Michael L. Redmond

I am a tremedously positive person, I look for the best in all things however how this has been handled has just made me sick! A neighbor of mine was robbed at gunpoint a couple of weeks ago and this is what sparked this whole thing. He did the right thing, he called the police and then called the neighbors with a description of the person. Almost 24 hours after the incident, three neighbors (two of which were myself and my wife) spotted the person in front of our house-we followed him, had him arrested and a positive ID was given by the victim within minutes. The Captain personally calls me and gets involved with the case and agrees to meet with the residents of Mulberry in a special security meeting (2 weeks earlier than originally scheduled) to give them the details of this matter along with other major crackdowns within the Mulberry/McMicken Sector. This meeting is tonight. Yesterday I recieve a call from Chris saying that they have done something that I am probably not going to be happy with and as he is saying this Holly hands me another phone and says it is the Captain. Channel 9 news had contacted him and wanted to show up at this private meeting because of the "crime spree" on Mulberry. Putting residents at risk by going to the media and wanting to show our faces on the news when we are the one's who are turning these criminals in and testifying against them is bad judgment at best. We tell one of the participants in the story that this was sensationalism and they justified it by saying they wanted to put the pressure on the police to act. Even an email sent back from Channel 9 to one of the participants (don't want to name him) says We already had the person who did the crime, the other was just a random gun firing. But according to channel 9 last night Mulberry is out of control. We lost face with the police and who knows how much damage this has done to the reputation of our street. They did not even wait for the meeting to call the media to say " bull!! This is the most frustrated I have been during my time here. Not because of the crime, I have more information than most do on that, but because of foolish, irresponsible actions like this by only two people without even waiting for the facts from the police, the fact they did their job and they did it well and we are on a safe street. Last night, Mulberry was depicted as the most unsafe street in the City and that is just wrong! Chris and Joe's heart is in the right place, I do not doubt that but all of the residents are furious over this depiction of Mulberry. This will damage our police relationship, it will damage home sales, and it reinforces the already negative image of all of downtown by many in Greater Cincinnati. This got us nothing but having some of the most active participants on the street wanting to through their hands up and say forget it, if you are going to fight within, then you can fight without.

to be honest, I don't know enough about the parking situation to really comment on it. Next time I see Pauline, I will ask. If anyone has a camera and wants to take some new pics of the interior of the model, let me know and I will get you in. The outside just doesn't tell the story.

two frame, non historic building, one that a tree has fallen on, both abandoned.

I could be wrong about this but I do know of two houses that Pauline is going to buy or has bought, they are both directly behind the model, I want to say that some parking is going to go there after they are torn down (one already has a tree sitting on it roof) As for the rest, I am not sure. There is existing parking spaces at the bottom of the first row of condos on the right.

OK, a different direction then I thought the update would go into. The important thing now is that the project get started and completed. Street blocking will be a mute point if the city does not see that this is an immensely important project, not just for Mt. Auburn, but for the entire area. The City needs to fund this project, so send some emails, make some calls, let them know. Either this project is going to happen and the city come through with what they already have agreed to, or it sits there indefinetly, maintaining the status quo.

I understand what you are saying however the primary concern of future Inwood residence (at least I believe) is safety. If Glencoe is no longer a through street then the only reason for someone to be down there is if they live at Inwood or are visiting. Two points of egress rather than one would be a security issue.

I agree with you. I am not sure where that stands.

The model is now complete and I went through it this past Sun. From the front you would not know anything was going on but when you get past the front door it is amazing. Completely different from the look of anything else I have seen down here. I do not represent this project but if anyone wants to get in and see this just let me know. This project would seal the deal for the hill, we need to get behind Pauline because these 68 condos can either be finished off beautifully or they can continue to sit the way they are.

Plans are now being drawn for 111 Mulberry Street as well. A great P&G couple from Iowa are looking to turn this former 3 family (now just a shell) into a single family, owner occupied residence.

