Cygnus

Enquirer's Cindi Andrews is tweeting from the meeting but no pictures yet.

Trackless trolley would complement Cincinnati streetcar, backers say A group pushing the idea of a trackless, rubber-wheel trolley to complement Cincinnati’s planned streetcar system wants Hamilton County’s backing so it can apply for federal transportation funds, according to WVXU. The Hop on Cincinnati group believes the cost of its idea is $10 million to $15 million with annual operating expenses of $4.4 million. The group had initially pushed the idea as an alternative to the streetcar but now says the trolleys can complement it. Streetcar supporters have dismissed the idea, saying a trolley will not generate the kind of economic impact that a streetcar running on permanent rail lines can. Cont

Think long and hard about your choice for City Council New 4-year terms raise election stakes at a key turning point for city This fall’s Cincinnati City Council election is arguably twice as important as previous ones. At least, voters will have to live with their choices twice as long, thanks to a 2012 charter amendment that extends council terms from two years to four. “Certainly it changes the stakes,” said Alex Triantafilou, Hamilton County Republican Party chairman. “Whatever happens here we’re stuck with for four years.” The nine council members will also take office at an important time for Cincinnati. Financial challenges continue to cast a shadow even as momentum builds for carrying the revitalization of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine into the other 50 city neighborhoods. Cont

Interesting tweet from Jane Prendergast: @VotePG starting signature collection over after BOE questioned some dates on his petitions to get on the ballot.

Ha! :clap:

More details revealed for Bartlett Building hotel conversion Chris Wetterich - Cincinnati Business Courier May 14, 2013, 4:38pm EDT Columbia Sussex Corp. will convert the Bartlett Building, 36 E. Fourth St., into a $33 million hotel and get 12 years worth of green tax credits under an ordinance that could receive Cincinnati City Council approval on Wednesday. Council’s Budget and Finance Committee approved the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design agreement on Monday. City documents contained a few more details about the downtown project: • The now-vacant office building will be converted into a Renaissance luxury hotel with 312 rooms. • Construction is set to begin by July with the goal of opening by September 2014. Cont

With the streetscape improvements and activity brought by the Horseshoe Casino, were starting to see activity with some of the abandoned buildings. This is in the 500 block of E 12th Street:

City: No, COAST, we won’t stop using $4m streetcar grant City Solicitor John Curp says the city won’t stop using a $4 million federal grant given to SORTA for the streetcar project because state laws don’t govern what the federal government does with its money. COAST attorney Chris Finney wrote what’s called a taxpayer demand letter to Curp in July asking that the solicitor seek an injunction to stop the use of $4 million in Congestion Management and Air Quality Improvement Program dollars. You can read the letter here

Chabot makes stop in Evendale for town hall ... His discussion looked at topics as well, including Cincinnati’s streetcar project. Although Congress is not involved, Chabot said that if he could, he would defund the streetcar and doesn’t support federal stimulus funds for it, but considers money for that better used for “legitimate” projects such as roads and interstates. “It’s not free money from Washington,” he said, “The streetcar is a waste of money ... I don’t think people will be riding the streetcar regularly.” ...

^Fixed. Also, the Business Courier listed Smitherman as a Republican.

Speaking of her: Who is Sandra Queen Noble? She’s run for Congress in Washington D.C. and for Mayor of Los Angeles. She’s even run for president of the United States. Now Sandra Queen Noble is taking a second stab at Mayor of Cincinnati. The perennial local candidate lost her last two runs in Cincinnati; getting 0.2 percent of the vote in the 2005 mayoral primary and finishing last in the 2011 Cincinnati City Council election. But other than her past runs for office, little is known about the woman who refers to herself as “a queen innately” with “the ability and the will to go right straight to England, put Queen Elizabeth in check.” She refused to answer questions posed by the Enquirer on seven separate occasions. Cont

