Scooped on the American Can story

Well, the Enquirer scooped me yesterday on the American Can developers' desire to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

What I had prepared is at the very end of this post.

So to make up for that I have put together a collection of American Can photographs. Click to enlarge. The photo will open in a new browser window.

This series of photos and captions was part of a report prepared by the Department of Community Development and Planning's Historic Conservation Office. I do not know who actually took the photographs.






American Can project seeks Local Historic Landmark designation

In an effort to obtain state tax credits, the developers of Northside's American Can Factory Square project are hoping to have the site declared a Local Historic Landmark by the City.

To receive the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit, a building must be certified as a local landmark by its local government or must be on the National Register of Historic Places.

Developers Bloomfield, Schon & Partners are hoping for the local designation because a decision on their inclusion on the National Register isn't likely until December, or later*, and the state tax credit is a significant portion of their funding plan.

The tax credit is equal to 25 percent of the developer's rehabilitation expenditures. Only 100 tax credit certificates can be issued over any one year period**.

The American Can building, built in 1921, is a nearly unaltered building in the Commercial Style and was home to one of the nation's largest can manufacturers, employing as many as 1,000 people by the early 1950s.

The City's website lists 28 sites as Local Historic Landmarks. The property also abuts the Northside NBD Historic District.

The City Planning Commission and the Historic Conservation Board have endorsed the Local Landmark designation.

A public hearing on the designation will be held in front of the City's Economic Development Committee on July 31.

Upon completion, the former factory will contain 93 market-rate apartments and 30,000 square feet of commercial space. There will also be a new 20,000 square foot office building, 13,000 square feet of retail on the adjacent Myron Johnson property, and 30 townhomes along Langland Street.

Building Cincinnati: Northside: American Can Factory Square (5/16/07)
Building Cincinnati: Northside: American Can Factory Square (3/17/07)

* The National Park Service deemed the project eligible in 2006 and the City's Historic Conservation Board recommended it to the Ohio Historic Preservation Site Advisory Board in June. They will then make a recommendation to the Keeper of the National Register, who isn't likely to make the decision until December.

** These are generally considered on a first-come, first-served basis and not released all at once on a certain date.