The Last Don

Four "no's" so far...

Name the street that this photo was taken from:

I thought I could throw some people off by slipping in a Covington shot, but John's too sharp for that. It is indeed the building that housed Jillian's. Originally home to the Bavarian Brewing Company, this urban castle is composed of many additions throughout the years. Note its proud teutonic architecture:

Let's see if anyone knows this building:

The McAlpin on 4th?

Yes! Good one, Cincinnati Kid. Here's another look: Who wants to go next?

Nice guess, Riverviewer...but it's not the 20th Century Theater. It's a very similar facility. :wink:

Name this edifice:

^ Correct, John...it is north of SCPA which is on 13th Street. The street pictured is 14th, one of the nicest parts of Over-the-Rhine. Prospect Hill is in the background.

This one is going to be easy for alot of people here:

^ In Eden Park by the Art Museum?

OTRFAN, you're photos are heavenly! Riverviewer, I believe that you are referring to An Expression of the Community: Cincinnati Public Schools...it may be the book that includes the architectural gargoyles and grotesques. The Joseph-Beth in Rookwood Pavilion has this book, I believe.

Personally, I think Calatrava is a genius...but most people just don't "get it" until they can actually see and experience his work. The advantage of his gondola proposal is that it would be in continuous operation. You wouldn't have to wait for a departure like a ferry. It would also be a spectacular attraction. If the project was built, I would definitely ride across it, as would anyone visiting Governor's Island.

Interesting design by Calatrava. I would like to see how it looks with relation to the Manhattan skyline. Here is a project that is also proposed for Governor's Island: The New Globe Theater. It would transform historic Castle Williams into a new version of Shakespeare's Globe. I think that this would be a great tourist destination, especially if there is a transportation option like Calatrava's proposal. http://www.newglobe.org

There is some German influence in the Brewery architecture, though many of the old breweries have been lost. Music Hall has some of this style incorporated into its facade.

Not all of the ideas on here are pie-in-the-sky. For instance, extensive street scape improvements were done on Main Street in the 1990s. New light fixtures were installed, power lines were buried, and new sidewalks poured. The same thing can be done on Vine. Some of these ideas may seem cosmetic, but removing the blight is an essential step in the right direction. Couple that with the fact that 3CDC is expected to get some development started on Vine. Even the big ideas like the Venetian canal are possible. Indianapolis built a canal, as did Oklahoma City. San Antonio has extended its popular RiverWalk. In my view, a project like that can be done incrementally.

Cincinnati has been fighting against graffiti.

The Over-the-Rhine Comprehensive Plan from 2002 features some good street scaping concepts. It includes a plan for the Reading Road/Liberty intersection that has been partially completed. The plan can be downloaded from the City of Cincinnati website. That is truly a great idea, could you go deaper, give us some more info? ^ I see the empty spaces in the neighborhood as catalysts for new development. You could take a parking lot or a blighted property and build housing units around a central space. These mini-squares could include fountains, outdoor tables, and benches for the public. It is more of a European concept of shared public space. These pockets would enhance the property around them, and could be scattered throughout the neighborhood. In addition, with the inclusion of public space, government dollars could be leveraged towards the project.

Thanks for the compliments, ColDay! David, I think that your point is valid. Over-the-Rhine historically has been a working class neighborhood. Essentially, we have two options: one is to maintain the status quo, which will result in further deterioration of the historic structures in the neighborhood. The other is to attract investment in order to stabilize the neighborhood. Not all of the poor in Over-the-Rhine are the same. The neighborhood has working poor, elderly, and the homeless. I would personally prefer that the homeless services be moved to Queensgate, which has been a contentious issue. In the end, I think that the neighborhood will be large enough to hold people from various socio-economic levels.

