Michael L. Redmond

Absolutely! At some point we have to get beyond this sentiment that everything not just has to be the right way, but it has to be our way. Thank God they are building a great school in an area that has had nothing for years. Is it facing the way we want, who cares. I think it is funny (and by funny I mean sad) that we can not get anything here and not complain about it in some way. OTR is booming right now and yet all we do is bitch. We should all try something different this time, and that is be proud of what is happening in our community because it is so much better than the alternative.

one more thing, Measure them on their product, go into the Cue, see Speakeasy and then tell me that they should not be "allowed to operate on Main". If enough people feel that the product is good, then their age will not matter much. People who have failed, and I am not going to mention Nick by name, are the ones who are quick to say it is because of that greedy landlord, always wanting their rent. I know Bob Schneider, I have negotiated with him. I know Mike Stough and I am working on a project with him right now that is the absolute polar opposite of greed. I have sat in Bob's office and watched him turn down one after another that wanted to lease his bars and for what reason? He wants to have someone running the bars that he feels can operate successfully enough to.....pay rent. Now I would believe that Bob probably has done some research, and something told him that this is doable--have you? Then you take out the criminal element, not the commercial element! To equate a bar with murders is not going to get you very far. Why do we see murders on E. Clifton? Washington Park? Vine? Republic? Is it because of the bars over there? Why do we not see them on 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th, they all have bars and clubs as well? It is the criminals who will commit the crime, with or without a bar or club, lets try and remove them first. In some cases, especially in OTR, those without the "age/experience" do not know what they can't do. And in many cases down here, that is very valuable. They have not been tainted by the years of negativity and defeatism that has defined all of downtown. I am more willing to give an eager, young person a chance than a beaten down "experienced" one.

Jesse, I think you and I are seeing two very different Main Streets and perhaps two very different OTR's, and that is ok, this lends to a perception issue that we must overcome. So let me lay out for you what I see, day in and day out from a very inside perspective. My wife, Holly Redmond, along with Jim Mole are the two reps on this project. I can tell you, with absolute certainty, it has caught fire. Builders resources has doubled their sales expectation in year 1, the commercial sales by Kathleen Norris has blown all expectations out of the water. The Q also just made it into the best of edition of Cinti Mag, see what they have to say about it. . We need to go on a tour one of these days. I can show you places on Main Street that will absolutely make your heart stop. Are there buildings that still need to be rehabbed? Sure, but some/most have already been bought by the developers. Thats almost like saying do not try, you may fail. If Main "lays low" then you will be stuck with the same Main we have had for the past decade, a silent Main is a dead Main. Do you not believe that it is better to do something worthy of positive press? Everyone seems focused on the age of Mark and Joe, but last night I was at the opening party and saw the product, and it is that product that is superior to what we have seen before. Those 21 year olds are surrounding themselves with the right people, the people that get things done and have proven themeselves beyond some of those previous "experienced" owners of the past. Bottom line, we may fail. It could be a bad idea, perhaps Main, or even OTR is not worth our time or effort--but that is a chance we are willing to take.

Valid fear, but one that has been accounted for and is being addressed. Much of the problem that plagued Main the first time was lack of adequate planning. And I say this not to criticize the first gen of bars on Main, but to point out that it was an organic development vs a planned development. Also, we have the benefit of history, we know what can go wrong and can, and are, taking actions to prevent them as best we can. As for critical mass, we did not have anywhere near the development in 95 or 96 as we do today. We did not have all of the planned development either, no one had even heard of 3CDC. The tipping point for OTR we believe has already happened, this is just one more boost for an already growing community. Now if you believe that there are not enough people to support these venues, only time will tell, but with Jean Robert building a restaurant only 2 blocks away, I feel comfortable about our chances. Condos are being sold in the area, to the tune of about 100 per year in the Q, and Urban Sites is doing 2 more buildings right now on Main, Ball Furniture North and Ball South. The storefronts are being turned into gallery spaces as well, but if you believe that the highest and best use for a place like Cue, Speakeasy, JHall, Exchange, Neons, Harrys, Pitifuls, Coopers etc. all of which have full liquor lic. is to become an art gallery.... well, you and I disagree. Main is not an "either, or" street, nor should it be. I preach constantly that Main should have "a broader definition." It should not be just an entertainment dist, nor just an arts dist, nor just a residential dist. It can be all of that and more and it will, this is only the beginning.

Well it is more than just Joe and Mark, Paul Yankee is very involved (the owner of the Exchange) and is helping in every aspect of the opening, and operation of, not just these two bars, but Pizza Bar as well (Harry's Pizza). Was I this agent? It is true! Here is my take, Nigel may agree or disagree. A club tempo is set by its operator/owner. The owner is gay and therefor it makes Below Zero a "gay friendly" bar however we have hosted parties there, Holly's going away party when she left Comey was held there (well a comey party may be a bad example) but it is an everyone bar that is friendly to "EVERYONE". The pace has really picked up the past 3 weeks. I know some have expressed concern about Rulah David and Michael Spalding with the Diner and how this may affect Mixx, but keep in mind, they are partners in a larger group that is putting together this venue. I believe that Mixx will help the Diner and the eventual opening of Jardin when it proves to be successful. First, two pool tables does not a college pool hall make. Second, you speak of success of 1 bar, and that is of course important, but these openings are designed to create a critical mass. You have to think of the Main Street collective in order to understand the planned success of these particular bars. Energy, if you were to sum it up in one word, I think that would describe what Main is going for, Energy both in the single bars and energy when you step out on the street.

just came out of Cue about an hour ago and we held a private party in Speakeasy for Mulberry last Friday. They are coming together fast.

