Cygnus

After losing anchor, 580 Building to face sheriff’s sale Business Courier by Tom Demeropolis, Staff Reporter One of downtown Cincinnati’s largest office buildings will be sold at a sheriff’s sale on March 1. The 580 Building, a 480,000-square-foot office complex in the heart of the central business district, has been in foreclosure since last spring. Owner 580 Investors LLC failed to make the final installment payment on the note due Jan. 1, according to court documents. The owner knew the building’s anchor tenant, Great American Insurance Co., would leave the building for the new Great American Tower in 2011, and its rent payments would burn off by the end of the year. The vacancy rate in ... Cont (Premium Article)

Banks pullout brings suit against Doyle Restaurant Group Developers say restaurant group owes $208K for improvements Business Courier by Jon Newberry, Staff Reporter When Doyle Restaurant Group Inc. pulled out of the Banks project on Cincinnati’s riverfront last year, the New Orleans-based company didn’t leave empty-handed, according to a lawsuit filed by the developers. Riverbanks Renaissance Phase I-A Owner LLC, an entity created by the Banks’ Atlanta-based development team of Carter and the Dawson Co. , claims it paid two Doyle affiliates more than $200,000 for tenant improvements to the three would-be restaurant spaces the Doyle Group had leased – and that money has never been paid back. The $208,160 was just the first installment of what was to have been more than $1... Cont (Premium Article)

Business Courier making all of their Streetcar articles "Premium". Wanted: Streetcar builders. Experienced applicants only Business Courier by Dan Monk, Senior Staff Reporter Companies interested in contracts to build Cincinnati’s planned streetcar system might want to start looking for a bidding partner now. Don Gindling, principal construction engineer for the project, said the city will want specialized skill sets when it invites bids for $34 million in streetcar construction services later this year. These skill sets include the specialized knowledge required for installing T-rails and “catenary” networks, which are overhead wires that would power the streetcar. The $110 million project includes an initial phase with 16 stops between Fountain Square and Findlay Market, along with a maintenance shed for railcars that will likely... Cont (Premium Article)

I asked and they have no answers... Thanks for all your comments though! We've decided on the CAC for the reception. New Smale Riverfront Park Construction Update Video includes a first look at the Hudepohl Bar: Smale Riverfront Park Construction Update: Phase I Nearing Completion!

Was at Music Hall Thursday and they've been told the garage opening has been delayed from March to May. They are unable to apply waterproofing due to all the rain.

^Exactly

Preferably a camera with a nice long lens. Pointed at Smitherman and clicking away the entire time. Because Chris, we can in fact take your picture. :evil:

A partial collapse at the new casino site at the corner of Reading and Broadway has been reported this morning. No details as of yet.

Email just went out.

2PM

City planners approve casino district plan A plan to ensure development around the coming $400 million Horseshoe Casino blends into and compliments the five surrounding neighborhoods was approved today by Cincinnati’s planning commission. Specifically, the Broadway Commons district plan calls for: A rendering of the Horseshoe Casino –The casino to blend into downtown, Over-the-Rhine, Pendleton, Mount Auburn and Mount Adams and to connect to key landmarks along established corridors. –Development around the casino (surface parking lots) to make the area a multi-use destination. Cont

