General Contractor 
& Cost Estimator

DER Development Company, LLC
750 US Hwy. 50, Milford, OH 45150
www.derdevelopment.com

Architect

Steinkamp, Steinkamp & Hampton Architects
102 Wooster Pike, Milford, OH 45150
www.steinkamparchitects.com

General Description

Location: Milford, Ohio
Date Bid: Aug 2006 Construction Period: Sep 2006 to Aug 2007
Total Square Feet: 14,352 Site: Building, 0.0827 acre; Parking, 0.164 acre. Number of Buildings: One.
Building Size: Basement, 3,588, first floor, 3,588; second floor, 3,588; third floor, 3,588; total, 14,352 square feet.
Building Height: Basement, 9’7”; first floor, 14’; second floor, 12’8”; third floor, 13’10”; total, 42’. 
Basic Construction Type: New. Foundation: Cast-in-place, reinforced. Exterior Walls: CMU, brick. Roof: Built-up, membrane. Floors: Concrete. Interior Walls: CMU, metal stud drywall.

Construction Team

Structural Engineer: GOP Limited - 644 Linn Street, #936, Cincinnati, OH 45203 
Electrical Engineer: Endeavor Electric - 5291 Lester Road, Cincinnati, OH 45213
Mechanical Engineer: Feldkamp Enterprises, Inc. - 3642 Muddy Creek, Cincinnati, OH 45238

Late in December of 2004, the City of Milford, Ohio suffered a substantial blow to its hopes for revitalizing its historic downtown business district. The “Barber Shop Building,” as it was known locally, on the corner of Main and Garfield Streets, was severely damaged in an electrical fire. The 1870’s structure was damaged beyond repair and had to be razed. Milford was left with a hole in the ground at one of its most prominent intersections in its historic downtown business district.

Steve Early and Dale Roe, businessmen with deep roots in the Milford area, were determined to rebuild and called in Steinkamp, Steinkamp & Hampton Architects, also of Milford. It was obvious to all that the new building should respect the traditional character of Historic Downtown Milford. Moreover, the new structure would also be a modern building with a steel frame, composite concrete floors, steel studs and fire-resistant gypsum board, an elevator and a sprinkler system.

Nonetheless, it would be the new building’s architectural character that would matter most to Milford if it was to retain and reinforce its relaxed vintage charm. The design developed by Steinkamp, Steinkamp & Hampton Architects was based on the precedence of the Italianate mode, a style prevalent in America between 1850 and 1880 and particularly suited to downtown, commercial buildings.

At the first floor, a traditional storefront faces the street with expansive windows framed by decorative piers and capped by a deep entablature to provide space for signage. The two upper floors are wrapped in brick and fenestrated with French doors headed by round top transoms and stone arches with keystones. Crowning the building is another entablature with a projecting cornice and brackets. 

As construction drew to completion, the first floor tenant, Mr. Richard Thomas, was anxious to fulfill a hope of his own – he wanted to open a wine bar and shop with restaurant facilities. Mr. Thomas also wanted to create an outdoor terrace to complement indoor seating. Milford authorities agreed to give up some on-street parking spaces and the terrace at “20o Brix” was built to drawings prepared by Steinkamp, Steinkamp & Hampton Architects.

The end result has fulfilled all the hopes invested in it and is set to play its part in the life of Historic Downtown Milford for many years to come. One neighboring building owner has said that the new building was “the talk of the town.” A local radio station host said that it fits right in, adding that it was “gorgeous…gorgeous.” It needs to be. Years ago, Edmund Burke, the British statesman, said “To make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely.” 

Manufacturers

DIV. 4: Brick: Hanson.
DIV. 7: Membrane: GenFlex.
DIV. 8: Windows: Hurd.
DIV. 10: Decorative Trim: Fypon.