kjbrill

The original shopping center, Kenwood Plaza, was an open-air strip center. At one end, in a separate building was Pogues, now where Nordstrom is located. At the other end was McAlpins, which became Dillards. There was no Shillitos. The first Shillitos showed up across Montgomery Rd in what was originally called Kenwood Mall, then renamed Sycamore Plaza. When the decision was made to expand Kenwood Plaza, double deck and enclose it to create Kenwood Towne Center, a wing was added off the north rear and a new anchor store created into which Shillito, now Macy moved. When the enclosed mall began to fall out of favor, many of the stores had their back walls broken out and entrances created off the parking lot. Kind of a real hodgepodge of parking and store entrances. What is now Kenwood Collection sits on a parcel of ground along I-71 formerly occupied by an insurance company. I am not a fan since I feel they tried to cram too much on a small parcel of land. There is an obvious confusion since Kenwood Towne Center and Kenwood Collection have two different owners and management companies, thus the two names, though any logical person would consider one an extension of the other. It will be interesting to see what does or does not happen to the Sycamore Plaza south across Montgomery Rd which has recently changed ownership. Just saw today that Barnes & Noble has announced they will be closing their store in Sycamore Plaza. They occupied part of the space of the original Shillito. Apparently they and the new owner could not agree on a lease renewal. For a number of years the lower level was a furniture store outlet of McAlpins. Have no idea what if anything is there now. Years ago we went to the location to shop every week since the building housed a Thriftway Market, our grocery shopping of choice. I liked the location since it had an entrance off both Montgomery and Kenwood Rds, was not huge, and you could find a parking space reasonably close to your destination. I will be curious as to what ends up there. But one thing is sure, with the announcement Saks will be relocating to the Kenwood Collection across the street their value as a retail destination has just increased. In fact, I believe the Montgomery Rd entrance shares a light with an entrance into the Nordstrom lot across the street. You can drive from one to the other.

Up to 200 miles away. Culturally Cincinnati cuts a wide swath, all the way from Columbus IN to US 23 south of Chillicothe. Plus neatly a third of Kentucky. And don't forget Dayton, Hamilton, Xenia etc. GCrites80s ... You are correct. A lot of people just don't seem to realize there is more to the Cincinnati region than downtown and Clifton. And many of those people who come to Riverfest, the Reds and Bengals games, and spend their money in restaurants, etc. are responsible for most of the success of Cincinnati.

I just don't understand? Here this man says he will put a STOP to one of the biggest urban oriented projects in the City in decades. And I read very little in rebuff. Are you all asleep at the switch or just that turned off from reality? This man is committed to stop the streetcar. So where are you? If you think it is impossible, just go out there any try to sign up on an ObamaCare website.

Some people just do not seem to get it. To say we need to pressure the Feds to restore the funds for the uptown connector? Do you not get it? This is a do or die situation. The man has declared the streetcar is Dead! That means he intends to kill it and put it on the same scrap heap as the subway. Just what Cincinnati needs, the only city in the country with two failed major transit projects. That will go a long way to increase the City's desirability image. Get off your duff and contact anyone you can think of, particularly at the Federal level, to stop this asinine decision. Make it totally a disasterous economic decision for Cranley to kill the streetcar. He will likely cause all sorts of problems in the future, particularly with operating budgets. but don't let him kill it and leave Cincinnati holding the bag when he decides to move on to other political asperations. I don't live in the City, but I am pleading with you to stop this regressive decision.

I agree with this. If the streetcar gets stopped now it will be a very cold day in July before it or any other rail project in Cincinnati gets reconstituted. I did my part today and emailed Senator Brown to see to it Cranley does not succeed in getting the Federal Grant Funds shifted to some other project. From day one we have been told they are for the streetcar and the streetcar only. Send Cranley back home with his hat in his hand and the message if he stops the streetcar at this point the Federal Grants disappear - ALL of them. I suggest others, particularly residents of Cincinnati email Senator Brown with the same message. If the Feds switch their position in midstream, they are just as bad as Cranley. I keep thinking of all the people and businesses which have purchased property and invested along the streetcar route. If the plug is pulled out from under them now, I hope everyone who can afford to just pulls up stakes and leaves, saying Cincinnati we cannot trust you bozos.

Those who want to complain about the Fortune 500 companies not being solidly behind the streetcar should get another life. Those not behind the streetcar are plain and simply the voters of Cincinnati who did not see enough in their pockets for being supporters. Too large a percentage of the Cincinnati electorate have become takers rather than makers. I they do not see something in it directly for them they simply walk away.

