jim uber

I was just reflecting on how different the situation seems now compared to one year ago regarding streetcar mass transit in Cincinnati. And about how the recent bonds approval are a symptom and not the reason for the difference I feel. A year ago COAST and Smitherman could have thought that an anti-streetcar-rail referendum would be an easy sell, and that's maybe why they overreached. Big Kudos are due to John Schneider and Brad Thomas and other founders of the CFP for creating the organizations and power base that many others could grab onto. I can only imagine that COAST and Smitherman would rather go for elective weekly root canal than endure the hornets nest they know would envelope them with another referendum. The emergence of the lone Luken as the battle leader speaks volumes. I hope I didn't just jinx something... but don't think so!

Dan, your argument that all non-gas+parking costs are sunk costs and thus out of the equation doesn't hold up. - Every time anyone buys insurance these days, they are asked to estimate the annual mileage. Annual mileage relates to risk and thus to insurance costs, as it should. I pay less by stating that my truck is only used on in town trips (true), and thus my expected mileage is 5K/year. That is only possible if I take some form of mass transit for all of my out of town trips. - Annual mileage is directly related to risk of moving violations, and moving violations cost money directly, and in the form of increased insurance rates. - Depreciation is directly related to mileage. A 5 year old car used only for in town trips will be worth significantly more in resale than the same car with an extra 50K miles on it cause it was also used for out of town travel. - maintenance is not insignificant, and is related to mileage. Look at the maintenance schedule in your owners manual. I just paid $50 for an oil change at jiffy lube. At one change per 3000 miles, that relatively small cost, alone, is about $8/round trip to cleveland. - The purchase of a car is itself a decision that can bring significant differences in costs, related to how the car will be used. I bought a used toyota tacoma with 140K miles on it for $5K, but only because I knew it was for in town use. If I have to buy a car for out of town trips also, I will be less likely to go with such an inexpensive option. The more good mass transit we have, the more people will be able to spend less on their cars. These are real costs, Dan. They add up. It's not as simple as gas + parking.

All of these arguments about personal choices are not intended to convince any one person that they are wrong. We all understand that some people love to drive by themselves listening to satellite radio, and others like to drink huge amounts of alcohol and pass out without the fear of a DUI or being killed (I am among them). The point of the arguments are to convince one person in the government chain of "decision making" (that's a term I'd use loosely), that they should maybe put aside their own biases and allow some of us to be able to travel by train. DanB and others with similar feelings don't need to be among them. They just need to be convinced that there are enough of us that want to use it, and that it's efficient for the government to provide this service for us.

^ I did; thanks. Dear Ms. Skala, This letter is in response to the "Railing for Blue Line extension" Sun Press Editorial. The editorial states, in part, "... it seems like a lot of money to provide limited access between the three major Ohio cities with no real benefit in terms of time saved as opposed to driving Interstate 71." The Sun Press might want to recalculate the "time saved" for business people traveling between the three biggest metro areas of the 7th most populous state in our Union. Traveling on a train means that I can work (or nap) safely and productively while I travel, without endangering myself or others through inappropriate use of my smartphone (or running off the road). Last week I got up at 3AM in order to get to Cleveland from Cincinnati for a 1PM meeting. Why? Because I needed to put a meeting presentation together before I got on the road, and had no time to do it before. After the meeting ended at 6PM we went to dinner, and then I left for Cincinnati (early morning commitments back home). How fun; the pleasure of traveling alone in my automobile on I71 once again, now bloated after my meal and with only gas station coffee to keep me between the white lines. Sometimes driving is overrated, and not all time is created equal. How I longed to sleep a little bit longer and do my work on a train. And how I really longed for a gin and tonic in a club car on the ride home, falling asleep only to be woken up by "Next stop, Cincinnati!" Jim Uber, President CitiLogics, LLC

This comment leaves me flabbergasted and speechless.

Indeed not all minutes are created equal, although we try to make them so. Too many people mistakenly think that driving a car at 80 MPH is a reason to set the cruise control, relax, and get some work done. Talk on your bluetooth, watch your DVD, turn around and scream at your kids, and hunt for the right app on your iphone. Your auto is not your office, and if that fact became better appreciated, more commuters would fall out of love with their autos, but people would be safer. Today I was on my motorcycle entering I75S at the Ridge road ramp, and blinkered safely into the left hand lane at about 70 MPH (it's one of those left hand entrance ramps). A few seconds later, some mindless jerk enters my lane from the right, and all of a sudden I find myself able to literally touch the left rear quarter panel of a hulking SUV. She was going about 80, based on my speed. Muscle memory takes over as I look quickly in both mirrors, squeeze the clutch and the brakes (gently), and look ahead to decide if I need to maneuver left. And, from 5 feet behind the SUVs side mirror, I see clearly the drivers face staring... down... at... her smartphone. She never even saw me, or got the pleasure of hearing the profanity streaming inside my helmet. When your life is nearly taken by someone pretending that their car is their luxury office, then you'll appreciate the club car.

