hills
LIST PRICE >> $2,750,000
BED/BATH >> Five bedrooms, four baths
AGENT >> Karen S. Laurens, Sibcy Cline, (513) 607-2251
This prime example of the Gothic Revival style doesn’t just look cool—it also holds a lot of history. Architect James Keys Wilson built this formidable red-brick Gothic revival style castle on Madison Road in the 19th century for his uncle, businessman John S. Baker. Wilson later went on to design structures at Spring Grove Cemetery and West Virgina’s Bethany College. The price includes a view of the river, marble fireplaces, and the opportunity to buy a house that’s been on the market only twice in 152 years.
Originally published in the June 2007 issue.