Cygnus

Funding foils N.Ky. streetcar notion The idea of having streetcars in Northern Kentucky has surfaced once again, exactly 10 years after the last time officials here gave it serious thought. An $11 million grant was announced last week that will allow Cincinnati’s streetcar to come as close to Covington and Newport as the Banks development on the other side of the Ohio River. The day of the announcement, Cincinnati’s retiring economic development officer told the Covington Business Council in an unrelated meeting that he could envision the streetcar extending into Northern Kentucky within about five years. “I would guess five years is not unrealistic to at least get the first leg of it, where it’s going to connect to whatever central point is decided,” Ewing said in a luncheon speech. While that five-year timeline sounds overly optimistic, the idea itself is one that’s worth revisiting for streetcar advocates. The return of the trolleys would benefit cities here and spur development in their downtown areas, which were built before automobiles were invented, said Covington City Manager Larry Klein. Cont

:drunk:

Cost of streetcar sewer relocation work rising Business Courier by Dan Monk, Senior Staff Reporter The price tag has risen on sewer relocation work required by Cincinnati’s streetcar project. Internal cost estimates obtained by the Business Courier show the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati now expects the work to cost $7.9 million. That’s 31 percent higher than the $6 million figure that’s been used since last summer by city officials and MSD leadership. City spokeswoman Meg Olberding said the $6 million figure was based on a consultant’s analysis on the asset value of MSD’s underground infrastructure and a replacement value based on each asset’s remaining useful life. The latest cost estimate, circulated among MSD officials in early December, is a construction estimate for sanitary and storm sewers that are proposed as part of the streetcar’s latest engineering specs, which were completed in October. Cont

Microbrewery planned in Columbia Twp. It’s been closed since 2004, but the former Heritage Restaurant is getting a makeover and is expected to reopen by summer. Bob Slattery, who owns the property at 7664 Wooster Pike, as well as the Hahanna Beach restaurant and sand volleyball facility across the street, plans to convert the abandoned Heritage Restaurant into a microbrewery and boutique event center called The Heritage Grand. Slattery has been collecting ideas for the Heritage Restaurant building, which was built in 1827, on www.heritagecoolideas.com, the site dedicated to finding the next use for the historic building. He said ideas coming from the website suggested everything from an Irish funeral home to demolition. However, Slattery said “90 percent” of the suggestions were to keep the building as is to preserve its history. Cont

The Wine Loft and La Crepe Nanou are out and will be replaced by: Wine Guy Bistro to open at The Banks The Wine Guy Bistro — a restaurant, wine store and wine bar — is the latest tenant to announce plans to open at The Banks riverfront development. The bistro is expected to open a 6,400-square-foot restaurant along Freedom Way at The Banks by the end of March next year, said owner and founder Craig Decker. The restaurant has four locations in Ohio, including one at the Rookwood Pavilion in Norwood. Decker, a New York native who lives in Columbus, said designs and layout at The Banks location will be similar to Rookwood and include a wine shop featuring a variety of more than 3,000 bottles of wines for purchase. The bistro will also include a 210-seat restaurant, serving tapas and dinner dishes including chicken marsala, sesame-crusted tuna and cajun scallops. Or guests can enjoy a tasting by the glass, flight or bottle at one of 70 seats at the wine bar. Unlike its Rookwood location, the Wine Guy at The Banks will include a 40-seat private dining room. Cont

The "City property across the street" is nearly complete in it's transition to an actual parking lot. The laying of asphalt, stripping, and installation of light poles appears all that is left. Not sure how many spaces it'll have. I really hate the idea of a parking garage eventually going in at this location. It's only saving grace would be 1st floor retail. Either way, crossing Pete Rose Way in this area can be very dangerous. The businesses in the old Midland building hire off-duty police in the morning and evening to control traffic as to allow pedestrians to safely cross.

Interesting... Downtown bar could be featured on Spike TV The new owners of Cadillac Ranch are hard at work coming up with new ideas for the restaurant and bar they just purchased in downtown Cincinnati, and a camera crew might end up tracking their progress. Jim Henning, operations manager and president of Restaurant Entertainment of Cincinnati LLC, said the restaurant is one of four that Spike TV is looking at for its “Bar Rescue” show. “Bar Rescue” shows nightlife expert Jon Taffer using his expertise to return struggling bars to success. Cont

Are there still pool tables at Tangeman? There are 3 or 4 in the basement, in what is UC's best kept secret: Catskeller. It's one of the best beer bars in the city, with 8 microbrews on tap at any time, and beers like La Fin du Monde for $4.25. It really is a hidden gem. Wish I still lived on Calhoun...

I noticed last night leaving work they had the water flowing from the stairs as well as the overhangs (not sure what they are called). They were also all lit up in various rainbow colors. Not sure if I liked that. It kind of looked cheezy but it could grow on me. Testing again tonight:

I recall $9M to Freedom Way...

Opening late January... Freshii restaurant will bring fast, fresh, customized meals to downtown diners Blue Ash native Robbie Sosna is bringing Freshii, a Toronto-based chain focused on fast, fresh, customized meals, to Greater Cincinnati. The first local Freshii is under construction on the ground floor of the U.S. Bank Tower, 425 Walnut St., opposite J. Gumbo’s in the space that was Fruities. Sosna said he expects to open the 1183-square-foot restaurant, which will seat up to 30 people, in late January. He plans to be open for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays, but he may experiment with weekend or dinner hours, depending on the response. The idea to open a “fast, fresh” concept restaurant was sparked when Sosna moved to New York City to work for the David Letterman Show after college. Cont

It'll be capped once the next phase begins. See: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2772.msg589197.html#msg589197

My first NHL game... And while it was a good time and a good atmosphere, 70 bucks (after TicketMaster fees) for a seat 6 rows from the top (section 204) is ridiculous.

lol, my bad! :laugh: Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...

