troeros

At this rate we are having an otr venture going out of business every 2-3 weeks

Another OTR business has shut down. This time Indian carry out resturaunt "Injoy".

It brings alot of tourists from the outside region to for whatever reason. Also you see alot ethnic families taking rides..it's an interesting mix.

The slightly funny matter is that if you've ever been on the Skystar you'll notice that the views kinda suck because there is not much to look at on the KY side. But the ferris whell structure itself makes our skyline spark so much that you can omit the fact that the ferris wheel in it's functionality is kinda 'meh"

How? Philly has so many row house neighborhoods and it's ethnic neighborhoods and archeticturial assets are so much grander in scale.

Is it sad that the thought of Skystar leaving our skyline would upset me more than the hudepohl smoke stack/brewery being demolished? The ferris wheel adds flair to our skyline and makes our city look modern at first glance. It just fits so we'll with our skyline that it would feel awkward to see it leave.

Children's Theater might be potential new home for Emery Theater? https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2019/06/17/childrens-theater-eyes-emery-building-new-home/1479876001/

Just as I was saying there was a lull a storm hits... 1617 Race St - 4 story Mixed Use 1600 - 1602 Pleasant St - 5 story Mixed Use 1521 - 1525 Vine St - 5 story Mixed use (new 3cdc project?) 1512 - 1520 Republic - 4 story Mixed Use 114 W 14th St - Rennovation plus Adjacent infill addition. Couple of notes...Density galore and mixed use structures galore.

I think urban core population density is key for any type of retail, especially retail that would be in competition with one another. NYC is able to make a trader Joe and target work in the same building because NYC population density plus the amount of tourists are insane. Competition in retail isn't inheritently bad. It's good for the consumers and at times for the business themselves. That's why you can drive to any wealthy suburb and see a target next to a Walmart next to a Kroger next to an Aldi. Increasing residential density and adding an influx of wealthy residents is key for urban retail. Retail wants two things: Consistent foot traffic, and shoppers with spending power. Like it or not, they don't want to cater to the mom, with 3 kids who is living off social welfare and is making $10.00 an hour at the Wendy's across the street.

Right. I would probably attribute rising rent costs more likely for otr Businesses in recent years for commercial tenants rather than the parking situation.

Yes... But multiple Businesses are starting to echo similar statements about the parking situation hurting their businesses.

Rookwood Pottery has closed it's Jackson Street store. Will move into a new store in Kenwood mall. States that the street parking situation as a reason for the move. .. This makes the 4th Business to leave OTR in the last 6 months.

I mean are we talking about the 40 year old West Chester couple? Or the 23 year old UC grad student who goes to downtown and otr every weekend to eat and party and hang out? My generation utterly hates the suburbs.

https://local12.com/news/local/series-of-burglaries-happened-in-over-the-rhine I've noticed 2 trends lately: 1) News outlets are now covering crime about otr that would normally not be reported (burgarlies, Muggings, etc). It seems like covering murders and shots wasn't enough clicks so they are adding everything and anything crime related about otr front news. 2) Media outlets will say "Over the Rhine" when it's related to crime activity. They will use the abbreviation "OTR" when they are making a headline about a trendy new bar/resturaunt/development, etc. Soon we will have people think otr and over the Rhine are 2 different places. Clever media tricks.

Speaking of Freeport Row that project has become so bizarre. They announce last year they would start in the fall...biz journal this spring said they will start shortly.. So far only dirt has been kicked around. Are the developers having financing issues? Its just stalled without a peep.

I've been following otr development for a good 5 years now. My notes are: 3cdc is struggling to some extent with leasing for new tenant. The new construction corner facing Tafts and houses poke hut, was finished early this January and none of the new development commercial spaces have been rented out. Even when a new business leaves, 3cdc typically takes almost 6 months to over a year to find a replacement. I've heard multiple negative rumors about 3cdc and have always been told that if you plan to open a business avoid 3cdc and negotiate with urban sites or the model group. If the rumors are true then it's a bit unfortunate that 3cdc owns so many of the ground floor commercial space it otr.

