Is the old Mariemont Steam Plant finally coming down?
At the Mariemont Village Council meeting on Monday, October 27th, Michael Heines, a developer from JAE Capital, indicated they had purchased and plan to tear down the old Steam Power Plant and convert a part of the approximately three acres into condos. These 18 condos would range in size between 1500 and 1800 square feet and sell for between $300,000 and $450,000 dollars.
In this preliminary ‘Concept Plan’, Mr. Heines assured the Council that the development would not disrupt the toe of the hill coming down from Mt. Vernon Ave and, in fact, the landfill to bring the elevations up above the 100 year flood plan might give added support to the hillside.
He went on to say that the majority of the hillside would be donated back to the Village of Mariemont to add to the bird sanctuary and,if all goes ahead as planned, the land would be ready for builders sometime in August or September of next year.
Many questions remain along with various regulatory hurdles:
- Will the new condos be accessed by Miami Run in Columbia Township that is private property and how will the Village provide services to any new owners?
- It would seem prudent for the Village to do a due diligence study of the property before accepting any land to avoid any potential liability for this historically unstable hillside area.
- What happens to the network of steam pipes that remain and will pest control experts be utilized?
We all hope that the hazardous and ugly old Steam Plant becomes history and that JAE Capital can be successful where other developers have not been at this site in the past.
I believe this is the wrong decision. This is a historical building and should be preserved under the sanctification that it once was used to superheat water drawn from the nearby Little Miami River, and sent to all the town houses of Mariemont to heat their homes and accommodations if supplied with radiators.
Under independent observation and discovery of lost and forgotten pieces and artifacts, I understand there’s not much to be done nor can I do anything about it. I just feel it would be a great historic loss to the town which, in itself, holds great historic factors and stories since founded.
The building is still in wonderful condition. Perhaps the infrastructure might be weakened, metal beams rusted thinly, and concrete, brick and stone chipped and cracked, but with some patchwork, layover and reinforcement, the building could possibly stand strong for another generation. It’s in a dangerous state at the moment, considering the disturbance and damage done by the construction and power equipment, and effect of time, weather and nature, but if to preserve and maintain it’s current condition, great care must be practiced in order to restore it to its former appearance and originality.
Look at it this way, I believe it would be cheaper to finance and fund the expenses to preserve a building with a few simple fixes, than to erect a whole collection of high-dollar hundred grand condominiums making no more than what they’re worth.