Cygnus

Mayor filmed 'Undercover Boss'? How did Mallory keep that secret? BY JANE PRENDERGAST • [email protected] • JANUARY 14, 2011 As the surprise continued to sink in Friday that Cincinnati Mayor Mallory sneaked around the city to be an "Undercover Boss," this question was the first off many lips: How? That was his first thought, too, when officials of the CBS show first contacted him six months ago, he said Friday. He has both a very distinctive look and deep voice. He's the guy in the suit always, the one wearing the little glasses, who threw the famously bad pitch on Opening Day and then made fun of himself on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" about it, the one who prides himself on traveling around the world to tout Cincinnati. cont

The Mayor will be on Willie's show at 1:07. This is a rare appearance... I'm sure Ghiz will be on during the 12 o'clock hour to spew her standard hate of all things the Mayor does. I still don't understand why people are up in arms over this. I'm sure the city will be compensated.

Yes. Per the extended article, "Johnny Rockets has existing locations in Kenwood and Newport on the Levee, where the company is now negotiating a lease renewal."

I could see it as a possibility in future phases. Not the current phase though as they'd need it to be at least two stories.

WCPO has confirmed the rumor: Mayor Mallory part of reality TV show

A lot of people are jumping to conclusions and running their mouths on this rumor... Mallory on Undercover Boss? No one will confirm. But here’s what we do know: City Council chambers on the third floor of City Hall are being prepared for some kind of television production, which at least two council members – Chris Bortz and Leslie Ghiz – believe is the television show Undercover Boss. Jason Barron, the mayor’s communications director, cautioned against jumping to conclusions and said he could only say that a video production is being done. The council members think it’s Undercover Boss because their aides were asked by production workers to sign forms promising they would not disclose things they saw and have been told by city employees going in and out of the chambers that the filming is for the popular Sunday night television show. Both council members told their aides not to sign. cont

Ol Charlie Winburn is proposing 13 strategies to revitalize the Cincinnati’s economic foundation. Number 11? "They should abandon the streetcar. This will open up $64 million in new bonding capacity so that we can use the capital funds in attracting new business to Cincinnati." Budget advice for City Council In December 2009, I recommended to Mayor Mark Mallory and City Council to cut $17 million from the city administration and in December 2010 I made similar recommendations totaling $28 million. Sadly, I did not get one council member to support me in making the tough decision to “right size” our local city government and create a structurally balanced budget either year. I have only been on City Council for the past 13 months, compared to some of my colleagues who have been on here for six years. The truth is that this council has failed for six straight years to achieve a structurally balanced city budget, while continuing to proudly brag about how they have voted against the budget over the last few years. I guess they thought this was a solution to the budget problem. This action only kicks the can of delay further down the road. I do commend council members Jeff Berding and Chris Bortz for their hard work and diligence to get five votes on their proposals in an attempt to get a balanced budget. Many of the reductions are due to their work. cont

Section of Theodore M. Berry Way to be permanently closed WHAT: A section of Theodore M. Berry Way permanently closes to all traffic. Work also begins on the remaining section of Freedom Way. Upon completion this fall, Freedom Way will complete the riverfront street grid and connect the eastern and western riverfront. WHEN: Monday, Jan. 17 at 9 AM. WHERE: The section of Theodore M. Berry Way between Vine Street (Rosa Parks Street) and Elm Street. WHY: * Closure of this section of Theodore M. Berry Way allows its removal to comply with The Banks Project Development Plan. * Removal will result in creation of 330 interim surface parking spaces until a garage on that site is constructed. * Closure allows construction work on The Banks development to proceed on time and within budget. IMPACT: * Traffic will be rerouted to ensure safe and convenient access to the Cincinnati Riverfront and to the Roebling Suspension Bridge. (See map here.) * Visitors to the Cincinnati Riverfront attractions and those using the Suspension Bridge need to be aware of the new routes, effective Jan. 17. * No changes to any METRO or TANK bus routes.

Nope, to Great American Tower... Cincinnati.com Article - Urban Ohio Thread

Follow-up article with information on a new tenant Great American Tower now open for business By Mike Boyer • [email protected] • January 11, 2011 Cincinnati's tallest building, the 665-foot Great American Tower at Queen City Square was officially opened shortly after 1:11 p.m. Thursday, an event developers and the city hope will help spur an economic renaissance downtown. Underscoring that theme, John Barrett, chairman and CEO of Western & Southern Financial Group which teamed with American Financial Group to develop the structure, announced the building's newest tenant would be Lafayette Life Insurance Co. - the Western & Southern unit in Lafayette, Ind., which it announced earlier in the day would be consolidated here, bringing about 150 jobs. It will join Great American Insurance Group, the building's main tenant, and the law firm of Frost Brown Todd which will occupy four floors. cont

Region's tallest tower opens Tuesday American Financial, Western & Southern worked to build 41-story Great American Tower By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • January 10, 2011 When a ribbon is broken Tuesday for Cincinnati's newest and tallest skyscraper, executives of two Fortune 500 firms will share pride in a project that even a historic recession couldn't stop. Leaders of insurance giant American Financial Group Inc. and developer Western & Southern Financial Group have worked for more than five years to bring the 41-story Great American Tower at Queen City Square out of the ground. The waiting ends Tuesday, 1/11/11 at 1:11 p.m., when up to 250 of Cincinnati's top business and government leaders gather at the corner of Fourth and Sycamore streets to officially open the $320 million tower. Nationwide, it's the largest office tower scheduled to open this year. cont.