Also, the news outlets are now running front news headlines for otr robberies. 2 men shot yesterday near w McMicken during a mugging , and a women yesterday walking down elm St was robbed at gunpoint by 2 men. Murders, Muggings, Businesses closing, slow lull development year. Yikes man. Otr was having this really great momentum..crime felt lower, less businesses closing year over year, infill and rehab left and right... everything just feels so off with otr this year.

Bretzel has closed it's doors. They said that the new parking restrictions have forced them to become unprofitable and close their business. https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2019/06/14/exclusive-soft-pretzel-bakery-to-close-otr-parking.html?iana=hpmvp_cinci_news_headline This marks the 3rd OTR Business (The Anchor, The Rook, and now Bretzel) to close in just the past 5 months. Weird trend...

Maybe its just me, but I feel like this has been a real, "lull" for OTR thus far this year. Normally when you drive around OTR you see bustling frenzy of new infill, and rehabs. Things feel very slow so far this year for whatever reason. Usually 3cdc has multiple projects going on around OTR, and so far are only they are only working on the rehab of the Columbia building. I know they are pulling away from OTR, but it doesn't really seem like any developer is keen to pick up where 3cdc left off... Just scrolling the past few past months of HCB packets and there is hardly any infill projects going on in OTR. Usually, you'll see some stuff here and there proposed, whether it be a major project or a single lot infill project. This year nada. Not sure if this is concerning or not...Is the otr market cooling off? It just seems like for the past few years you would get a steady stream of new infill projects, both big and small and thus far it's been eerily quiet compared to the subsequent years.

Even if it meant 100k new jobs and gigantic economic urban core rippple effect?

Why?

Aren't we talking about 7 residents give or take and a handful of businesses? Also architecture is subjective. Archeticture is art. You will always have people who are divided by how something looks. If this wasn't FCC, but rather Amazon building HQ 2 in the West end and building a sparawling super campus in the West end there would be 0 criticisms.

I have a friend who works with FCC and his position is what you would consider upper tier. What he has told me since FCC announced the West end location is that ownership wants to control the surrounding stadium property and create a FCC land of sorts with bars/resturaunts/shops/etc.. Ownership group is aware that their fanbase are from mason, west Chester other North suburbs and that they don't want the perceived notion of crime around otr/west end hurt attendence. Thus they want to create a FCC land bubble where people can park, shop eat, go to the game and drive off without having to be exposed to crime/poverty. So don't be surprised to see a liberty center inspired development surround the stadium at some point.

It's still going to look nothing like that image you shared. Also, I think those buildings had equal chance of being raised from pure neglect like a good amount of west end/otr buildings have been demolished. We are what, almost 10 years into the revitalizion process for otr, and there are still abandoned blocks in South of liberty and large crime pockets. I highly doubt west end reinvestment would have magically kicked off, when south of liberty otr is still trying to find its footing at times.

I think it has more to do with an influx of wealthy urban residents and tourists that support the bigger city urban department stores. We need more residents downtown, and not just more residents, but Residents with spending money. That and tourists. Tourists like to shop and spend money. Cincy food and beer scene is fantastic but you can only eat so much food and drink do much beer before you want to do something else. Cincy retail, aside from the small independent botiques, is practically non existent and needs an overhaul. To many people on Reddit ask r/cincinnati about how they are first time visitors and want to shop but all of the comments direct them to the suburbs or Kenwood mall. Another point, if I'm an urban resident how the heck am I supposed to buy clothes? Living in the suburbs you can swing by Target or go to the mall, and buy something quick. Maybe some new underwear and socks. You can't do that in the urban core right now. I think having a functioning retail scene is almost as import as a grocery store. For years, people asked urban residents how do you buy groceries? Now the question will become, how do you buy clothes?