TroyEros

New Argentinian Restaurant opening up in OTR on 1342 Walnut Street in July http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/dining/2015/04/29/alfios-owner-bringing-argentina-otr/26586153/

Yes but why should my children even witness the event of a man being brutually gunned down, with his blood and guts spilling all over the pavement? Yes, it wasn't random, but the fact still stands: I don't want to witness a stray bullet potentially hitting me or my car, nor any of my friends or family. And I especially don't want my kids to witness a slain man pounding out his last breaths while he drowns in his own pool of blood. Stop with this OTR is generally safe rhettoric. It's idiotic, and just sounds as if your being paid to promote OTR by the city. That bullet could've EASILY hit a bystander, so the point stills stands, OTR is still the wild-wild west, and those who are traveling down there and trying to make a life are much like the brave first frontiers. If you want to risk your life go ahead.

So two murders in OTR and you're convinced that it will take decades to fix now and you won't take your kids down there? Just out of curiosity, how long have you been following the redevelopments in OTR? I still stand by that. But I also realize most of the retivalization efforts is coming simply from 3CDC, and at the pace there going it will take at least 10 years if not more to really allow for that prediction to occur

I'm sorry but this revitalization is a joke. How can you build luxery condo's with all fancy resturaunts and bars and businesses, only to have a man dying from a gun shot wound on your front porch. Gentrification is a blessing guys. DO NOT ALLOW AFFORDABLE housing, or else you will continue to get unemployed hood rats thinking they can make a career by slinging dope and pimping hoes. Until then I will not bring my kids down to OTR. You can make all the bs arguments you want on how it was a targeted killing, but still, a murder is a murder..at an area that is supposedly considered the "crowning jewel" of the otr revitalization of Vine Street. OTR is still an infested area full of gang bangers and welfare collectors who think they can make a full time career being criminals. Until they are pushed out of OTR (and I don't care where they go, but just get the hell out of OTR, hell go to covington, that seems to the most popular place nowadays), OTR will still be an incredibly unsafe place to be, eat, or live in.

Man was shot and killed today right next to Pontiac BBQ on Vine Street today. Man was shot just a few days ago right next to Neons. Sorry guys but this is OTR revitalization will take decades from the looks of it. Seriously had the impression OTR was changing for the best, but I can safely say I will never take my kids down there. It's sad, but even with the all the revitalization and new businesses opening up, you still have gang banging gangsters slinging dope and pimping hoes just a few measly blocks away. That's why, I truly believe affordable housing shouldn't be allowed, and gentrification is a blessing. The less unemployed hood rats and gangsters you have polluting OTR, the quicker it can flourish.

Does anyone know what's the latest on that Indian restaurant that was supposed to open up in OTR? It's from the chef Yajan Upadhyaya, who was the founder of Mantra on the Hill in Mount Adams and Cumin in Hyde Park. They said it was in the works last fall, but it's been quiet since...Here's the original article: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2014/08/here-s-the-latest-new-restaurant-headed-to-otr.html

Are there any future plans to get rid of that ugly open parking lot space right next to Music Hall?

It's not going to happen in OTR. It will happen at the Banks, and maybe an uptown area. OTR Community Council is on record opposing it. That seems incredibly dumb. So not even for that short stretch of vine where there are bars upon bars upon bars upon bars and not have it apply for the rest of OTR? Just seems such a waste to potentially create a real entertainment zone similar to beale street..

So with the Open Container Bill passing the Senate, how do you think this will shape up OTR in terms of balancing it with being an entertainment district and a residential district. And which areas do you guys believe should be allowed in OTR for the open container zones.

Is there going to a retail component to the banks? Really hoped to see a mall lite situation

Does anyone think that OTR in the next 20-30 years can replicate what NYC has in the form of SoHo and Tribeca?

Does anyone know when the Ziegler park renovation is supposed to take place? On 3CDC website, it says 2015, but I don't think they've really shared much detail on when it's supposed to take place and what exactly they plan on doing..... Apparently the entire refurbishment of that park will cost 25 million, which seems incredibly alot for that small space, so I'm really curious what there plans are? Will it just be for the park, or will it be for the surrounding area of Ziegler park as well..otherwise 25 million for that small area just seems insane.

New Club opening in OTR. Grand Opening this Friday. Apparently not specifically orientated for gay people... http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/04/21/this-stretch-of-sycamore-is-about-to-go-from.html

Correct me if I'm wrong but this should be the current list of new resturaunts/bars coming in OTR in Spring/Summer 2015... Low Spark-Bar-15 W. 14th Street 16 Bit Retro Arcade-Bar-1331 Walnut St. in the first floor of Mercer Commons ZBGB Zula Gourmet Burger and Bar-Resturaunt/Bar-1438 Race St. Picnic and Pantry-Carryout/Self Service-1400 Republic Street Nation-Resturaunt/Bar- If I'm missing any let me know

You can't possibly be suggesting that there will be a Steak House in one of the underground tunnels...unless underground refers to something else.