Here's how much Cincinnati city council candidates have raised: EXCLUSIVE Chris Wetterich - Cincinnati Business Courier Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld believes he set a record for city council fundraising, hauling in $211,905 during the first six months of 2013, which, when added to the money he had sitting in his campaign account, brought his total to $274,450. Sittenfeld, a Democrat, left his closest competitor in the money race, Councilman Charles Winburn, a Republican, well behind. Winburn raised $187,753, which included money raised as far back as 2011. “Citizens want to invest in council members who get things done and make smart long-term decisions for our city,” Sittenfeld said. “I’m very encouraged to have support — especially so much grassroots support — from people across the political spectrum who have as much passion for Cincinnati as I do.” Cont Shawn Butler (D) Raised in 2013: $11,540 2013 Expenses: $5,898 Pamula Thomas (D) Raised in 2013: $12,500 2013 Expenses: $2,093 Vanessa White © Raised in 2013: $13,890 2013 Expenses: $6,466 Melissa Wegman ® Raised in 2013: $15,850 2013 Expenses: $6,318 Sam Malone ® Raised in 2013: $18,625 2013 Expenses: $7,632 Michelle Dillingham (D) Raised in 2013: $27,515 2013 Expenses: $13,965 Mike Moroski (I) Raised in 2013: $28,265 2013 Expenses: $22,903 Yvette Simpson (D) Raised in 2013: $30,564 2013 Expenses: $13,328 Christopher Smitherman (I) Raised in 2013: $47,165 2013 Expenses: $32,897 Kevin Flynn © Raised in 2013: $59,405* 2013 Expenses: $10,320 Laure Quinlivan (D) Raised in 2013: $71,985 2013 Expenses: $13,366 Amy Murray ® Raised in 2013: $92,875 2013 Expenses: $18,514 Chris Seelbach (D) Raised in 2013: $103,564 2013 Expenses: $39,415 Charlie Winburn ® Raised in 2013: $187,753 2013 Expenses: $77,739 P.G. Sittenfeld (D) Raised in 2013: $274,450 2013 Expenses: $34,279 *Kevin Flynn loaned himself $50,000

Allegiant Air is exploring service out of Lunken: Cincinnati: Lunken Airport News

Dusty at Eli's: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151513101635670&set=pb.99867020669.-2207520000.1375795530.&type=3&theater

They were also used in the old configuration. Can't say I've seen them anywhere else in the city though. Couldn't agree more! These 1-2 block stretches are ridiculous. And who knows, perhaps One River Plaza would become a reality if it's address wasn't associated to Pete Rose? :wink:

One block apart, there is a Subway in the historic Mercantile Building and soon to be one in Carew Tower (moving from Tower Place food court to former Vine St. Tazza Mia). Also locations in Atrium II, Chiquita Center, URS building...

I'd guess it's because Ringling Bros. employees setup shop there during the circus. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

They are laying porous pavers in what will evidently be called the Dumbo (parking) Lot, per Project Executive John Deatrick. EDIT: Here is an earlier article on the project: Expect delays around construction work at the Banks through August

Berns was on 55KRC at 7AM Tuesday and went after Cranley more so than Qualls. His main rant: "...Brian, you know I'm here to contrast myself from the other council candidates, especially John Cranley. As late as 2007 when he was on the finance committee, he signed off on money to continue the streetcar project. John Cranley only became a fiscal conservative a couple years ago when he decided to run for Cincinnati City Council (I believe he meant Mayor). He's been really bad on gun right issues. And he makes his living by selling bonds to the cites. That's borrowing money. I think he does not have the resume which would indicate that he is a fiscal conservative and going to take the city in the direction of a leaner meaner City of Cincinnati". He also mentioned that Cranley was in support of creating the Port Authority, which without it, we wouldn't have the parking lease lease "biting us in the ass". Interestingly enough, Berns gives out his personal mobile number out at the end.

Rumors are a former Marsh executive is behind the grocery store.

We lost this thread during the recent website outage, although other than funding being secured, not much else has been in the news. Pogue’s Garage to Make Way for 30-Story Residential Tower, Grocery Store By Randy A. Simes ― February 20, 2013 Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney briefed City Council’s Budget & Finance Committee of the specifics of a plan to modernize and lease some of the city’s parking assets. Part of the immediate $92 million infusion, as part of the plan, would be used to spark the redevelopment of Tower Place Mall and Pogue’s Garage. Dohoney stated that the vacant Tower Place Mall would be converted into a 500-space parking garage, with 20,000 square feet of street-level commercial spaces fronting onto Race and Fourth Streets. “Residential is a huge factor in the ability to attract and retain retail, but what retail really wants is customers,” explained David Ginsburg, President/CEO of Downtown Cincinnati Incorporated (DCI), with regards to the state of the center city’s retail scene. Cont

Grand Opening August 18th: https://www.facebook.com/events/537374672978740/

This was the case during yesterday's 2 o'clock hour.

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing, John!