Demolition planned on Milacron site By Forrest Sellers [email protected] Demolition at the former Cincinnati Milacron site in Oakley could begin as early as February. Steve Dragon, a representative for Vandercar Holdings, Inc., recently provided an update on development at the site during the Oakley Community Council meeting. The mixed-use development, which the Community Council voiced its support for at a previous meeting, will consist of residential, commercial and retail components. The development is being referred to as Oakley North Redevelopment. The development will be at Marburg and Ibsen avenues. A previous developer also had plans for a mixed-use development at the site, which was referred to as Millworks. A sluggish economy and delays on a roadway link called the Kennedy Connector curtailed work on the project. cont.

Have A Nice Day Cafe

Again... that won't be complete until February per this article: Great American Tower preps for opening

Didn't know Chicken Joy closed... Slammin' Burger to Tower Place Signs for a Slammin’ Burger restaurant are hung at the site of the former Chicken Joy in the Tower Place Mall food court. According to its web site, www.slamminburger.com, the restaurant will open this month. Its menu includes burgers, fish and veggie philly sandwiches, mini corndogs, fries, onion rings and shakes.

Casino signs lease for offices Developers of the new Cincinnati casino have agreed to rent out the entire first floor of the Flatiron Building for their construction offices for the project across Court Street at Broadway Commons. General contractor Messer Construction decided to lease the 6,500-square to house between 30 and 40 construction officials for the project, employees of Rock Ohio Caesar's LLC - the joint venture formed by casino property owner Rock Gaming and future casino operator Caesar's Entertainment Corp. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Yes, the current construction of Phase II is only the extension of the Central Riverfront Parking Garage (CRPG) as well as completing West Freedom Way. The current lot from Race and continuing west past Elm will eventually also be part of the CRPG.

Some shots from lunch today. Looks like they will be completing Mehring Way in the next week.

Some shots from lunch today. The first is of Toby's future space and the rest are of Phase II

About damn time! :wink: First stop, Mason. Next stop, Cincinnati proper. Dayton pizza chain eyeing Mason For the first time in 20 years, Dayton staple Marion’s Piazza is expanding, the Dayton Business Journals reported. The locally-based pizza chain plans to open a restaurant in Troy this fall or winter and has plans for a Mason location.

Press release: TOBY KEITH’S I LOVE THIS BAR AND GRILL TO OPEN AT THE BANKS ON CINCINNATI’S RIVERFRONT Enquirer coverage: Toby Keith's place to open in summer By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • January 5, 2011 The Banks riverfront development will officially welcome Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill this summer, developers announced on Wednesday. The 16,000 square-foot restaurant, to be located on Second Street, will serve as an entertainment venue with live music, dancing, “Toby” a mechanical bull, and Southern-style fare.

Begin laying track on Freedom way. Neither Duke or MSD should have work to do on this new stretch of road.

That won't be finished until the end of February: Great American Tower preps for opening By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • January 3, 2011 DOWNTOWN - Moving Day is fast approaching for the first new occupants of Great American Tower at Queen City Square - the region's newest, tallest skyscraper. By mid-January, Great American Insurance Co. expects to begin moving the first of 2,500 employees into the 41-story tower, which is nearing completion after more than two years of construction. The $320 million skyscraper is the largest construction project downtown since the Bengals and Reds stadiums were built in 2000 and 2003. "It's a huge undertaking," said Keith Jensen, chief financial officer of Great American Insurance Co. and executive vice president of parent company American Financial Group. "There's certainly a lot of anticipation. I think our people are excited, especially those who have seen this building rise and change the skyline."

Great find! I remember when it was a brewery but had forgotten it was ran by Oldenberg.

Holy Grail signs Banks lease By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • December 29, 2010 The owners of locally based Holy Grail restaurant and bar have signed a lease for 6,000 square feet of space at The Banks riverfront development. Jim Moerhing, a partner in the ownership group for Holy Grail – which has locations in Corryville and Delhi Township – said the new restaurant will open in space just across from the Reds Hall of Fame on Joe Nuxhall Way. • Follow EnqBusiness on Twitter So far, the restaurant is the only locally owned operation to lease space in The Banks, says Moehring, who is teaming with Cincinnati natives Don Andres, Paul Goebel and Tom Heitker. - Two new websites are up with the second one showing renderings: http://www.holygrailbanks.com/ http://www.holygraildowntown.com/