TroyEros

More working being done at the Queen City Radio site. Today there doing environmental cleanup and remediation and removing the underground storage tank on the site...makes me wonder if this is to make way to use that location for a potential court yard/garden?

Ah I see. Still, I imagine this would promote even further accelerated growth in otr no?

So 3CDC has been award 87 Million Dollars of New Market Tax Credit today for there developments in OTR. First time in YEARS they have been awarded this: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/06/15/3cdc-official-funding-drought-is-over.html Now would it be safe to assume that the 87 million dollars will help accelerate 3CDC and potentially other developers to grow in OTR at an even faster rate now with the new awarded funds?

God damn OTR is so beautiful: It's literally as if someone threw you back into 1940's Chicago or NYC.

OTR Candy Bar coming in July: https://mobile.twitter.com/otrcandybar Right across from Findley Market 1735 Elm Street Over-The-Rhine Good to see more local businesses to start opening up North of Liberty.

Somewhat offtopic, but cool none the less regarding OTR and it's transition that's occurring: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/06/12/photographer-liz-dufour-over-the-rhine/71107962/ I also really like that quote thats at the beginning of the article. "In all of America, there is no more promising an urban area for revitalization than your own Over-the-Rhine. ... I see in my mind the possibility of a revived district that literally could rival similar prosperous and heavily visited areas.” If cincinnati was smart they would realize the potential gold mine they have with OTR and potential tourism. Highlight it as the largest Historic District in all of America, and highlight it's largest collection of pre-prohibition breweries in all of america and you will have a huge epicenter for tourist and activities. Lack of hotels that are actually in OTR is a bit of an issue though for any real big tourism boom to occur though in otr.

Why is there so much reliance on this tax credit though? Is development in Cincinnati so risky that unless there's a historic tax credit attached then there's no drive to get a project off the ground?

Tell me if I'm wrong, but is the general consensus is that everything past the Vine Street Kroger in OTR is sort of no mans land still? Tried walking there with my family to kind of explore OTR and can't tell you how sketchy and just weird it felt. Got alot of weird looks, and alot of the buildings looked in rough shape. I guess you got to start somewhere with the revitalization process, but I'm sort of wondering why hasn't development kind of pushed through yet when it comes to the stretch past kroger? Or does everyone follow 3CDC, and until they decide to announce there next big project along that stretch no developer will take there own initiative in rehabbing those old buildings and putting new retail and condos.

This tangentially touches on a point I was trying to make earlier about why it's important to preserve almost every single historical building that's left and how they don't build 'em like they used to. I'm glad for the new development, but those six houses are going to look the same because they are all designed and built at the same time. If they were historical from back in the day there'd be maybe two houses, a tenement building, and maybe a commercial/workshop building all on that same plot and they'd all look different. This variety is what makes OTR appealing and interesting to walk around and draws the tourism. Nowadays most everything new that's built is going to be scaled up and built in chunks with parking included to satisfy banks and regulations. But see isn't that what makes history special though. You create a time capsule that tells a story of that time...Similarly how the new towne houses will tell a story about our time. And in a 100 years when were in the ground as dust our grandchildren will have an idea of how life was life for us..and once again things will change to reflect there time. Point is, what exactly is historic architecture but just a snapshot of life during that time. I love OTR and I agree we must preserve it's history, but the buildings we build today (the towne homes, the mercer commons), and once they last for hundreds of years do they also not become a part of OTR fabric? A reflection of the time and space that we once lived in the early 21st century? That's why I love, personally, that's there's this new and old. Don't get me wrong, in a perfect world I'd love if every building was standing that was historic. But at the same, there's something equally special about this blending of new and old architecture in OTR, that reflects where we were and where we are..and just how we look back today at OTR architecture, surely our great grandchildren will look at our newer architecture that's being built and and see a snapshot of how we lived during the early 21st century.

Question has there actually been done a proper survey done by the city, of each recognized historic building in OTR and how much historic building stock remains? Because I hear so many numbers be thrown around without any actual physical data to back it up. All of it seems like roughly gauging by the eye.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/06/09/ges-headquarters-hurt-ask/28739015/ Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune said he was on the phone with Immelt's assistant hours after news broke about his unhappiness over the tax situation. Is in the process of making a large pitch and incentives package to lure GE to Cincinnati.

I get that. I also get that people want OTR to be an urban museum rather than an actual urban neighborhood. I feel like progress and new development is a cardinal sin when it comes to anything "new" in OTR.

Be thankful there's even that much. With all the neglect that was put upon these buildings throughout the years its surprising there's as many as there are still standing today. Also, lets not pretend that every building is worthy so to speak. There are some ugly ass old buildings in OTR that I would be more than happy to be demolished and replaced with something better in design. Don't get me wrong there is alot of great designed italian archeticture in OTR, but for every one beautifully designed building in OTR, I can't help but feel there's 2 than just look plain as can be and could be replaced with something better looking and newer.