Downtown's Cadillac Ranch gets new owners Cadillac Ranch, the bar and restaurant at the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets in downtown Cincinnati, is under new ownership. Restaurant Entertainment of Cincinnati LLC has acquired the assets of Cincinnati FS LLC, which was doing business as Cadillac Ranch, and assumed operations. The new ownership will change the name of the bar and restaurant, as well as make changes to operations. The new owners plan to make upgrades to the bar and launch a new lunch and dinner menu in January, according to a press release. Cont

Moerlein Lager House opening delayed Unexpected construction delays have pushed back the opening date for the new Moerlein Lager House in Smale Riverfront Park, adjacent to The Banks. Originally set to open Feb. 6, the microbrewery is now expected to open three weeks later, on Feb. 27 Cont

Blue Ash Airport facing shutdown General aviation airport headed for closure, as funds and fliers dry up The city of Cincinnati is likely to close the Blue Ash Airport this summer because of its inability to win federal grants and declining revenue from landing fees and tenants. Airport supporters, including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, are trying to prevent the closure. But Airport Manager Fred Anderton said the outlook is bleak. “I don’t know there’s much more that can be done,” he said. Cincinnati bought the 228-acre airport in 1946 as a potential replacement for foggy and flood-prone Lunken Airport, before the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport was developed in Northern Kentucky. In the last 40 years, the city developed as an upscale residential and corporate center. In 2006, Blue Ash agreed to buy 130 acres from Cincinnati to develop a park and performing arts center. Cincinnati then planned to reconfigure the airport onto a 98-acre tract that includes the property’s 3,500-foot runway, but those plans were subject to securing grants from the Federal Aviation Administration. Cont (Premium Article)

Can Blue Ash Airport funds go to Cincinnati’s streetcar? Business Courier by Dan Monk, Senior Staff Reporter Cincinnati might be in violation of federal law and expose itself to more than $30 million in penalties if it goes ahead with a plan to pay off streetcar bonds with sale proceeds from Blue Ash Airport acreage. That’s what the Federal Aviation Administration told Mayor Mark Mallory in a letter last December. “The city of Cincinnati is bound by an enduring obligation to keep all airport revenue within its airport system,” wrote John Mayfield, manager of the FAA’s Detroit district. City Manager Milton Dohoney and three city officials were copied on the letter. The downtown streetcar system is the hallmark project of the Mallory-Dohoney administration. A $99.5 million starter line with 16 stops has managed to survive grant rejections, ballot referenda and cost uncertainties. The loss of Blue Ash funding would pose another threat. Blue Ash proceeds are expected to cover payments for $11 million in bonds, or 17 percent of the $64 million to be issued. Cont (Premium Article)

Third Street is still regularly occupied.

Cincinnati parks released a video on the Moerlein Lager House: Here's a Closer Look at the New Moerlein Lager House in Smale Riverfront Park

^ First Street?

Mayor gets more power - maybe Cincinnati’s more mayor-friendly City Council today gave Mayor Mark Mallory more control over council’s agenda, but one councilman says he’ll fight his new colleagues in court over it if they don’t change their minds. In the first key vote by the new Democratic majority, five Democrats agreed to remove a clause in council rules that required the mayor to put an item on the council agenda within 90 days. Under the new rule: An item, after being passed by a committee, proceeds to the mayor’s office for placement on the agenda. It does not say that he must place it there, or when. And the mayor could choose not to ever bring it up again. Cont Smitherman's letter: Dear Members of Council and the Mayor, This letter is to respectfully make you aware that I believe the vote taken today by Cincinnati City Council has broken the law. Cincinnati City Council took an action against the Charter of the City of Cincinnati by allowing the Mayor to hold legislation on the agenda indifentially. The Mayor of the City of Cincinnati has no legislative power. City Council abandoned their powers by extending an unlimited “pocket veto” to the Mayor’s office. This is a usurpation of the power that the charter extends to Cincinnati City Council. City Council can change its decision prior to any legal action by my office. I am compelled as a Member of Council to defend the Charter of the City of Cincinnati if I feel that laws have been broken. Council Member’s Winburn, Sittenfeld and Smitherman voted against the expansion of the Mayor’s powers. I am confident that the citizens of Cincinnati will not appreciate the passage of a procedure that stops individual Council Members from proceeding with the business of their communities. This letter should serve as a considerate warning to change the motion that was passed today by Cincinnati City Council that is in conflict with the Charter of the City of Cincinnati. Respectfully, Councilman Christopher Smitherman

I've noticed some bugs in the switch to Facebook. I've seen the comments from several articles disappear. Example is the article "Progess continues at The Banks" had comments yesterday but currently I see nothing. I use Safari, Firefox, and IE8 daily and sometimes comments will show up in one browser but not another.

Water is flowing! Sorry I couldn't get any closer...

Signs are up at US Bank Tower's Walnut St. entrance for a freshii franchise. No opening date yet.