Blue Line

It's terminus IS High Street though. I'm confused.

And what's wrong with that? I wish apathy was the card Cincinnati and Ham Co played in the late 90s, when the Bengals threatened to move to NKY. I'd rather see the team go bye-bye, take Brown to court, and start redevelopment of the Banks westward. The Bengals have been nothing but an embarrassment for Cincinnati for several reasons, through the years.

I do utilize Metro on a semi-regular basis. I'm located in Clifton, so my primary routes take me into the basin or over to the east side. Are you asking whether I use the new route for a job connection? Just wondering about the reason behind your question.

^Actually, I used that bike trail while I did a reverse commute to a co-op in Hamilton. I'd say it's really nice, having ridden it five days per week. I only wish it went farther south. The future connection to Middletown is irrelevant to my life though, as I will likely never ride to Middletown. All in all though, I feel it's a great path, as you bypass many streets that are unfit for bicycling.

Does anyone know how Mercer Commons will impact future dealings with historic tax credits. Last time I checked, OTR is in danger of dropping below 50% historic building stock. That's why the application for This Place Matters was so urgent--to save historic buildings in the neighborhood. This is why I am somewhat surprised to hear that many people are in favor of razing an "undesirable structure" at Mercer and Walnut. I can recall many instances in which people were in favor of saving large, three and four story structures, as grand as they appear--even dilapidated. But the massing of a Civil War-era building shouldn't be written off, just because it doesn't have detailed cornice work or other ornamentation. What's more important at this point: integration with and preservation of remaining building stock...or a subjective, selective process of saving only what is favored at the time of the meeting? I tend to disagree that access to the parking garage along Vine is a bad thing. However, I do feel that it is bad for Mercer. A narrow street like Mercer doesn't need a consistent flow of traffic to and from the garage. Additionally, the more narrow, neighborhood streets should be met with less traffic flow than the main thoroughfares. One mission should be to create inviting neighborhood corridors throughout OTR, while focusing on the development of commercial spaces, parking access, and transit accommodations on streets like Vine. Side streets should be the "less beaten path."

^Ah, I guess they just branched out and rebranded. They're now known as Gilpin's Steamed Sandwiches, rather than Gilpin's Bagel & Deli. Their website doesn't even have a menu posted, but it seems that other rolls and breads are options now too. I was dissuaded but the name change though.

My first impression of the transit hub for Glencrossing was: "It sure would be transformative to build some mixed-use TOD around that hub. This city doesn't even know what TOD can do for it yet, and this would be a perfect spot to test it."

^Why is that unusual? It's a job connection express route.

Did anyone else see that Gilpin's no longer does steam bagel sandwiches but simply sandwiches instead? This is quite disappointing to me, as I thought it was a truly unique and delicious product for late night grub. I see they even opened the upstairs dining area, which I was awaiting for quite some time.

I actually thought the same thing after seeing the Minneapolis episode of Man vs. Food. Grammer's would be perfect for gemutlichkeit and an epicenter for celebrating Cincinnati's German heritage.

Kroger moves to buy Gateway Garage from Cincinnati Premium content from Business Courier - by Dan Monk , Senior Staff Reporter Date: Friday, July 29, 2011, 6:00am EDT Job growth at its downtown headquarters has convinced Kroger Co. it would be better to own Gateway Garage at Vine Street and Central Parkway. Under a proposal headed to Cincinnati City Council in August, Kroger would pay the city $4.5 million for the 950-space garage, for which it signed a 32-year lease in 2003. That purchase price is $450,000 more than a recent appraised value for the property but short of the $12 million cost of construction, according to council records. The garage was built as part of a retention package in which the grocery giant promised to maintain at least 1,200 jobs at its headquarters and grow to 1,460 by 2010. The company far exceeded those goals, with 1,700 now in the Kroger building on Vine Street and in a seven-story building across the street, [...] Read the rest of the article here: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/print-edition/2011/07/29/kroger-moves-to-buy-gateway-garage.html?ana=e_ph --- It almost makes me think that Kroger expected they would exceed their projected job growth, and they bought the Gateway Garage at a deep discount. Granted, they will have to make all repairs on their own dime. But they purchased the garage for $4.5 million, instead of the $12 million cost to build it. So, even though the City gets money back for the garage, Kroger seems to have gotten a sweet deal. I haven't parked in the garage before, but it looks like it may be off limits to *Gateway* customers during weekdays, only open to neighborhood guests during nights and weekends.

^Wow, I'm pretty shocked. I'm not sure that's the whole story though. Why would someone from Cafe de Wheels say all those things unprovoked?

I've heard that the owners of Ludlow Wines are moving a few doors down to expand their store, add a rear deck, and have the code capacity for taps. I'm not sure which building, but it's likely where that speculated Ambar-leased space was. I heard their plans fell through.

A story about a sign on the tower...with no photos included. I feel like I'm reading the New Adventures of Mark Twain through a small hole in the wall.

I find it funny that they included so many photos of the existing site. Like we haven't had to see that eyesore devolve for the past 10 years.

^I love this. I can't wait for the buildings to be new living spaces. They will really help revitalization to move from the intersection of Main and McMicken up to Five Corners.

Community members are looking to have some influence on the Tax Commissioner, to allow Keller's to reopen ASAP. There is a large risk of tens of thousands of dollars in perishables going to waste otherwise.

^The article says nothing about Keller's being open again.

I think DAAP would be substantially improved if they were just allowed to repaint the exterior and interior with a different color scheme. That crossed with the fluorescent lighting makes it almost impossible for me to work in there. Sterile is the word.

I cited the exact same thing in a conversation today! I absolutely do not think it's a good idea to have hotels and restaurants on the bridge. Also, is nothing sacred?

Hyde Park Neighborhood Council is having meeting on Wednesday evening, primarily to speak about the re-striping of Madison Road. I believe they invited city people to present. But from what I've heard, they're not excited about it. 7pm @ Knox Presbyterian Church, i believe.

I always thought they expanded too quickly. Within 5 years, they went from having the space next to Holiday House in Newport to 3 locations in Downtown Cincinnati. Not wise in this economic climate.

For the record, I was being entirely sarcastic. I just wanted an excuse to use the words, ratfink, rathscallion, and skeez. There there, TheHemroid. I have no problem with a pool hall, though I probably wouldn't go.

^A pool hall? There are several places to play billiards around campus. Catskellar, Fries Cafe, Arlin's Bar to name a few. You must think we've got some rat-finks, rathscallions, and skeezes around these parts.

You mean Chris Smitherman and COAST.