subocincy

I got an idea: (1) resurrect plans for the marvelous 650 ft. Helmut Jahn tower ("Fountain Square West") that was once envisioned for 5th & Vine; (2) shift west one block to 5th & Race; (3) add 300 ft. to make it the tallest building in Ohio; (4) name it the new "Sears Tower"; (5) deliver an armored-car full of $$$ to a particular suburban Chicago location; (6) then sit back and wait...

Really appreciated your provocative #77 (8-5) post, natininja--I only wish that we could both live to see a large migration of people into the entire western half of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Such a large and scenic piece of our metro area to be so underutilized. Yes, I'm aware that many citizens wish to maintain what they consider the natural beauty (and rural aspect) of this swath of semi-countryside, but I envision it as populated and busy as any of our northeastern suburbs. And also under a metro management where the city-county governments are ONE. (Too much to hope for in our lifetimes, eh?) Lastly, I envision the rolling hills/valleys of western Hamilton Co. to become the backdrop to some of the most spectacular housing developments in the entire region. Yes, I accept that the subsoil may not allow for such massive projects, but would it be totally impossible? Picture a well-developed metropolitan Cincinnati that extends from Batavia/Mt.Orab in the east to Harrison/Ross in the west. And an MSA (Cincy-Dayton-NKY included) of app. 4.5 million. An impossible dream? I think not.

Thanks for the invitation, Nexis4Jersey! Your photography and commentary in chronicling some of the extensive rail lines (both passenger and freight) that intersect New Jersey have really changed my perspective about the importance of the Garden State. Truly, NJ seems to be the backbone of the vast NYC transportation empire.

A great post--the combination of excellent photos & informative statistics is a real eye-opener as to how America's greatest city handles its humongous daily transportation needs, in and off the island. And your numerous other posts (especially on the massive New Jersey transportation infrastructure) have provided a real education to this armchair traveler. The only downside to what you're accomplishing is that many of us Midwesterners are going to end of hating both NYC and NJ--namely because of our own envy and jealously... (Keep up the pressure, though--it only hurts for a few moments!)

The beautifully restored power plant/office building is a knockout! (I'll bet it's equally appealing on the inside.)

Ink--thank you for the great look at this Michigan city! If possible, please keep us posted as to the reconstruction progress--it's obviously been a huge and disruptive experience for everyone there. BTW, those two 1930s art deco towers are so handsome that I wish both of them could be airlifted and dropped into place somewhere along 7th St. in Cincinnati. (Do you think the citizens of Battle Creek would mind?)

The inclusion of Norwood, Oh. (an old-line Cincinnati neighborhood almost directly in the center of the larger city) as one of the three top walkable Ohio communities was no surprise to many. The center of Norwood is filled with a variety of safe residential streets, a resurrected, mostly service-oriented business district, and great character. It was a delight to see it recognized as such!

WOW! Thank you for this fabulous artistic rendering of Cincy--even back then it was a gem along the beautiful Ohio River.

OMG!! I don't believe I've laughed so hard in years! Thanks!

Really appreciate your Xavier updates! Your photos give us all front-row seats to the amazing transformation that's happening there.

HHS78--the GM Assembly plant was a rectangle bordered by Montgomery Rd.to the west, the Norwood Lateral (562) to the north, Forest Ave. to the east, and Sherman/Smith Rds. and Park Ave. to the south. In its peak in the early 1970s, it employed almost 9,000 and near its mid 1980s closing it still managed to employ 4,200. When its very last Chevy Camaro rolled off the line on August 26, 1987, the event devastated the city so badly that the day became known as "Black Wednesday." (almost 35% of Norwood's taxes vanished)

As Eighth and State just mentioned, the GM closing in the early 1980's crushed Norwood (and even crippled Cincinnati). And as mentioned, job openings there were filled immediately by blue-color workers from everywhere. Now all you have to do is go skyward on Google Maps/Earth to witness the ghostly and sad imprint of where the GM complex once existed--even today, several decades later, it's still painful to see where it all once was. Norwood is struggling to fill some of the emptyness with service-oriented jobs--and to a certain extent they have had some success. ( Just look at the busy intersections at Sherman/Montgomery/Smith Rds., etc) And, as also mentioned--and I'm hoping urban-loving people everywhere will recognize this--Norwood has location, location, location! It sits next to so many valued retailers to its NE/East that I simply hesitate to try to list them all here. Yet, back to the original concern--will Norwood ever become "diverse" and be considered a safe residential community for everyone. The answer to this is "yes," and the transformation is already under way. (And what XU is accomplishing in SW Norwood is simply phenomenal!)

