Alabama ExPat

Great pictures. Thanks for the tour. Notice the extended hours sign for Starbucks. Downtown businesses extending their hours is always a good sign.

Can the county afford Banks? Stadiums, new jail strain finances BY KIMBALL PERRY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER Faced with heavy debt and a declining tax base, Hamilton County officials see The Banks riverfront development as a potential solution to some financial woes. Consider: The county projects a $191 million total deficit in the sales tax fund that pays for construction of Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park. In addition to the nearly $1 billion invested in The Banks, the county wants to build a new prison, estimated to cost $225 million... http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060305/NEWS01/603050340

I'm guessing it's at the location of the old skywalk connection point?

I've not personally eaten there, but if reports given to me by mutiple friends that have dined at the Ocean Club are accurate, it could be in trouble.

Unfortunatley it is not. That was a great little store (with that waterfall in it). The ground level of that spot is now the location for Churchill's Tea Room (they used to be in the small store front on 5th street in the Hilton that is now a French carryout). Churchill's seems to be doing well in the new location. My wife likes to go there. It's an example of the types of places I refered to that adds something unique to the downtown experience. Go shopping, have tea to relax, etc.

Until there is a critical mass of residents in the area that view a downtown mall as more convenient, Tower Place can't survive with just a typical mix of stores available in the suburban malls. The only thing that would work at this point of time is to have enough shopping that is only available in one place. For example, Saks, Brooks Brothers, and Tiffany's help draw people downtown, because there isn't a suburban mall alternative. Get enough of these types of places sprinkled around, and downtown could become a popular shopping destination again. Every store doesn't have to be one of a kind, but there needs to be enough unique stores to set the downtown shopping district apart from the rest.

Tower Place plugs along Office workers key to downtown shopping BY MARLA MATZER ROSE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER Tower Place Mall hurt by store closures and competition from suburbs. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060219/BIZ01/602190354/1076

My Avatar is actually from an old postcard of the building. Here's a picture before construction started. IT was taken from Lytle Park. The Taft Museum would be to the right. Here's one from December 2005. You can see where the balconies on the river side have been cut in, as well as the new paint scheme for the sides of the building.

Thanks for the compliments! I posted the pictures because I enjoyed looking at Mark's pics, and am looking forward to seeing pictures of Melanie's when her place at the McAlpin is finished. If what they've done to the outside is any indication, the inside should be gorgeous. I'd have to say, we've been very happy with the developers (Miller-Valentine and Griewe Development). Everything has either met or exceeded my expectations. P.S. We're currently not taking applications for room mates or butlers.

Here are a few before, during and after shots of our unit: Before... During... and After...

45202 Downtown Cincinnati Cheapest: $25,000 36 E Clifton Ave http://www.comey.com/displaylist.asw?listnum=960612&mls=cincy Most Expensive: $1,475,000 30 E Central Pkwy 15 (American Building Penthouse) http://www.comey.com/displaylist.asw?listnum=854999&mls=cincy

There always seem to be several cabs waiting at the Vine street entrance of the Westin. That's probably more convenient than calling ahead given your location.

Findlay district on front burner Downtown, Uptown groups unite to spark Rhine's redevelopment By Dan Monk Cincinnati Business Courier The city of Cincinnati has agreed to grant preferred development rights for a 29-block area of Over-the-Rhine to a new joint venture between the University of Cincinnati, the Corporation for Findlay Market, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) and the Uptown Consortium. The new entity will be called the Findlay Market District Development Group. In the near term, its goal will be to redevelop the 22 vacant, city-owned buildings near the historic public market house. The long-term vision involves connecting the city's two major job centers with vibrant pockets of new housing, retail and entertainment projects. Read full article here: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10985188/

Seafood eatery may lure others McCormick & Schmick's Westin deal bait for more restaurants, retailers By Lisa Biank Fasig Cincinnati Business Courier When McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant agreed to open a $2.4 million restaurant at the Westin Hotel downtown, the commitment represented not only a good catch for Cincinnati, it helped to ensure that other big fish will not get away. The 59-store chain, whose average dinner tab runs $45 a head, will serve as a necessary lure to bring high-profile restaurants and retailers to the redeveloping Fountain Square and surrounding area, sources said. The real estate business is, after all, one of contingencies, where sought-after tenants wait for big-name commitments before signing on themselves. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060122/BIZ01/601220383