^ Not exactly sure what you think I'm assuming, or how I should know about your investments. I just know what you write: "Its only going to get worse if there isnt a big crackdown." "Let's hop on that bike and pedal up and down Elm and Race St. at 2 in the morning and see what happens!!" I see Jake's comments about his OTR bike riding as a straightforward counterpoint to these comments. I sympathize with his viewpoint. With all of the exaggerations spewed about OTR and crime, those of us who live here are tempted to use a little more swagger than usual, just to make a point.

DanB, the issue with me continues to be how fascinated you are with those people who choose to live and invest in OTR. The fact that you are so interested is actually good news, because it's another sign of the positive momentum; otherwise you woundn't care. More people are choosing to invest and be excited about positive growth in the neighborhood, because a healthy OTR would provide them a type of living that is mostly unavailable in Cincinnati today. They are investing despite the crime "issue." They know that people like you will think they should live in fear for their lives, and the biggest change over the past 5 years is that there are so many more people that are willing to tell you "I don't care if you think I'm crazy." Just yesterday morning I walked down vine st. and up ahead of me a group of about 15 black "loiterers" were just standing around occupying space on the sidewalk and talking to each other. I gathered my courage and puffed up my 140 lb. white frame, and walked right through them unscathed! I didn't even have to cross to the other side of the street. Wow, to be alive on OTR streets is so exhilarating. If you were with me, imagine the stories you could tell!

I rode past Friendship park today, and there is quite a bit of contruction activity on the banks of the Ohio further east of Friendship park. Does anyone know if this is just bank stabilization, or maybe an extension of Friendship park to the east?

That sure is some funny math! If you are driving 75mph, that's 3 hours 29 minutes of actual driving time. That means you are taking 2 -45 minute potty breaks! Which is it? Not really. Don't be offended either of you, but I always prefer to believe Google over guys I don't know like Neville and DanB. Google says it is 247 miles and 4.0 hours, so that's what it is. And Google calculates driving time by assuming no breaks. So, is a one hour total non-productive break time reasonable within a total 5 hour drive? Absolutely it is. Some people can reduce the break time. You can efficiently drive off the fascinating Interstate and into the nearby drive up window, order something in a wrapper, fish your wallet out of your pants, and then drool grease and ketchup all over yourself while dining and driving. Too bad there isn't a hands-free burger for the auto, yet. Or, you could do like my traveling salesman Dad did when he needed to get somewhere quick (and what he made his sons do too) - get out the can from under the seat and try to avoid potholes. For me, I'll take a more leisurely 5 hour rail trip, a club car, and a real bathroom, all the while continuing to move to my destination.

The points about stereotypes made by Buckley in the interesting clip you posted are useful. I doubt that any of us can define racism. But all of us use stereotypes every day. If I have an awareness of my stereotypes, I can realize that while they are useful they are still just stereotypes, and as such apply to an aggregate population and not necessarily to any one individual. If I do not have an awareness of my stereotypes, I lose that perspective. Having stereotypes doesn't make anyone racist, but I think that losing an awareness of them can make a person act racist. Once you actually believe your stereotypes apply to any one individual, then I'd say you're racist. That's not a theoretical or learned definition, just something I pulled out of thin air that makes sense to me. I'd say that in large part this thread is about people arguing over different degrees of awareness of stereotypes. And yes, I'm that jim uber responding to the post by Kaid. Obviously I'm aware that my opinions are not shared by everyone. But I'm opinionated, like most people here. As far as development of OTR goes, I'm probably not nearly as "anti-gentrification" as you might think. I think that OTR needs to be gentrified, but think it should eventually be primarily done by individuals as opposed to corporations. Hopefully that will happen if more people see a good future for the area and choose to invest their money in property and arrange for the renovations themselves. While I like the Gateway quarter, I hope that the ultimate renovation of OTR does not look like a big version of that. My reasons don't have anything to do with the way the physical renovations are being done through 3CDC, which I think are fine. I just imagine that the social development of OTR will be different if individual scale rehabilitation takes root.

