At least two Queen Anne houses, one on Queen City Ave, as well as a Mission and an American Foursquare building are being offered free for removal to another location.
At least two Queen Anne houses, one on Queen City Ave, as well as a Mission and an American Foursquare building are being offered free for removal to another location. This is to make way for a major municipal sewer upgrade project that has been mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is part of the Lick Run Valley Conveyance System (VCS) project through the South Fairmont neighborhood of Cincinnati. Any buildings left after the August 1st deadline will face demolition. However, any initial interest in acquiring one of these buildings will need to be expressed before May 1st.
One Huge Mission
If you’re looking for a large building, this structure contains 12 bedrooms and 8700 square feet. This mission-style building is located at 1789 Queen City Avenue and was built between 1922 and 1923. It was designed by John F. Sheblessy. Sheblessy received his education from the Chicago Art Institute and the Armour Institute of Technology; he also designed several Roman Catholic churches and other institutional buildings in Cincinnati and the surrounding areas.
The building served as a convent for the Sister of St. Francis, a teacher in the St. Bonaventure School located across Queen City Avenue. After the 1980 closing of the St. Bonaventure School, the building was separated into 12 apartments. The building has a poured concrete foundation, blonde brick veneer walls, and an asphalt-shingled hipped roof. A scrolled parapet and a Palladian-type window can be seen on a central projection on the front façade. There is also a two-story brick porch and roof garden at the rear of the building.
Two Queen Anne Buildings
The first circa 1892 Queen Anne is located at 1783 Queen City Avenue. This is a four-story, four bedroom, 6500 sq. foot mixed-use building. The upper stories were a multiunit rental space that included at least four apartments. The storefront consisted of various commercial enterprises, such as a saloon and grocery store. The storefront still has the original metal supports and sign board. Also original is the cornice, sporting elaborate details and decorative brackets, dentil molding and pediments topped with finials. The building has a stone foundation and brick walls. Other details include brick lintel, corbel details, one-over-one, and two-over-two window sash. Various advertisements have left impressions on the west wall. Moving costs are roughly estimated to be at least $15,000 to $20,000 to a nearby location. This estimate does not include the cost of the lot, basement connections, utility connections, and restoration work.
The second Queen Anne has a cantilevered tower on the side of the house that allows for picturesque views of the surrounding area. It is located at 1786 Westwood Avenue. Constructed circa 1897, it has three bedrooms and is 2100 square feet. The building was originally a single-family house. However, it has been a multiple-family dwelling and, most recently, had several apartment units. Historic wood clapboard is under the current replacement siding. The building also has historic wood windows, including a leaded-glass transom, and decorative wood detailing. The turret on the southeast corner of the house has a slate-tiled, conical roof. Other Queen Anne style characteristics are an irregularly shaped roof, asymmetrical floor plan, and a three-bay oriel window on the first story. On the west façade and the hip roof peak are brick chimney stacks. Also seen on the west façade is a metal fire escape.
Fourth Building is an American Foursquare
The fourth building is an American Foursquare with four bedrooms. It is a 1990 square-foot building constructed circa 1915 and located at 1806 Westwood Avenue. This house was a single-family dwelling for 85 years (1921 to 2006). The building has a rock-faced concrete block foundation and two-tone brick veneer walls. Historic features include one-over-one wood windows. The front façade has a wood shingled pediment, brown brick quoins, a front window opening with a leaded glass transom, and a wood entry door with sidelights. There is a full-width porch on the main façade that includes blond-brick columns with concrete block piers and concrete balustrades. A square floor plan, full-width front porch, overhanging eaves, and a dormer window are some of the American Foursquare characteristics.
Sales of city buildings usually involve normal bid procedures at auction. However, this bid procedure can be waived if you present a proposal. The Municipal Department has hired an engineering firm, Gray and Pace, to handle inquires on these houses. Relocation must be coordinated with the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD). Once relocated, MSD will credit the amount of previously expected demolition costs. Expected demolition costs could be a minimum of $30,000 to $40,000. Prospective owners should also inquire about nearby lots owned by the City and MSD that could possibly be obtained through the County Land Bank.
Interested parties should also consider that Cincinnati abates the first $275,000 in increased value of assessment due to renovations under their 10-year abatement program. This benefit can be passed to another owner if the home is sold within 10 years. Additionally, property values in the area are expected to increase overall based on an over $200 million project investment by MSD in this project and investment by other developers in nearby property.
CONTACT INFO
Jennifer Burden
Principal Investigator
Gray & Pape, Inc.
513-287-7700 ext. 152
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