My Fiancée and I had picked the Event Lawn as the location for our Wedding Reception in 2012. In September of last year we started working with Cincinnati Parks on the details. As the park is new and still under construction, they were unsure who would be managing events at the park. None the less they had us fill out a Special Use application and advised we'd have first pick of dates after the city had determined their event schedule. After several internal meetings between various entities, it was determined (beginning of November) that Christian Moerlein would be handling event scheduling and we were put in touch with a representative there. Available dates were still undecided but they too advised we'd have first pick of dates after the city had determined their event schedule. After almost 3 months of meetings being scheduled then canceled and meetings taking place with nothing being decided, most all park details were finally set. They are... The cost of reserving the space when not in use will be $5000. What?! Ault Park is only $2800 (Friday - Sunday) and is probably the most popular outdoor wedding reception location in Cincinnati. Moerlein Lager House will be the only available vendor for food and beverage. They would also be the entity that books and coordinates events. Things like tables, chairs, tents, etc, would all be booked through them but pricing is yet to come. We expected the Lager House would be the sole vendor available to us. The dates are firm at this point for when the lawn will be used for public functions. All 2012 black out dates for the lawn events: Saturday March 3 Friday - Sunday, March 16 - March 18 Thursday April 5 Saturday April 7 Saturday April 14 Tuesday April 24 Tuesday - Sunday, May 1-May 6 Friday - Sunday, May 11 - May 13 Thursday - Saturday, May 17 - May 19 Wednesday - Thursday, May 23 - May 31 Friday - Sunday, June 1 - June 3 Wednesday - Sunday, June 6 - June 10 Wednesday - Sunday, June 13 - June 17 Wednesday - Sunday, June 20 - June 24 Wednesday - Saturday, June 27 - June 30 Sunday July 1 Wednesday - Sunday, July 4 - July 15 Wednesday - Sunday, July 18 - July 22 Wednesday - Sunday, July 25 - July 29 Wednesday - Sunday, August 1 - August 5 Wednesday - Sunday, August 8 - August 12 Wednesday - Sunday, August 15 - August 19 Wednesday - Sunday, August 22 - August 26 Wednesday - Friday, August 29 - August 31 Saturday - Monday, September 1 - September 3 Friday - Tuesday, September 7 - September 10 Saturday & Sunday, September 15 - September 16 Friday - Sunday, September 21 - September 30 Monday - Sunday, October 1 - October 7 Saturday & Sunday, October 13 - October 14 Saturday - Monday, October 20 - October 22 Thursday - Sunday, October 25 - October 28 Saturday & Sunday, November 3 - November 4 Saturday & Sunday, November 10 - November 11 Saturday & Sunday, November 17 - November 18 Friday & Saturday, November 23 - November 24 Saturday December 1 Saturday December 8 Saturday December 15 Saturday December 22 Monday December 31 Um... you just basically listed the entire year. No Saturday is available from May through December? We expected Opening Day and holiday weekends to be booked but every single weekend?!? :wtf:

Dan Monk's take: Streetcar supporter questions Smitherman's ethics For the second time in two months, Cincinnati’s streetcar project has inspired a request for legal action from Cincinnati Solicitor John Curp. Last month, we told you about the founder of the anti-tax group, COAST, requesting a lawsuit to stop the streetcar to prevent the infringement Hamilton County property rights. Now, local attorney Casey Coston has asked Curp to seek an Ohio Ethics Commission advisory opinion on whether Christopher Smitherman is violating state ethics rules by holding dual roles as a member of city council and president of the Cincinnati NAACP. Because it is a 501 ©(4) corporation, the local chapter “can participate in political campaigns and elections,” Coston’s attorney, Tom Hodges, argued in a Jan. 19 letter that was emailed to Curp and the Business Courier. That “raises serious concerns of irreconcilable and impermissible conflicts of interest” that “would represent an abuse of the corporate powers” if the city left unchecked. Cont Crossposting to the Cincinnati Streetcar News thread

Crossposting from the Cincinnati City Council thread. Streetcar supporter questions Smitherman's ethics For the second time in two months, Cincinnati’s streetcar project has inspired a request for legal action from Cincinnati Solicitor John Curp. Last month, we told you about the founder of the anti-tax group, COAST, requesting a lawsuit to stop the streetcar to prevent the infringement Hamilton County property rights. Now, local attorney Casey Coston has asked Curp to seek an Ohio Ethics Commission advisory opinion on whether Christopher Smitherman is violating state ethics rules by holding dual roles as a member of city council and president of the Cincinnati NAACP. Because it is a 501 ©(4) corporation, the local chapter “can participate in political campaigns and elections,” Coston’s attorney, Tom Hodges, argued in a Jan. 19 letter that was emailed to Curp and the Business Courier. That “raises serious concerns of irreconcilable and impermissible conflicts of interest” that “would represent an abuse of the corporate powers” if the city left unchecked. Cont

