jdm00

The door to A Tavola was open as I walked by this morning. It looks pretty cool inside, just based on a glimpse. Can't wait to see it.

That's sad.

Not that it makes a huge difference, but glad to see that the latest Enquirer Streetcar poll came out something like 67-33 in favor of the streetcar, with thousands of votes.

Yep.

Story on the Cincinnati Underground space, which will have a gift shop, and open this Saturday: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/developingnow/2011/04/25/cincy-haus-gift-shop-to-open-in-otr/

I don't know what the downtown office market is like in Columbus, but with the cutbacks in state government and the steady increase of office use in the Arena District (isn't Nationwide building something for Columbia Gas up that way, or am I imagining that?), a high-rise office building just may not be in the cards for there.

I like those renderings. I am still amazed at the life cycle of City Center. I can remember when it opened, and now it's history, with a park in its place. And I'm only 32!

Houses can be obtained for very little money or for free (see: OTRADOPT). The time for individual property owners to step up and do a rehab, is now. The problem for most people is obtaining the initial financing to do the work. That's the problem that 3CDC has solved for the developers. The really great thing, in my opinion, would now be if 3CDC could figure out a way to help with the financing piece for the individual owner/resident. Though I just bought a condo, I would love to do a rehab. I am seriously considering it, though funds are obviously an issue.

Not sure, but it could be a nod to the origins of the GQ. The Gateway garage (and accompanying condos) was originally built as part of the incentives put forward by the city to keep Kroger from moving their headquarters. So, in the sense that the garage primarily serves (and was intended for) Kroger, maybe that's why they include it. Just a guess.

The problem is that the "Gateway Quarter" is a growing beast. It is not all of Over-the-Rhine (not by a long shot), but that is where much of the activity is taking place. I split some Gateway Quarter projects off into their own threads a while back, but some people really disliked that idea. I'm not sure what the solution is, but I still think that maybe doing individual project threads for Gateway Quarter projects, then having a random OTR project thread might be best. I agree. I think the current way is probably fine, I just get confused. Old age I guess.

I find it confusing that we have an OTR thread and a Gateway Quarter thread.

And I don't think they want it to buy all of them, either. I get the sense they would rather buy and revitalize some properties, with the hope that it starts the ball rolling and others will step in and invest. I agree, if they start moving north of Liberty, it will be great.

When will they know for sure on this Calisolar deal? That would be a great thing!

That's good to hear, though I don't know about calling the space "The Center."

I thought the COAST people were already claiming victory? Why bother with a ballot initiative?

Welcome to the forum--and welcome back to Cincy!

London has announced a $65 million, 1.1 kilometer cable car over the Thames. They hope construction will be completed in time for the Olympics next summer. The system will carry 2500 people an hour, and they expect 2 million users per year. Pretty cool renderings at the link. http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/04/18/london.olympics.cable.car/index.html?hpt=C2

(I considered putting this thought in the "Cincinnati Light Rail" thread, but that has been dormant for over a year, and the message recommends starting a new topic. Mods, feel free to merge this is you would like.) After seeing the attack the streetcar plan has been under, both locally and at the state level, I am feeling discouraged about the prospects of light rail in Greater Cincinnati. I have long wondered if there is a better way to draw support from parts of Cincinnati and Hamilton County that are generally not receptive to the streetcar, or to rail. Is there another approach that might pick up steam outside of the downtown/OTR area? I really don't have an answer, but I wonder if such an approach exists. Two things I have thought: 1) As far as the streetcar goes, obviously doowntown/OTR is first in line, presumably followed by the uptown connector/circulator. What would be the effect of coming out and saying that the next streetcar line, assuming success of the first part, would be on the West Side? Would that generate support with a group that may otherwise be lacking? 2) From a light rail perspective, in addition to focusing on the West Side, I have also been thinking about the suburbs closer to the 275 loop, but still in Hamilton County. Would it be possible to get support of places like Sharonville, Anderson Twp., Colerain Twp., etc., by agreeing that the rail could not be extended beyond their communities for a set period of time? These farther-out suburbs are obviously looking at places like West Chester, Mason, etc. (and heck, things like Monroe and Lebanon) and seeing residents flooding there. The light rail would give them an advantage that they don't otherwise have in relation to those communities. (I understand that 2002 levy issue was Hamilton County-specific, but I don't recall any limitations of this kind, and I assume that if it was successful, places beyond the county limits will be looking to join up.) It would be sacrificing a bit of regionalism in favor of getting the line done. I only toss this out as a discussion point. I see those of us who support public transit waiting for the rest of the region to come around to our way of thinking. Gas is now almost 4.00/gallon, but I don't see any groundswell of support for public transit. At the same time, the streetcar has lost funding and now faces legal obstacles to future state funding. It doesn't seem like people are coming around, and i wonder if there is a different approach that can offer those who may otherwise oppose public transit an incentive to get on board. Thoughts?

It may have helped, but I think he will win here again in 2012. The current state GOP's agenda, I think, is going to go a long way to helping him win here. Just my opinion, of course.

^Seriously? You think that he can't win because they aren't having the convention here?

Story here, from the Jackson County paper (I follow it because I'm a native ;) ): http://www.thetelegramnews.com/main.asp?ArticleID=13183&SectionID=6&SubSectionID=83 Besides that fact that I am almost sure the 4.5 million will come from ODOT, the most interesting part to me is the use of copies of bas-relief figures from the old Markay Theater in downtown Jackson on the overpass. Hopefully those will look cool.

I may be remembering incorrectly, but I think it was Qualls who really pushed for the Uptown to be built at the same time.

^That's cool. I brought it up because I have been on other boards where they apparently are incapable of it, and it just gets old seeing the same thing crop up under different names again and again. Thanks for the quick response (and the good work running the site).

I'm just glad any election will only be in the city, and not take in places like wherever it is the COAST folks live.

Based on the streetcar thread, it seems obvious that "GoCOAST" has come back as "GoCincyCOAST." I am sure it is just a matter of time before they are banned again. Does the site have the ability to ban users by IP address, to prevent recurring abuses from the same people?