Kauffman Building rehab on track

The Kauffman Building, 1721 Vine Street

Demolition of a portion of the Kauffman Building will make its eventual restoration possible.

Permits are in route for the razing of the U-shaped, back portion of the building, which is visible from Republic Street.

This part of the building, which makes up about 20 percent of the total square footage, has been found by the City's Department of Buildings and Inspections to be in danger of collapse.

Over-the-Rhine Foundation Executive Director Michael Morgan says that the demolition will also create room for a parking lot, which will make full-scale redevelopment more viable.

Salvaged brick from the demolition will be used to shore up the remaining structure, including its Vine Street frontage.

Funds for the work come from a $450,000 forgivable loan approved by City Council in April.

Morgan says that restoration work on the main structure is supposed to begin by the end of June 2008 and is required to have a certificate of occupancy within five years.

The Kaufmann Building is a four-story apartment building built in 1876 by the Kaufmann Brewery as an investment. Designed by architect George W. Rapp and built in the Renaissance Revival style, it's one of the Findlay Market area's dominant landmarks.

The building has suffered two major fires, has been condemned and has been declared a public nuisance. It has been vacant for many years.


The "back building"

Previous reading on BC:
OTR: Is 3CDC out on the Kauffman Building project? (4/24/07)