teebtong

PS sorry for the rant earlier! I'm just tired of hearing about efforts to block something that seems to logical to me, but... Welcome to Ohio! Governor: Ted Strickland, Lieutenant Governor: Lee Fisher

^Yeah; I feel terrible because fleeing frustration doesn't make anything better for the state, but... Like I said, I just don't want to have to wait until I'm retired to have passenger rail in OH, passenger rail that at that point will be even FARTHER behind what the rest of the country/world has. :| I especially don't feel like waiting because I am blessed enough to be able to be mobile~

Ughh....I can't stand this state sometimes! :x There's a reason new businesses don't want to locate/stay in OH (same with college grads): BECAUSE IT'S STILL 19-F'ING-52 IN THIS DAMN STATE! I've almost had it; unless you have a car, want 2.5 white children and a wife named Barb this isn't the state for you. I know it doesn't "help the cause" or whatever, but I'm about to do what it takes to help MY cause (i.e. my life/sanity) and bounce from this state the first chance I get. I can't stand how anything even SLIGHTLY progressive project here gets scuttled and then people complain about what a sh*thole this place is....Well I'm starting to agree. Ohio is exactly the same place it was when I was born (and I've lived here since); nothing's changed. I'd really rather not wait until I'm 65 to be able to take a train going 45-mph to the (at that point) Third-World cities of Cincinnati or Cleveland. There's no investment in anything close to my heart here because it all gets sunk by the GOP unless it's for a new "American Heritage Truth Center" or something like that; the stranglehold they have on the politics and minds of OH keeps anything from getting done. Couple that with the spineless Dems that come into power once every 47 years and I think I'd rather just go to another state and join the rest of the world in the 21st century. </rant> Now that I've vented, I hope this Sen Patton character doesn't ruin this; I've sent my (more calmly worded) thoughts to his office. Thank you for your time :-)

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm sorry that it took me so long to respond but with trying to graduate I've been pretty busy. Still having a tough time finding a job...but I'll guess you'll have that. Useful suggestions everyone. If you hear anything more please let me know! Thanks

Hey all! This is Steve. I've been on this site for years (although the post count may not confirm that :-o) and love reading about what's going on. I'm getting ready to graduate from school (BA in Geography) and am looking for a job...problem is, I'm not sure where to look. Any ideas? Any entertaining anecdotes to share about your first post-graduation job? Let's hear 'em! Thanks a bunch! Steve

So does anyone get mad when articles refer to "smoker's rights"... Ok fine go ahead and feel like your rights as a SMOKER are being compromised because of a statewide referendum. Not too many people seemed to be as up in arms when the state passed one of the most strigent BANS ON COMMON LAW MARRIAGES/SAME-SEX PARTNERSHIPS in the country! I guess the voice of the people is wrong when it says "don't smoke in front of my children", but oh so right when it says "I don't want them queers marryin'!" Smoker's rights? How about Human/Taxpayer rights?! It just bugs me how there are so many people in this state up in arms and have made this a fudamental case about freedom in Ohio. So many people are taking a stand on this issue when everyone just kinda sat back and watched Issue 1 pass a few years ago and then said nothing more about it. I think that it's disgusting that someone's rights as a smoker are consider more important than others' rights to enter legal contracts with other consenting adults and receive benefits for their live-in spouses, same-sex or otherwise. God damn it I hate this state sometimes.

Wonderful pics of a wonderful neighborhood. I think the snow makes it seem even more magical.

Not directed at anyone in particular, just a thought that was provoked while reading: So because Columbus doesn't have older urban housing, should the city just not bother to build anything because it would be "fake"? At one point those townhomes in Cincinnati were characterless new housing. Yeah, they have always had architectural value, but that doesn't give them character. Character is something they gained over time. Everything has to start somewhere.

