OCtoCincy

The Federal Reserve tower renovation is taking old B/C class office space and turning it into apartments. The City's plan with this site is to have a first floor that ties into the Macy's and Saks fifth avenue markets to support their business. 3CDC has recommended to the city to build a three-story underground parking structure the entire width of the block and under fifth Street- according to 3CDC, it would be nearly the same size as the Fountain Square garage- about 400 spaces. Also, due to the massive size of the block, it's possible that it would be built into two towers, one with a commercial/office focus, and the other primarily residential.

^ ya, and I'm sure with a modest renovation it would be great.

That would be too small if they expect to land Dunnhumby. Dunnhumby is currently in 111,000 ft.². They announced they're looking for 250,000 ft.². It just happens to be exactly the size that the banks is designed for. Something tells me they did that on purpose :) at least, I hope so!

^ 15 story office tower. 250,000 square feet.

Downtown to paddock hills is 5.5 miles. DT to Bond hill is 6.6 miles. DT to Westwood is 7 miles. Those are not cost effective lines for Light rail, and are much better suited for BRT. Nor is there any reasonable way to procure funding for a city only light rail line. Looking at a list of all current light rail projects (from The Transport Politic) almost no new lines are being built that are under 10 miles in the whole country. Basically everything shorter is an extension. And the average new line is about 12-14. Madisonville to DT would be 10.5 miles, hence why I listed it as my one exception in my previous post. All of those lines are reasonable IF they extend further out to the county. And my main point was, nearly any light rail line in Cincinnati would need to extend out of Cincinnati to be a worthwhile investment and realistic project. BRT however could easily be done on the arterial blvds to the neighborhoods you mentioned, while true LR corridors can be planned for longer distance routes in the future. Back to the streetcar: Woo goo streetcar!

Here is their strategy: It has NOTHING to do with stopping the streetcar. It has EVERYTHING to do with ruining reputations and winning future elections. If they can create SUCH negativity about the streetcar, that even after it opens and in the first couple years we begin seeing successes, people won't believe it. It's just like The Banks. 298 apartments leased, 70% of retail leased, and Bob Schwartz blogged the other day that at a Bengals game a little boy said "Daddy what's that?", after the dad didn't answer Bob interjected, "it's called The Banks", and the dad quickly replied "that's never gonna happen". It IS happening, but he and tens of thousands of other suburbanites are convinced it's not and isn't going to happen. And it does matter what they think. For any of these progressive causes to expand to a light rail line to Kenwood or West Chester we need suburban support. They are trying to turn people off so when we go to fund a light rail expansion, NO ONE outside the City votes for it. If the streetcar is successful in Cincinnati but everyone in Blue Ash is convinced it's failing, then we're screwed when it comes to expanding rail to where they are. And light rail within City Limits really isn't cost effective. The first line should be 9-15 miles, and in most realistic corridors, that means crossing just out of the City (exception being downtown to Hyde Park to Oakley to Madisonville).

Am totally over the restaurants. Retail please!!

I called a friend at the City: City supports Banks site for Dunnhumby, is NOT pushing 5th & Race but is leaving it on the table as an option, of Dunnhumby says "that's the spot we want". County wants city to take 5th & race off table, city wants to leave as many options available to make sure Dunnhumby stays downtown. Not controversial, just Enquirer strumming up drama.

K- I just asked a friend for a confirmation: January 25 at 10:30AM is the ground breaking.

Pretty sure ground breaking is next week.

Cool- also, I have no idea how I wasn't aware of the massive garage plan at 7th & culvert. I just wish these garage plans could be paired with a plan to develop the surface lots nearby.

I'm pretty sure, yes. So let's be sure to pack the house because Smitherman plans to do the same.

Saying things like Mason, etc. is just them trying to get even more tax incentives from Cincinnati (even after the millions from two years ago). I'm sure they also think the Banks is a perfect spot, but want $$

JYP, I know that in both current build alternatives (E & I), the building stays, I was referring to an earlier comment that someone hoped it would get taken down during construction. It's a great work space!

Fair enough, but hardly a reason to bulldoze a building that just underwent a 10 million dollar renovation.

So just to clarify, the anti-streetcar meeting is scheduled for: Friday, January 27th. 2-5PM In Council Chambers Spread the word!!

Wait what?? People are saying some crazy things. Is the Kahns comment a joke?! It must be. That's going to be clean industrial and it's in no way close to other marketing/high paying job corridor. AND they want to be near Kroger. Also, has anyone seen the inside of the Dunnhumby offices?! They are amazing and were renovated less than 2 years ago for almost 10 million of dollars!! I mean this is a stunning facility (but too small due to their expansion). To suggest it should be torn down is pretty ridiculous. Finally, it's not THAT hard to access. Take any down town street to Third, then make a right turn into a drive way. To leave is hardly more complicated than any other downtown office on a one way street. Right on third, left on smith left on 2nd and then you can get anywhere. They should move to The Banks, but then someone ELSE should take this beautiful office space on the edge of downtown.

^ I seriously can't understand what youre trying to say. :-/ EDIT: figured it out. I'd never even heard of that place before...

Just looked it up, here are the picks Cincinnati has in 2012. Two extras, one from Oakland and one from the Patriots. Additionally, the Palmer trade gets Cincinnati a 2nd round pick in 2013, unless Oakland makes it to the AFC title game next season in which Cincinnati gets their first draft pick instead. That situation however, is so unlikely it was probably put in there as a joke :) I'm joking... but seriously. Cincinnati has: Picks 17 (from Raiders) & 22 in the first round. Pick 55 in the 2nd round. Pick 88 in the 3rd. Pick 119 in the 4th Pick 151 & 159 (from Patriots) in the 5th Pick 183 in the 6th. Pick 215 in the 7th. Most obviously are the same number repeated in each draft, but it's good to have both extra picks in 2012. Considering how cheap Brown is, I doubt he will trade picks for a seasoned strong player- but will instead go with rookies or people who are past their prime and hope to get lucky again like he did with the great choices of Green & Dalton.

Don't we have a few great draft picks coming up next year?

^ Correct. Since you wouldn't consider unsolved murders that happened in the last 4 months of 2011 a bad thing. These things take time.

What disgusts me the most, is that the Enquirer would NEVER post an article that said anything about the taking away the rights of african americans, or a letter if someone said "african americans are 40-50 percent more likely to get ______ disease) etc. But they allow that speech since it's about gays, and they think that's religious expression or some crap. I also love that that person is leaving the County because the city is building a streetcar and offering partner benefits.

^ya, and decks/views are a huge selling point.

Nearly all of the roof top deck doorways in OTR have siding... but with nearly all of them, you can't see them from the street.

^ they are the staircases to the rooftop patios. And are designed, to historic standard, so that you can see them from the street.