BY JANELLE GELFAND
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Organizers of a detailed feasibility study on the reuse of the Emery Theatre and its adjacent Ohio College of Applied Sciences Building in Over-the-Rhine have defined a vision.
The Cincinnati Preservation Association (CPA) is conducting the study of the Cincinnati landmark, on Central Parkway between Clay and Walnut streets, with the cooperation and support of the University of Cincinnati, owner of the building.
''Our goal is to try to find a way to move the complex into its new life and new community use in a reasonable way. We've worked together to try to find that solution,'' Dale McGirr, UC vice president of finance, said.
The project is estimated to cost around $21.5 million, Beth Sullebarger, CPA executive director, said Tuesday. Funding has not yet been addressed.
The study calls for a 1,350-1,950-seat theater with nearly perfect acoustics, facilities for state-of-the-art theater operations, offices and support space for arts organizations, market-rate housing and parking.
Approximately 32,000 square feet of space on the basement levels and first two floors of the OCAS building would be used for theater support space and arts organizations offices.
The study also says that the OCAS building would work well for housing. The second-through-fifth floors could accommodate 57 apartments of up to two bedrooms. The ground floor could provide space for neighborhood retail uses such as a dry cleaner, market, restaurant or art gallery.
''I'm hopeful that an agreement can be reached by mid-summer,'' said Arn Bortz of Towne Properties, who has expressed an interest in developing the property. ''It's not out of the question that the housing portion might be under way - organized and financed - before the end of the year.''
The project faces stiff competition for city and state funding. Contemporary Arts Center wants to build a new center at Sixth and Walnut streets, downtown. Also proposed for Over-the-Rhine: a Greater Cincinnati Arts & Education Center and an American Classical Music Hall of Fame.
