OCtoCincy

Look who's joining the fun: A few cities talking about building streetcars... http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700073403/Salt-Lake-City-leaders-seeking-federal-funds-for-downtown-streetcar-system.html http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-neighborhoods/2010/10/arlington-alexandria-talk-cash-money-on-the-streetcar-3155.html http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/10/08/2532946/streetcars-will-take-us-in-the.html http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/101210_streetcar http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=2072774

Great American Tower from in front of the banks along 2nd street.

From the Roebling Bridge landing, the event lawn and block two of banks apartments (future site of condos and a hotel).

Oh and I have a correction- Even though Cincinnati announced they would bid for the 2012 Olympics in 1996, after a little more research I discovered that particular image was released in the year 2000. That makes a lot more sense.

Shot of the banks this morning! (Reds hall of fame is behind me)

Here is a 1996 image from the city's olympic bid. As you can see- the Marina in this image is to the west of I-75. and the Banks look almost exactly like they will in 2012.

^ http://www.queencitysquare.com/construction.php

Pshhh- that's crazy talk. What do you want? Actual unbiased reporting?? Come on.

I didnt see the story in the Enquirer today. Anyone else see it? The article is titled "Streetcar Debate Inflames Passions" and it's in the Forum section (only in print so I haven't read it)

So I just made this- nothing fancy- These are the conceivable routes I see. the third one is unlikely but totally possible. The San Diego Trolley frequently goes through pedestrian plaza's and other systems do the same.

I feel very... well special- I'm capped at 200 kb and have no idea how to shrink my photos so they aren't completely grainy but to where I can fit more than 1 at a time... Any suggestions? - I took a bunch of great pics at the banks but hate having to lower the the quality of all my images and then still only put in one at a time... Thanks!

Hey Guys- I went for a walk around the Banks this afternoon and took a few photos- For those of you who may not have been down there in awhile it's starting to look great!

Ha!! Ya- looks like they have light rail lines running. wow. what a forward thinking people cincinnatians of the 90's were... haha

^ I only spent a few minutes finding this- but this article dated 2007 has several people saying the banks has been a public project for "over 10 years". http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20071029/NEWS01/710290318/Why-the-rush-on-Banks-

Some of those projects have been long in the pipeline (the banks); or have had nothing to do with Mallory (The Casino Vote) Sure- the banks have been in the pipeline since 1996 More like December 1, 1999. No- It was October 1996 that Hamilton County first began the plan of siteing new stadiums for the reds/bengals and creating an urban framework at the riverfront. In 1997 they published the concept plan- and then things got under way after a slight delay in 1998 (when the city voted on where to put the reds stadium).

Some of those projects have been long in the pipeline (the banks); or have had nothing to do with Mallory (The Casino Vote) Sure- the banks have been in the pipeline since 1996- It was supposed to start construction in 2002. But the Mallory Administration with City Council pushed HARD to get it from being talked about for a decade, to being done- and ground breaking finally happened under his mayorship.

Music Hall will be under construction Expansion at Riverbend P&G moved hundreds of jobs into the city from the suburbs World Choir games will have made their American Debut as one of the largest conferences ever held in Cincinnati with 80,000 hotel night/bookings in just a couple weeks. Census posted first increase in Population in the city since 1950. Dunnhumby moved its USA headquarters to the city... Between Mallory and Dohoney I can't imagine a duo spending more time to court businesses and progress in Cincinnati. And I can't imagine how the Enquirer could possibly hate the city more.

So basically just another hit job? They really are pathetic. I love that the business courier has an article about how Harrah's wants a streetcar spur to the casino but the enquirer has nothing about it. (as of 11AM)

I finally parked in the new Riverfront parking section under the banks. It really is massive and it was already packed with cars- While I entered from Nuxhall way and drove in under the new Banks structure, I exited out the back towards Mehring way- The intersection of Elm/New Mehring/Old Mehring way is completely under construction (much more so than just a couple weeks ago)- Down to one lane with all kinds of cones, delineator poles and construction crews as they merge the intersections to prepare for the November opening of New Mehring Way. Pretty exciting!

^ no construction has started on Mercer and I don't think anything will start until spring at the absolute soonest. The Washington park project is over 40 million, the largest single project for 3CDC since the fountain square renovation (priced almost the same) and Mercer is budgeted to also reach over $40 million. I was led to believe the plan is to get Washington park well under way before moving forward on Mercer Commons. On a side note- I think Mercer commons will be amazing and with the Parvis lofts will transform the Gateway quarter from a row of refurbished and trendy places, to a legitimate neighborhood.

^ I looked and looked but couldn't find any reference to this on the Enquirer website. yet- they have nearly everything else on the business courier homepage covered in other articles...

Wow- That's just ridiculous.

There is a McDonalds in downtown Youngstown, that economy must be kicking ass. Wait- I must have missed the beginning of this conversation- I feel like McDonalds is a horrible thing to have anywhere... not a good sign of anything. just a personal opinion though... :)

^ technically it's the entire block of 1400 vine up to Smitty's... which they also now own. So they will have built out the entire block. and as of right now there is no official announced plan of what to do with the three Smitty buildings and burned out lot. They just purchased it to land bank. - Looking at the back side, each building looked very individually styled. Some had clearly added backsides, others were just rehabbed, etc. Looked nice!

I have a friend who works for Turner Construction, the company that built the tower- I'll ask him if there are any internal talks regarding the tiara- although in our talk the other day- he implied its basically done.