City OK's condos on riverfront By Marla Matzer Rose Enquirer staff writer DOWNTOWN – A proposed high-end condo development on the site of the Montgomery Inn Banquet Center took another step forward Wednesday afternoon when City Council unanimously approved the rezoning of property on a section of Pete Rose Way. Click on link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060111/BIZ01/301120003

I agree with all the technical reasons to get rid of them, and the square looks so much larger with the section over Vine and Rock Bottom gone. However, on a recent cold night, it sure was nice to pop into the Chemed building lobby to the skywalk, pass through the Chiquita building, some federal government building, the 580 building, and pop out at 6th and Walnut. It was then just a short jaunt through the cold to my favorite bar stool at Nicholson's. (yes I'm a wimp)

Luxury condos planned on river Victorian home would be moved By Mike Rutledge Enquirer staff writer COVINGTON - Bill and Valerie Ashmore plan to move their recently restored 1800s home about 75 feet eastward along the Ohio River's shore and build seven luxury town houses alongside it. Click on link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060102/NEWS0103/601020358

I like it. One Lytle Place tried to get a "1 Lylte Place" mailing address when they opened (so I was told at the time). It got rejeted by the postal service (or someone), so they got stuick with some high numbered Merring Way address.

I've always been a fan of the skywalks. Just yesterday I was at the Netherland, and was happy that I could go all the way to the Mercantile Library on Walnut without a coat. But I agree, the Fountain looks better without it. There was never a need for a raised, open air sidewalk crossing a public square anyway.

Planning board approves condos for Pete Rose Way By Marla Matzer Rose Enquirer staff writer The $75 million RiverCrossing luxury condo/restaurant development planned for the site of Montgomery Inn Banquet Center has cleared another hurdle. Click on link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051209/BIZ01/512090385/1002/BIZ

I wonder if they considered a location on Fountain Square. It would be nice to have a venue like the Playhouse in the redeveloped Fountain Area.

Bortz: County botched Banks By Greg Paeth Post staff reporter One of the owners of a company that was a finalist in the competition to become developer of The Banks three years ago said the massive riverfront project is doomed to fail as long as Hamilton County commissioners are running the show. Former Cincinnati Mayor Arn Bortz, a partner in Towne Properties, said county commissioners made a huge mistake in June when they decided to take the project away from the Port Authority and announced that they had reached a preliminary development agreement with a partnership made up of Vandercar Holdings and Covington-based Corporex Cos. Corporex, a well-respected developer in the region, stunned the county Monday when it announced that it was backing out of the deal after failing to negotiate a contract with the county. The Banks, estimated to cost between $600 million and $800 million, is part of an overall $2 billion project that includes the cost of the stadiums, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and highway, street and parking improvements. Hamilton County officials, whose development deal with Corporex-Vandercar expires today, said they plan to seek proposals from other developers for a project that has been discussed for about 10 years. Read Full Article Here: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051207/NEWS01/512070344

Slip-sliding away Cincinnati's new mayor and the three Hamilton County commissioners put on a brave face Monday when word came that the Corporex Cos. is pulling out of The Banks project. But the fact remains, this was yet another setback. This one cost the region about six months, created a new variety of ill will between the city and Hamilton County, and sent a booming signal to developers across the country that Cincinnati is still chasing its own tail. The one positive glimmer of hope is that the city and the county will have learned enough of a lesson to regroup and get it right next time. Read Full Article Here: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051207/EDIT/512070323/1003

Banks setback opens a new door Editorials Six months ago Hamilton County surprised its partners by unilaterally announcing a behind-the-scenes deal to name a preferred developer on the Banks riverfront development project. The county gave a partnership of Corporex Cos., and Vandercar Holdings exclusive rights to negotiate a master development plan for the $600 million project. Monday, two days before that deal was to expire, came another surprise announcement: Corporex, unable to make the numbers work, was pulling out of the deal. In a hurry-up press conference designed to put the best face on a bad day, the three commissioners took turns saying this bad news was actually a great opportunity for the county. The truth is this latest development is a six-month setback in what is arguably the most important development project in the region. The region's project Read Full Editorial Here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051206/EDIT01/512060301

A side bar with the above story... MALLORY, COMMISSIONERS VOW TO COOPERATE As Hamilton County's commissioners learned at noon Monday that the deal to develop the Banks was dead, Commission President Phil Heimlich picked up the phone and called Cincinnati's new mayor. Mark Mallory, in his third day on the job, dropped other plans so he could stand next to the three commissioners and insist the Banks deal will be revived "in a collaborative and cooperative way." Read Full Sidebar Here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051206/NEWS01/512060354