I have the plans sitting here in front of me for those two. The Fielers are doing them, one to sell, one to occupy themselves. Elevators in both, two car tandem garage. The Fielers are the same one's who did the Ft. Washington so if that gives you any indication of what quality is going there.

I have a couple of places downtown, 5 on Main and 3 on Mulberry, one of which is an entire new const. house. with a great view, and hot tub on the roof.

Weedrose, I believe in a mix of entertainment/restraunts and retail, each storefronts is different in that some are better suited for specific uses than others. If a restraunt wants to go into one of the existing bar spaces, I do not think this is a conflict whatsoever. Monte, How much do I owe you for the plug? Thank you.

Nick, I am not trying to convince you, I realize you have moved on and am happy you are doing well. Lets just agree to disagree and if you are ever on Main again, I will buy you a drink at a bar of your choosing (so long as it is Pitifuls).

Pitifuls? Well Bob is not exactly the gangster type The Lab? Not exactly. The Exchange, not what I would call gangster. Neons, Gangster? please. Coopers,ahh -no. Vynl the new gangster hangout? nope. and no other clubs that we are talking to is wanting "gangster" either. Salsa perhaps, gangster no. And the Club Ritz thing, old news, no more. Well considering I am the one who negotiated it for the incoming operator (not Bob), I know first hand that you are incorrect. So it appears you did not negotiate a deal for yourself that you were able to abide by. Sorry about your luck but perhaps it taught you a few lessens that you took into your next lease negotiation in Northside. Some are better at structuring a favorable lease than others and I doubt that anyone forced your hand to sign an agreement that was so terrible. I see bad terms everyday and guess what, I simply advise not to agree to them. You got in over your head, not my fault. These things take time especially when there are two seperate negotiations with two different people, one for space the other for a liquor license. And we will not except just anything, go in blindly or carelessly, I wish more operators would take the time to negotiate better. How about 3 months rent free (per year/non consecutive months) for up to 3 years and up to $20,000 matching toward build out? This is our current incentive on Main. This is from the Chamber, so basically there is 25% discount on club space on Main regardless of the negotiated sq ft amount. anyone have any crime stats floating around from either when the Sherriffs hit the ground,Vortex began, or my favorite-Citizens on Patrol started or comarables from same time last year? Well lets just take a poll, does anyone feel that OTR is safer or more dangerous now then say last year-or 5 years ago, how about 10? As a resident of OTR and a person who has an office direclty on Main and who frequents Main daily, I vote much less. And did you get a warm and fuzzy feeling about Northside at the safety summit? Hey, I love that place to but my brother in law ownes Casablanca Vintage (tell George I said hello) and I get to hear what happens there as well. Once again I will reiterate my point, you are negative-I am being positive, go figure. You are an angry,angry person and we all understand that. Good luck to you. Max, does the bars existing on South Main bother you or are you concerned about them moving northward to where there is residential? Most (with the exception of Pitifuls and Coopers are not directly below the residential and the sq ft on North Main generally is not conducive to anything other than retail. The bars play an important part in an overall tennant mix but should not be the only thing or even the most predominant. This has definetly been a failing of Main all along. Monte, West 5th is Nick Barella territory, I would ask him who he is reaching out to.

TEAR my information comes from Tony. I know what the number is, do you? I am not arguing, I am stating fact. *Purgatory is reopening FACT *JHall is in final lease negotiation FACT *Harry's is in final lease negotiation FACT *we have a potential for Neons FACT *we are targeting a specific club to move into Red Cheetah FACT NOW TELL ME I AM WRONG I am not the disgruntled one with Main. It is my job to push Main and any other street in the state of Ohio (they all pay the same). It is not however your job to bash Main St just because it did not work out for you. Why does positive news for Main upset you so much? I want the absolute best for my neighborhood, and as someone who ran for city office, I would think you would be able to appreciate that....or not, who cares. I will say something positive, you will say something negative, I think people are starting to figure it out, you are upset, and that is understandable but let it go-you have moved on, so...move on!

