Bowdeya Tweh

btweh@enquirer.com

Six months after supporting the project, Camp Washington residents remain excited about a proposal from an Indianapolis-based real estate developer to convert the Crosley Building to house 238 apartments. But they're still waiting for it to happen.

Core Redevelopment, which is also planning large building conversions in Pendleton and Walnut Hills, wants to lead a more than $25 million renovation project to add market-rate apartments at the 1333 Arlington St. building.

The Camp Washington Community Council voted in April to support Core Redevelopment's proposal to redevelop the Crosley Building.

"That's something that's really going to change the whole scope of Camp Washington," said Joseph Gorman, executive director of the Camp Washington Business Association.

Core Redevelopment sent a tax abatement request to the city Sept. 1, but the city's Department of Trade and Development requested more information about the project. The city said it is waiting for a completed application from the developer.

A message seeking comment was left Monday with John Watson, managing member of Core Redevelopment.

Gorman said Core is still pursuing the project but the developer is seeking national historic designation for the building and state historic preservation tax credits to support the development. He said the company wants both items to take place before closing a deal to buy the property.

Gorman said the new apartments could be the largest residential development in the neighborhood in several years. He said Core could begin the Camp Washington project next year after it makes progress on other large developments it has ongoing in Cincinnati.

The Crosley brothers built the factory in 1928 to produce radios and appliances and the nearly 300,000-square-foot building opened a couple years later. Renowned Cincinnati architecture firm Samuel Hannaford & Sons designed the building.

Initially, the building served as headquarters for the Crosley Radio Corp. and its radio station, WLW. Offices for entrepreneur and inventor Powel Crosley Jr. were on the building's top floors.

David Hosea of Newport-based Hosea Project Movers bought the property in 1998 for $1.8 million, but the building has been vacant since 2006. The building remains an eyesore as a result of graffiti on it and trash being dumped nearby. C W Development LLC of Newport, an affiliate of the Hosea company, now owns the Crosley Building.■

Staff writer Cliff Radel contributed.