OTR Brewery district master plan comes into focus

Registration opens March 15 for an April 9 workshop that will identify ideas for enhancing and preserving Over-the-Rhine's Brewery District, a significant facet of Cincinnati's brewing history. (Check here for details on the workshop. Space is limited.) The Brewery District includes Over-the-Rhine, home to 12 brewery structures, including that of Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.

Leading the small-group workshop is the Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, a nonprofit organization aiming to make the area an economic tour-de-force. It's developing a master plan that will focus on more public and private developments and consider potential developers. The organization is building on its 2006 master plan, which called for residential redevelopments in the Findlay Market area and a streetcar system, among others. 

"Our goal is to refine the work that's already been done," said Steven Hampton, executive director of the Brewery District, and "build upon the great successes that are already happening, develop these key projects, and identify the partners and finances to do that."

An upcoming workshop will shape the master plan, according to Jeff Raser. Raser is a principal with the architecture firm Glaserworks, hired to do pre-development planning for the Brewery District.

"We want to hear from people, especially those who live and work and own businesses in the Brewery District," Raser said in reference to the April 9 workshop. "What do they really want to see in the next five years or even 20 years? What is their vision?"

Carl Solway has some early ideas. At the press conference announcing the Brewery District's plans, the owner of Carl Solway Gallery asked if the district's boundaries could expand to the West End neighborhood, west of Over-the-Rhine. That's where Samuel Adams Brewery Co. operates, and where Solway owns a 40,000-square foot building, housing exhibitions and artists spaces.

"I see the potential of taking the concept much further by including what has the potential to be a very serious and important arts neighborhood," he said.

Hampton acknowledged that idea and says the upcoming workshop will help flesh that out.

"Historically, the Brewery District really consisted of Over-the-Rhine and the West End. We've been very careful in the past not to lock ourselves into a specific boundary to respect that."

Writer: Rich Shivener