I am on here almost everyday but I tend to only go to threads that I can actually add some information to (which is about 3 topics).

It will! Karen Fricker, Cincinnati resident, on tape "We're from Cincinnati and we're partying in Kentucky. I'd rather give my business to downtown Cincinnati." It is statements like this that really tell the tale. Nick is mistaking about the rent that is being payed by Tony on the Levee I can not disclose what the dollar amount is, but lets just say it is probably lower than what Nick is paying in Northside.(and there was a fully equiped kitchen) The Levee had and has some tennant mix problems and they know it. They have been too heavily geared towards too young of a population to support night time business. JHall was brought in to help remedy that and the Levee will make up for any loss in sqft cost to Tony by making the other vacancies look more attractive.

Wrong! Tony's rent at Jefferson Halls was lowered by over 1000 by Bob Schneider. He is under $10 per sq on his bars now and this is in line with what the other bars had been paying. J Hall alone is over 4300 sq ft and that is not including the basement area that has two walk ins, a $60,000, 2 year old HVAC and a D5, D6 liquor license as well as a turn key operation that could be opened within 48 hours. Compare that to a 600 sq whitebox on North Main and yes, the rents are a bit different, I can get you in there for $7 a sq (perhaps less, I know people). I was standing behind the cameraman when Bob was doing his interview, some things were discussed that did not make it into the piece on Channel 9. Steve Ross has signed a new Tennant at Purgatory, Harry's and JHall will be lit within months, we have a potential for Neon's and Dan Dell, Brian Tiffany and myself are actively seeking a specific, targeted "bar" for Red Cheetah, with the permission of Steve Ross. We are being smarter with Tennant mix on Main then in the past, it will not reemerge organically, but calculated, planned and as a combined effort of the landlords, Chamber, Main St. Live and Comey & Shepherd.

I am a republican, I live in OTR because I want to (I voluntarily moved from MT. Adams) I work here because I want to (I voluntarily left the Montgomery office of Huff in Montgomery to go to OTR) I volunteer here because I want to (I am a sector captain for Mulberry/McMicken, Chair of the Mt. Auburn Group to Improve the Community events committee, Citizens on Patrol Captain, and Chair of the Mulberry Hill Tour) I am at every clean up including tomorrows tree planting at Frintz st. because I want to. There seems to be many who say because my political leanings are a particular way then they automatically must care more. For those of you who believe this, join this Republican on the steps of Frintz st tomorrow morning and dig holes in the mud and cold to make this inner city community look a bit better.

I just finished with a meeting with Robin Hunt (Great Guy) with Urban Forestry. Frintz, and E. Clifton (from Frintz to Vine) will be treescaped this upcoming spring. We marked all of the tree well sites today and got the ok from the DOT. Also the Frintz st Steps will be lined with 8 Brandywine Maples with an entrance of two Magnolias leading from Mulberry to Frintz. This will happen on the 28th of this month.

"I look forward to details on where downtown they will set up shop." They were looking at Catanzaro but we are still pushing for Hussman.

Glad you asked....No. Actually I do, Jefferson Hall may be reopening soon as a Salsa bar and this deal may turn into a larger deal on Main including 4 other bars. (take that Nick Spencer). And let me float an idea out here...what do you think of Bogarts on Main? Just an idea, but they are looking to expand their current location and if we could convince them to go to the old Sycamore Gardens location, just outside Vynl, Neon's, and a possible new bar along with ample parking just across the street, it would make much more sence. Vernon Rader is back to work again on his buildings at the top of Liberty and Main. I am trying to get a time line but Vernon is weary of giving one with the past troubles with the City. Sorry I have been so quiet about these things so far but I wanted to make sure that they were far enough along to take public.

Is Conroy St. not considered OTR?

". . . first single-family housing development in Over-the-Rhine in more than 100 years." Is Conroy St. not considered OTR?

I believe the official opening is Saturday. I saw the same thing you did but I believe you are correct about the private party.