The Last Don

Microsoft makes a Macintosh version of Office, and other software companies are increasingly making titles for both Mac and Windows. It would be cool to see the day when Apple would make a Mac that could run Windows as well as Mac OS X, and even Linux. With the switch to Intel, that day may come.

CityLink will attract people with severe drug addictions, alcoholism, and mental problems to the West End. I would be somewhat surprised if everyone will be able to live in complete harmony in that environment.

Here is a photo thread of Calhoun Street that I have posted for Mister Good Day and others: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=6505.0

In reality, the CityLink plan will turn Downtown Cincinnati into an even greater mecca for the homeless (drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally unstable). Their brochure sounds good on paper, but CityLink will essentially attract more bums to the area from across the Midwest. The size of CityLink is what concerns me the most. I would be surprised if a facility that size would have a great ratio of success...it will likely become a much larger version of the Drop-Inn Center.

How about this: Using 3CDC to provide enough of a subsidy to make it worth an investment by a developer. Mr. Redmond, what is the possibility of trying again to bring CitiRama to the Over-the-Rhine and Mulberry Hill areas?

Originally, Dorian planned to complete 31 units in Phase I. Could another developer refurbish a few units at a time, while utilizing resources that obviously Dorian does not possess? Where's Towne Properties when you need them! :-)

I'll take a stab at answering these: True or False 1. The plan to build Washington Elementary would take out the 22 mentioned and photoed historic structures. True. 2. Renovating Rothernburg would keep these buildings, but CPS isn't going back and forumers want condos. True, most likely. The CPS seems set at building at Mercer Commons despite the uproar. Most forumers would prefer condos at this historic site. 3. The proposed parking gargage will go over a surface lot, not take any buildings. The answer to this is not clear. The original plan called for demolition, when the new SPCA was to be built alongside Music Hall. 1. What do we lose on the SCPA site? The concern is that we may lose the greenspace that spreads out to the north of the school. A developer could build on the site, removing one of the nicest parks in Over-the-Rhine. 2. The SCPA is still planned south of Washington Park correct? Yes. 3. How many SCPA's does CPS operate? At least two: the current SPCA and the smaller Schiel Primary School for Arts Enrichment. 4. Is there any chance a school might still be built on Wash park? No, a school will not be built on Washington Park. The park will be enlarged so that it stretches up to 14th Street. This will be a welcome beautification of the area, in tandem with 3CDC's development efforts.

Come back to this thread in a few years, no problem.

Here is a photo from today of Queen City Square Phase I:

At first glance, this is good news. Castellini has strong local ties, as his family owned the produce businesses on the riverfront before the stadiums were built. And hopefully he brings some of the leadership that has led the Cardinals to be a force in Major League Baseball. In addition, the Williams family owned the team during the Big Red Machine days. As for the Banks, Castellini proposed a development project during the mid-1990s when he owned the land. Today, it looks as if the Corporex-led development team will maintain control over the riverfront project.

Ah yes, the Millennium Monument. It was to be a companion to the Newport-on-the-Levee development.

Here is a quote from the October 26 edition of City Beat, "A laid-back, jovial Stephen Leeper, president of 3CDC, had joined up. He said 3CDC is working with several small entrepreneurial developers to rehab about a dozen buildings around Vine and 12th streets, at a total cost of $13.5 million to $15 million. Each redeveloped building will feature ground-floor commercial space and condos ranging from $80,000 to $200,000. Of the 60 housing units, about 10 will be rental, some possibly to space-crunched Art Academy students. Leeper hopes to start construction in January 2006 and finish within the year." http://www.citybeat.com/2005-10-26/news.shtml

Here is an article from City Beat about efforts to improve the neighborhood: http://www.citybeat.com/2005-10-26/news.shtml

To accomplish their plans they will need more resources, but look at what happened with Mount Adams. Once the momentum starts, they may be able to find all kinds of investors. Right now, the area north of Liberty is improving one building at a time. You can see the progress occurring, especially to the east of the Brewery District in the Mulberry Hill area.