I know that this may not rise to the level of Broadway Commons but I would like to see something done for the Reading Rd. entrance from 71 S. How much traffic does this 1/4 mile stretch see day in and day out? And it has what? Well there is a check cashing place, Bavarian Motors, High Street (thats a start) and Staples. This is THEE Gateway into OTR and north downtown and for many of the suburbanites, this stretch of road is the only glimpse they get of OTR as they drive to their offices in the CBD.

There are a lot of issues that could complete this sentence for Broadway Commons. I am not sure what the answer is. My only hope is that it is not ordinary, and it is something that benefits the entire area, aesthetically and economically, but what that is, who knows.

Financing aside for a minute. Would it be viable? Could the location attract the business (concerts/sports or otherwise)to be profitable? Is it the right use for that location? If so, then financing is possible, it may have to be creative, but it is possible. And I believe it is possible to do a private project to a great extent. And keep in mind, the value of the location is 2 fold if another use is simultaneously presented on the current river side site.

You are probably correct. But I guess that raises the question in my head which is better for that space, value added to homeowners with a service related facility or the overall economic stimulus of a concert/sports venue? I do not know.

When I mentioned the arena going there, I had the sports aspect more to the back of my head and the concerts more in the forefront. Thinking more towards concerts, what if you have Union Terminal that is almost an amphitheater type design, mirrored on the east. Not to that scale, but open, similar design, concert oriented? You of course run into the seasonal problem again, but I believe would be a cost effective way to bring in the large scale concerts from places like Riverbend closer to the core therefor leveraging that audience to give a greater economic effect to the city.

If I were King, the coliseum would have been rebuilt on Broadway Commons. The old building is terrible, and It would have wrapped downtown perfectly to have the Convention Center to the west, Baseball and Football at the River and the Coliseum to the east. It would have been better for Main to have the spill out from concerts etc right to our front door vs a quick jump across the river to Newport. The access off Reading, the parking, the leverage of multiple venues, the visibility, year around activity....it is a no brainer, much more so than baseball that goes dark half the year.

Development is great, but I believe Cincinnati needs to concentrate on ways to make sure that all of the development efforts that are currently underway can be sustained. The services behind the current development are the "next step". If we get so caught up in the next project without having the infrastructure in place to take care of the last project, then ultimatly we are spinning our wheels. Now do not get me wrong, I am all for moving forward with a massive developmental push, but how do we make sure that the existing, and the future projects are still viable 10, 15 or 50 years after they are done?

The difference in robbery and car accident is simple....Intentional Crime/Accident. Now if people begin intentionally playing bumper cars on the highways I would say your point is valid on this particular thread. I agree however we should not just limit this to bars and clubs, many things and organizations help enable the criminal element in the neighborhood and should be held responsible.

Random and extraordinarily rare.

Lets not get ahead of ourselves here They bring positive elements as well, but Red has been warned repeatedly about doing such programming as "teen night" We have responsible bar owners on the street as well and they should be applauded for their efforts but the irresponsible ones should be held accountable.

club red was the only one open. channel 19 reports.... "It happened Thursday morning just after 1 a.m. at 12th and Main Streets, just down the street from Club Red."

There historically has been in fighting within OTR at almost every level. But this is where the SID differs. The SID is not a new organization, it is not a group who is coming in and saying here is the initiative for you to inact that will solve all of your problems. The SID is a funding mechanism that will help inact initiatives of the property owners by way of the service plan. We do not have the answers, the property owners do, and this is a way for them to do the things they need to do. The etc. part is very important. It is used to do what the property owners within the defined geography say it will be used for and I would imagine that when polled, the property owners of OTR will differ somewhat from CBD and different property owners will have different visions based on the type of property they own. That is why it is important to have a board made up of a true mix. And the in fighting that was talked about above can not exist because the service plan will dictate to the board what services are enacted, not the board dictating to the SID.

Several possibilities are being looked at now. And there is more than just the funding and buy in that is at play here. *Time to get up and running *defining an area that will demonstrate a change By including all of OTR it will take us a huge amount of time (measured in years) and although raising more funds, some areas would take a disproportionate amount of resources. So as it stands, we are trying to narowly focus on an area that we can have up and running hopefully, by mid of next year. It is more akin to a self government. The property owners are the ones who decide what services are employed and has taxing powers. This will allow the owners to fix their own problems without having to solely depend on City Hall to dole out the necessary services to a couple of streets, within one neighborhood within a 52 neighborhood city. And one more point. The Vitality working group is only in place to get this up and running. Ultimately, the board of the SID (mayor, one appointed by the City Council, and at least 3 property owners) will make all decisions and the working group will disolve.

Well perhaps it is what it is.

Now keep in mind, I am not saying they are wrong, but I am saying this one deserves some closer looking into. I am hearing that they were bug bombing the building now and this is why the door was open.

It just doesn't make sence, it may be true, but I am hearing (second and third hand) that these were not rehabbers and this is coming from someone on the scene. So I am just saying, lets match names to addresses here and if it doesn't match, lets get the media to report what really happened.

you may be right, but if someone wants to pull permits, I sure would be interested. There are a lot of people questioning this today other than just me.

Some questions here. 9:00 at night? rehabbers at McMicken and Vine? 18-21 years old? If anyone has the time, see who owns 3 W. McMicken, and if there are any work permits pulled. The auditor does not reflect the most current sale as it has happened apparently within the month.

And here is your answer. No doubt whatsoever! But this is my point, do what is right for all of OTR (if that is indeed having a neighborhood school) and not what is right for only Broadway. If we can put a major business into Rothenberg, where will they eat, where will they live, what impact will that have on the neighborhood as a whole, not just a part. And remember who is fighting the hardest for the neighborhood school, it is Pendleton, so long as it is not in their back yard.