Bowdeya Tweh

btweh@enquirer.com

No, the former Dennison Hotel isn't in mourning.

But a large black net is now affixed to the Downtown Cincinnati building's facade that faces Main Street. And the net's presence on the building is the latest issue in a months-long preservation battle between the property's owner and people who want the structure to avoid the wrecking ball.

Columbia Development Group, the building's owner, hired a contractor to install a net on the structure amid concerns the building's exterior could pose a safety hazard to the public. Installation work started Thursday at the 716 Main St. building with an understanding that Columbia had the city's permission to do so, according to Pat Crowley, a spokesman for Columbia.

The city of Cincinnati is saying not so fast. After residents alerted city officials to the construction activity, the building department started to investigate the matter. No permit had been approved for the work, The Enquirer learned Friday.

In a statement, city spokesman Rocky Merz said the installation of safety netting does require a permit. But after discussions with Columbia, which applied for a permit Friday afternoon, Merz said the city expects "the property will be brought into compliance early next week when the permit application is processed."

"The city will continue to monitor the situation and take any necessary actions, as required, to ensure compliance with the various state and local regulations," Merz said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the cover stays. The building sits within the Main Street Historic District. It is common practice for the city's Historic Conservation Board to review applications for significant construction plans on designated landmarks and property within historic districts. It's not immediately clear whether the cover will be subject to the same review.

Councilman Chris Seelbach called the city's move "disappointing."

"Unfortunately, this decision follows a common trend lately," Seelbach said. "If you are wealthy and well-connected, things seem to happen faster and more easily for you."

The net's installation is the latest battle that has pitted the Dennison's owner against preservation advocates. The black covering stretches from the building's second floor to the eighth floor of the brick building.

City historic board: Dennison Hotel cannot be razed

Columbia, which has common ownership with Joseph Auto Group, has been seeking the city's permission to raze the 124-year-old building since the spring. In a 3-2 vote last month, the city's Historic Conservation Board said the structure could not be demolished and that Columbia hadn't shown enough evidence that an economic return could be generated from full or partial reuse of the building.

Columbia has vowed to appeal the decision, meaning the city's Zoning Board of Appeals would be next to hear the demolition request. That could happen as early as September.

When asked about the netting early Friday, Columbia's spokesman Crowley said in a text message that the city permitted the activity. He also said the work being done was at the city's direction to ensure no building material or debris would fall on people. In a phone interview later in the day, Crowley expanded on those comments.

"Our building people met with the city and received the permits they needed to do the work, that included shutting a lane of traffic down," Crowley said. "We didn't think we needed a permit for netting because it's a safety measure."

He added: "This isn't about theatrics. We already put up scaffolding. We put up a barricade. There were concerns during (the June Historic Conservation Board) meeting about debris falling off. We're following up on that. We're doing that while demo permit is being contested."

Over-the-Rhine resident Derek Bauman said regardless of how the building department moves forward, it appears the property owner is getting preferential treatment.

"Other folks have a hard time getting a permit in eight weeks," Bauman said.

Columbia has owned the building since 2013.

Cincinnati-based architectural firm Samuel Hannaford & Sons designed the building and it was built in 1892 for G.B. Schulte & Sons. The building was converted into a hotel in 1932. The Dennison, which closed in 2011, was the last of about two dozen single-room occupancy hotels that began operations downtown in the early 1970s.