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New life coming to historic Walnut Hills hotel as landmark designation sought

182 views · Published 4 December 2018 · 2:39 · Indexed 15 October 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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WALNUT HILLS, Ohio (WKRC) - A piece of Cincinnati history is being brought back to life. The owners of the former Manse Hotel are seeking a historic designation while renovating the historic hotel into senior living.

During segregation, African-American visitors to the Queen City were not allowed to stay at hotels downtown, so they went to Walnut Hills. They stayed at the Manse Hotel, and 1004 Chapel Street was the place to be for African-American visitors to Cincinnati.

“When royalty came to Cincinnati, they came to the Manse Hotel,” said David Thompson, vice president of affordable housing with The Model Group. “So people like Frank Robinson, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron stayed here."

The Model Group now owns the vacant, blighted property.

“This is going to be 60 units of affordable housing for seniors, so by next summer we should be under construction to bring this building back,” said Thompson.

Cincinnati’s planning commission just supported a motion to make the Manse a historic landmark,

The Manse was even listed in "The Negro Motorist Green Book," a travel guide for African-Americans. That book influenced the movie now out in theaters known as "Green Book.”

“It’s an important part of Walnut Hills history and is an important part of this particular quadrant of Walnut Hills, which was formerly the Black Business District and it is our hope that we can bring the Black Business District back to life,” said Elizabeth Winters Waite, chief financial officer for Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation.

Business was going so well for the Manse Hotel that the owner purchased the building across the street as the Annex. That's where long-term guests stayed. Developers say preserving the buildings cements a piece of Cincinnati history while providing a safe space for seniors.

"The building across the street, 926 Chapel, will be rehabbed. This building, 1004, will be rehabbed and then we're building a new building with 18 units on the back corner here, and, again, the idea is to have a senior campus that connect with some of the stuff that is happening already on this block,” said Thompson.

"Revitalizing this particular part of the neighborhood is going to help us bring back our sense of history, help us remind everybody of why we're here,” said Winters Waite.

Now that the planning commission has supported the landmark designation, City Council must vote on the measure.

Developers say they will also seek a state landmark designation which will help with tax credits and protect the land.

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