LincolnKennedy

What's interesting about that article is that it says that Ohio would need to spend $17 million annually to fund 3C rail. Is there some sort of TIFF district or other property tax around the stations that they plan on levying to collect that money?

^I'm not exactly sure what that means. I think that Kasich, who was originally a congressman, had the idea in mind that he was going to win this election on issues that mirrored what he and others considered to be the national mood, and I believe his policy prescriptions reflect that. It doesn't seem like a winning strategy, let alone a coherent one that will actually improve the state.

^God I respect you.

Ohio has a balanced budget requirement, though, like most states, except for capital expenditures. At some point, the numbers won't line up. He'll have to find spending cuts, or else shift a prodigious amount over to capital expenditures and convince the voters to support a massive bond levy. Agreed. All the more reason that someone whose centerpiece program to revive Ohio's economy is to cut revenue should actually have the stones to lay out what expenditure he wants to cut, particularly on the operating side. I'm more than willing to write off that period of Ohio's politics between 1994-2006 as squandered time as well. Given the fact that the leading Republican candidate has offered no substantive policies except cutting revenue, and the record from that Party's previous tenure is one of infighting, lack of foresight and term limits, I don't think Ohio voters are being given any particular reason to vote for them.

Not trying to criticize anyone on this forum or involved in the project, but it seems pretty fricking clear that Findlay Street is the best way to connect the route between Vine, Race and Elm. I understand having a spur go up to Henry if you want to build a car barn on the site of the Old Moerlein Brewery that's now occupied by that one story building, but other than that Findlay Street is clearly the best place to connect.

^They really need to just get them to change the laws in Columbus to give the current regimes more flexibility than go through this water district transition b.s. After last years charter amendment the water district has even less likelihood of happening.

^I guess that's an excuse not to implement your political philosophy, if not a very good one. I'm not sure it holds up to the fact that it's obvious these pensions have been a budgetary ticking time bomb for quite some time, particularly since that's been the lament in the private auto sector during the last GOP era and before. Either way, It's certainly not the centerpiece of Kasich's campaign, which is to reduce revenue, not expenditure.

Given the fact that the Republicans controlled all branches of the Ohio Government from 1994-2006 and they did nothing to curb pensions, or shift future dollars for present spending to present spending, I seriously doubt it.

^Excellent question. Also, does anyone have comparable data for other cities outside of Ohio?

^Word.

Just like the Mongol hordes.

I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. There's a lot of support infrastructure needed to have a dense urban environment downtown and right now it's not at the optimum level.

One of the most insightful things Christopher Hitchens ever said was, “The four most over-rated things in life are champagne, lobster, anal sex and picnics.” I include outdoor eating under picnics.

Introducing the Schick Quattroccam- for the discerning shaver. For fun: http://tinyurl.com/ye9369h

^That's sort of ridiculous though, isn't it? Believing that an active conspiracy is more likely to occur than just plain lunacy? Clearly some people love the streetcar, and some people hate it. So you're assuming, based on no evidence whatsoever, that those who love it are willing to go above and beyond hard core advocacy and actually pretend to be the hardest-core haters in order to undermine the position of the true hard core haters, who are content with simple being agressive in their opinions. Sounds like you're trying to make the facts fit your theory. Occam's razor dude.

^I don't see that area, except perhaps for places around Central Parkway as having the dimensions that prominent stores seem to want.

^I'm not sure that two blocks makes that much difference, particularly when the streetcar will be going past both areas. Particularly if you are taking an express bus downtown, quick entry and exit from the highway should be a high priority. But ultimately the goal of these various projects such as the Banks, the Streetcar and the Riverfront Park is to promote density downtown. Having a specific area where you can access the largest parking zone, buses, the streetcar and light rail (potentially in the RTC) should be a priority.

I think something the City might want to consider regarding development on the western end of Ft. Washington Way is creating spaces for 5th or Michigan Avenue style retail, with the hope/plan that it will eventually creep down eastward. The area is only a block or so from the existing though admittedly paltry retail currently offered in Cincinnati, and it is likewise close to the hotels. We frankly don't need or want additional office space.

^Great article. I can't emphasize enough (really, I can't. It's pretty much all I've been saying on this thread for some time now) how perfect at least part of these capped four blocks would be for a relocated Government Square Metro hub to interface with both the current termination of the proposed streetcar (There's really no reason for it to penetrate south of 2nd Street), the soon to be completed massive parking garage at the Banks, and the Riverfront Transit Center.

Don't the Bengals have a veto over the development on the blocks adjacent to PBS?

I've been tooling around Seattle the past couple of days and I've got to say that the grades that they have their diesel electric buses travel seem just as steep, if not considerably steeper than Vine Street. What's interesting to me is how much of this still is coming from local funding, especially purely municipal funding. If the state government would stop restricting the ways cities can raise revenue then we might be able to see some real progress made real fast.

I'm pretty sure those surface parking lots are owned by St. Xavier High School (since they are the original site of the school) and they are used as revenue for the school in some way. I believe the same thing exists with the Woodward Trust around those parking lots south of the old SCPA building bounded by Sycamore Street.

^^No, you guys don't get it. Taxes don't just go into Uncle Scrooge's money bin, they pay for real things that exist in the economy. Future borrowing for the feds is very similar to the way everyday consumer borrow to pay for things that add value today with the expectation that future revenues will pay for it. The only difference is that as the lender of last resort, the Federal Government has a few more tricks up their sleeve than the average borrower.

Interesting that you wrote so much about job growth but think that the deficit problem is because of the social safety net. The deficit problem exist from a lack of tax revenue, and tax revenue comes from economic activity. We had a spike in the deficit from the collapse of economy activity.

^Totally wrong. For example: "It takes balls to play tennis" "Nuns do it out of habit" "Friends help you move. Good friends help you move bodies" Three insightful bumper stickers that changed my life in different ways.