UCplanner

we’ve fallen into the trap of “doing projects” rather than “creating places.” by far my favorite line of the piece

just received this ... Dear Urbanists, Now that the hyperventilating over Cincinnati’s latest population loss figures has died down a bit, it’s time for Urbanists to review the facts, figure out what they mean, and redouble our efforts to reinvent Cincinnati as one of America’s premier places to live. To review quickly, the Census Bureau found that Cincinnati lost 6.8% of its population between 2000 and 2005—the fastest population loss of any major American city. In fact, the City of Cincinnati has lost about a third of its population since 1970. At the same time, our principal “competitor” cities in the region gained population, although modestly. Lexington-Fayette County gained 2.9%, bringing its population to 268,080; Louisville-Jefferson County gained 1% to 556,429; Columbus saw its population increase by 2.6% to a whopping 730,657; and Indianapolis grew by 0.3% and, with a current population of 784,118, is larger even than Columbus. Since 2001, when we first started articulating basic Urbanist principles, we’ve emphasized a few key points: • That “demographics are destiny.” We mean by this that cities live or die based on whether or not people want to live in them. Consequently, Cincinnati’s demographic decline isn’t just one big issue among others—it’s the most important issue confronting the city by orders of magnitude. Indeed, most of the other issues are symptoms of the underlying demographic decline. • That other old cities have stopped their population losses, or even gained population, because they’ve succeeded in attracting what is, in effect, a new middle class made up of young professionals, empty nesters, artists and creative people, gays, and immigrants. • That “cities of choice” are made up of “neighborhoods of choice” – places with good amenities and strong identities. In simple terms, cities are brought back to life one neighborhood at a time (including downtown neighborhoods). • That it’s possible to market city living, especially in a city like Cincinnati with formidable arts and culture assets, historic neighborhoods with charming 19th and early 20th century architecture, hillside views and ample parks and green spaces. One Cincinnati resident, when asked recently by a newspaper reporter if he would join his neighbors and move to the suburbs, stoutly maintained that he would do no such thing. “Why would I trade a charming, historic neighborhood like this for a strip mall and an Appleby’s,” he said. Many people currently living in the anonymous suburbs share his view and can be reached by an effective campaign that markets the pleasures and satisfactions of the urban lifestyle. To best fight for the future of this marvelous, historic city, we must promote practical public policies based on Urbanist principles. Properly applied, the following policies could help reverse the demographic slide of the last four decades: 1. Safe and Clean. If we don’t get safe and clean right, we won’t be able to get anything else right. People won’t move into a historic neighborhood if it means putting their lives and property in constant danger or tolerating filthy sidewalks, derelict parks, and crumbling streets. The city’s budget, beleaguered as it is, must emphasize safety and cleanliness. Additionally, we should give hearty support to creative proposals like using Sheriff’s deputies to patrol Over-the-Rhine and other key neighborhoods, designating “no tolerance for crime” zones around our key cultural amenities, and transferring more desk-bound police officers to neighborhood walking patrols. 2. Neighborhoods of Choice. The City of Cincinnati and local foundations must help each neighborhood in the city develop and implement a concrete, practical, citizen-based marketing plan that “sells” the neighborhood based on its unique assets and identity. These plans need to be based on sound market analysis and include strategies to improve the housing product, civic assets (like parks and walkable districts) and consumer amenities (business districts) in the neighborhoods. Generous support needs to be given to for-profit and non-profit developers who are willing to create new or renovated market-rate housing in neighborhoods. City government, foundations, and businesses (including realtors, developers, etc.) need to pay the advertising costs associated with implementing these plans. Finally, by engaging residents to create and implement their own plans, we offer an intangible—but critical—human element the suburbs cannot match—neighbors intimately connected and working together for their common good. 3. Concentration of Re-Development Efforts. Al Tuchfarber, U.C. demographer and early Urbanist, likes to point out that the re-development of the city is likely to follow a geographic pattern similar to its original development – i.e., it will begin with the historic basin area and then encompass the surrounding hillside communities. The emergence of a fairly robust housing market in the Central Business District and, to a lesser degree, Over-the-Rhine, and the dramatic redevelopment going on in Uptown bear out Dr. Tuchfarber’s view. We have to finish the job in these key neighborhoods before launching significant revitalization efforts in others. As a practical matter, this means concentrating public and private investment for the time being on the Banks, the Central Business District, Over-the-Rhine and the key Uptown neighborhoods just above the basin. In the past we have spread our development efforts too thinly and, as a result, we’ve fallen into the trap of “doing projects” rather than “creating places.” This is an error which we cannot afford to keep repeating. 4. Protecting Our Existing Assets. We need to remember that the assets we have to work with are formidable: arts and cultural institutions, a compact and beautifully “framed” downtown, historic architecture, green space and parks, and spectacular hillside views. We must not only preserve these assets but leverage them for the city’s revitalization. It is essential, for instance, that we stabilize the funding situation of our major arts organizations and that we very deliberately create an arts district in Over-the-Rhine. 5. Rational Regional Government. It’s striking that every single one of our competitor regions that has gained population while we lost it has adopted some version of consolidated City-County government. This is no panacea for all that ails us but no one can responsibly argue that our current forms of government are up to the challenges facing us. The demographic swoon started in the city but it’s now pulling down the old first-ring suburbs and other suburban areas in Hamilton County as well. Only by marshalling and coordinating the resources of both governments will we be able to meet the challenge of population loss and again become competitive with regions like Lexington, Louisville, Indianapolis and Columbus. Unless bold leadership emerges from the political class in the City or County, a new alliance between business and civic sectors will be needed to accomplish this historic goal. 6. Transit as a Tool of Development. Study after study shows how clean, safe and efficient transit systems – especially light rail – stimulate the revitalization of faded urban neighborhoods (e.g., Fruitvale in Oakland, Columbia Heights in Washington, D.C.). Urbanists and other civic and business groups must be undeterred by the popular rejection of a sales tax increase for light rail a few years ago. That was before gasoline prices reached three dollars or more a gallon. Public opinion will certainly shift as a result of changing conditions and now is the time to begin a renewed push for a more focused light rail plan with stops strategically placed to facilitate the redevelopment of key downtown and Uptown neighborhoods. The challenge for all who care about the Queen City is to look at the facts with eyes wide open and convert our worry into a fierce fighting spirit. Our forebears left to us this marvelous city with its many assets and it’s our duty to pass it on to subsequent generations more prosperous and beautiful than we found it and, once again, filled with peaceful and productive people who understand and treasure urban life. The public policy proposals sketched above may not encompass all that needs to be done to achieve those goals but they are essential first steps. For all of us, it’s once again time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Sincerely, Jeffrey Stec Terry Grundy George Zamary

