OCtoCincy

It's gonna be fine. It's essentially a 4EG bar/restaurant that they have licensed the naming rights too. 4EG has built Lackman, Righteous room, Keystone, etc. It will be good. And what's best, is it bridges Main & Vine. I know a lot of Main St businesses that are struggling because suburbanites don't walk between vine & main enough. This will help.

^ ditto.

Sorry, I'm pulling rank as a politico and saying Feeney had 0% chance to win. None. It's not the party's fault. It's his. He has literally said every wrong thing you possibly could. Party has not helped him, but he's hurt himself. He's not running a serious campaign. He has $400!!!! You have to actively TRY NOT to raise money to only raise $400. Every single person on here could raise $3-4K in a month if they were running. 0 experience, you could do it I promise you. $400 is a joke. Tarbell is a long shot, but it just took us from having 0 chance, to having a small chance.

Getting behind Feeney is throwing away your vote. The guy is not stable and has absolutely 0 chance of winning. 0. Not, "well if we all supported him he would win", he has zero chance. It's not because he's a no body, it's because, if you follow his facebook or twitter or have read anything about him he says and does all of the opposite things he should do. He didn't go to a single Save Our Icons meeting. NOT ONE. All you have to do is go there, sign up to speak, say, My name is Feeney and as County Commissioner I would let the people vote!" He would instantly have gotten several hundred votes. He should have signed up volunteers at those meetings, he should have done a million things. It's mid-august and he hasn't done a thing. The ONLY chance, and it's a long shot, is for people to get involved NOW and volunteer for Tarbell. Feeney's ship has sailed. Tarbell has a chance, but people would need to volunteer and not just say, good luck!

I would try Brighton area. It's like OTR 5 years ago. Or maybe Mcmicken at Ravine. WIth the new protected bike lanes it feels way more connected to downtown & OTR than it did just a few months ago.

This is effectively what I was suggesting could happen. I am perfectly fine with surface rail on Central Parkway connecting to I-75's preserved ROW for LRT. I don't want the City to even consider building a citywide subway. Labor costs too much. Even in Madrid, the expanding lines are surface rail. I mentioned the Parkway Subway because the City of Cincinnati has already paid for those tunnels. If they fit into a reasonable, affordable plan to expand transit along the spine of the city, they certainly should be used. Due to wealth along I-71, i'd expect to see an I-71 line before an I-75 line. For various reasons everyone loves talking about the idea of kenwood to downtown, and honestly, it would make Evanston & Norwood BOOM in terms of housing rehab and redevelopment. Also, the amount of wealth already along the line is enormous. I see no reason for an I-74 line at all unfortunately. It's extreme sprawl out there. The only stops beyond Northside would be massive park & rides semi near large strip malls. An I-75 line would be huge for bringing transit options to people who really need them. Areas like Lockland, Arlington Heights, etc. are poor and economically would benefit from increased transit options. But because it's considered poor and there's less comparable development in the area, I don't see a major push by the movers and shakers to bring a billion line to that area to entice nonexistent development. Notice, SORTA went for their BRT-lite route to be an east side to Kenwood option, and not a central corridor option. And bringing us back on topic... Any kind of Major light rail option MUST be funded via a large area tax. SORTA is preparing to put a quarter cent sales tax on the ballot, and it's not even considering rail. NONE! Denver passed their massive multi-county tax in 2004 and the first new rail line opened in 2013. We don't even have a tax passed. That, in essence, was a huge part of why the City pursued the streetcar. It's the only rail option we can build without a major dedicated tax. Flynn & Mann will not push for building phase 2 of the streetcar unless a tax source to cover a chunk of operating costs has been identified. At this point, no one is even close to figuring that out.

I'm happy to see this, but its pretty obvious this was a political move to keep the grocery from being built downtown... I've been told that flaherty & Collins didn't want to build the grocery store, it was a requirement of Mallory/Dohoney. It was going to add at least a million to their construction cost and the City mandated hours (7am to 10PM) would have given the operator a lot less flexibility than they would prefer. Also, it was going to be smaller than the OTR Kroger. Just want to make sure everyone understands that. OTR kroger is about 30K square feet. This new grocery was going to be 18K square feet (but obviously targeted at a higher end clientele) Losing that grocery, which <b>wasn't on the streetcar line anyway</b>, is fine by me. Smaller groceries work well of stocked right and run well in fact I kind of prefer them. Good example: http://www.wgrocer.com/home.html This is one of those things Cincinnati just doesn't get This is exactly what I love about the OTR Kroger. We could definitely use a second, more high-end, grocer closer to the Square, but the OTR Kroger is a fantastic downtown grocer that we're lucky to have. I agree. The OTR Kroger is a gem most people on here seem to ignore. If everyone in OTR shopped there, it would carry even more higher end products. But instead, most of the residents of the last 5 years drive to Newport while complaining that they wish we had the fabled unicorn-like downtown grocery store. Shop at OTR Kroger & findlay market all the time and they will get better.

