jim uber

OK you win. You're the Biggest Dick on the forum. Good job.

This is not only untrue, it's backwards. The reality is that "They will not be gone, until many good things happen on a block." I have lived next to street drug dealers for the past 7-8 years. I've seen them move, in increments, 300 ft. down the block, and decrease in number from a couple dozen to 3-4, in response to new residents and development. It's very predictable.

Indeed. I'd go further and state that the economic vitality of the Cincy region has been hamstrung for... ever by the Ohio river divide. In any urban region there is a center of mass that defines the focus of economic activity. The influence of our center of mass is decidedly directional, and toward the south is very limited. That hurts us as a region. Imagine if the airport had been developed to the northeast as opposed to CVG. NKY would be seriously worse off without that balancing economic engine, and so would downtown. If we had logical sharing of institutions and revenues across the river for transit, police, fire, emergency services, fixing potholes, or even any one of those, we'd be ahead of where we are today by a lot, I think.

If they didn't point you to it already: http://www.hcauditor.org/bor.asp I have no idea what "sent to the state" means, but you're supposed to have till end of March to file the forms to contest. I think pretty much everyone in OTR has noticed their land values increase significantly. For example my two properties a couple blocks north of washington park are now both valued at about $65K (land), increasing from about $10K before. That's a significant increase, but it would be hard to disagree with. I really don't know if the geothermal would be considered to affect the value. I mean, you _could_ sell it, and someone _could_ build on it, but it would just wreck your geothermal. I'd listen to others with more direct experience, but in general I'd expect that arguments about land value would be harder to make, compared to the improvements. Since they can't really play games with the land value, I'd be surprised if they didn't have data on sales to back up their appraisals. But you'll be looking at your particular case a lot harder than their more generalized analysis. Life in OTR has changed, and looks like the auditor has finally figured that out.

It is infuriating, and it's also true that media doesn't know who really to blame. However what's happening now is actually much less infuriating than it has been to watch the streetcar go over the metaphorical cliff in slow motion over the past year and a half, when nobody seemed to give a sh*t.

^ No. I recall reading language that specifically mentions the Banks, downtown/business district, and over-the-rhine.

There is some information on the signal timing study RFQ and contract on line at https://data.cincinnati-oh.gov/Fiscal-Sustainability-Strategic-Investment/Procurement-Opportunities-and-Contract-Awards/pid3-z56k/data I've attached a filtered spreadsheet of the transportation and engineering awards that includes the "Central business district signal system evaluation" --- which I assume is the "traffic study" we've all been waiting for. Also attached the original RFQ, as well as the contract that was awarded to Brandstetter Carroll on September 11, 2017. Under "Task E Work Items" in the original RFQ, item 2 was "Investigate areas of potential signal prioritization for streetcar and other transit operations to improve reliability and travel times." This task was modified in the contract to add "The parties acknowledge that a complete analysis of implementing streetcar priority throughout the entire network would require additional resources necessitating a change in contract scope and compensation. The consultant will track streetcar travel time data on two days during the AM and PM peak and utilize any other additional travel time data from the City of stakeholders should that data exist." There remains item 3 (and weirdly, item 4 that is identical to 3) in Task E that states "Perform the calculation necessary to determine impacts of streetcar transit prioritization timing and include it in the submittal with the alpha-numeric intersection designation clearly labeled." Maybe someone who understands this better can explain the relationship between items 2 and 3, and what the possible impact of the lack of a "complete analysis" in item 2 would have. I'd think that it would be very fair game for our community to request updates on this study, which is now nearing its 6 month point, perhaps making those requests at the council subcommittee meetings. traffic_study.zip

Info about the sale of the Freeport Row properties: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/03/02/exclusive-new-developer-joins-25-million-otr-mixed.html Summary: Fortus Group (http://thefortusgroup.com/service/market-rate-housing/) bought into the development, and they plan to bring it forward starting this summer with minimal changes anticipated. If the hope was to end up with a somewhat higher quality development through interaction with Source3 -- not sure that there is much hope of that with the addition of Fortus. But bottom line is that the additional people in 110 apartments will be quite a change for this corner.

^ and 3CDC did pay $1.5MM for the smaller parcel of essentially vacant land on the opposite corner. Not saying it's "worth it" but, in an economic sense, you can only gauge that by sales. So, I guess it is.

^ OK he's now repeated his only three points at least three times each. I'm quitting.

^ indeed. And I've never heard anyone on this board say that weather wasn't a significant variable -- under any circumstances but especially for a connector route covering a short distance. On the other hand, I have heard many, many people, who supported and support the streetcar development, complain about the lack of a traffic study to support efficient operations of the streetcar and the street grid, the lack of hardwired network cabling that would make real-time arrival signals be reliable, various stupid decisions about the fare machines, and a general sluggishness of city administration to tackle these and other problems and make this 145M investment run efficiently and produce benefits. but, you know, that doesn't fit OC17's narrative about being abused by sensitive millennials (including this 57 y.o. one).

KC is blowing away all of the new streetcar systems, but receiving very little praise for it. Yet, despite KC's initial ''success" with its streetcar line, voters there still turned down an expansion funding. Streetcars are suspect as a ''new mode'' of transit yet cities like KC and CIN will pour money into these lines to be ''progressive'' magnets to attract those alleged tranist-demanding millennials. Jeez you sound so angry about transit. I suggest going to Cincinnati.com. Search for 'PX'. It'll make you happy.

