CincyGuy45202

^ I'm guessing this was meant to be in the Reds or Cincinnati Enquirer threads? :) For a second I thought LeCure & Broxton were opening a new restaurant!

I've heard they've "settled/come to an agreement" and it will remain with the same management. Also, I heard that there was some work going on in the one building that was still a shell. Hopefully development starts up again on the Condo portion.

Actually, since you did point out it was through an open RFP process, it makes it more obvious that it wasn't just a political ploy to keep them out, but due to competition. The only reason I said what I said, which is entirely true, is that you implied because he was a republican, he didn't get it. I was saying Cincinnati gives lots and lots of incentives and often partners with both of those republican owned companies so there isn't an inherently anti-republican bias in who the City partners with on development projects. The City gave a massive TIF abatement to QCS- it wouldn't have been built without that, W&S had said that. It was a good partnership and his political affiliation didn't come into it.

Pirates down 4-2 against the Trolley Dodgers, top of the 7th. Keeping my fingers crossed.

It's owned by 3CDC. It will become a sizable project in the next couple years.

Woa Woa Woa. Let's not take things over the top. The Banks was hijacked by the county which has always had republican leanings. Also, Towne properties & Neyer get more deals than any other developers and they are Both owned/run by republicans. Local government gives plenty of great deals to republicans so this "political" thing was probably more about his brash personality than about him being a conservative. I'm not saying Carter Dawson has a quality product, they don't, but they didn't get it because of some republican/democrat bias.

^ they would rent if they need more space (which they might). Office rates are so low downtown right now and vacancy is decently high. They aren't about to spend that kind of money considering they are struggling to retain market share & wall street is pounding them to cut costs.

I've been told that when the 7th & Broadway hotel was stalled due to a lack of financing, W&S approached the City to partner and boost the number of that garage from around 800 to 1,500. Now that the Hotel & new garage seem to be back up and running, I wonder if that will change the city/W&S partnership on the 7th & culvert garage. I hope the City is NOT putting millions into a 600 space garage at 7th & sycamore AND a 1500 space garage at 7th and Culvert. We'll end up with no space for apartments because it's all filled with garages.

^ Agreed. P&G has 0 plans to build a new tower downtown. If they are going to add anything, it's at their Winton Hills site, but even that is unlikely for the foreseeable future.

Here is the January article first announcing the garage: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/print-edition/2012/01/13/western-southern-eyes-big-broadway.html

He's very very conceited and happily pissing off everyone else downtown. BUT it is always great to have someone championing downtown development, committed to downtown, and for a conservative to be championing how great downtown is becoming and will continue to become.

^theyve been really unclear. The most recent quotes were condos on that site, but it could Very well be an office

Apparently people have been moving in for the last 2 weeks. Anyone know anything? Quality? Finishes?

^ I have heard that the hotel has secured financing.

QCS & 303 Broadway are already built. Next is the supposed condo tower replacing the clocked parking garage.

Correct. I've been told it is able to be ~10 stories and the developer is still considering what, of anything, to do on top.

Occam's razor famously states, all things being equal, the simplest answer is better than the complex answer. Either, a beat up old building covered in dozens and dozens of hazardous mercury-filled light fixtures with exposed out-door wiring happened to catch on fire, or an elaborate scam took place between multiple parties including the fire department in order to move on business half a block up for the purpose of removing several over the top signs. I know which one I believe :)

Tying everything back to topic... 3rd & Broadway garage circa 2003. 303 Broadway is just beginning construction and the old giant garage where QCS is obviously still there. Great to think that in a total of 15 years (including a massive recession) this will have gone from two giant garages and a surface lot to two office towers and a condo tower.