less activity during the day, more activity during the night...wouldn't you say?

I think Atlantic Station is pretty impressive...just an opinion :roll:

[email protected] - university architect probably the person you would want to talk to

I wrote an email to UC’s president Nancy Zimpher regarding the situation for McMillan Park. I have emailed her before and she has always helped me to find the answers to my questions. She apparently sent my email to the University Architect for an answer to my questions. Basically no new information but I know that some people thought that it was important to show another correspondence on the issue The response (nothing really new): Brad, President Zimpher has asked me to respond to you on her behalf regarding your e-mail of 6/30/06. I’m sure many people on the north side of Calhoun and those driving on Calhoun or McMillan wonder what is going on. I’m glad you asked. The project has gone through several design adjustments and value engineering processes designed to have income from retail, parking and housing equal cost to produce. Many individuals, the community development board, and consulting firms have and are working very hard to produce an acceptable project pro forma. Needless to say, as of yet, we haven’t accomplished the task of properly financing the project. I know that several parties are committed to finalizing an acceptable financial solution and that might mean further modifications to project scope, but I believe it’s in everyone’s best interest to see the “Phoenix” rise out of the ashes. Thank you, again, for taking time to ask the question and giving me the opportunity to respond with the most current perspective on this project. Ronald Kull Assoc. V.P. and University Architect University of Cincinnati (513) 556-1933 phone (513) 556-2216 fax [email protected] I replied by asking him to keep me informed with any new information, as it comes available. so hopefully we hear something good SOON!

any renderings of this project?

