Cincinnati's Historic Conservation Board (HCB) has rejected unanimously plans by the Freestore Foodbank to demolish several Over-the-Rhine buildings to provide its Liberty Street Client Services Center with more surface parking and loading facilities.
As part of the plan, 1630 Walnut Street would be demolished for a 21-space parking lot, while 104 Corwine Street would be sacrificed to provide 8 more spaces.
Freestore applied for demolition permits on those buildings in December.
Future demolitions of several Italianate homes along Walnut Street would provide even more space, including better access for tractor trailer loading and unloading, but would leave nearly an entire block devoid of buildings.
More than a dozen neighborhood residents spoke against the proposal, providing arguments for the preservation of the buildings and voicing their wishes that the agency would be a better neighbor to the entire neighborhood - not just their clients.
The Freestore had considered leaving the neighborhood entirely, but the agency's board chose to stay and redevelop using funds from its $12 million capital campaign.
Future plans also include the expansion of the Liberty Street center, including a much-improved facade.
An amended site plan is likely to be presented within the coming months.
The Historic Conservation Board is comprised of nine members who make recommendations to the City Manager and the to City Planning Commission.
Previous reading on BC:
Freestore applies for more demo permits (12/26/07)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
HCB rejects Freestore demolition plan