I think this is nice and I agree that not all housing should be mid-rise condo buildings, simply because I think DT is just too big geographically to fill with that style of development. Also, Gay St closer to high is a nice group of buildings that are all about 5-6 stories tall at the most, aside from the Renaissance Hotel. It looks nice to have low rise there, why wouldn't look good to have it further down? Also, I just think it's unrealistic to assume that all of the Inner Belt is going to fill with mid-rise condo/apt buildings. There could/should/(and I think) will be a lot of those kinds of buildings, but not every square block is going to fill with that style of development. I've read many times that DT Columbus is geographically larger than the area of the Loop in Chicago...unless Columbus is going to explode in the near future, i think we can spare a few blocks of what appears to be attractive development on a human scale, which is what is already there on Gay St. In response to the "slippery-slope" of taking what you can get downtown, I have mixed feelings. True, I think that just taking what anyone will throw at you is bad, because that's exactly why DT is what it is now. That being said, a little dose of reality is healthy too. We're not going to wake up anytime soon and see Columbus look like Vancouver (the lack of a port, navigable water, and economic ties to China guaranteeing that). So what is the solution? Things like this proposed Gay St. development. It's not ranch-style homes and parking-in-front stores on High and Broad; no one's gonna tear down Rhodes Tower and replace it with a Pizza Hut/Taco Bell-combo drive-in. Gay St. between 4th and 6th is an appropriate location for this sort of development, and shouldn't be dismissed because of people's pipedreams about having Columbus be a city of green glass high-rise condos. The city can definitely spare a few blocks for attractive urban housing that fits with the nature of the street it's on. That's my opinion.

Yeah it's still there, and it's still about a half a mile before the actual state line.

My dad used to work at McGregor Park back in the mid-90s. It was indeed a golf course and was bought by DP&L. It's their main HQ where are the real decision making is going on. Their office downtown is really more of a prop for media interviews and things like that (forgive conspiracy theory tone...I didn't know how not to make it sound like that :|). I've been inside the compound when he used to work there and MAN is it beautiful. The buildings are absolutely gorgeous on the inside with big trees growing in the atrium and what-not. Also, the grounds surrounding the buildings are full of tracks for jogging and benches to sit outside and have lunch. It's a very beautiful place, and if it's anything like it used to be, it suggests that the execs have a lot of money.

Having been in that building a few times, I was convinced it was going to demolish itself while I was inside it. I had my eyes on the exits at all times because I thought the old thing was going to just collapse when I was there. OSU likes to let buildings get to the brink of danger and then demolish them rather than renovate. A few examples: the now former Larkins Hall, and that absolute atrosicity the Ohio Union. I work at the Union and some of the things I've seen behind the scenes make me not want to be in there, I'll say that much. Enjoy:-)

I'm glad that all news stories in every state seem to take a backseat to gay-marriage bans; it's one subject that can unite people across racial boundaries, prejudice against gays. It's good to know that disdain for homosexuals is one of the few things that gets Americans talking :x

If only for hometown posterity, i have to side with ColDayMan. After reading what is written, I will say this: Dayton and Toledo can't be compared as easily as people seem to think. Dayton and Toledo have very little in common aside from being in the same state. I feel that Akron and Dayton are much more similar...That being said, i understand that everyone has their own favorites. However, I have noticed that some people from Toledo constantly try to attack D-town to say how nice Toledo is. I see this as an example of the predator the wounded prey because it's easier. I'm not naming names, but in the past I have noticed several Toledo forumers have compared dayton to toledo to make toledo seem better simply because a comparison to , say, columbus would warrant shrieks of laughter at the absurdity of it. My opinion, Dayton is simply in better condition than Toledo in many ways. It's been ranked as a better place to live and to do business. Toledo forumers who feel unfairly treated may direct further comments to every magazine that has consistently ranked Dayton higher. Oh and for ColDayMan....DAYTON REPRESENT!

I'm glad they are renovating the tower. Not only is it underappreciated, and not only does it have a really good skyline view, but I know that a lot of new students (including myself last year) that thought it was off limits! I seriously didn't know that students were even allowed up there until fall quarter this year.

and what is this smell....maybe it's mom's apple pie and baseball. at least that is what the tourism materials would have you believe. that and the amish live in downtown cleveland/cincy/columbus :-)

what do you all think about having a student org that takes people to places that they didn't know we had in ohio and showing htem that they don't need to flee the state to live/visit cool places? Then later i could just start an ad campaign aimed at just getting the average ohioan to be proud of their state by showing them that if we are proud of it and take care of it, it grabs people's attention and makes them want to be a part of it. (obviously this is very down the road...i'm a dreamer..what can i say :speech:)

