Former hotel’s $13.3M renovation brings historic landmark back to life

CINCINNATI - Walnut Hills’ newest apartment complex for seniors had a Grand Opening Celebration Tuesday, September 28, 2021, featuring Cincinnati Councilman Chris Seelbach among a lineup of elected officials and local leaders.

The ribbon cutting marked the $13.3 million renovation and expansion of the former Manse Hotel in Walnut Hills. The historic hotel, one of the finest to welcome African-Americans during segregation, was recently converted into affordable senior housing through a partnership between Model Group and Episcopal Retirement Services (ERS).

In 2019, the Manse Hotel and Annex were added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Manse now includes 60-one bedroom and efficiency apartments in the former hotel and annex spaces on Chapel Street. An addition on Lincoln Avenue houses 18 of those apartments. The jewel of the hotel, its ballroom, has been transformed into a community gathering space. Meanwhile, a colorful Artworks mural “From Enslavement to Emancipation: Sky’s The Limit, by artist Cedric Michael Cox adorns the Lincoln Avenue side of the building.

The renovation was made possible by:

• $11 million in tax credit equity as a result of the 9% tax credit award. Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing was the syndicator.
• Construction financing from KeyBank to bridge the tax credit equity
• $1 million in City of Cincinnati HOME funds
• $1 million in Affordable Housing Program grant funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati
• $265,000 in charitable donations from the ERS “The Next Dance at The Manse” campaign

The Manse community is near another Affordable Living by ERS community on the same street. Walnut Court, also on Chapel Street was renovated in 2016 as part of ERS’ plan to be part of the revival of the urban core in the neighborhood of Walnut Hills.

“The Manse Hotel was an important part of Cincinnati’s history. It was listed in the famous The Negro Motorist Green Book travel guide published during segregation that let African-American travelers find places that were safe to stay. Now we are preserving Cincinnati and American history, while also contributing to the ERS mission to provide safe, affordable housing for seniors,” said Vice President for Affordable Living Dr. James “Jimmy Wilson.

The Model Group, an integrated property development, construction, and management company with a passion for revitalizing urban neighborhoods, is the property owner with ERS serving as the property manager. ERS and Model have partnered on many high quality, affordable living projects for seniors. The hallmark of these developments are modern apartments with energy efficiency, well-designed units and market-style finishes using the 70 years of expertise that ERS has developed in serving older adults to help them age in place with a services and support not often found in low income senior housing.