OCtoCincy

Ya- I'd MUCH rather see Wasson developed than this-- Just looking at the stops, the topography around the stops, etc. there really are low options for anything useful. And using diesel cars for a 10 mile ride? Crazy.

Ya- last Banks comment and then we can get back on topic- The nicest part of the very slow roll out of the development (no new blocks until probably 2013), is that as we do blocks 5 and 6, that will likely be 4 or 5 years from when blocks 1 and 2 opened- Allowing for better quality as demand rises and the economy grows. _________________________ The Moerlein Lager House pays rent of $400,000 a year to the Park board. Considering the major funding cuts that have come from City Hall lately, it's good to see them embracing new sources of revenue. I plan to be there on opening day!

Ya- Coleman stands a much better chance than Mallory- And, He's from Toledo, went to UC, then UD Law, and now is mayor of Columbus. He will have networks in those 4 cities that he can easily build back up for base support and obviously would win Cleveland. Also, I love Mallory, but he is a pretty lazy campaigner. He can easily win Cincinnati due to family name, etc. but he wouldn't stand a chance statewide. The fact that Wenstrup got 45% of the vote was scary!!!!

^ that's his daughter. but, back to the streetcar.... Someone had mentioned that bids are out to streetcar builders- is there a timeline on those?

^ It's Mark Miller from COAST

Now that Smitherman is NAACP president again, best way to nail him will be to barrage his office with public records requests- if he is ever doing ANY NAACP work from a city computer it could be a huge scandal.

^ I agree- best chance a dem has is if a tea party conservative attacks chabot for supporting bush's budgets, looses in a bloody primary and then STILL runs (similar to in NY-23 and AK Senate races[sort of]) and THEN a dem could possibly win. And back to mayor... my money is on Qualls.

Unfortunately, Mallory would have 0 chance against Chabot in the new republican drawn districts. It would be a landslide of somewhere around 70-30. The newly drawn Chabot District is now almost 70% republican instead of the slightly leans republican district it had been for decades.

^ huh? The decision is in December.

Ya-- I REALLY can't understand anyone who says, "Cincinnati doesn't want a streetcar" after they ELECTED 6 STREETCAR SUPPORTERS and kicked off 4 streetcar opponents and voted down issue 48.

Ya- It really was a stupid idea to sue over that. Any sort of minor technicality- if literally $1 of general fund money had gone to ANYTHING even slightly streetcar related, his statements would be technically true- and therefore the lawsuit would be thrown out and he could claim victory. Considering it was filed only about 10 days before the election, I think it was done simply to get some earned media on behalf of CFP.

John S, Are there any suggestions for citizen input? Anyone you suggest we email, etc. While I agree it's likely we would get it, I wouldn't want to get complacent- I'm sure we could get 50-100 people to send in letters etc.

What is everyones opinion of 14th/v and Trinity Flats? Then, what is your opinion of the <i>area<i/> that Trinity flats and 14th/v are in? When I look at that area (ignoring the Mercer commons parking lot area) it looks like a decently high quality, dense, fairly seamless transition between new and old. In fact- the WORST part of 14th&Vine is the ugly, "modern" commercial space on the first floor, NOT the small brick finish with strong windows, etc. The metal on the modern first floor of 14th and vine is already starting to look crappy from wear and tear. Trinity on the other hand has a more traditional first floor, and again has strong window designs, etc. And no one seems to remember that 90% of what we will see on this glass structure is curtains. floor to ceiling, probably closed most of the time like nearly all the larger windows in OTR. Floor to ceiling glass windows are much better on hill sides or in high rises, where you can leave them open and not see someone one or two floors down on the street looking up at you 24/7. JMHO, but i'd be willing to bet that most of these windows will just be blinds closed most of the time.

^ One of the strangest comments I've read in a long time. Of course things look different, duh. And that TYPE of development is much better and would create a much better feel. Thanks Civvik for putting it together- definitely think it looks good (for such little time) and reminds us that this is a historic neighborhood- Put a giant glass building on a hill side-- NOT in a heavily pedestrian neighborhood where most residents will have their floor to ceiling windows closed 24/7

I hope Councilman Sittenfeld DOES NOT show up, but I'd bet money that he does stand there, smiling with a shovel even though he basically ran his entire campaign refusing to take a stance on the streetcar.

Ya- I'd bet $100 that in 10 years that Glass building will look strange, out of place, and not particularly attractive. Also, since it's solid glass, i can guarantee almost all the windows will be covered with blinds constantly. Just look at the giant windows on the side of Trideca lofts- Someone moved in and put up a giant white, floor to sealing (two stories), shutter that I have NEVER seen open (and I walk by it several times a week). It looks horrible!! I'm just not a fan. I hope the planning commission approves the townhomes along mercer, but sends the Vine building back to the drawing board. It doesn't fit in this location.

^ agreed.

In 2009 the average Cincinnatian voted for 6.7 candidates for council according to the Enquirer. I don't think that's a new idea NOT to vote for 9. Smitherman, on the other hand, was advocating voting for only 1 or 2 people (a stupid idea in my opinion)- I really don't think he can claim success for anything other than being the first independent african american, that is factually a first. As an aside, I've never voted for 9 (usually only 5-7 candidates).

^ no one answer that, please. No need to continue taking this thread off topic. Does anyone have the PDF or any other doc, that lists the ~$20 million in renovations/upgrades?

Best place to start would be with Green & yellow lines. Light rail to airport is a popular concept (yellow line goes to airport, through downtown and out towards mason) and in order to pass anything (I would suggest a 1 cent sales tax increase, not half cent) you need support of the westside and other outer municipalities (green line stretches across entire county, an argument could be made for blue instead, but mainly for same reasons). Obviously, the line would NOT extend outside of HamCo unless other counties are going to pitch in to fund operating/construction.

feel free to start your own forum if you don't like it here :) Any idea when the City will begin it's $20 million in infrastructure updates around the casino site (mainly streetscape and intersection improvements)?

Can we please get a Mod to have a serious talk with Matt Hall. I am getting sick of these COAST=a terrorist group comparison. STOP COMPARING COAST TO GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO KILL PEOPLE!!!

Only 4 more pages to hit my 2011 Election Night Streetcar Thread 500 Page Prediction!!!!

This must be a joke comment... you're kidding right? If you go to the gas station and "forget to 'reload' your bank account" you'd be just as screwed.

I have quite a few friends living on Mound St. they love it and I actually do like the buildings- reasonable prices, decent quality, mix of older and new style done well. There are also some very good City West developments that are larger and are quite attractive- especially considering how cheaply they were done- knowing that Vine would be developed as expensive market rate condos, they could definitely do something well.