I'm happy to see this, but its pretty obvious this was a political move to keep the grocery from being built downtown... I've been told that flaherty & Collins didn't want to build the grocery store, it was a requirement of Mallory/Dohoney. It was going to add at least a million to their construction cost and the City mandated hours (7am to 10PM) would have given the operator a lot less flexibility than they would prefer. Also, it was going to be smaller than the OTR Kroger. Just want to make sure everyone understands that. OTR kroger is about 30K square feet. This new grocery was going to be 18K square feet (but obviously targeted at a higher end clientele) Losing that grocery, which <b>wasn't on the streetcar line anyway</b>, is fine by me. Blah blah blah square footage, timing, etc. Or Two Kroger executives are on 3CDC board. You're just spouting conspiracy theories. Flaherty & Collins made it publicly known that the only way they were building the Grocery was if they got $4.5 million in New Market Tax Credits. Their entire NMTC proposal was for the grocery store, stating that they needed the tax credit to bring a grocery store to a food desert. Do your research. Next people will say, Kroger execs purposefully meddled in the NMTC process to prevent them from getting it... But if it were that easy to manipulate... Why did 3CDC get completely screwed and get $0. Again, if we want a successful not-car-focused urban grocery it should be straight up on the Streetcar line, thereby reducing the number of people who say, I'd have to walk 3 blocks to the streetcar, then 3 blocks from the streetcar to the grocery store, then 3 blocks back, then three blocks home, I'd rather just drive... It's stupid, but people will do it. Especially because I'm certain any grocery (and this was true of the planned 4th and race one) would offer free 1 hour parking with grocery validation.

I'm happy to see this, but its pretty obvious this was a political move to keep the grocery from being built downtown... I've been told that flaherty & Collins didn't want to build the grocery store, it was a requirement of Mallory/Dohoney. It was going to add at least a million to their construction cost and the City mandated hours (7am to 10PM) would have given the operator a lot less flexibility than they would prefer. Also, it was going to be smaller than the OTR Kroger. Just want to make sure everyone understands that. OTR kroger is about 30K square feet. This new grocery was going to be 18K square feet (but obviously targeted at a higher end clientele) Losing that grocery, which <b>wasn't on the streetcar line anyway</b>, is fine by me.

For construction to begin on the Central Parkway subway in 10 years (I'm talking about beginning, not being built) there would need to be plans and design work actively starting now. For the Cincinnati Streetcar, we started in 2007, It will open in 2016. Were there delays? Yes. Will those same attack tactics happen for rebuilding something in the Central Parkway Subway? Yes. Hopefully, Phase 2 of the Streetcar has just opened 10 years from now. Design work is at 30%, and there are no funds to move it forward. I think Design gets finished, maybe by 2016. Then there's a huge fight during the next mayoral election on how to fund uptown's connection. Then maybe, if a pro streetcar mayor wins in 2017 (democrats are unlikely to run a major candidate against Cranley unless he really becomes a failure) Council will look at funding in 2018, maybe with work beginning in 2019 and taking 2+ years, opening revenue service n 2022. That's a tight schedule that doesn't allow for referendum's etc. That's phase 2 for the streetcar opening in 8 years from now, which I think is the absolute best case you can hope for (I wouldn't put much money on that). Central Parkway subway isn't going to happen in the near future.

Not entirely true. A google search of code violations in the City show outstanding orders that are not completed and seem to be past due. I'd assume he's been fined because the dates imply he didn't do the work in the allotted time. If I see code violations, I report it. Unfortunately, too many buildings have gone into shambles by people who "meant well" but didn't do the appropriate maintenance on their buildings.

They are actually adding two floors. The building is being built as two attached town homes. Each town home will have a 2 car (tandem) garage, with a two floor living space above. I know one is sold, the second may already be sold.