Oh I hate 4 kegs, panini's, old school a lot too. I used to like larry's until they started checking id's more closely/often (i have the worst fake on the planet...and it's from FL :-() once i turn the big 2-1 though anyway, ok...i see why you have a problem with CP for that reason...but how did the land pass into their hands in the first place? why didn't anyone else take it before they did with the idea of redevelopment? also, why haven't many locally-owned/operated places taken up places in the GC? Since there has been very little public outcry of outrage (except for here....but most people i know know nothing of this site), it leads me to believe that the students didn't really appreciate local business anyway. I know some places moved to locations that aren't full of suburban transplants like the university is where they are probably much more valued than the suburban chain stores that most students here want. I find it funny that most people here think that Cleveland/Cincinnati are hella gross, but whenever they are asked, they say that they are from one of those two places. The suburbanite students here want those things because they came here for the college, not because they wanted to live in the city. they have no intention on staying any longer than they have to in columbus or any city for that matter. the week after they graduate they are back to the 'burbs. And while i would rather the retail NOT cater to them, i'm outnumbered, so until they decide that they love urban living (see my mission in convincing people that ohio is cool in the city discussions area if you haven't already), things around here is going to cater to suburban expats. All the locally owned stuff i am totally willing to go to Short North to get anyway, if only to get away from the guys who make gay jokes on the street and then hug all over their friends and tell each other "i love you"when they're drunk because they think it's funny (i hate hypocrisy :whip:). good riddance to these people. let them have the gateway center...that's what most of the people on campus want is stuff they can get anywhere else in the country. maybe it'll take a little business away from easton :-D besides, those in the know have short north. I know that the value of locally owned and operated business can't be measured, but there are still plenty of locally owned/operated places both around campus and the short north. Is it really all that bad that we lost a few blocks of run-down buildings (that i know could have been fixed...but they weren't) and replaced with new buildings with some different stuff in it? I know most of the places that were doing well there (magnolia thunderpussy, for example) moved to Short North, and seem to be doing quite fine there. It's still not that far away from campus. it's like 5 minutes away by COTA bus, and the people that shopped there still shop there. and besides, if campus partners hadn't bought it....who knows what would have happened. yeah, i know that it COULD have been lots of fun, quirky shops, but A) they might not have done well and B) that might never have happened at all. Too many woulda/shoulda/coulda's don't help anything. At least someone did something, rather than just letting the old buildings sit fallow waiting for something cool to come in. and who knows, maybe the barnes & noble there is just a place holder for something much cooler. at least having a big chain there as a possible temporary place holder is better than having nothing there at all. Is the problem with CP because of its unreasonable amount of time spent redeveloping, or that the redevelopment occured at all? I can understand the first, but i have reluctantly given up on the second because that is what the market is here.

Thanks X Oh and Summit Street....yes. If that's what it comes down to...i (we) will resort to sacks full of doorknobs...big ones even. Hell, I'll even steal the ones off of the statehouse!

^ yeah, I decided to start asking for suggestions here knowing that this would be the best place to come across people that didn't think OH sucked

I'm not sure. I seriously only had this discussion with him like two days ago...that's why I asked if anyone had suggestions. It's such a big venture that I want to hear anyone else suggestions for what to do. Almost anything would help, even something as small as to start out by just trying to convince as many people as you can that Ohio doesn't suck and to get them to do the same. It's like a pyramid scheme :-)

C'mon...i'm serious!! ::shakes fist towards sky:: :-)