I think the jury is still out on 3CDC. It will be interesting to see what they do with the Washington Park area. Hopefully, they will come to understand that the greatest attribute of Over-the-Rhine is its historic architecture. If not, then I would certainly agree with you.

Cincinnati Kid, You and Mr. Mecklenborg are right about Pogue's becoming L.S. Ayres. I looked into the history of department store consolidation, and it essentially begins and ends here. Shillito's, which had its flagship store at Seventh and Race was bought by Lazarus in the 1920s. It kept its name until the 1980s, but the process of retail mergers was underway. This was the beginning of Federated Department Stores. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050301/BIZ01/503010322

Initially 3CDC could focus on the hillside leading up to Clifton Heights, which has many potential areas for redevelopment. Very little would be demolished, and this district would stretch from the parking lot north of Findlay Market, through northern Over-the-Rhine, and up the hillside. Do we have some supporters out there....

You would need some major political support to transform Over-the-Rhine into a dynamic neighborhood north of Downtown. We have that...in fact 3CDC was created to do just that. So that means that 3CDC would need to bring together some developers and architects to draw up the plans as outlined in this vision. Then 3CDC would need to provide a hefty subsidy in order to jumpstart this development. 3CDC has millions of private and public dollars...so what do you think?

Here is my vision of the Brewery District: Would you like to live there....I would

Here is a quote from Daniel Libeskind on the bridge's current color: "I've always liked the blue," admitted Libeskind, who chose light blue balconies and glass, along with sandstone-colored composite materials for the tower, to reflect the bridge's colors. I agree with him. The two colors go well together and I hope that they will remain. Believe me, many things in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky should change...but this is not one of them.

Well, I did see some mock-ups of the different colors several years ago, and the current color looks the best. The sky blue gives one a nice bright feeling on a sunny day when you look up at the skyline through the steelwork. The thing that bothers me is that you have some people that are mindlessly saying things like "Paint it UK blue!" We are talking about a major landmark here. As someone who has spent many years in the state of Kentucky, I can tell you that the state's inhabitants do not have the most sophisticated cultural sensibilities. I am all for experimenting with various color palettes, but I would rather do it on mediocre structures like the Taylor-Southgate.

Pogue's was in the Carew Tower, which now has a collection of stores that lead into Tower Place. In addition, there was Gidding-Jenny which was located in the wonderful Rookwood-accented historic structure on Fourth Street next to Tower Place. Downtown retail revolved around Fifth and Race, where you had about 25 specialty shops across from Saks, and over 35 businesses on the block that came to be known as Fountain Square West. The skywalk had its own little fountain up there, with an outdoor seating area on the second level. This goes to show how much potential downtown has, if it is done right.

The first rendering was commissioned by Gerald Newfarmer in the early 1990s. He was a former City Manager that did a good job before being ousted by City Council. He was the city manager of San Jose when they underwent their big boom that catapulted them into being a recognized city. The other models were done by Ratner from up in Cleveland. He was partnered with Castellini when they owned significant lands along the riverfront. It may have been a ruse to raise the value of their land before selling to the county.

Am I missing something? What's wrong with the current color? The bridge looks good in its current color, so they should just repaint it in the same one as the last time.

Elder-Beerman was across from Fountain Square, and L.S. Ayres was at Fourth and Race, where Tower Place is today. Essentially you had a retail corridor stretching from Fourth Street to Seventh and along Fifth to Fountain Square. Much of the retail was on the second level, which made the skywalk system very effective. When the city leaders started tearing apart the skywalk system, one small piece at a time, it was the beginning of the end for the whole thing. The other thing that hurt downtown retail was the demographic change. The shoppers were getting older and older as the younger generations were staying in the suburbs to shop. That's why I contend that condominium development should be subsidized (to an extent) rather than retail.