A 28% voter turnout - how pathetic. Cincinnati you got exactly what you deserve. I consider it an example of complete voter apathy. No wonder we end up with government we can't explain.

Cincinnati just kicked sand in its own face again. Even if Cranley is not successful in stopping Phase 1A of the streetcar he has sure put a dent in the prospects of the uptown connection being built. Without it the overall success of the streetcar is seriously compromised. I see the results of this election, including a streetcar opponent being reelected to council, and feel all those talking about the future of light rail in Cincinnati must be talking to themselves.

A REAL BUMMER. My opinion of the Cincinnati population's intelligence just dropped several rungs down the ladder of success.

I don't live in Cincinnati so the only thing I can do for the election is encourage my son and DIL who do live in the city to go and vote against Cranley. I can't believe the Enquirer would endorse someone still publicly proclaiming to halt the streetcar construction without giving it a fair shake to be successful. I am sure glad I guit giving them any of my money some time ago. Not only did I cancel my paper but I refuse to pay them anything to access their website.

I agree, don't we already have a Belterra close by in Indiana? What is this, an attempt to confuse people? It has been River Downs for how long? If you can't live with established Cincinnati names then just stay out of Cincinnati.

Now this is a company who knows which side of the bread they are buttered on. They stareted out at Lunken with business aimed flights to Chicago and New York. Then they were limited by FAA rules since they declare they are a charter, not a full fledged airline. So they switched to CVG to add flights. If the continue to prosper I will predict they will declare themselves a full fledged airline and the main operation will be out of CVG. There is no reason to abandon their flights out of Lunken if profitable. But CVG will be in their sights for growth.

Let's let the downtown loop get completed and operating. Then let's see if the money can be there for the uptown extension which is the next logical step, and which I predict will take at least 5 years to accomplish. Then maybe talk about a line along Montgomery Rd out to Pleasant Ridge. If I remember right that is where the old streetcar terminated. Can'e remember riding the streetcar that far but do remember the trolley buses which replaced it. Talk of light rail out to Sharonville is definitely premature. The current streetcar is a Cincinnati project. Why would they want to be involved in a project which goes out of the Cincinnati boundaries and involves multiple governmental jurisdictions? Cincinnati is much better served by transporation which ties the City together, an uptown link, possible extension to Pleasant Ridge, and possibly a westward extension to Westwood. If Cincinnati can accomplish a streetcar system which covers a good portion of the City it will be a major feather in their cap. That should be their objective. Let the other suburbs recognize the value of the accomplishment and come with their hat in hand to request joining the game. But first things first. Complete the system in Cincinnati and prove its value. At the current rate of accomplishment this is going to take several years.

After such a long, long wait I am just glad to see some real physical progess being made on the streetcar construction in the form of actual tracks going down and the maintenance building being built. Makes you think it might actually make it afterall.

BTW, the City is collecting how much in the form of income taxes from the employees of these corporations? If the City has to chuck in a few shuckles for the airport operation, isn't that a disaster? I still have not seen any hard fact numbers that operating Lunken is a loss to the City. Even if it is, depending on magnitude, doesn't anyone remember the saying which side of the bread your butter is on?

Who cares if the number of flights at Lunken have been reduced from 130K to 70K. If that relates to the fact private flight lessons have been reduced by 50% due to the economy, so what? You do know every short term small aircraft takeoff/landing for training purposes is recorded as just that - a flight. I have observed small craft there taking private lessons perform over 6 takeoff/landings an hour, each one is a recorded flight. The important part is whether the fees paid by the business aircraft owners are paying for the upkeep, maintenance, and costs of the current employees to support the airport. If they are there is absolutely no reason to increase commercial traffic. If not, just raise the fees, I am relatively sure the business clients will pay them. Lunken is an attractive facility to the corporate business interests of Cincinnati who fly private aircraft. Why are so many hell bent on disrupting this? We read many comments on how Cincinnati needs to upgrade being attractive to new talent locating here. And here is a topic just begging the corporations for a reason not to stay here. You think some commercial activity via Allegiant will want to make PG move? The City is losing income on Lunken on 3rd party leases because they do not have people that know how to negotiate leases. Enquirer did a story on this. You say the City is losing money on the leases. Are they losing money on the operation of the airport? That is, is the current operation costing the city money, is it operating in the Red? If not, leave well enough alone.

^^ Did I say grow them outdoors? You can build greenhouses in Queensgate for a fractiion of what it costs to put them on caps over FWW. So what is the problem with that?