While Norwood can't yet be thought of as a "diverse suburb," it's gradually becoming a more mixed community. Just check out who is renting in its largest apt. complexes (especially those bordering Pleasant Ridge) and note the diversity of the tenants. Also visit its Surrey Sq. Kroger's and you'll discover one of the largest and most diverse food stores in the entire city. Yes, I'm well aware that most of the black Kroger patrons travel from Evanston and Avondale, but there was a time not too long ago when black Cincinnatians feared for their lives if they dared cross Dana Ave. into Norwood from the south. While I cannot (and should not) speak for how blacks feel about Norwood today, I'm hoping that the consensus is that Norwood is changing for the better.

Cincinnati has Proctor & Gamble, Macy's, AND Kroger's --but, thanks to Delta, it also has a greatly crippled CVG... Thank you, Delta!

HHS78--hopefully you've already sampled the Madisonville-to-Clifton Metro connections that NEVILLE pointed out, but if not just let me reassure you that both #11 bus-routes intersect with either the crosstown #51 or #31 at several locations. And, as you probably already know, the #51 takes you through the Clifton Gaslight District, while the #31 crosses through Clifton past the Corryville Krogers. Both of these crosstown buses run frequently. Good luck in your new ridership!

Talk about a beautiful city--OMG, this is one! Thanks but no thanks for making me envious of a fairyland I can't have for my very own! (oh, the pain...) Zurich should be the model for all American wannabe urban areas; its compact density is delightful!

Your pictures of City Hall, alone, were worth the price of admission to this fine post! Like others have already mentioned, Buffalo has many architectural gems built in the grand style and your interior shots of them were most appreciated!

Kudos on a wonderful set of pictures--one could learn a great deal about this emerging city just by studying this expansive set of photos! (Bogota's BRT-system and bike-lanes should be the envy of many an American city!) Just one "concern" about Bogota from this armchair traveler, though--and any comments welcome. For many outsiders, Bogota has the reputation of being a violent Colombian drug capital where travelers need to beware of their safety at all times. Is such an assessment accurate or unfair?

Metro's #17 is one of its most patronized routes. From downtown, it will take you up the hill past the front of UC (Clifton Ave), then through the Clifton Gaslight District down to Northside (and beyond). You'll have no trouble catching one, either way.

All the recent Xavier development is simply amazing, as your crystal-clear pictures attest. Thank you so much for this visual tour, Sherman; I'm an old XU grad myself, loving my alma mater more and more. Looking forward to more such photos!

I was simply browsing this site when I discovered Cary, only moments ago. First, I would like to thank you, INK, for assembling so many fine pictures that give one such a comprehensive look at this town. Second, I was simple amazed that a church the size of the Basilica even exists in such a small burg; structures like this are traditionally associated with much larger population centers, are they not? But what intrigued me most of all was the comment suggesting Cary isn't well liked--if not, why so?

Sadly to say, the future of this historic church looks grim. I'm afraid that any interest in the return to the Latin Mass will never generate enough long-term patronage to financially protect St. Marks. I hope I'm wrong. Although I am no longer a Catholic, I remember my very first visit to this church, as a 5-yr. old in 1950. These memories are still ones of mystery & magic.

Nice job, Keith M! (and this is from a Cincy boy, heh heh!) A virtual tour-de-force, visually. It will take me several hours to take the entire tour, but it will worth it. Thamks!

Sad, sad, sad. What now?

Thank you for the tour of this east-coast gem! What else can I say about such a city that hasn't already been said? (large, cosmopolitan, cultured, and beautiful -- that's Philly!)