You know, I completely get, and got, that. I'm just choosing to interpret it in a different context. Some days, I want to tell people to eff off when they do that to me. Other days, I am patient and just let them walk past. I like the more patient person, better. So I'm saying that part of living in an area like this is to try and understand why people might want to behave that way; I think that's very useful for everyone. I am disagreeing strongly with a viewpoint that I regard as reactionary. I had an experience just today that might make my point better. I was having breakfast at Tucker's, which has become a Saturday ritual for me that I enjoy very much. I was meeting a friend, who was late, and I was holding a stool at the counter for her. This young black guy was sitting at a booth, and the waitress asked him to move to the counter cause he was alone (it's a very small place). So he starts to sit down next to me, at the stool I was trying to save for my friend. In the most polite fashion possible, I said I was trying to hold this for my friend, and asked if he could take another of the open seats. This guy gives me a look of such contempt - I was taken aback. I apologized again when he very slowly moved to a nearby seat, and then thanked him again when he sat down. No response. Just a silent look of hatred. If someone had asked that of you or me, it would have been "Oh sure, no problem." When I left, I went over to him and told him that I appreciated him moving for us, and that I didn't mean anything by it. He shrugged, but didn't look quite as mean. Maybe he realized that he overreacted. My point is that these attitudes are all over the place out there, and they are responsible for some of the behavior described, but I don't think it's that useful to label it as "uncivil" and then just say that "gentrification will save us", which was the thread that was going on here. That's not going to solve anything.

First of all Edale, I didn't call you a racist. That was reserved for Jeffrey's comments. For you, I disagreed with the generalities you used to describe undesirable characteristics of a neighborhood. Maybe, being with you on the streets that particular time, who knows, I might agree with you that it was undesirable behavior. Who knows? But reread your original post, before you embellished it to respond to my criticism. The behavior you describe is too general and to me describes a vibrant street life. Have I run across the street in front of traffic to avoid going to the corner? Of course. Have I loitered on the sidewalk talking to people? I sometimes do it on purpose; living in a dense format neighborhood gives me that opportunity. I'm no fan of really loud music inside a car - don't know how they stand that - but whatever, to each his own. You were obviously right - your post wasn't popular, at least not with me. What exactly did you want or expect, as a reply? And go ahead and keep using the term "Mr. OTR progressive" for me. I'll keep trying to live up to it.

Well, Jeffrey, since you called my feelings, based on my life experiences, bullsh!t, I'll just go ahead and say that you are rac!st. There. Even. Some folks put way too much emphasis on nice and tidy. That's my opinion. I'd prefer that OTR develop in a way that encourages more people to move here that are at least tolerant, and even better, willing to go out of their way to interact with different people. That can happen in Cincinnati, and will create a healthier environment. I'm more afraid of Jeffrey and his friends moving in and making this, socially, just like every other place, than of the "uncivil" black people jaywalking and, you know, talking on the streets. As far as I'm concerned, Jeffrey and others like him can take his notebook and go do research at strip malls. But I'm sure that won't make him quite as interesting at dinner parties.

^ OK I get that. And, I appreciate the comment. But this is Cincinnati's place in time to do it differently. OTR is at the interface. During the current period when people who have been separated by sprawl and zoning are actively mixing, that is the time to stretch and learn. Not to reflexively wish that Gateway quarter looked like a suburban strip mall. And, it's possible. It happens every day at places like Tucker's diner, which I'd guess you'd have to call "super ghetto". Nice people from all walks who get along and enjoy being together. We need more places like that.

Wow. I live at 13th and vine, and love it. Then I read comments describing the neighborhood as "ghetto" because "There were tons of people out loitering on the sidewalk, music was bumping from cars going down the street, people were walking in the middle of the street in front of traffic, and there was just a general sense of lawlessness" - and I think "Oh yeah, those attitudes are what I don't like about Cincinnati." It sounds like "loitering" is the same as standing and talking on the sidewalk, but only when you don't look affluent. Actually, I think I noticed a large group of people "loitering" on the sidewalk in front of Senate yesterday evening. Maybe if more people in Cincinnati would talk to people not like them, or even say hello, we'd all be a little less paranoid; there would be more people on the sidewalk and the street; and you wouldn't have to suffer so much "ghetto feel" because of all the other pleasant distractions.