The Corporation for Findlay Market is working with the University of Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati Research Institute and MetroLab, an architecture program at UC, to make Pleasant Street in OTR a more walkable corridor between Washington Park and Findlay Market: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/06/08/this-otr-street-could-become-a-pleasant-walking.html 80% of people wanted an easier way to cross Liberty street. Is it possible to just build a pedestrian bridge that would allow pedestrians to walk above the traffic, and connect elm, pleasant, race, and vine across liberty street? Or is there a way to shorten liberty way? Because it shouldn't be difficult to walk to findley market from washington park, but the amount of lanes to cross, plus there being no pedestrian cross walk just kills that. At the very least building a pedestrian bridge would make it more family friendly to walk from one end of otr to the other.

Lol I was gonna say that exact same thing! Why do I get the sense that so many ohio-ans have this "oh woe is me" mentality? There are alot of big corperations HQ in Cincinnati, yes we might not be NYC or Chicago, but there is still benefits that would intrigue a company to move down here, especially when you tie in that GE has many facilities already in Cincinnati, and the CEO is originally from Cincinnati as well. Not saying GE is going to HQ down here, but our shot is as good as any.

That lot would make a great beer garden.

Really interesting article from the Cincinnati Business Journal: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/print-edition/2015/06/05/the-wait-could-end-finally-for-downtown-condos.html?ana=sm_cinci_ucp97&b=1433443584%5E17413901 Notes from the article: - Rob Sibcy, president of the city’s largest real estate company, Sibcy Cline convinced large downtown condo boom is on the way, “These things are coming,” he said. -Sibcy has teamed with developer Rick Greiwe and Tom Williams, president of North American Properties, to build the successful Mariemont Village Square development. If the same team secure the land they want, they’ll have a downtown condo project to construct. -What’s driving the urban living trend is a combination of changing demographics, the increasing importance of walkable neighborhoods, proximity to the core and maintenance-free living. And baby boomers, with their massive numbers and money, want to be in the middle of the action. -Another developer that could break the condo dam is Towne Properties, known largely for its local residential developments. Munitz, who joined Towne earlier this year after nine years with 3CDC, said the Mount Adams-based company is exploring development opportunities for both apartments and condos downtown. -Greiwe said a true, brand-new high-rise condo tower, all concrete and glass with higher end finishes, could cost upward of $500 or $600 per square foot.“That’s a different animal than three stories of wood construction,” Greiwe said.Baker questions how many buyers are out there who could pay $500 per square foot. In that scenario, a 2,000-square-foot condo would cost $1 million.“That’s a little high. Maybe when the GE people start coming into town – maybe,” Baker said, referring to the 1,800 General Electric employees who eventually will work at the multinational giant’s global operations center at the Banks. -What downtown Cincinnati does have is surface parking lots. And their owners don’t want to sell. -Greiwe has proposed making parking lot owners equity partners in projects, and replacing the parking lot revenue with money from garage parking.“We haven’t found an owner yet who wants to do that,” Greiwe said. “We’re in conversations. These are people that have owned these lots for generations. You’ve got to get their arms around it.”

Posted on Urban Expansion Facebook: Queen City Radio is now permanently out of business. Apperantly this is Urban Expansions latest big project... Does anyone know if Urban expansion has the capabilities to build something rather large on that plot of land?

Holy crap at the price tag though..650K and up? I mean I know OTR is a pretty historic neighborhood, and it's in the city, but where do you justify that price tag? Especially when you still have crime being an issue constantly within a few minutes from that street...

No I get it. I'm just curious where all of this "crime" is supposed to be heading towards. You have future yuppies and millionaires take home to OTR, where are all the prositutes and gangbangers supposed to go to? It's always been a poverty issue. Typical kid, grows up without with a father, because the mother decides to have sex at 15. The mother decides to have more kids to live off the welfare, the father is out of the picture, the mother can't handle all of the kids, the kids find the gang brother friends on the streets, drop out of school, find that pimping and drugs make a better career and faster pay, and drop out of school, until they get shot for a deal gone, "wrong"... My question is why isn't there a bigger focus on solving this constant cycle of poverty amongst blacks rather than just accepting that this is how things are and will always will be? But maybe it's something that can never be truly fixed..

Kinda sad you have an area where condos are creeping toward a million dollars and you still need to block a road to stop any illicit activity.

New Retailer named GOODS will be opening in OTR in June. Will focus at first on adventure lifestyle apperal (camping gear, bicicyles, etc), but will change year round in terms of what's being sold. http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/business/2015/05/31/otr-retail-collective-opens-main/28170651/

Just a heads up.....16 bit Arcade is opening up in OTR next Friday at 4pm.

New Retailer thats a Fashion house/Art Gallery to open at Mercer Commons this Friday: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/05/28/first-retailer-opening-in-otrs-mercer-commons.html

Why must Omnicare move to CVS? Why can't CVS move their HQ to Cincinnati to be closer to Omnicare?