So i was talking to a friend of mine at work about the problems that Ohio has been having the last few years. I was inspired to talk to him about this because of the "what's next...cleveland transit" thread, and it's mention of the "Can't-do spirit we have in Ohio" He and I got to talking, and we realized that everyone in Ohio LETS people from other states badmouth us, and if Ohioans don't like/respect their state, who will? For example, when my cousin from FL came to visit all he did was bitch about it, and everytime he would meet my friends he would be like "it must suck to be from Ohio....." AND THEY AGREEED WITH HIM!! Why?! Why do people in Ohio let themselves believe our state sucks when it clearly does not. If we want Ohio to be everything that it deserves to be, we need to kick the self hate. I know that it'll take some mountain moving, and YEARS of bitching to people hardcore about letting them hate their state, but I'm fed-up (as most/all of you all are too, I'm sure) and I'm willing to devote myself to this cause because it's incredibly important. Call it a lifelong ambition, because it might just take that long. I was inspired to start a student org. here at OSU, for starters, and I think i'm going to still carry through on that. (it would be nice if I could get some help on that, if there are any current OSU students here :-)) But i want to do more. i'm serious. I want to do something that will help to turn around the "can't-do it here in OH" attitude. I know it'll be HELLA-HARD, but i'm willing to work on it a lot because I A) want people to know how nice OH is B) i feel passionately about it C) i know it's going to take A LOT to persuade the naysayers here to like our own state. Here are my questions to you all: A)who's with me B)who has suggestions on how to go about this Before anyone suggests that "it'll never work because this is Ohio" or that "that's a cute suggestion kiddie...no go run and play", know that I am DEAD SERIOUS, and that i'm am fully aware that doing this will take lots of energy and time and work; but I intend to do something about Ohio's mindset one way or another :whip: And all I wanna know is....who's coming with me? (blatant and terrible Half-Baked reference...i apologize wholeheartedly :|) [move]It's time to put our money where our mouths are and put all this Urbanohio-forum boosting to work!! Please help me!! I could use all the help i can get!![/move] Steve

Sorry for the two in a row :-( I forgot to mention that this area looks much nicer and doesn't get a bad rep if High St. isn't constantly littered everywhere with post-bar trash. Thanks

I've only posted things like 5 times, and they were a while ago, but I'm glad to be a part of the discussion. That being said... I know I'm going to catch a lot of slack for this but....WHY DOES EVERYONE BITCH ABOUT CAMPUS PARTNERS SOOO MUCH!! Do you really think what they're doing is so bad? I will admit that I didn't live in Columbus before they bought up the land, but I have heard that it was just like some of the bars up on North Campus. I, along with many of the current students here, never knew South Campus like that and most kids don't mind that there aren't bars down there. They either go up north or drink at house parties. Is it so bad that there aren't 1651941614 bars on High St.? Everyone complains about what they're doing, about how they tore up an urban neighborhood to build a lifestyle center...are they really doing that though. When those buildings that were there before were built, weren't they built with the purpose of being filled with retail? So what that they weren't all built at the same time, they were built for the same thing. Also, so students have to walk like two-three blocks up High St. so that they can go to 4 Kegs or Panini's...so what? Kids flocked to Old School last year (and still do as far as I know), and that's on Lane! So is it really so bad that campus lost a few bars down south? Business is probably doing much better for the ones up north. Also, being that I've heard that these bars were just like the ones on North Campus, is it so bad that they are gone? Damn, there's so much less broken glass and people screaming qoutes from Napolean Dynamite on South High. If only those bars had stayed... :cry: And another thing...they're also added new (albeit expensive, probably prohibitively so for students) residential to the neighborhood My point is, that, because of Campus Partners A) tore down old retail to build new retail...is that so bad? Are we supposed to keep the world looking exactly the same way it did in 1945? B)the loss of these bars with character gave other bars with character more business C)Now there's only one part of High St. that shimmers with broken beer bottles D)there's some nicer residential in there for wealthier students...is that so bad? I think that sometimes we (myself included) who feel so passionately about urban landscapes forget that when old things are built, they are meant to last for a long time, but not forever. It's ok to tear down some older buildings sometimes. We can't just mothball the whole country so that we can save every old building, most of which were just meaningless infill when they were built. So Campus Partners did something new with the area? Is that THAT big of a deal? Someone someday will do something new with it, and maybe people then will bitch about them tearing out the Gateway buildings. I'm sure if you had suggested they tear down the pre-Campus Partners buildings ten years after they were built, no one would have cared. Everything has to be new sometime. Does everyone think that they should have just let the area turn back into a undercode fire-hazard littered with vomit and broken glass (to those of you thinking I'm overreacting or exagerating, I'm not. Every weekend my apartment building on Frambes looks like that.... EVERY WEEKEND!) I for one am glad that somebody bought the land and turned it into something other than loud-ass bars. At least there will be one part of campus that doesn't look like a riot/hurricane/war/rainstorm of vomit rolled through there every weekend. Not everyone will like it (as evident by the previous posts everyone has made), but at least the University area will stop being a "one-trick horse" consisting of nothing but bars, as it would seem some people want it to be.