Hey I've never heard anyone ever say that the streetcar is better/more convenient for every trip, right? It just needs to be better/more convenient for a significant number of the possible trips. And, yes, it can be, for more than enough trips to make the streetcar a genuine asset to the core region. I don't think you believe that, but I do. The only way to tell is to remove the various things that are current operational impediments. Everyone should agree to do at least that.

Three years ago, certainly 4, I was usually keeping track of projects on one hand. When a new one started it was news, and everybody knew. Now, I've long ago given that up. I have no idea what projects are starting or ending, and assume I don't. It's too busy.

I agree with some of the things you've said, but disagree strongly with others. These are arguments that have been rehashed and rehashed and rehashed again... going back to page 1. People appreciate well designed and run things. People run away from things that are in poor taste, poorly conceived, or poorly run. The streetcar right now is a well designed, and very poorly operated, transit system. This becomes obvious the first time you board. I said this from the first day of operation - accurate real time displays are not a cute toy. Not in 2016 (or now). They are a necessity. Not spending money on them was a decision made by dinosaurs who didn't know what they were doing, or by streetcar killers with a political angle to exploit. Signal timing and prioritization are not esoteric luxury items, they are essential core components of the system, because reliable transit availability is absolutely essential. Why do you think you like your car so much? I am so tired of the streetcar/walking comparison (and no, Lift/Uber are obviously not comparable). Please refrain until you first explain why people will ride around the block again and again, fuming, because they can't find a parking place close enough to where they're going. Or explain people driving their cars around for 5 minutes in a mall parking lot close to their entrance, waiting for a spot to open up. This whole system just stinks like many many other complex engineered systems I've seen, that are designed by people who don't operate them, and don't know how to. They inevitably fail until they're resurrected by people who actually know something about the operational side of things. So, no takers here on my suggestion to talk to council next Wednesday?

Yes. Let's do this. It's been on my mind for quite a while now. I've got on my calendar to prepare remarks for the Valentine's day city council meeting: Wed. Feb 14 [/member] 2:00. Should be a lotta love in the air. Anyone else up for joining me? My focus would be on the need for council to be very clear on specific priorities to improve service to what was promised as part of the $145MM investment. That reliable and frequent service, and reliable information about that service, is a must-have. My answer for the 'why?' will focus on economic development and specifically the impact that parking requirements are having - right now - on development, and how an efficiently run streetcar service could help alleviate that.

Yes, it's part of the 15th and Vine project.

In our area of OTR on Elm St. just south of Liberty, 2017 property land valuations increased by 6-10 times their prior valuation. A standard lot size is now being valued at about $65K, compared to around $5-10K before. I think this is important. Annual taxes for holding vacant land had been insignificant, but now it will cost someone sitting on a typical vacant parcel around $1500/year. That's a lot more incentive to develop or sell. Also, land values lie outside of the city tax abatements, which apply only to the improvements. So this means that OTR properties will generate more taxes for the County, starting this year. I haven't looked everywhere, but for sure these valuations do not extend everywhere in OTR. For example I've noticed valuations similar to those in 2014 still existing in some locations North of Liberty.

Not being a fan, during all of this I've been sort of shocked by the stadium renderings. The ones I've seen make it look like a big uninviting orange blob. But then I looked for some street level renderings and found ones like this, which I find much more interesting. Are these stadia actually built this way? It seems so open - how do they control access?

I hear you. Wonder if part of the reason for this proposal is that the existing 1 story building would be considered a contributing structure. Hence a major hassle for a demolition permit.

^ "Requiring deeded parking for such establishments could stop development, Gelter said. Gelter acknowledged the need for a more comprehensive system and said 3CDC continues to work on an overall residential parking permit program in Over-the-Rhine." Comprehensive. Ya think? But a comprehensive system isn't a residential parking permit program. The streetcar needs to be a centerpiece of a parking plan geared to visitors to the area. But 3CDC still insists that the streetcar doesn't exist.

oh i get it - a taxi!

Is not City Council complicit in this neglect? It seems that our system still puts a lot of power in their hands. What can they do, if Cranley can't be expected to initiate anything from the administration side?

^ I think the HCB does this because they have responsibility for not only historic, but also zoning. They are thus hamstrung by the zoning code. Which means, the zoning code needs to be fixed, as part of a systematic approach to economic development of downtown and OTR, which includes transportation and other public infrastructure decisions that solve problems and make the area work. The truly incredible thing is how few people we have on City Council who can, or want to, see the forest and not the trees. You can get the feeling they think that, after decades of decline and neglect, a place like OTR with incredible potential for economic growth, will just fix itself in good time. You know, because the current economic growth conditions we're lucky to have, will just continue forever.

In the most recent historic conservation board package (Jan 22, 2018), the staff is recommending to deny an application for 1536-1540 Race st (by 3CDC). From the staff analysis: "Eating and Drinking Establishments are a high intensity use with a high parking demand. Staff and the Historic Conservation Board has been consistent in our decisions that parking needs to be managed and that applicants need to work to find solutions to the parking demand that they are creating and only minor variances will be considered. This has been true in both the north and south parts of Over-the-Rhine." and also, incredibly, the streetcar is a net negative: "In the case of this application, the application is on the street car which already reduces the amount of on street parking available." When will Cincinnati Council direct staff to connect the dots between healthy economic development, parking demand, and efficient streetcar operations? When will 3CDC recognize the obvious -- that the streetcar is sitting there waiting to be used to solve a problem that directly impacts their core business? Fix the streetcar and create an efficient parking system along the route utilizing existing assets and strategic new ones. Let's quit this piecemeal crap, looking at each and every project in isolation. It's killing us.