OCtoCincy

@ Cincinnati Kid- I think the "build the undisputed tallest tower" quote was a joke... Since Barrett built QCS, the undisputed tallest tower :) I'm WAY more concerned with what would happen to W&S's current headquarters. IT's not tall, only a few stories tall, but it is a BEAUTIFUL building. Would be crushed to see it gone.

Sad, I love Arch Street.

Exactly. When was the last time a group of 500 poor people got a $50 million incentive package to stay in the City. To say our city's major companies have no influence is absurd.

Eighth & state, you need to do some research before you speak. Property taxes bring in 8% of the City's revenue. 8%. Income tax is about 80%. Even if all the governments & highways paid property taxes you MIGHT get to 13%.

I entirely agree with Emilio Estevez. That comparison is quite a stretch. As a side note, there's no such thing as Queen City Metro. There is Metro, operated by SORTA, but that's it. Maybe that's a really old name I'm not familiar with? Additionally, John, Any word on whether streetcar supporters have been notified to show up Friday?

Alright! Good talk! Now back to the streetcar... Has CfP invited anyone to this anti streetcar hearing?

I was told Smitherman was on the radio again promoting his Anti-streetcar meeting this Friday @ 2. I'm surprised cincinnatians for progress isn't doing anything to get people to City Hall

I looked up the 2012 4 diamond ratings: Restaurants in the 3C's: Cincinnati - 6 Columbus - 2 Cleveland - 1 Hotels in the 3C's Cincinnati - 3 (4th on KY side of river facing downtown Cincy) Columbus - 5 Cleveland - 2

If people fought the demolition, and had a business ready with a few hundred thousand dollars to take a burnt out warehouse and turn it into a market place in a strange, not highly walkable plot where traffic goes about 45mph and there is almost no reason to stop...

When did it close?!? It was open a few weeks ago!

Just as a reminder, the building caught on fire a few years ago & the roof had collapsed over a portion of the back half of the site.

Ya, and I thought the switch to Facebook comments was supposed to end scrubbing... Also- isn't that "special hearing" about the streetcaf Friday? Anyone know what time?

The loss of the row houses gets me the most. Great shots though!!! Would have loved to see even more.

That's the site of the future YWCA Women's Shelter. Although the shelter will only take up 1/3 the lot, the rest will be parking.

They have their pros and cons. But they are not being targeted at black people. They are being placed in high crime areas to target criminals.

Ya-- What does that comment even mean????? What is real "tax & election" reform mean with regards to Cincinnati... The 2.1% earnings tax? The small property tax people pay to the City? The way City Council is elected every two years and the mayor is elected every four? You realize EVERY major city in america has Convention Centers, Stadiums, attractions & infrastructure. Don't throw every concept of what a City has to offer out the window and say- just replace all that with tax & election reform and every things great without explaining what you mean. Cuz if you do mean State or Federal reform, are you saying Cincinnati should just sit on its hands, ignore EVERYTHING and wait for someone else to reform taxes??

There was a great article on Cincinnati.com about Chief Craigs rearrangement of the police department, leading to 50 more officers doing patrols. Unfortunately The Enquirer has pulled the article and it's replaced by Page Not Found.

Hey Aaron Davidson!! Just a heads up- http://cincinnatihomeloan.net/ is using your photo and I didn't notice a citation. To bad SOPA doesn't exist or you could shut them down.... (joking...) but seriously you should ask them to mention you. Is that image under creative Commons licensing?

