Alabama ExPat

Call them and suggest it. It sounds like a good idea. I imagine some type of safety cable tied to the camara strap point attached to the climber would be enough to satisfy the insurance company about any dropped cameras landing on someones head.

If I'm not mistake, all of those stores are in the north east corner, the one that points towards the square (first and second floors). Is that correct? Other than Talbots, I think those stores were just about the last of the "mall style" stores remaining. It's starting to become nothing but filler (tenants that move in without really redecorating, using the existing left-behind fixtures, etc).

On picture 11 of 19, the caption states: Windows from the third level provide a view of the original arch. I thought that arch was a reproduction of the entrance to the old Albee theater. Was it there before the latest renovation?

I guess this makes it official. Time to stick a fork in it and call it done. Duke Center expansion complete Bigger, better and - believe it or not - below budget. Expansion, renovation and reconfiguration of Cincinnati's convention center was scheduled to cost $160 million, but the project's price tag wound up at only $135 million. Money was saved, but nothing was scrimped on, says Dan Lincoln, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The one word we hear over and over from people seeing the new place for the first time is, 'Wow!' " he said. Work on the convention center, officially renamed the Duke Energy Center, was completed Friday, two weeks ahead of schedule. The sprawling complex takes up two city blocks in downtown Cincinnati, bounded on the north by Sixth Street, on the south by Fifth Street, on the east by Elm Street and on the west by Central Avenue. Read full article here: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060617/NEWS01/606170366

Broadway Commons casino proposal dead for now Cincinnati Business Courier - 2:48 PM EDT Friday A local effort to bring a casino to downtown Cincinnati has ended after being hit with legal challenges from another group that is also conducting a petition drive. Queen City Gaming and Entertainment said it will not attempt to collect signatures to put the issue on the statewide ballot in November. The group, founded by local businessman Louis Beck, was trying to bring a casino to the Broadway Commons site at Eggleston Avenue. Cincinnati City Councilwoman Leslie Ghiz, a supporter of the Queen City Gaming effort, said Learn and Earn, which is also conducting a petition drive to put a casino issue on the ballot, thwarted the local group by hiring all of the companies that employ people to collect signatures. Learn and Earn also filed challenges against Queen City Gaming's signature-collecting process in several Ohio counties. The Learn and Earn issue, if passed by voters, would allow slot machines at seven Ohio racetracks and two downtown Cleveland sites, but downtown Cincinnati is not included. Full article at http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/06/12/daily57.html

Both of the renderings of the 5/3 building (north and south sides) show a large square thing hanging over the area of the breezeway. I assume that's where they're talking about.

DCI and 3CDC are conducting a survey of downtown residents. You can respond to the survey at the following link: http://www.3cdc.org/content.jsp?articleId=262

I ran into one of the developers the other day in our building and asked about it. Other than a statement along the lines of things are progressing, most of the short conversation was related to the orientation of the two towers (both perpendicular to the river with a connection between the two, as opposed to the buildings oriented in line with the river). Needless to say, a fairly common topic of discussion up on the roof of our building in the evenings is how much of the river view may be blocked for residents on the south side of our building by the project. My guess is not much.

Hmm. I know the actual Ms. Huff. She might come after you for that comment. ;-)

So here's a question: Since you've been to both the old and new location, would you say they're "packed" (Nick's word) at the Levee because: a) they have reinvented themselves and have evolved to to meet the market, or b) they merely moved to a "safer" location with the same formula? If it's basically the same venue, then it supports Nick's argument. If it has a significantly different vibe when you walk in as compared to the old location, then it doesn't. Besides, I suspect NOTL is in an area with a higher residential density for the target market than the old location. Closer = more convenient. You also can't dismiss the new factor. A new place opens up, people want to check it out. How it is doeing in six months is a much better indicator than how it's doing within the first 3 weeks.

I received an email today from Huff Realty. Parker Flats Groundbreaking Ceremony Friday, June 9th at 10:00

I think it's more likely that they got married, had a couple of kids, and now have two big SUVs sitting in their Florence, KY driveway. :evil:

I attended an event last Wednesday (May 31, 2006) at the Mercantile library. The event was a discussion by "Mayor Mark Mallory and Buck Niehoff, founder of the University of Cincinnati's Niehoff Urban Design Studio, on how Cincinnati might develop its potential through its architecture". During his opening remarks prior to introducing the mayor, Buck Niehoff sited the inclusion of Over-the-Rhine to the National Trust's list of 11 Endangered places (see http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=7357.msg101672#msg101672 for details). As part of his remarks, (and I'm paraphrasing heavily), he basically called for for a re-prioritization by the city to focus on the of the revitalization of OTR over the development of the banks. One reason he gave for this was that the deterioration of OTR negatively impacts the entire city. My personal concerns: We have to solve the crime and blight problems in OTR in order to maintain a viable downtown that can continue to attract new residents and visitors. I'm concerned that trying to revitalize the central business district (ie the Fountain Square redevelopment), OTR, and development of the banks will result in three key areas fighting for the same potential residents, and entertainment and dining venues, resulting in three downtown areas struggling to reach a critical mass needed to keep the areas economically healthy. I wonder if we're trying to do too much at once. Is anyone else worried about this?

Scroll down to the blue text if you don't want to read the whole thing... National Trust Releases 11 Most Endangered Places List May 12, 2006 The National Trust for Historic Preservation yesterday released its annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Places. The list, first issued in 1988, is a public cry for help on behalf of sites considered endangered due to "neglect, insufficient funds, inappropriate development, or insensitive public policy," according to the Trust... Sam Lubell http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/060512endangered.asp

A small item I came across this morning from a couple of weeks ago... Graeter's Works On Deal For Fountain Square Store Renovations Continue On Schedule CINCINNATI -- Renovations to Fountain Square are on schedule for a late-August completion, and now developers are trying to lure restaurants to the space above the new garage. Richard Graeter confirmed that his popular ice cream business is making progress on a deal for space on the square. A new survey is under way to get residents' input on musical programming and other events they'd like to see once the square reopens. http://www.channelcincinnati.com/health/9148389/detail.html

Woohoo! I'm in! See you all Saturday.

Not to get too far off topic, but is anyone else here old enough to remember what the Kroger building looked like before it was recladded?

I don't *own* the roof, I, along with the rest of the building, just have access. My windows have a direct view of the building next door :(. Folks, the penthouse unit is still available at about 800k, I believe. The views are similar :). Are you sure you don't own some of it? Probably at least the portion equivalent to what you were standing on.

Assuming anyone actually keeps up with this stuff besides us, I would think that the city is coming out ahead with respect to public opinion. The mayor seems to want to play nice, but the county doesn't want to play.

Nice. I wish we had something like that when Park Place was going up. I'm sure it would have driven the developer crazy, but we all could have exchanged ides on how to tweak the units. :-D

I'm referring to the "computing upgrade" silliness.

The meter on my B.S. detector is pegged out on this one.

:wink: This fall on CBS: CSI Cincinnati

But only if all get liquored up first!

It would be great to see the Westin Atrium and lower lobby area return to its former glory. Another nice step would be to move the Fedex/Kinkos site (and whatever is now above it), and make it a two level Joseph-Beth (similar to the Davis-Kidd location they just opened in Nashville).