Michael, you inspired me to write some of my ideas into a plan: Introduction Over-the-Rhine was inhabited by the great German immigrant populations of the 19th Century. Their love of classical music is the legacy that is bestowed unto us to this day: Over-the-Rhine is a major center of the fine arts, and this is the key to its resurrection. In 2003, Jim Tarbell developed a plan to use the arts to build a stronger neighborhood. Using the 2002 Over-the-Rhine Comprehensive Plan as a guideline, he divided the neighborhood into eight significant districts. He knew that the quickest and most effective way to reviving the neighborhood was to attract the artists and bohemians that pave the way for others to invest in urban neighborhoods. To me, this is the logical starting point in any revitalization plan: the arts and market-rate housing. Incentivize developers to invest in the neighborhood by providing low-interest loans and some subsidies to jump-start development of condominiums and apartments. Here are some ideas of my own: The Vine Street Corridor Create a artistic hub of design-related businesses. Incentivize architectural and interior design firms to relocate to this central corridor. Attract the substantial talent from the University of Cincinnati's acclaimed DAAP college to set up shop in the district. Fashion District Keep fashion design professionals from leaving the area by creating a network of inter-related businesses including both wholesale and retail firms. Street Improvements The Vine Street corridor needs to undergo the type of streetscaping that helped to change the image of Main Street. I believe that a festive array of colorful decorations should be built along the sidewalks. Downtown Denver is perhaps the best example of decorative streetscaping, in such locations as Larimer Square and the 16th Street Mall. Luckily, 3CDC is jump-starting the revitalization of the Vine Street corridor as we speak. They have invested millions in Over-the-Rhine from Music Hall to Vine. Main Street Main Street is a success story in Over-the-Rhine. One of its attractions for businesses is its access to high-speed telecommunications networks. Bring in major web design firms that have survived the dot-com shakeout. Incentivize these leading firms from across the nation to relocate in the Digital Rhine. These high-tech design businesses would mesh well with the proposed arts and design corridor on Vine. Pendleton Use the SCPA as the new home for a world-class art center. Provide the best young artists from Europe, Asia, and Latin America with studios free of charge for 2 years. This program would turn Cincinnati into a major hub of art talent. Public Spaces Create intimate public spaces throughout the neighborhood. Clean up the alley ways, and use them as spaces for cafes, art fairs, and public walkways. Use the open spaces and parking lots in Over-the-Rhine to create a network of public squares and European-styled piazzas. Some prime areas would be the parking lots off of Sycamore Street, the gas station at Walnut and Liberty, and in the residential areas north of Washington Park. Brewery District [img width=788 height=650]http://urbanlife.net/cincinnati/otr/brewery.gif[/img] This is one of the great uptapped resources of our area. We have an extensive selection of large buildings that can be used for a variety of uses, especially loft condominiums, and creative class commercial space. Envision the Brewery District, in addition to the Mohawk District, as a place where new condominiums, in the shape of castles, dot the hillsides. Here is what that vision would look like: The Canal Reviving the canal of yesteryear has long been a dream of mine. Over-the-Rhine received its name because the Germans lived on the opposite side of the Miami-Erie Canal. Going over the canal into the Rhineland, one went Over-the-Rhine. During the great Centennial Exposition of 1888, when Cincinnati was one of the ten largest cities in America, Venetian gondolas plied the waters of the canal beside Music Hall. Here is a fanciful vision of Cincinnati as Venice: Transportation I would like to add a couple of transportation ideas that have not been discussed:<br> Build an aerial tramway to connect the basin with the surrounding hillsides. Join Pendleton and Mt. Adams, and connect Findlay Market to Clifton Heights. This would serve a practical function, in addition to being a cool attraction for visitors and suburbanites. I would like to add one more idea: High Speed rail. Imagine connecting the basin to Indianapolis, Dayton, Columbus, Lexington and Louisville with a 300 mile per hour system. You could live in Over-the-Rhine and work in any of these cities. It would change the face of the Midwest. Union Terminal would be the natural hub for such a system, one that would be an engine for our economy for the 21st Century and beyond.

Great thread OTRFAN. With regard to the Metal Blast building: There were some preliminary plans to turn it into a mixed-use condo and restaurant complex. There hasn't been any news about the project recently. It would be a really amazing sight when renovated.

^ Great suggestions, Monte. How about a skyway network that would connect downtown to the surrounding neighborhoods, like an incline in the sky? Theoretically you could run a tramway up to Mt. Adams, in addtion to Clifton Heights, and other urban neighborhoods. It would certainly change the perception of Downtown.

I checked out the WLW website, and they had a story in the news section: Hamilton County continues looking at developers for the $600 million Banks riverfront project. By 700WLW News Thursday, February 2, 2006 Hamilton County and Cincinnati leaders have been searching for eight years for a company to take over the Banks riverfront project and a decision is expected next month. Commissioner Todd Portune says he is ready to accept a deal from Verdi Construction. The Minnesota developers are offering to put up $10 million of their own money and $50 million in financing for exclusive rights to the project. Portune is now asking leaders to table plans to get other developers involved. Covington-based Corporex Cos. was given exclusive rights to the project last year, but pulled out in December. Other leaders say they want to be cautious and avoid a repeat mistake. http://www.700wlw.com/pages/localNews.html?feed=119585&article=390009 Here is a ChannelCincinnati.com story: Mall Of America Developer Interested In Banks Project POSTED: 5:42 pm EST February 1, 2006 UPDATED: 6:06 pm EST February 1, 2006 CINCINNATI -- A high-profile national developer has expressed interest in developing Cincinnati's riverfront. Members of the team that built the $650-million Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis were in town this week to talk with local leaders about the Banks. Plans to redevelop the stretch of land between Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ballpark were first proposed in 1998, but the project has been mired in delays over the past eight years. In December, Covington-based Corporex pulled out as the Banks' master developer, citing high construction costs. But Verdi Construction, part of the Mall of America team, said it would front $10 million for a parking garage and has made a preliminary commitment of $50 million in equity financing. County commissioners said they're trying to work with city leaders and will pick a new master developer in March. "I don't care how long it takes, you know, and that's what everybody needs to understand," Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell said. "It's the highest and best use." Commissioners Phil Heimlich and Pat DeWine said although they're gratified by the interest from Verdi, they will stick with the current timetable of selection to ensure a fair and competitive process. http://www.channelcincinnati.com/news/6659367/detail.html

Cool thread! Michael Redmond might know of a building in the city that would make a good fit for the relocation of the museum.

Here is a link regarding some other projects going on in Over-the-Rhine: http://www.urbansitesproperty.com