Crossposting from The Banks thread: Ruth's Chris signs lease at The Banks Ruth’s Chris Steak House has signed a lease for a new restaurant at The Banks. Denny Rouse, vice president of real estate and development for Ruth’s Hospitality Group Inc., (Nasdaq: RUTH) said the upscale steakhouse chain has signed a lease for about 9,600-square-feet of space. The restaurant plans to open at the end of the third quarter or early fourth quarter of this year. The Banks, an 18-acre development with a first phase that includes 300 apartments and 80,000 square feet of retail space, was what attracted the Heathrow, Fla.-based chain to the Cincinnati market. “The city is behind it, it’s a pretty nice project,” Rouse said. “It’s a good fit for us, with the hotels, offices and three sports venues nearby.” Cont

Ruth's Chris signs lease at The Banks Ruth’s Chris Steak House has signed a lease for a new restaurant at The Banks. Denny Rouse, vice president of real estate and development for Ruth’s Hospitality Group Inc. , (Nasdaq: RUTH) said the upscale steakhouse chain has signed a lease for about 9,600-square-feet of space. The restaurant plans to open at the end of the third quarter or early fourth quarter of this year. The Banks, an 18-acre development with a first phase that includes 300 apartments and 80,000 square feet of retail space, was what attracted the Heathrow, Fla.-based chain to the Cincinnati market. “The city is behind it, it’s a pretty nice project,” Rouse said. “It’s a good fit for us, with the hotels, offices and three sports venues nearby.” Cont

Is this really the best name they could come up with?!? Their updated Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cincysonsixth Cadillac Ranch to become Cincy’s on Sixth Jim Henning and Restaurant Entertainment of Cincinnati have settled on a new name for the Cadillac Ranch restaurant Downtown, which they bought in December. It’s Cincy’s on Sixth. It will be an American Grill, serving comfort food and appealing to the same basic crowd that goes to Cadillac Ranch: which is bar-hoppers as much as restaurant goers. Henning said they are deciding now what to do with the Cadillac that sits above the entrance; it will come down when their new sign goes up in 3-4 weeks. Cont

And... The most outrageous shrimp cocktail you’ll ever see is now available at Terry's Turf Club!

Brief article on the Crestview Hills closing. And, Per Polly Campbell, Asiatique in West Chester has closed.

Enquirer has 11 new photos of The Moerlein Lager House

Keeping the lines clean can be done... Tap House in Seattle (and Bellvue) hast 160 on tap and I've never had a bad beer there. Would love to see something similar downtown or at The Banks!

^Won't get past the first round as long as Marvin Lewis is still the head coach.

Can critics kill Cincinnati’s streetcar? Premium content from Business Courier by Dan Monk and Lucy May, Senior Staff Reporters A relentless anti-tax activist is convinced that a looming taxpayer lawsuit could be Cincinnati streetcar opponents’ best chance to derail the project. But supporters of the $99.5 million rail line say the lawsuit is simply the latest attack from critics who have fought the streetcar from the start. At issue is whether the city of Cincinnati’s plan to build the new rail system over county-owned sewer lines violates the property rights of Hamilton County and amounts to an abuse of the city’s corporate powers. That’s the argument from leaders of the anti-tax Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes, or COAST. Cincinnati City Solicitor John Curp said it’s “very difficult to see” how such an argument would prevail. But streetcar supporter and former Cincinnati Councilman Chris Bortz said COAST might have a case. Cont (Premium content)

This is the first I've heard that the downtown Arby's closed on 12/31. Oddly enough, I overheard co-workers yesterday rehashing the same old complaint about the lack of chain fast-food options downtown. They are now left with Wendy's... Panera eyeing closed downtown Arby’s A “Coming soon” sign for Panera Bread may soon replace the closed signs on the former Arby’s location in downtown’s Fifth Third building at Sixth and Vine streets. Arby’s closed for business December 31st, a sign on the door says. A representative with Arby’s local parent company, Restaurant Management Inc. declined to comment last week. Landlord Fifth Third Bank also has declined comment on the pending lease. But Panera Bread of Southwest Ohio says the location is its top choice for a restaurant downtown and that a lease could be finalized in the next few weeks. The restaurateur would then require three to six months for construction. “We’ve been looking around downtown Cincinnati for awhile,” says Judy Ketner-Dollison, the company’s vice president of marketing. “The area is a great opportunity for us.” Cont