Major Amendment to Planned Development #65 Mercer Commons Phase IV at E. 14 th Street Neighborhoods Committee April 18, 2016

Mercer Commons: Phase I (complete) Residential Condos (23 units) 12 new construction 11 historic rehabs Townhomes 5 new construction Commercial Space 3,200 SF – The Mercer Parking Garage 340 spaces

Mercer Commons Phase II (complete) Residential Apartments 67 mixed-income units 11 historic rehabs Commercial Space 10,600 SF – 16-Bit, DJ Barbershop, Big Media, We Have Become Vikings, Madd Casa, & Holtman’s Office

Mercer Commons Phase III (complete) Residential Townhomes (8) Condos (4)

Mercer Commons Phase IV Commercial 64,000 SF office space Primary tenant will bring approximately 150 employees

August 19, 2011 CPC recommended approval PD- 65 From CC-P and CN-P to PD City Council approved the zone change October 5, 2011 Mix of market rate, for-sale and rental units Some affordable rental units Background

Mercer Commons Phases I,II,III built out Total 107 new residential units 72 rehabilitated units 19 historic buildings rehabilitated 348 parking spaces created Background

Phase IV original concept plan included: Residential multi-family with commercial uses Five stories in height, 41,700 square feet Six foot setbacks 19 first floor parking spaces Background

Major Amendment to the current Phase IV original concept plan includes the following: Office use Four stories in height, 64,000 square feet Zero setbacks Zero parking spaces Proposed Major Amendment

Changes Between Original and Proposed Original Concept PlanProposed Amendment Use Market-rate rental floors; Parking on 1st floor Commercial Office all floors SF 41,70064,000 Parking 19 spaces on 1st floor; new curb cut on 14th Street No on-site parking; no new curb cuts; Parking to be provided at Mercer Garage Setbacks 6’0’ Height 5 stories4 stories

Change of use from residential to office is market driven Increase in square footage: a larger scale office building provides for more diverse building types and is appropriate in Over-the-Rhine Decrease in parking spaces: there are hundreds of spaces available in walking distance of this project Change in setbacks: most buildings in the neighborhood have zero setbacks Rationale for Changes

85 parking spaces required based on the use and square footage of the building 42 parking spaces could be waived (reduced in half based on proximity to public parking) 43 offsite parking spaces would be required 3CDC agreed to a covenant Required Parking without a PD

1.14 monthly passes in Washington Park Garage monthly passes in Mercer Garage 3.50 in the 12th & Vine Garage. (Currently no monthly passes are being issued) monthly passes in the new Ziegler Garage (When it is completed) Parking Nearby

Zoning Staff Conference held December 1, 2015 Three people attended There were questions but no concerns Public Comment

Section relationship of historic districts to PD The HCB shall be advisory to the CPC for Final Development reviews. February 22, 2016 the HCB reviewed the design of the office building and recommended approval to CPC and City Council with following conditions: Owner get approval from DOTE for all encroachments and right-of-way improvements Owner modifies the design to widen the primary façade columns between the storefront windows Historic Conservation Board Review (HCB)

Conditions (continued): Owner modifies the primary façade materials and secondary facade on the eastern portion of new construction to a masonry material such as terra cotta masonry units The HCB voted unanimously to recommend the Final Development Plan subject to the conditions recommended by staff Historic Conservation Board Review (HCB)

Change of use from residential to office is market driven Increase in square footage: a larger scale office building provides for more diverse building types and is appropriate in Over-the-Rhine Decrease in parking spaces: there are hundreds of spaces available in walking distance of this project Change in setbacks: most buildings in the neighborhood have zero setbacks Analysis

This size office building will bring over 200 jobs and people into the neighborhood Will bring life to the street More customers for the surrounding businesses Analysis

Major Amendment is compatible with the planned development and consistent with the PD Regulations and the approved Concept Plan The Plan does not negatively impact the surrounding area This project allows for cohesive urban development Findings

On March 18, 2016 Cincinnati Planning Commission (CPC) reviewed both the Final Development Plan and the Major Amendment concurrently for Mercer Commons IV The CPC voted unanimously to approved the Final Development Plan and they are recommending approval of the Major Amendment to City Council as per Section (b) of the Cincinnati Zoning Code for the following reasons: CPC Action

The Plan does not negatively impact the surrounding area This project allows for cohesive urban development CPC Action

The Over-the-Rhine Comprehensive Plan (2002) states “Make Over-the-Rhine a model for diverse and inclusive business development” This development is in an Economic Development Focus Area Consistency with Plans

The project is consistent with Plan Cincinnati (2012) in the Compete Initiative Area. One of the strategies is to “Grow our Own” Focusing on retention, expansion and relocation of existing businesses This project is in a Growth Opportunity Area which is an area strategically selected for additional growth Consistency with Plans

City Planning Commission recommends that City Council take the following actions: APPROVE a Major Amendment to the Concept Plan for Planned Development #65 (PD-65) Mercer Commons to change the use from residential to office, increase the gross square footage from 41,700 to 64,000, reduce the six foot setbacks and decrease parking spaces from 19 to 0 pursuant to Section (b) of the Zoning Code Recommendation