A “picture sketch” of a new bar and grill proposed by the owners of the Monkey Bar
Loveland, Ohio – On December 15, 2022 the owners of the property at 115 Railroad Avenue presented early redevelopment design plans to the Loveland Historic Preservation and Planning Commission (HPPC) for review. The proposed development sits between Hometown Cafe and The Wicked Pickle on the Loveland Bike Trail in Historic Downtown. The site previously held a single family residence that has since been demolished. The new owner of the site is MADJ Properties LLC.
Amy Altemeier told Loveland Magazine on March 18, “We are delayed on our Loveland project due to the fire at our Monkey Bar & Grille last year. Amy and her husband Mark are co-owners of the Monkey Bar & Grille in Fosters along the Loveland Bike Trail. She also said that they have a “picture sketch”, which is solidified. She added, “We will not be breaking ground until likely one year from now.”
“We also have some great concepts for the restaurant/bar but nothing is solidified yet. It will not be another Monkey Bar. I like to design around the history, so this will be a unique concept in Loveland.”
The Loveland Bike Trail would connect both establishments owned by the Altemeiers.
The Monkey Bar & Grille was recently chosen as the “Best Bar or Pub” in Warren County – Ohio’s Largest Playground for 2024.
Below is the plan as initially approved:
The proposed project at 115 Railroad Avenue, is the construction of a 2-story restaurant with outdoor seating on the ground and the 2nd floor. The first floor area includes the kitchen, a 760 square foot main dining area, restrooms,
and outdoor seating for approximately 32. The second floor will include both a dining area and a bar area, along with outdoor seating for 32. The name of the restaurant was still to be determined, although a railroad them is
anticipated, and will include a mural of the south facing side of the building.
Beth Sullebarger, from the historic preservation consulting firm Sullebarger Associates presented the plan on behalf of the HPPC. She commented that the HPPC had two decisions to make. The first is whether the current property can be saved and the second, if it can’t be saved, what kind of new building should be approved. She said that regarding the current building, it appears to have been built in the early 1900’s as it can be seen in a 1911 Sanborn Map of historic Loveland. She shared pictures of the property, both inside and out. The structure had been gutted down to the studs and then demolished.
An architect representing the owners commented that most of the building was beyond saving from a financial standpoint because it’s located in a flood plane, and the cost to bring it up to standards that insurance would require, would be prohibitive.
Sullebarger reviewed the design guidelines that apply to any new building that
would be built on this site and made several suggestions to improve the building’s appropriateness for the immediate neighborhood.
Key suggestions by Sullebarger were as follows:
▪ Flip the site plan so that the solid wall faces the north side. This will make the building seem less massive next to Hometown Café. It would also allow for a better experience for the diners as they would overlook more of historic downtown Loveland.
▪ Incorporate other materials into the balcony pillars. Suggestions were steel or other metals to soften the look.
▪ Possibly lower the first floor ceiling and thereby the entire building. This might allow for a rooftop façade that could be gabled and fit better with adjacent buildings.
The architect agreed to look at all of the suggestions and work with the owners to see what they might agree to do.
On January 31, 2023 applicant returned and addressed the HPPC requests with plan modifications include the following:
• The front columns/piers were reduced from 24” x 24” to 20” x 20” square.
• Windows have been added to the rear/west facing wall of building.
• Additionally, the landscape plan, that was still being developed at the previous meeting, was included.