We are not talking about the majority of Cincinnati. What we are talking about are the low density exurbs of Cincy you denote as something to be ignored. Well wake up, these so called low density exurbs have some of the highest wage earners in the entire area. If the residents of simply West Chester and Liberty Townships plus Mason frequent this place it will be enormously successful. And if others like the rapidly expanding Monroe district, plus people from Lebanon chime in it will go through the roof.

The photos of the piles justify exactly what? First of all they were required as retaining walls for the dig. Doesn't mean they have to support structures. If you want to be so concerned about trucking foods across the country, you talk like every farmer out there has the ability to genetically modify foods, then get behind initiatives to save the family farm in Ohio and provide a much shorter shipping distance. If you are convinced an urban farm is the solution, then campaign for digging up much of the disaster called Queensgate. There are just many other solutions less expensive than trying to grow food over FWW.

I am glad to see there is at least some discussion as to the true value of the caps. More pedestrian spans over FWW would certainly be in order as well as streetcar supporting spans so to not further reduce the vehicle traffic capacity. I am sure the pilings originally installed would support that. I get a kick out of ideas such as putting greenhouses or urban farms on the caps to grow food. Great idea, put food growing on top of a pollution belching highway. If you want urban food growing just go to Queensgate and plow up some of the unused land there. Should be a lot cheaper than caps on FWW. If you see to it they have water to irrigate and are taxed at farm rates rather than developed rates, you might actually get private investors to jump on that. Greenhouses in Queensgate would certainly be an improvement over what is there now. Good discussion about the caps, which I am against, mainly because I consider them superfluous, unnecessary, and a waste of money. Obviously others disagree with me. But I will continue to follow the discussion, as it is interesting.

Oh Golly, you can't do that, question the cost of the streetcar against several items which affects your daily life day in day out, week in week out. What are you thinking? Just trust the govenment will bail your ass out. My brother visited this morning, he and the SIL are going to Detroit tomorrow to visit some old friends. Then they planned to drive to New England and visit several national parks and monuments. Now they are finding out these places will be closed due to the Federal Government Slimdown. Our Federal, State, and Local governments are all in a state of meltdown. You cannot trust a damn thing they say. Any your particularly cannot trust any of the sub-layers trying to convince us we are in good hands and everything is working good.

Who cares if the number of flights at Lunken have been reduced from 130K to 70K. If that relates to the fact private flight lessons have been reduced by 50% due to the economy, so what? You do know every short term small aircraft takeoff/landing for training purposes is recorded as just that - a flight. I have observed small craft there taking private lessons perform over 6 takeoff/landings an hour, each one is a recorded flight. The important part is whether the fees paid by the business aircraft owners are paying for the upkeep, maintenance, and costs of the current employees to support the airport. If they are there is absolutely no reason to increase commercial traffic. If not, just raise the fees, I am relatively sure the business clients will pay them. Lunken is an attractive facility to the corporate business interests of Cincinnati who fly private aircraft. Why are so many hell bent on disrupting this? We read many comments on how Cincinnati needs to upgrade being attractive to new talent locating here. And here is a topic just begging the corporations for a reason not to stay here.

jmicha ... So I assume you believe putting buildings on the caps over FWW would not increase conjestion? Are these empty buildings or do people have to enter/exit them? You mention low-rise, how low? Are they residences or more bars/restaurants? If bars/restaurants they will definitely affect pedestrian flow. And greenspace, the new riverfront park does not need any competition at this point in time. Again, I am just saying there are many more ways to enhance rthe appeal of Cincinnati than capping FWW. Try taking on the West End for one.

I cannot agree with your assessment. First of all nobody in their right mind would go up against Kenwood Towne Center right out of the chute. Second, the money is off I-71 until you hit I-275, then it rapidly shifts West. Mason, being between I-71 and I-75 goes either way and on into Butler Co. in the presence of West Chester and Liberty townships. Deerfield Town Center and Bridgewater Falls are both nice places, and for my money all we needed, but not the scale of Liberty Center. Cincinnati Premium Outlets if another one of the discount genre rapidly fading from the scene as they are selling pure comeon. If you don't believe what I am saying just drive up I-71 to Washington Courthouse or Jeffersonville and see the outlet malls there dying on the vine. Much as I hate to say it, Liberty Center was the best location for Steiner's "Easton South". They are developers and do not look very far down the road, just the here and now. I do believe they will steal customers from Deefield Town Center and Bridgewater Falls. And they will put a major dent in the Middletown Mall ever resurrecting itself.

Anytime you don't have a reasonable response you just accuse someone of trolling. Get's a little tiring after awhile.