The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Cincy State project on track

Former CG&E building could be most likely spot for classes, college official reports. 

Third injured firefighter remains at burn unit
3:51 p.m.
Lebanon Police Officer of year inspired by grandfather
2:21 p.m.
Sheriff to target drug trafficking on highways
11:59 a.m.
Ohio can finally collect $2.3M in fines
10:22 a.m.
Top grads plan challenging careers
10:17 a.m.
> More headlines

By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 1:08 AM Wednesday, February 23, 2011

CINCINNATI — The former CG&E building may be the most likely candidate for classes if Cincinnati State Technical & Community College opens a branch campus in Middletown.

The school’s board of trustees were given an update on the potential Middletown branch campus project at their meeting Tuesday.

Dan Cayse, vice president for strategic initiatives and entrepreneurial development, said a preliminary renovations report on the downtown buildings earmarked for the campus should be completed this week.

While the Manchester Inn has been at the center of talks for use as a new culinary school, Cayse said it’s likely the CG&E building on Main Street will be “the easiest to convert” to begin classes.

Meanwhile, city officials are finalizing plans to acquire the Manchester for the school. Trustee Robert McKenna Jr. asked Cayse for updated numbers on revenues expected to be generated at the hotel if it is used by the school.

Questions have been raised, Cayse said, about whether it would be cheaper to raze the Manchester and start new. He and school President O’dell Owens said they are looking into what the Marriott did with the Hamiltonian in Hamilton and seeing if such a plan would work in Middletown, and what the chain’s interest may be in the project.

Cayse said they want to create a “boutique hotel” with rooms, catering, and banqueting. He said final renovation numbers will give Cincinnati State a better sense of how to pursue that goal financially.

“For some reason the Marriott thought it was important to sink $16 million to renovate the Hamiltonian hotel and we don’t think its going to be that much,” Cayse said. “We’re looking into that.”

In other board of trustees news, four members took a tour of Middletown on Feb. 11 to get a feel for what the campus could be like. McKenna, who had previously expressed concerns with opening a campus in Middletown, said everyone from “firefighters to city council members to the city manager” greeted them.

“It was impressive,” he said.

Trustee Robert Ringel added that after the tour he could envision a Cincinnati State campus in Middletown.

And while campus plans may still be tentative, Middletown is set to be included in a series of inaugural events for Owens’ new school presidency.

Cayse said a guest list is being compiled and an event will likely take place the second week of May at the Beauverre Riordan Studios downtown.

Share this article