Jackson Lofts

Jeff Raser was the architect, co-developer, and general contractor for the Jackson Lofts.

The Jackson Lofts is the adaptive reuse of a historic warehouse building into 25 loft apartments and studio space located in the heart of Cincinnati’s venerable Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The 25,000 square foot building was built in at least three major components, at different times starting in the early 1900’s, and presented significant challenges.

The designed accentuates the raw, open feel of the building through an architecture of exposure. New walls are purposefully angled revealing a clear juxtaposition between old and new and creating pathways for borrowed natural light into the interior of the deep floor-plated building. New lofts utilize exposed timber beams, recollecting an architectural theme of the historic building.

Raser was responsible for acquiring federal historic tax credits which were critical to the project’s success, as well as obtaining other non-traditional funding sources. In addition to complying with stringent historic regulations, the project utilized the seldom-used Chapter 34 of the building code which is a complex balance of requirements for buildings that cannot fully comply with the new code.

Developed in the mid 1990’s, the Jackson Lofts is the first true loft building in Cincinnati. At the front edge of Over-the-Rhine’s renaissance, the project proved that market rate rental apartments are viable in the neighborhood and paved the way for future development.  The project won the Over-the-Rhine Chamber’s Star Award.