The Enquirer's Going Up series introduces you to need-to-know projects around Greater Cincinnati.
The basics of the Alkemeyer Commercial Building conversion
- Address: 21-23 W. Court St., Downtown.
- Building type: Mixed use (Residential with commercial space on the ground floor).
- Owner/Developer: Yolo Investments.
- Size: 12 apartments, a mix of two bedrooms and three bedrooms; 5,000-square-feet of commercial space on the ground floor for a bar or restaurant.
- Cost: $5 million.
- Completion: End of 2027.
What's going on at the historic Alkeyemer Building?
You might recognize this four-story building for its large mural of toys. The "Cincinnati Toy Heritage" mural includes Mr. Potato Head, Star Wars figures and a Care Bear to honor the legacy of the Cincinnati-based Kenner company.
The mural will remain as Cincinnati-based Yolo Investments rehabs the building into apartments with a bar or restaurant on the first floor.
The building comes with a long history. It was built in 1878 by the heirs of Adolphus Lotze and began life as the E. Alkemeyer & Co., a dry goods store and hatmaker. The building has housed clothing and department stores in the past, including Fox's clothing store. It was placed on the National
Register for Historic Places in 1980, but has sat vacant for years.
Yolo Investments' plan for the building would turn the building into mostly residential units. In an email to The Enquirer, an official with Yolo said the apartments "will keep the historic character of the building while offering modern layouts, finishes, and amenities."
One top-floor apartment will have access to a rooftop deck.
The bottom floor will be a restaurant or bar.
Construction started in August and will take about 14 months, according to the developer.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Alkemeyer Building, known for toy mural, becoming apartments | Going Up