Rent but eventually buy. Live in OTR and get to understand the area by walking up vine to Findlay market and then take race or elm street back. Investigate side streets. After you get accustomed to it, start saving your pennies and look for good rehab opportunities in areas that have not already been renovated but are nearby. Enjoy figuring out the complexities of linking up with financing and contractors, and visualizing the rehab opportunities. After sinking in maybe $100K into your place, sit back and enjoy your unique piece of history and your cute little mortgage. That's what I've finally figured out that I want to do, but I'm pushing 50. If you do it now you'll be patting yourself on the back well before you get to my age. Prospect hill is a great neighborhood by the way, I agree. I lived there and am still surprised by how different it feels compared to OTR, just a few blocks away. not better or worse but different. It has to do with the detached residential housing and thus lack of first floor retail. Very nice people live in that neighborhood.

If scarce parking was such a big issue, I'd never travel to Chicago or New York. It is really hard to park there, yet somehow people manage. I guess that's because it's worth it to pay $25-$40 just to stuff my car somewhere for the day. If we have something worth visiting, then parking prices will go up and we'll figure out a way to solve that problem by transit, by a real valet and taxi industry, or by building more parking. But I'm tired of people having to "plan" parking for every new person who is going to come into downtown.

The buildings in the last two pictures are all now rehabbed condos. The Mottainai building on Republic is a LEED certified rehab. Unfortunately you couldn't get one now; it's sold out.

If you are saying that heavier means harder to go up hill, I don't think it is that obvious (and I know you didn't say that, but in context that's what it means). The equation needs to involve the number of wheels under power that are pulling that weight. I'll accept whatever the experts say, of course. But from an engineering perspective it is not as simple as "heavier is harder". Divide those weights by the number of power axles used to propel them and then at least I'd know something about the relative friction forces generated and the motor power required.

^ We do have the Cincinnati development fund, which at least targets OTR. I believe they have not chosen to focus in the past on individual projects, but I am learning about them and am very thankful that they exist.

If it is that simple then I conclude that the banks can never be a part of urban renewal, which requires investment in areas that have hope, but no good comps (and comps are the only way they have to evaluate properties/areas, because people don't get off of their asses any more). If that's true then it's sad. Also, the 203(k) loan program is exactly what is needed. But it doesn't seem to be used. A helpful government that solves problems would analyze something like that and figure out what incentives/guarantees are needed.

I am interested in how others are finding the task of getting funding for their historic purchase or purchase/rehab projects. Here's my story. I'm new to the game, but have found a place in OTR that I want to buy, and have an executed contract for $40K. The place is a converted single family and is inhabited by one tenant who wants to stay and is paying $500/month. Subject to professional inspection, I'd say the place appears solid and to require no structural stabilization (I'm a civil engineer). It has a new roof but needs a new boiler. I want to rehab the 2nd and 3rd floors and make that my residence. I may or may not continue to rent the first floor, long term. This place has a lot to like (like many others). To be honest, my financial record is very clean, and my ratios leave tons of room. I've had my job for 20 years, and since I'm a professor I'd pretty much have to kill someone to get fired now. My preference would be to get a 203(k) loan to finance the purchase/rehab in a single mortgage. I can not find a place who will do that in Cincinnati. The home ownership center organized a "Live, buy, design in Over the Rhine" program about 4 years ago, which is now dismantled. The rumors are that it was poorly integrated with lenders, and there was little if any useful education component for the individual homeowner. Following that, I'll take a small mortgage for maybe half the purchase price. Many people probably pay more than that cost each month for fast food lunches. I've had trouble with that one too. Cincinnati Federal S&L even told me that they wouldn't consider a loan because this place didn't have off street parking. :whip: Not to mention that it is right on the proposed streetcar line. As you can probably tell, this is starting to piss me off. It pisses me off more, the more I think about it. Then again, nobody owes me anything, so I can't blame them for doing what they want with their money, but why can they lend tons of money for a trac house in West Chester and not even consider a tiny loan in OTR? I'm ticked off for myself, but then I also think that, if I'm having so much trouble with this property, no wonder the only one making a big dent in OTR is 3CDC. And, they are very clearly not geared to helping someone like me out with financing connections (and for the record, I am a fan). So now I am looking at a short term (one year) mortgage from the Cincinnati development fund, due to some contacts from the VERY HELPFUL people at the Over The Rhine foundation. Thank God for the OTR Foundation and CDF, but what gives with the banks? Is this a problem or am I overreacting? Anyone have any suggestions for other options? I'm really curious.

^ Ohio is an important and still quite populous state and we deserve to have a good rail system forced upon us, for our own good. Sometimes, a good investment is *made* with good leadership.

Mr. Bubbles in pendleton. True hand wash with old fashioned water and soap.