oneglove

thanks for the pics.... now how did it go???

^ The question becomes how much of this is a zoning issue?

I agree that it was a slanted article, but it reflected that 95% of the crowd, so it's hard to really fault the article for that. They reported on what happened. And I'm sorry I didn't get to see you speak I stayed for about 3 hours.

I attended the meeting and thought city planning did a very poor job on explaining why they propose the plans, "voids in the city’s zoning code" doesn't explain very much. I don't think the word deconcentration, or neighborhood burden, or anything similar was even mentioned. Elizabeth Brown probably said it best when she said the city may be able to justify it, but probably only enough to ensure years of legal battles. I agree with a lot of the philosophies that city planning is presenting but limiting churches is probably not the smartest thing to do from a legal standpoint.

I guess that's the luxury of not being a politician

If you're not as adventurous as Jskinner, a summary was included in the email I was sent circulating through local churches. I'd still suggest reading as much of the original document as you can since it has good background and legal information but the information summary seems pretty logical (though tone is a bit fire and brimstone). Seems like an imperfect, though reasonable, conditional zoning to try and mitigate common problems associated with social service agencies. What Do These Text Amendments Mean To You?? If you are a “Religious Assembly” that currently offers social services or community programs, you will become a “non-conforming use”. If you are a “Social Service Facility” whose current operations will not meet the requirements of the proposed amendments, you will become a “non-conforming use”. What is a “non-conforming use”? o May continue exactly “as is”. o Cannot expand building. o Can add services within existing building but only with approval of Hearing Examiner following public hearing. o Depending on location, may be able to substitute use with Hearing Examiner approval following public hearing. o If building is “substantially” destroyed, it cannot rebuild. What if you decide to relocate your social service facility to another location in the City? If the use is under 25,000 square feet it must: + Be permitted in the zoning district. + Must meet “service goals” established in text amendments. + Must be operated by nonprofit/charitable organization in Ohio. + You must document that there is not another social service facility within 500’. + You must provide buffer yards. If the use is over 25,000 square feet it must: + Be permitted in District or approved by the Hearing Examiner as a Conditional Use follow a public hearing. + Must meet “service goals” established in text amendments. + Must be operated by nonprofit/charitable organization in Ohio. + You must document that there is not another social service facility within 1,000’. + Must document that the site is 500’ from any schools, Single Family Residence District or Riverfront/Recreational District. All social service facilities must supply a “Control Plan” that includes: 1. Facility description 2. Management plan 3. Litter control plan 4. Security plan 5. Loitering and noise control plan 6. Crime prevention plan through environmental design 7. Point of contact The “Control Plan” is to be reviewed and approved by the Director of the Department of City Planning and Building. If ALL of these requirements are met/approved, THEN you can move forward with the project.

Tuesday at 5:30 is a zoning board meeting which will discuss the zoning amendments related to CityLink, I saw an email encouraging pastors to come and bring their congregations. Sounds like it will be a good time! Remember the popcorn!

unclerando: hatchet man

Wow, it's flyin

I can't say a lot about most of the cities you mentioned but having lived in St. Louis, I will say there are certainly slums like OTR/West End, especially if you include East St. Louis. Parts of St. Louis are in worse shape than anything in Cincinnati, the buildings aren't just empty, they've collapsed. Blocks and blocks of deteriorating crime ridden neighborhoods, I know because I worked in them. I guess my point is that perspective changes a lot. Your more intimate knowledge of Cincinnati means you know more about the bad and the good than you know in other places and that sometimes the perceptions of Cincinnati might not match what's on the ground. We've got a ways to go but maybe we've started to turn the corner.

I'm tired of it to, but now that some projects are actually moving forward I choose to be cautiously optimistic and hope that maybe we finally have some people in the right positions to make some positive changes. I'd venture to say that is the attitude of most of the people you are arguing with on here. Like you, we're behind the city, I guess we just haven't reached the same level of jaded.

Yep, Cincinnati has real problems. I think the point everyone here is trying to make is that recent developments appear to be headed in the right direction where in the past that couldn't always be said. Additionally, I think people want to try and be part of that positive development instead of sitting back and saying well once you show me the perfect city I'll say good job.

I talked to someone from HNTB who said the interviews are next week

HOW IS OTR FULLY DEVELOPED?!?!?!?!?!

exactly

hm alright, guess i just have bad timing

I've never seen it open, and the City of Cincinnati website says "The Rowing Center at Sawyer Point is closed to the general public. Any inquires about rowing tank rentals should be directed to Mandy Bello at 513-352-6184." http://www.cincyrec.org/search/advancedFacility.aspx?ft=17

As long as we keep Kelly

The Loop is a really bizarre street for architecture, basically nothing is uniform block to block

I've heard it'll cost $10 mil + to move the cement company. They've got a good business w/location and access to rail and water. But yeah, on any plan you see of the riverfront they've disappeared.

Well why isn't it open to the public?

I've got to admit I'm surprised there isn't a nook somewhere in Sawyer Point for basketball, that seems like the most logical of the parks. While we're at it, didn't there used to be a rowing center below Montgomery Inn? That's something I always wanted to get into

too much ballin and shot callin for those up tight folks.

As shown by the Banks and Ovation, big projects are hard to build. Manhattan Harbour is going to take a long time to build, and part of the market conditions it will need to respond to are the other 2 projects. In that way I think they will compliment each other. MHs conceptual plan shows a lot more town homes and rowhouses than the others not to mention a retirement community, all of which appeal to a different client than the other projects.

Nah, I'm good Oh and I think Cincinnati would be stronger with a younger demographic if a real entertainment district developed. Backstage and Fountain Square cater to a different crowd. There are some young bars downtown (mostly all chains) but they aren't all together, like a Mainstrasse, which creates a destination. Not my style, but something that I feel downtown is missing. And of course streetcar, more affordable apartments, and more attractive young ladies