The fine dining part, yes. Not the steakhouse part though. I'm referring to fine dining steak houses that you'll see in the suburbs like Eddie Merlots, Tony's, Carlo and Johnny, etc. I know these are generally LARGE restaurants, and pricey as well. I had a friend who came down from chicago, and really wanted to check out OTR. He's a big carnivore type of guy, but when he found out there were no steakhouses in OTR, he thought it was a huge shame since the atmosphere in OTR was perfect for it. The customers are there. Most people who eat at OTR are generally middle class, to upper class wealthy suburbans anyways. I'm guessing it's maybe a square footage issue? Most of the resturaunts in OTR are fairly small...and places like Carlo and Johnny, Eddie Merlots, and Tony's are fairly large buildings with seating for well over 60+

I am still holding out for OTR to feature, "fine dining" restaurants and steakhouses in the future as well. I imagine it will take many mores year of redevelopment for a person like, say, Jeff Ruby to open up a upscale top dining steak house in OTR. Which isn't an issue, because the current selection is more than fine. But the fact that most of the restaurants don't take reservations, and include 2-3+ hours average waiting times is ridiculous. I understand why they do it, but it's still frustrating. Especially since there's nothing to really do in OTR, besides walk around the block a few times to pass the time. And I know there a few resturaunts in OTR that do take reservations, but even then you have to reserve quite a time in advance. So it would definitely be nice to have a fine dining place in OTR, especially the view of the old historic buildings is so much more attractive than a parking lot.

Is Phase 2 and Phase 3 of Broadway Square supposed to bring new structures for the apartments? Is it just converting old rehabilitated buildings into living spaces?

Last I remembered they had a picnic table set up inside. Me and my buddies were allowed to eat inside, but I guess there other locations has waiters that bring it out to you? That said it's only 1 picnic table, and the other 2 outside are usually occupied...

Have a question for all you guys....How long do you think this over saturation of restaurants/bars can be sustained in OTR? It's one thing if they were spread across OTR with a sizable distance in-between, but in this instance where talking literally blocks away, if not simply next to each other... The thing is, it's not stopping. We have the 16 Bit Beercade set to open in the end of April. ZBGB by Summer. The Nation (from the owner of Rheingeist) in late Spring....and lest we forget The Taft Ale House just opened up a few weeks ago as well. There's a slew of restaurants and bars in OTR that is just continuing to grow and grow by number. I'm just curious for how long is this even sustainable?

So I was in OTR on Thursday. I have to say I'm surprised how packed it was, all the bars and resturaunts were full and it was 9-10pm at night...And the crowds were diverse. All the way from 20 to 60+ year olds. I just am really not used to seeing that type of life late downtown typically..especially on a weekday no less. Also, got to talk with the owner of Sundry and Vice, the new bar that just opened a few weeks ago. Gotta say, love there passion for OTR. Nearly everyone I talk to has that same passion, and you just know there's something truly special going on in that area. It has a really bright future ahead.

I think that's way to early of a concern. I know Cincinnati's population is growing, albeit, slowly. And that OTR population is growing as well. Clearly rehabilitating buildings and blocks takes time, and of course money. That said, with the street car better connecting the city, and the GE center by the banks, one can only hope that more of these young professionals will take up residence in OTR who are employed by these companies. I think a major stigma is it's name though. Can't even begin to mention how many people who live in the suburbs still associate current day OTR with 2001 protests and riots/the most dangerous ghetto in all of north america OTR. So many people acknowledge that they hear about the change, and want to potentially visit and explore OTR. But say, they are simply to afraid to put there lives and there family lives in danger. Even my younger, yuppie friends. They love to party down in OTR and go to neons and Japps. But when it comes to living down there, they are just simply to afraid to rent an apartment there, and this is the term my friend used so please don't blame me for being the messenger, because of the "black ghetto gangstas" that sprawl the streets. Point is as bad as gentrification is, the white picket fence suburban people won't move down to OTR until it's completely rid of the, "black ghetto gangstas." And sadly gentrification is slowly but surely happening in OTR, regardless of the handful of affordable housing options that are being offered. Eventually it will be a predominantly white neighborhood, mostly consisting of young professionals and rich executives, and retirees. That's my 2 cents. OTR will be built out. Only because gentrification (getting rid of the black gangstas) will allow it so. Everyone I know loves OTR. They think it's incredibly beautiful, and there's nothing else like it Cincinnati, let alone North America. It's a throwback to the olden days of actual urban neighborhoods that still exist in small pockets like in New York and Chicago. People WANT to live down there. But people don't want to live down there with the black gangstas that loom washington park and hang around the vine street kroger. It sounds racist, but you know it's true. They want to surround themselves with people like themselves. And that's truly sad, but just how society functions.

Speaking of Beer Gardens, are they even any in OTR right now? Would be really awesome to have a scenic beer garden like this in the middle of the historic architecture

I meant more towards the ratio of wealthy residents who abide in Indian Hill will be similar, down the road, in OTR. And I know, that said, I'm not sure how that will blend in well. You will have Half a Million to a Million (potentially) dollar condos right next to affordable housing....? I don't see how these wealthy CEO's will feel about that.

Yes, but nothing suggests as the revitalization continues northward that this night life won't follow with. I see the area around Findly market as a huge potential area for Main Street-Part 2 in terms of influx of resturaunts and bars. But again, this is all just speculation. Who knows what even the next 2 years will bring. That said, it's exciting to speculate, but also worrying in a way.