So I have some random bits of news to share about the Gateway Quarter: - 13th Street from Washington Park to Vine will be converted to two way by March. So that people exiting the garage have the option of heading towards Vine Street businesses and don't all have to turn right onto Race once they exit. 13th Street from Vine to Walnut will likely be converted later this year. Then Walnut to Main either very late this year or early next year. - From articles, it seems that the first phase of streetcar related construction will start on Elm street from 12th towards 15th. Something about a new water main being installed to replace an aging out dated one that is in the way of the streetcar line anyway. - There are two parties that have already expressed interest in the Restaurant spaces at 14th and Race. - Bakersfield has released their menu, can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/bakersfieldotr Opening likely to be within 7 days. - SoapBox reports that 3CDC hopes to have all three phases of Mercer Commons open by the end of 1Q of 2013. Pretty fast, considering how many of the units are new construction. Sounds as though they will have to begin the 2nd phase when the first phase is about halfway complete, and so on. - The first Park Haus property sold is nearing completion (on 13th between Race & Repulbic) the second sold has had its plans approved by the Historic conservation board and will likely begin soon. A third, 1419 race has an interested buyer with rumors that the person will finish it, but allow 3CDC to use it as a show house for an unspecified period of time (it's across from 3CDC's offices). 3CDC also recently added an additional property to their park haus list- an abandoned building on Republic between 12th & 13th near the Bremen Lofts buildings. - The City Gospel Mission, Lord's Gym & Lord's Pantry facility on Dalton will likely break ground in Q2, with an opening date of February or March 2013. 3CDC has already purchased the current CGM facility in OTR and I would assume will tear it down after the move (it's a strange building, majorly renovated in the 70's). Lord's Gym & Lord's Pantry are at the intersection of 12th and Race across from the 1132 Bar. For those of you not familiar with the 1132 bar, it's only open during the day, and it's clientele are the homeless. the owner has no interest of changing that. That's all for now!

I have heard Smitherman refer to himself as a stockbroker on at least two separate occasions. So about that streetcar...

^ because perception matters. The upper middle income family in Mason will stop coming to downtown to spend their money if they believe it's some horrible place with a massively disfunctional government. Think of a place like Detroit. I've never been there- but I could "describe" it to you. Giant abandoned boulevards, skyrocketing crime, a government of idiots & cronies, a fleeing population, etc. That's the perception Many people have from the media. Cincinnati cannot support its own economy. Few places can be that self sufficient. We NEED people to Come into town. Whether from the suburbs, or tourists from completely out of town, it's needed. And when people have this negative perception of dysfunctionality and chaos, it drives them away. So even when the streetcar gets built and is great, only the people coming down here will notice that. Everyone up in the suburbs listening to 700 WLW will be convinced it's still a failure and when we try to get light rail to blue Ash, there won't be support. Perception really does make a difference. For all I know, Detroit could have a wonderful downtown vibrant with great energy, all kinds of things to see, but because of my perception I might pass up my next opportunity to go there and instead choose Minneapolis. (obviously I'm well aware of Detroits gems, but for the sake of this conversation I'm playing dumb).

You already are under surveillance by the Feds. Phone calls, satellites images, etc. The anti CCTV movement has been huge in the UK for almost a decade. London alone has thousands and thousands of cameras recording public spaces. It's an interesting debate. Personally I'm not to worried about Cincinnatio police using CCTV trying to catch a drug deal or shooting in order to more quickly apprehend the shooter. What I will say is that I don't know why the put the camera at 12th & vine and not Green & republic.

I'm sure most people in City Hall understands the potential... But... $$$$?!? Louisville is on great financial footing and they couldn't build it. Municipalities cant be expected to do everything. Building sports stadiums & arenas without a major professional tenant ready to help fund it is a thing of the past. And that a good thing. And tearing it down to build "the Banks east" would be a huge mistake unless the New UC arena was 17,000 seats or bigger and plans to have the circus & dozen or so concerts US Bank arena holds each season. US Bank arena may be out dated, but it's also the regions largest indoor Arena & concert venue by far. Btw- I think we've gotten a little off topic Back to the casino- Apparently Cleveland's casino is going to open in 2012. Anyone have an update?

^ I'm guessing that's a joke... I'd rather have more Banks (300 more in The next 2 years), more OTR development (200 units will break ground this spring/summer by 3CDC alone), federal reserve conversion (88 units from empty office space), and conversions of the old Bartlett building & Enquirer buildings than a new 30 story residential tower.

^crazy!!