Demolition began today on the historic St. Martin's German Evangelical Church in Sedamsville.
Bulldozers began tearing off the back wall of the High Victorian Gothic structure, which has stood at 2654 River Road since 1892.
The landmark is being razed by Arlon Brown and Collins Riverside Development, who have proposed a $50 million condominium project for the site called Harbor Lights.
The project would require the demolition of up to 30 Sedamsville properties.
So far only a handful have been razed, but this building is the most prominent.
St. Martin's is widely considered the centerpiece of the proposed Sedamsville River Road Historic District, which includes 58 properties on the northwest side of River Road and southwest of Ansonia Avenue.
On August 1, the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board recommended the historic district for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.
While National Register status cannot prevent further demolitions, it could make the proposed condominium project ineligible for federal funds.
The church had been vacant for nearly three decades and, until Brown purchased it, had been for sale since April 2005.
The steeple will be wrecked by hand.
Photo credit: Todd, Sedamsville resident
Previous reading on BC:
Centerpiece of historic Sedamsville threatened (8/22/08)
City has little say in Sedamsville demolitions (5/14/08)
Sedamsville wants demo delay on possible condo project (4/17/08)
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Demolition begins on historic Sedamsville church
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20 comments:
What a shame!
This just pisses me off!
that sucks
Total shame.
I feel sick!
This city, the council, the mayor, and the planning board (if one exists) all have their collective heads up their collective a**es.
There is no hope for Cincinnati if this behavior and mindset continues.
And to think, I had legal permission to photograph the interior of this church but had to leave town years ago...
This is very sad. Let's hope Our Lady of Perpetual Help doesn't go down this way...
And watch, this guys selfish plan will go belly-up after everything is torn down.
WHERE WAS EVERYONE 10 YEARS AGO WHEN THE PEWS OF THE CHURCH WERE BEING RIPPED OUT AND SOLD, ALONG WITH THE BEAUTIFUL STAINED GLASS IN EVERY WINDOW. THE CHUCH HAS BEEN VACANT FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SLOWLY DETERIORATING. IT WAS A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD 30 YEARS AGO. WE KNEW ALL OUR NEIGHBORS AND ALL THE CHILDREN. WHAT CHILDREN!! THEIR ALL GONE BECAUSE OF THE BUSSING THAT STARTED 25 YEARS AGO. DON'T BLAME RAY BROWN, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS GONE DOWN SINCE BUSSING BEGAN.
I agree, the church was a loss. It's easy to complain about it being torn down but it was vacant for years and years and years. The glass was gone. I live 5 doors down and I'm not complaining.
Yes, busing is the reason for Sedamsville's problems. Puh-leeze.
Sherman...NEVER pass up an opportunity to tour an old building!
The need now is to deny developers federal money for the project. No need to reward them for taking down a historical structure. If they had incorporated it into their plan then that would be different. You'd think with a $50 condo going in, a church might be needed...
Where do people stand in preserving old homes for cheaper rehabs? The current system of plowing under houses is crazy and uneconomical! How about federal funds for that?
What is so great about an old abandon blue collar church just sitting.... The structure had little to no significant architectural value, deemed by an architect and a engineer. I don't see anyone else doing anything about Sedamsville, just a lot of talk. What's the point of keeping an old run down neighborhood alive when it could be so much more. River road has been running into the ground for years, along with a majority of past and present occupants. Most of the structures are an eye sore, the project will only enhance life on the river, creating jobs, lowering crime.. making it a place and community people actually want to live in. Where is the amazing facades and brick work you people act like exists..?.. I believe you are all on drugs, making invalid statements, get the facts straight... o yeah.. Condos would never work in the economic crisis we are all experiencing, the developers know that.
The guy who commented before me obviously is oblivious to the facts.I live on River Road and my house and yard are well kept as are a good number of my neighbors. Fine, if Arlon Brown wants to buy everyone and tear their houses down more power to him but to classify the entire neighborhood and its occupants as "running into the ground," is rude and uneducated. I would post as Anonymous too if I made statements like that.
Just to set the record straight. I owned the church with some partners for nearly a decade. It was an occupied, working church in 1995. We operated several business activities in te church, which had working bathrooms, furnaces, lights, etc. Until the auction in 2005, most of the pews and all of the stained glass were perfectly intact. I had several architects and engineers (of which I am one) look at the building over the years. It was not only an impressive high Victorian structure, but was more sound than any building you'll ever see. Its nearly 750,000 bricks laid in a 5 course pattern were a straight and true as the first day. The developers purjured themselves saying it was unstable and the hill was crushing in. That hill hadn't moved since it was built in 1892. By the way I have tons of photos of the windows and inside. It makes me cry that Cranley would do nothing to help us develop the same land in 2003-2005 and tha now HE is the one doing it. What a scumbag.
Is this project still moving ahead or did it indeed go "belly-up"?
Thanks for the insight, David. I, for one, have never believed that the structural problems with the church were anywhere near what they would have us believe.
Anonymous, the project is still on...at least, it's simmering. Enough so that Cranley quit council to focus on the project (as well as the Incline District project and praciticing law), and the developers continue to purchase property in the area.
I understand that people are upset by this. However at the rate things were going, something like this was bound to happen. Neighorhoods come and go, and it is somewhat of mix blessing to the area. The area will keep its historical structure for sure, but things are definately changing in the area. It is up to the locals to make the best out of it.
It has been more than 30 years since I have lived in lower Price Hill, however I knew River Road like the back of my hand. (I was raised in St. Michaels.) I wish those in the area to welcome the coming change yet hold fast to the history of Sedamsville.
hi kevin, any news about sedamsville and ray brown condo's what? it looks like they are making a road through the woods or did i miss it. thanks
^ I haven't heard anything. Should follow up.
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