It's just as suspicious as when any house catches on fire that hasn't caught on fire in the last 50 years. What is the point!?!?! Why burn down Smitty's just to have him move 2 store fronts down and reopen? It wasn't like there was crime caused by Smitty's like there is by the 1132 bar and Biff- the same amount of people loiter at 15th and Vine as did before it burned down. If anyone did anything it was Smitty's themselves (even that is unlikely), not some super secret job where 3CDC sat back and let black ops navy SEAL's sneak in at night and splice some wires to let it burn down. If that was the case, why wouldn't everyone just burn down every moderately ghetto building in OTR that is in the way of development? Get real. The idea that pro-development people burned down Smitty's just to get rid of a few obnoxious and over the top signs is hilarious. Has anyone been to little italy in NYC or the Garment district in LA? There are a million places that make Smitty's look tame there. No one was going to burn down Smitty's just to get rid of a couple signs. And for historical perspective- View from 6th Street up Vine circa 1970

Alright this topic has been dead for awhile, but as the Casino progresses I wanted to bring a few things back up. I've been told the air rights expire late this year or early next year on the last 3-4 stories that are available for development. That would allow someone else to come in, but I doubt anything will be added on top as P&G has a master lease that has about 85% of the spaces in this garage and there's only room for 3-4 more stories of development. :( I guess at a minimum I'd hope they just add 3 more stories of parking and then perhaps remove some other surface parking in the area. The giant surface lot just around the corner that had been discussed in previous posts is owned by Columbia Oldsmobile, the owners of the land underneath the Chiquita Building and of a couple other smaller surface lots downtown. They are currently suing the City & the Chiquita building owners for the Nielson sign added to the top of the building. They are generally anti-development and progress. They probably net $300-400,000 a year on a surface lot downtown that they do almost no work on. That location is perfect for a large new construction ~20-30 story residential tower. Unfortunately, I've been told they have expressed 0 interest to anyone who has approached them to sell the land.

^ I worked in government for 6 years before switching to non-profits last fall. What I learned is these conspiracy's are even more hilarious because local governments have way too few resources and are way too "under the gun" to orchestrate and keep secret the hilarious conspiracy's people equate them with. You think the Cincinnati Fire Department is on it for not reporting it as Arson? or that 3CDC hired such pro's it was unnoticeable to trained investigators? Please explain to me why 3CDC would risk their entire existence on burning down a business that did absolutely nothing bad other than seem a little gaudy and over the top, but has yet to burn down/take down the 1132 bar or Biffs or 13th and Walnut which are legitimately disrupting the neighborhood. There is no answer because there is no conspiracy. It's hilarious to hear this as I've laughed about this theory with several VP's at 3CDC who are long term friends of mine. Alright- back on topic... 3rd & Broadway...

W&S wants to renovate the Anna louise inn into condos, not tear it down. They want the same building as old buildings are much better and more attractive (high in demand) than cheap new construction. This 3CDC burning down smitty's conspiracy is hilarious. The 1132 bar is way worse than smitty's, Biffs is way worse than smitty's, why the hell would an organization risk all it's credibility to burn down a clothing shop just to have it reopen next door. they wouldn't. Also, I've been told that the timeline for 3rd & broadway is: Build new 750 space garage at 7th & culvert, once it opens tear down 3rd & broadway garage and start construction on garage & condos on top. The 7th & culvert garage might start construction next spring.

Agreed. Welcome new neighbor, your best bets are Findlay Market and the OTR kroger for local, then the Newport or Hyde park kroger and in about 2 years you can choose the new Corryville Kroger.

Ya- I'm all About getting rid of the drop, lords gym, etc, but moving women who are recovering from abuse & escaping prostituiton to 13 & Walnut (W&S proposal) which is a street corner covered by drunk violent men is idiotic. 90 women in transitional housing is great & does not hurt downtown at all. If W&S needs to build new condos take down their ugly @ss parking garage at 3rd & broadway and build condos!

Jake, can you write a story for CityBeat or SoapBox since the Enquirer won't cover this? I really hate the enquirer and coast. Sometimes this city disgusts me and they are usually the reasons why.