OTR

It's very important to improve the pedestrian experience between the Banks and the CBD. Lane reductions, sidewalk enhancements, bike lanes, rows of trees, and mindful development around Riverfront Transit Center access areas. Any plan should also take in to account a fully developed Banks and the input of the NURFC. Let's assume for a moment that the caps aren't filled with squatty, mini-Banks commercial buildings. Here's what I think will happen: the Vine/Walnut cap in front of the NURFC will almost certainly be open space. The frontage along Main Street and Elm Street might see buildings but of only half the width of their respective caps. The other half of their caps will be park/event space. That leaves the Race/Vine cap which will probably end up looking generally like the Vine/Walnut cap. This isn't the most desirable scenario but what I think it's the most realistic. The caps are roughly halfway between Fountain Square and Smale Rivefront Park. I'm starting to think of the caps as one continuous and convertible event space with really exceptional bookends at Main and Elm. During events Race, Vine and Walnut or at least Vine and Walnut could be closed from 3rd St to Freedom Way. Maybe the Main St. bookend's west facing wall could be a really great bandshell (thinking Gehry at Millennium Park's Pritzer Pavilion) and the Elm Street bookend could be something architecturally interesting - maybe a spire with some height or an attractive glass structure. This idea coupled with four blocks worth of complete streets including water features, vine-covered arbors, statues, tree-lined sidewalks and fountains would make use of the entire expanse and therefore would make it a good bridge between the CBD and the Banks. And now for an attraction idea: an aerial gondola loop that would circle from Main to Elm along 2nd and 3rd high above the streets. Done right it could be a beautiful and popular attraction. Maybe have two Space Needle-like spires at each end of the caps with observation decks and connect them with aerial gondolas. So, if 2-4 story buildings don't fill in the caps - what would you do with the open space between the Banks and the CBD?

Won't the design be subject to the Planning Commission's approval? Or is there some special arrangement for the Banks? The view from the river is really important and I hope others agree.

Well come on back up. We'd love to have you for a repeat visit! Looking forward to it - feel free to come down to Over-the-Rhine too!

here's a partial tour of the AAC http://www.blogotr.com/otr/a-tour-of-the-art-academy-of-cincinnati/

Ba-ba, this is the sound of settling... For some reason, I have the feeling that the city doesn't want something like The Banks-lite over FWW even though I agree with Jimmy_James that it'd be great to have more residents downtown. The Cap at Union Station in Columbus is more of a bridge addition like the Ponte Vecchio than a complete cap: http://casestudies.uli.org/casestudies/C035010.htm The sample rendering the city released showed a park and they mentioned Millennium Park (among others) as an example of a highway cap development. 1) I don't think top dollar was ever in the offing. Even our prime riverfront residential property gets cheap, student housing style architecture. Yet, in Kentucky they built the Ascent... 2) Potential demolition in a few decades should not be factored into the design process because, Lord knows, if it's crappy architecture it'll be around forever --- it'll only get a speedy demolition if it's beautiful.

I wasn't referring to the Columbus Caps. I'm just concerned the FWW caps will be a mini Banks. Like I said, could be worse but could be better.

I'm kinda worried we'll end up with "The Caps" development like "The Banks" and they'll look just like it except shorter. Not the worst thing in the world but another missed opportunity in favor of a McDevelopment.

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityofcincinnati/connect-the-blocks/

Notice the only person in the article who uses the word "shuffling" other than Horstman is Cranley. Side topic: what are the chances Cranley will become a Democratic candidate for mayor? What are his chances of winning?

Were you visiting or just looking at pics? Both - I recently visited and have been following the developments in the neighborhood for some time.

Big love for Ohio City and the West Side Market. Cleveland is starting to grow on me.

Streetcar Delayed until 2015 City says a number of issues contributed to more than yearlong postponement CityBeat September 17th, 2012 By German Lopez The $110 million streetcar project's opening is being delayed by more than a full year — from spring 2014 to summer 2015. Meg Olberding, city spokesperson, attributes the delay to “a number of scheduling issues.” “There’s so many moving pieces,” she says. “There are issues with utility and we have to order the cars. We have to get a contractor on-board for the work. So we still have a couple of things that are taking longer than we thought.” http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-3929-streetcar_delayed_until_2015.html

The height is the best thing about the buildings. I have only seen the rendering posted in this thread and would appreciate it if someone could post the other views because that other site isn't working very well on my phone. What will it look like from the river (as part of the skyline)?

Thanks, Rob. That's exactly the sort of response I was looking for. As a place becomes destination, its transient visitors tend not to care as much for it as locals would. So as OTR's bars become more popular (and profitable), steps need to be taken to ensure the neighborhood is respected. These are growing pains and need to be addressed before the character of the area changes and everybody loses.

So now disco and hipsters are really a form of class warfare? Instead of oppressors and oppressed, maybe the division is really between creators and consumers?

I think atlas said it best.

Are there any serious downsides to this "bro spillover" other than places being busier? If so, what are they?

not sure which company it is but a friend of a friend drives a pedicab down on the riverfront as a part-time job

The Anchor opened for the first time tonight with a friends and family event....I went with a buddy and was very impressed. I toured the place yesterday and really liked its interior design and layout. Not being much of a foodie and not typically a fan of seafood, I was kinda nervous even though I know Derek (the chef/co-owner with his wife) and totally trust him. Needless to say, it surpassed my high expectations. I had the clam chowder and fish and chips with a couple glasses of this great cabernet (I'm not into fancy wine but I need to find out what this stuff was, it was so good). The clam chowder was more than enough for my meal but it was nice to try a couple things especially since they tasted so dang good. Overall, the Anchor is going to be very popular. It's refined yet relaxed, intimate yet open with a great location across from Washington Park and Music Hall. It has a nice range to the menu from oysters at the bar to soups to really interesting meal offerings to full lobsters, etc. I'm so excited for it and can't wait to go back....and sit on the patio.

I agree with atlas. Without naming names or getting specific, there is a push to emphasize/watch/change some members of the planning commission.

It's an atrocity. Apparently PR statements including the words "urban" and "street life" were good enough. Nevermind the fact that it looks like the West Bank barrier. What a crock.

I wrote a post on this: http://www.blogotr.com/otr/google-maps-updates-cincinnati-aerial-photography/

^Maybe you should start a blog.

here's a good view of the barren hills in the late 30s/40s http://www.blogotr.com/otr/then-now-east-clifton-avenue/

Savannah is very special. I highly recommend visiting St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Thanks for the tour.