Everything went fine. Some of the guys in my office gave the presentation. The SPI plan basically is trying to allow this area to grow a little more effectively. Tarbell is on the Planning Commission and he asked questions like “are there any possibilities for mixed-use in the area?”. I was supprised to hear that the possibility has been thought about by developers and there is a possibility that a mixed-use office/retail establishment could be in the near future. The Commission also asked if any plans have been submitted in the area. It sounds like something is going in at the old Franks, and apparently 3 more properties including the old K-mart are very close to being redeveloped. They want to make sure that the policies are on the books before those developments go through. Most of the policies deal with unifying the building setbacks, increasing the billboard spacing, signage height and area requirements, streetscape requirements, parking standards and pedestrian circulation. The pedestrian circulation one kind of made me think. They have already put sidewalks along the road. They are making all new developments have pedestrian walkways from their main entrance to the public sidewalk. This seems like a good idea, but, will people really use them. These are still mostly big box stores and most people still drive to get there. Oh h well I guess it is better to have them and only a few people use them. They also gave recommendations to the township that included: streetscape design elements, BRANDING elements (already being developed), underground utility possibilities, and the possibility of adding an access road that would relieve some of the traffic at the ridge/highland intersection. Overall I think that the SPI strategy will have a moderate effect on the area and it looks like it has the support of the trustees and the Planning commission…Good luck to them…So what do you guys think??....DOES THIS STUFF WORK?????

This is CRAZY!!!...build the damn thing.......told you Rando :wink:

I agree...and i can't wait for future years as well.....5th best recruiting class next year!!!!!!

I'll be there...i'll tell you guys if any fights break out in the meeting

5th best recruiting class in the nation?...can't wait to see how we do this year....GO CATS! :-D

I stopped by today and saw nothing out of the ordinary...they are starting to get hte surface flattened with concrete on the actual square....but, i was looking around for those glass "whatever they are" and i could not find them...that must have just been a test and then now they are put away in safe keeping until they are ready for their premier :-D :-D ...I will say that Rock Bottom Brewery is doing a killing at lunch i walked in (just because i had never been there) there was a 45 minute wait FOR LUNCH....good to see they are still doing well even with the square closed...

Are they already putting them up?...i ate lunch near the square and it didn't seem like i saw anything new...i will check again today when i head out to lunch...

One of my Fraternity bro's lives at 4th and Plum apartments...he loves it there...he walks to work everyday, he can see the bengals games from his window ( at least the south endzone :wink: ). This neighborhood could really grow into something neat...

Too bad for springfield...but rock on dayton :evil:

can't wait to try this bus service...sounds great...it will cost me the same to travel 2 miles on the metro as it will for me to go to chicago..... :-P crazy isn't it?

where could we put it??????

Let's hope that they can find the space they need in cincy...or at least hamilton county! 1100 JOBS Feds seek land for labs Occupational safety, health agency looking for 14 acres BY BARRETT J. BRUNSMAN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER The federal government is shopping for 14 acres in Greater Cincinnati on which to build what could be a $70 million headquarters for two research laboratories. That much land might be needed to consolidate two labs operated in Cincinnati by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Mayor Mark Mallory says the city is determined to find a site for the headquarters. "Keeping those high-paying, very technical jobs in Cincinnati is a major priority," he said Monday.

I would think that restaraunts would like to have street level access...i think that this will have to be part of the plan

wow...sounds like an interesting restaraunt if it is going to draw from up to 100 miles... could be something really different!!! :clap:

hell yah :-D...Who Dey

great article indeed

I think there was a IKEA placed in an urban area in Atlana....is it called atlantic station. They just did a redevelopment there and i think they had an IKEA store with underground parking instead of a lot....pretty cool if i remember correctly

on the enquirer website hundreds of people have responded to the fact that Cincinnati lost so much of its population. Almost every comment asked for entertainment options, along with better schools and lower crime. For the entertainment options many ,many people said something to the effect of "newport style". I looked over some of the figure from the report. People aren't moving to newport. People may visit newport and then leave, but newport lost a larger percentage of population than Cincinnati did 5.6% (compared to cincy's 5.2%). Covington posted a moderate fall in pop. too. Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright, and Fort Thomas always highly regarded by most people all fell in pop. Some larger percentages than cincy. We have to consider the fact that even if people have a good preception of a place...they still won't move there unless they can have their enormous yard, wide streets, and homogeneous neighbors. ...All to often we hear suburbanites tell us that we need something like newport on this side of the river.....would that really even help....the evidence says...NO! :?