SITE: ALUMNI LOFTS

SITE: ALUMNI LOFTS

1310 Sycamore St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

After thorough investigation and analysis, the site that achieves what the LGBTQ+ community center is looking for is Alumni Lofts. It is currently serving as luxury lofts but was once the School for Creative and Performing Arts. It dates to the late 1800’s when it was owned by Abigail and William Woodward who advocates for free education for the city’s less fortunate children. Originally the Old Woodward High School one of the oldest high school and the first major public school in the city, opening in 1831 (Alumni Lofts). The school had many students for nearly a century, one of them being future President William Howard Taft who graduated from the school in 1874. He laid an original cornerstone for the building after he was elected. The building was originally two-stories high, that lasted from 1831 until 1855. Woodward High School at the time was one of the most modern high schools with 150 rooms, two indoor pools, a large central auditorium, and other amenities, but it became unsuited after World War II as new modern needs were required. When Woodward Highschool moved to a new building, it became Abigail Cutter Junior High School from 1953 until 1977 and passed on to Schiel Primary School-Arts until 2010 (Alumni Lofts). The building stayed vacant until very recently when it became a residential building. Taken over by Core Redevelopment. It kept the original character of the building, but now used as luxury apartments. Alumni Lofts is located close to downtown, the Pendleton Arts District, Ziegler Park, and Over-the-Rhine. It keeps its historic presence and remains in use within the city. The multistory building would be a great site and can provide a space that achieves all that the design requires. To achieve this, Alumni Lofts should be taken from the landlords and given back to the public. The building should once again serve the community and be for the people.