What about San Francisco then? Exactly. The places in the US where cycling has taken off the most really destroy any of the arguments about extenuating circumstances. Wet: Seattle, Portland Hills: San Francisco Cold: Minneapolis, Madison, Chicago Hot: Tucson It's actually really weird the way that worked out. Sure, places like Davis, CA are up there in modeshare, but the major US cities that have taken to biking read like a list of cities with extreme "impediments" to cycling. (Also: Copenhagen doesn't exactly have mild winters.) For a week I was commuting between Walnut Hills & downtown while house sitting. Taking the bus up Gilbert after work and riding to work down the hill in the morning was great. Yes, I can ride up gilbert & end up drenched on a summer afternoon, but combining the two modes was excellent and in the urban core (including uptown and Walnut Hills) it's fairly easy with decent bus service.

While I agree non-profits are bad on prime real estate due to the lack of taxes, anything and everything being built at the Banks are receiving 15-30 year tax abatements. Essentially negating any value paid through taxes for years. That makes me more willing to have UC build something that would have activity and contribute to vitality at the Banks since the tax benefit wouldn't occur anyway. But, I would want it to be on an area for office, and not to replace residential.

I've been told Saturday the 24th is the official opening of 12th & Race, but there is a chance it would open a few days earlier if weather holds up and things keep moving.

And Fountain Square. Apparently today the station at The Banks is being installed today and possibly the one at the Aronoff.

No, they didn't. The bikes are red, red is a color that Cincinnati loves (reds, bearcats, etc.). The Mayor in the interview said something to the effect of, Cincinnati loves the Reds and this name reflects that" but that is the extent of their connection. I think there's a chance the Reds may sponsor the stop at GABP with some small monies.

^ Would be an excellent site for a new UC College of Law. There are other plans for this site. I've been told UC is strongly considering the Banks for law school.

Looks like that's included in Schickel Design's Pleasant Street Vision Study: http://www.schickeldesign.com/documents/otrch_vision_study_final_booklet.pdf I wouldnt be in favor of anything giant, i really like the views of the rooftops and steeples from the hillsides. But, time has arrived when we have to start thinking about Liberty Street not as a border but as a centerpiece of the neighborhood. Wow, those garages are huge. And what's with them fronting Elm & Race? (Page 18 of PDF) Edit: They even front Liberty in one spot (and visibly bridge the alley), seen best on Pg. 20. Thank you- Anyone pretending that the Shickel proposal is significantly better than the 3CDC plan isn't thinking straight. They are two different versions of the same plan. Both have giant garages- hell, the "vision study" plan has a freaking garage bridge over Pleasant Street!!!. What could be less pedestrian friendly than a giant concrete car bridge driving over your residential street. I actually feel that the "Vision Study" is WORSE than the 3CDC plan. Here's why: The vision study essentially says, 15th and Race is too important to have any parking! Put all the parking out by that wasteland of Liberty where no one cares anyway!!". It's the typical NIMBYism that is occuring in Pendleton right now where people are opposed to the new townhomes being built. Their few small streets got fixed up enough, so why bother fixing up some vacant land and changing things... The 3CDC plan does have way too much parking. I would say 100 spaces could/should be cut out of the 300+ space plan (remember, they are not building parking at 15th & Elm, or for any of their republic st properties, and Mercer Commons still has a whole third phase that needs to be built that will use the mercer garage, so 200 or so for like 8 development sites isn't outrageous, but 300+ is a bit much) Reality is people still drive in Cincy, and the streetcar is a step in the right direction, but isn't going to end driving. But to say, "having a parking garage hidden by buildings is bad, I'd rather put it on a major thoroughfare where it visible from Elm, Race & Liberty" is a joke.

All appropriate no parking signs, yes parking signs, etc. were put up before the bollards. I ride the route almost every day. Every appropriate piece of signage is up and in all the right places. There are a couple small things I would tweak, but nothing is missing signage. One thing I think they could do is add some "Pay to Park" signs near the metered areas because people seem to be completely perplexed by the idea of parking, crossing a bike lane, and paying the meter that is directly in line with your car.

Correct. It's a very simple name, but easy to get used to. I can't stand how everyone in Cincy loves to name everything "Queen City (Cookies/Metro/Lumber, etc.) Thrilled they didn't go with that.

Ok Grandpa Mecklenborg, time for your nap!

They are fine. There are a million more ugly things in our right of ways. They are quite uniform and you don't even notice them after awhile. As a cyclist, they are great. CP has mostly been working completely well since they finished it.

There's a press conference at 11AM tomorrow announcing the name of the bike share system and soon thereafter groundbreaking the first station. I'm amazing this seems to be actually happening, because I was convinced we'd have another delay till the spring.

Cincy Bike Share is a non-profit. It's not boosting B-cycles profits, because if people didn't volunteer Cincy Bike Share would have to hire people to help, not b-cycle.