Cincinnati - Then and Now (003)

This is the third post in a series comparing historic "street view" to current Goolge Street Views. There are thousands of photos available online thanks to the Ohio Digital Resource Commons.

1.

Looking south from what will be one of the most popular streetcar stops - the corner of 12th and Vine.

2.

The approximate spot currently, as seen on Google Street View.

3.

Near the top of Liberty Hill.

4.

The approximate spot currently, as seen on Google Street View.

5.

Looking east from the corner of Elm and Third. Fort Washington Way has drastically changed this view.

6.

The approximate spot currently, as seen on Google Street View. The four buildings to the right of the large, white Enquirer Building are the only clearly visible remnants.

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Cincinnati - Then and Now (002)

This is the second post in a series comparing historic "street view" to current Google Street Views (visit the first here). There are thousands of photos available online thanks to the Ohio Digital Resource Commons.

1.

Looking west from the corner of Elm and Eighth, toward City Hall, September 19, 1930. I couldn't find much on old maps as to what the big dome across from City Hall was.

2.

The approximate spot currently, as seen on Google Street View.

3.

Looking East near the corner of 12th and Central Parkway, toward Washington Park, October 2, 1929.

4.

A similar spot observed recently on Google Street View (albeit before the recent renovation of Washington Park was complete).

5.

The archive has dozens of photos of the construction of the Fifth Street Viaduct that takes Columbia Parkway into downtown. Lock Street no longer exists, but in 1938 it ran parallel to Eggleston Avenue, and Columbia Parkway soared overhead.

6.

Today, I-471 runs where the neighborhood at the base of Mt. Adams previously existed.

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Cincinnati - Then and Now (001)

Thanks to the efforts of the Ohio Digital Resource Commons, thousands of photos taken of Cincinnati's street improvements during the 1920's and 1930's are viewable online. The changes that occur over the course of 80+ years are rather interesting. Thanks to Google Street View, it's possible to quickly compare the photos taken almost a century ago with the city as it exists today.

There are thousands of these street improvement photos available. I'll start by comparing a few of the more recognizable spots around Cincinnati. While some areas have seen little change, most of the photos show stark contrasts between the Cincinnati of the 1920's and the Cincinnati we know today.

1.

Looking north along Vine Street from the intersection of Clifton Avenue - August 10, 1931.

2.

The same spot currently, as seen on Google Street View.

3.

The corner of William Howard Taft and Vine Street, looking west in 1942

4.

William Howard Taft and Vine Street, looking west, as seen on Google Street View. Much has changed, including the steeples of St. George, damaged during the fire in 2008.

5.

In some places, almost nothing has remained the same. Here, looking west from the corner of 5th and Walnut in 1928 the Sheraton-Gibson Hotel and Albee Theater are both visible along Fountain Square. Not yet visible would be Carew Tower - construction began the year after this photo was taken.

6.

Google Street View today shows that little has remained, US Bank, the Westin, and Carew Tower have been built, and even Fountain Square has since gone through two major renovations.

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Goodbye Glencoe

Glencoe Place, mentioned often on this website and others focusing on urban decay in Cincinnati, is in the process of being demolished. After a decade of failed attempts to cash out on the property by developer Pauline Van der Haer, Glencoe was sold at sheriff auction to the cleverly named "Leroy Glen Investment LLC" (a play on the street names in the Glencoe complex, Leroy Court and Glencoe Place). As is the intent of LLC's, it's unknown who exactly is behind the demolition and what future plans they have for the site. Whoever is streamlining the demolition of Glencoe, it's clear that to them an empty, virtually undevelopable hillside is more enticing than a nationally registered historic site.

The demolition of Glencoe Place is only one of the massive demolitions undertaken in the past few years around Mt. Auburn; adjacent Christ Hospital has demolished several city blocks of historic architecture in order to accommodate expansions of their now sprawling medical facilities.

For information concerning the demolition permits, visit Cincinnati's ezTrack permit service and search for the address(es) "2 Glencoe," "7 Glencoe, "49 Glencoe," etc. Although all buildings in Cincinnati over 50 years old are reviewed for historical significance before demolition permits are issued, the Glencoe Place complex was apparently found to be devoid of said importance by the City of Cincinnati, despite its place on the National Register of Historic Places.

Below are photos from after the first day of demolition at Glencoe Place. To see photos prior to its destruction, visit this older post.

1.

Glencoe Place shortly after demolition crews left after the first day of demolition.

2.

Christ Hospital looms over top of Glencoe Place.

3.

Although it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #3001286), demolition of Glencoe Place began on March 19, 2013.

4.

Although demolition had just begun on March 19, 2013, demolition permits had been issued for the entirety Glencoe Place complex.

5.

Several buildings remodeled and painted blue sit behind the first of the historic structures to be demolished.

6.

The view of Glencoe Place from Christ Hospital will soon be replaced by an empty dirt lot.

7.

Demolition equipment in the shadow of Christ Hospital, an image that has become commonplace in Mt. Auburn.

8.

Glencoe Place after one day of demolition work.

9.

The existance of the remaining buildings at Glencoe Place is terminal.

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