OCtoCincy

^ actually the city owns the entire railway as well, and leases it to the Cincinnati New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (wholly owned by Norfolk Southern) under a long term agreement (expiring in ~2026 with option to renew) There are a few portions where Norfolk Southern added double track in the 1990's so Perhaps they own those portions. But thanks For the great background! Additionally, COAST's ancestors forced a ballot issue to sell the railway just before the turn of the 20th century for a few million dollars. It failed by less than 500 votes (population of Cincy was the same size back then). Shows the foolishness in selling public assets for 1 time payoffs. ---- btw, great news about the Streetcar!

And of course, to drive another 50-60 cars into the structure...

JSkinner is correct: The elimination is for aesthetic purposes. Again - a person is Not monopolizing a "public good" when they park in a parking lane that has no plans to be turned into a driving lane, a larger curb, a park extension or anything else. It's being remove to make the park look nicer and will remain empty aside from "loading". With disregard to business owners & residents nearby. Id even be fine with meters being added, but not with the removal of parking just to "protect" the park from unsightly cars. It will also likely increase speed on Race as people drive faster in wider lanes. As it will not be turned into a lane it will seem more like a wide curb lane, leading to faster driving. JSkinner, I highly recommend you call Michael Moore director of DOTE & several councilmembers saying there should be more consideration into this decision.

Ahhh and what's worse is how wrong he is. It's Public information about all the financing of the Cincinnati Southern Railway Company. It PROFITED $19 million for the City of Cincinnati last year, and $18 mill the year before. It's valued at over $1 billion. It has posted a profit every year since at least the early 1980's.

Roughly 2018 and no.

K- that might be true. I saw on the Enquirer Real Estate page and it listed each address as a separate transaction and $70,000 each which was a little crazy.

Still a horrible argument. People should pay for sidewalks too. And water fountains. Oh wait. We pay for them with taxes. In fact, in local Government the argument it's always made that meters are not meant to be sources of revenue to pay for "costs" of street parking, but are instead supposed to increase turnover to support the businesses nearby. Again, the reduction in parking here is not being used for some greater municipal purpose such as increasing the sidewalk et cetera. It's being used to create a massive loading zone, but really it's just a way to protect the beautiful park from ugly parked cars.

Big new land purchase by 3CDC last week. 1447 Walnut 1445 walnut 1512 Moore st 20 E 15th st 23 Liberty St Most of these properties had been owned by Die Hard Realty while one was owned by united realty. All were purchased for $70,000 <del>each</del> in total. Both previous owners had significant taxes owed. Additionally, Auditors website lists market values of these 5 properties of between 7,000 and 45,000. <del>Far below the $70,000 a piece 3CDC paid. </del> I've always hoped they'd buy these! Will make a great addition to the neighborhood. EDIT: After finding out the Enquirer's retail page confusingly lists multiple addresses purchased for one price several times individually, I've fixed the above language.

On a personal note, ive started to feel that Walnut Hills will be the next OTR in terms of urban renaissance. However, I would say Walnut Hills 2017 will be OTR 2008. NOTE: Edited to be slightly more realistic.

Many lots have been cleared and prepped for investment. Also, City apparently has plans to make McMillan & taft 2-way between May st & victory Parkway. East Walnut Hills/St. Ursula are not supporting 2-way conversion beyond Victory.

This "entitlement" argument is crap. These spaces are being turned into "loading"/no parking. Not some amazing use or extension of the Park. Not even metered parking. And as of last night there were plans to remove all parking surrounding the park. Are loading/unloading zones THAT big of a necessity that they are worth removing 50 spaces of parking? It would be 1 thing if they we're widening sidewalks, but that's not what this is. Who even regulatly uses loading & unloading except for handicapped or elderly people? Are they expecting so many people to be loading & unloading that we need to surround the entire park with it?

The actual riverbank will be similar to the serpentine wall. But it will be built very late in the project across the entire riverfront and needs to be designed/approved by the army corps of engineers

^ except that they are removing the spaces just to make the park prettier by not allowing cars to park against it.... There are NO additional costs to the city to maintain non metered spots. No more than if it were simply a lane that got driven over. The shortsightedness of people who say, everyone should just give up cars immediately in Cincinnati is absurd. I live 10 minutes from my work. Could TOTALLY take the bus, but I have to drive to offsite meetings all over town almost daily. The WP garage is going to be full at night faster than people realize (this year alone 100 units will be developed with parking in the garage for those who choose it, then add in symphony & visitors) If developers can't convince residents that they will have moderately convenient parking (within a block or two) you will see stunted growth. I would WAY rather have parking against the park than someone replace a potential infill site with a surface lot.

And more results... Now, about that W&S garage replacement...

Yesterday I was told "late April" for the garage opening by a top executive at 3CDC. I was also told that many neighbors have complained about the reduction in street parking that will take place around the park. I will say, that in order to ensure residents feel that they don't need off street parking it's key to have a reasonable amount of on street parking so developers aren't constantly putting in surface lots.

It's also why Occupy hates 3CDC so much. But I love running into Occupiers at drinking at Lackman or Senate...

February 10 is the rumor I've heard. Pretty sure anyone can call & ask the clerk of council actually.

Considering the Cincy airport is in Kentucky, I don't think Cincy has much power over that... hence, it sucks.

^ There isn't actually a project, date, announcement, or even determination on whether this will be condo or office. The only thing that W&S has said: They want a new headquarters in a new office tower They want to do something else with the site that the garage is on. They want more condos/apartments downtown. However, it seems as though this project would be a few years off. A majority of W&S staff park in this lot. W&S has announced they will be building a new garage between 7th & New Street & Culvert. Their staff could then park there during the transition. Taking a 500+ space garage out of that portion of downtown would be very unpopular to the major corporations down there (W&S being one of the largest). The Southeast quadrant is the highest average price per month ($150) and also has the lowest "available" spots on any given day. I think we could hear an announcement on the plan this year, but no action for a few.

^ welcome back!!! Always great to have people return after living else where. And your handle rocks!

He has other topics beyond just the Duke deal. Including the city increasing it's debt service millage last year, which he says is entirely due to the $64 mill in streetcar bonds and not the tens of millions of other bonds we issue Each year. Additionally, unless the City pays the full $17 mill for Duke utilities, he will argue that the rest of the cost will be covered by rate payers in Blue Ash & West Chester (his main constituents apparently)

Id go all in on Apts & retail first, then at soonest, half way through construction they might name an operator and start the hotel shortly after

I really don't think they would look good at the banks.... Not sure why that has become a popular idea... Also, the likely hood of that is absolutely 0% as even if W&S said yes, Carter Dawson would almost certainly say no. They could, however be moved to an empty plot in OTR or Pendleton...

Smitherman has plugged the streetcar thing everyday. This week he has been on the Buzz several times about it. Spread the word on Facebook. John S, can you reach out to people??

They are convinced they will have a huge group there tomorrow. Has CfP sent out anything???? Has the streetcar facebook page said anything?!