RJohnson

whoever thought that telephone wires could look so 21C

i looked up the Bridge Forward Concept and remember the renderings of "The Banks" project. What was planned and what we got. So far I would say it has been pretty much a disappointment. There is always the future though. The country, or at least the parts I've seen has gone through an incredible building phase in the past 10 years. And yet, not one true highrise has been built in downtown much less the Queensgate area. Bridge Forward is a fantastic dream and I hope it happens. What I hear from Urban Ohio is we can't build bridges across Elm, or block Central or dig a cave walk across 5th. And, what about this and what about that. The only way downtown will ever expand is to do something like Bridge Forward. Problem is who and what is going to occupy all that real estate. Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Nashville and Austin have grow like a teenager and their populations have mushroomed along with their skylines. Toyota left, Macy's left, chiquita left, and Western Southern is still working on a hotel. The city is about to renovate the cc for the 3rd time in 30 years. And, for some reason trying to stop FC Cincy (or whoever) from tearing down 7 old buildings with the promise of building the first step toward Bridge Forward. I looked up videos on TPO roofing techiques and wonder why anyone built a flat room in the first place. If my last name was Wallace, I think I would write a book called "This is Water".

I don't think he did given the information I could find. But, he did sketches of his many projects. They are simple sketches that look like Michael Graves sketches. I do remember a Graves sketch that was done of the CC. There is a video of his sketchbook called something like The Sketches or Sketchbook of Michael Graves. And there are architectural design books that talk about his style. His window placement, columns, placement and design of elements. I also remember Roy Orbison's in Dreams.. and I could be wrong about that too.

just for fun. I can see an influence of Michael Graves work on the CC thought I'd show photos of how Graves made connections with the Albee Facade with a post modern look. His use of columns, window spacing, arches and brick work seem highly influenced by the albee. And i appreciate @Largue 's response to my query. there were other photos but these were the ones i could open.

Thanks for your anaylsis of what needs to be done at CC. Center Keynote Speaker Hakeem Jeffries Rep. Jeffries represents the diverse Eighth Congressional District of New York and is serving his sixth term in the United States Congress will speak at the national NCAAP annual meeting Oct. 27th. Are there actual leaks in the building? Are there clogged toilets? People still use switchboards? Anyway, the NCAAP rented the place. I don't think calling the architects "idiots" was exactly nice. I am sure they needed to go infront of a board of highly respected people of knowledge about such things that approved their plan or they wouldn't have gotten the redo job. Anyway, I'm not so sure there needs to be daylight when electric lighting could do the job. Especially since this is an upgrade that is going to be replaced in 10years. it's like, i wanted a caddy but got a chevy and wasn't late to work for 10 years. My limited knowledge of TPO roofing is that it lasts for 10 to 20 years. And, if the roofer says replace it, the committee should have a qualified person or persons discuss and decide if it can be repaired first. I think it was Michael Graves that designed the facade of the building and he was quite hot back in the day. All that brick work and no one complained. Now it is dark and dank, but in the last 10 years interior lighting has changed dramatically. If I were designing an addition to the existing building, I would plan ahead. The new building would attach to the existing building using the same methods planned for this redo. A frugal person would look ahead and make those plans now. If the future decides on extending the cc across liberty we should decide no. will it be attached via overhead walks or underground passages or block liberty? Or, if they decided to put it in Queensgate now is the time to start the plan to make the queensgate location ammeaniable. That means plan CC district now. So that means, appeasing the downtown hotels now. transportation being the greatest concern. But, I hear that people don't stay in hotels they uber now. So, I could be wrong. Just to add to my rant. It seems that no one wants to raze old buildings because of their character, etc. But, don't mind replacing new buildings because the are too 80s. it want be 2024 forever you know. Then we can look back on what was important in the 1880s and 1980s

we represent the lollypop guild, the lollypop guild, and if you give us your tax dollars, we promise to build a 23 story wall, another tax increase, and a look behind the curtain to see that Emerald City is still in Las Vegas.

im laughing right along with you. Those photos of a grey wet winter's day in Cincinnati along with the used abused old Albee Facade make me sad too. Plus, the illustrations of the new hotel look grand. It's like someone passed out "EnChroma" glasses. Down in my holler we call that buying a pig in a poke. I think every home owner who opts for carpet regrets it sooner than later. Personally, I like marble flooring especially for a high traffic area. With glassy marble you get depth from the reflections. Hope we get shiny marble flooring in this new facelift.

i think you miss read what if said. I said nothing about the inside of the building. Im curious how you came up with that. what i said was, " No one will go north to see the parking garages. So save the money, add a new front door and put the bling, lightshow and fireworks in the park." i was never a good at speed reading myself. My comment basically said in so many words. it is a waste of money to spend $200 mil. and get no added space. The entrance should be left the same. the facade should be left the same. That the convention center is in many ways promoting the city. It is and cannot expect people who need 500,000 square feet of space to rent a 400,000 ft space. You have eliminated anyone who needs over the available space. But, if the cc has 400,000 ft available space then that is you market. I contend that the building doesn't look old and even if it did you cannot rent the space to someone who needs 500,000 ft. If the loading docks work as they are then leave them alone. And, what i said about the west side or rear of the building was intended to mean. that is where the city ends. why would anyone explore that end of town if there is only an interstate highway. What we have here is a physics problem I believe. Or maybe a chess problem. the queen is on the board surrounded by a variety of other pieces that for some reason, be it streets, historic buildings, or interstate highways the queen is in check. Your only choice is to stop the flow of traffic, demolish the historic buildings or make it a 3D chess game. That is to say, put the main addition on another level i.e., second story. and if you can't or won't do that kick the board.

lol

Ikea, Target, Walmart and Home Depot prove you wrong. Basically, no one will drive up in an uber and walk towards the building. Most out of towners will be in a Hotel along 5th Street. If they walk along fifth street and see the Albee Park, they will look at the park and not the front door. No one will walk to Central to see what's there for at least ten years. No one will go north to see the parking garages. So save the money, add a new front door and put the bling, lightshow and fireworks in the park. When i go to a grocery store I shop the perimeter like a healthy person. The aisles are full of fat people munching on their favorite snack riding battery powered shopping carts> I think the convention center in this town will never compete with LV or Orlando. People want to go to conventions in those places because of those places not because of a convention center. People are attracted to the city because of its attractions That would include old buildings, new buildings, bars and restaurants and even museum or two.

to my knowledge stone, steel and glass don't rot. To think that people won't come to conventions because it looks like 1980s seems a little far fetched to me. to put $200 mil. into and existing building that looks pretty good and not get additional space seems to me like a colossal waste. Although I do like the idea of a skating rink in the proposed park idea. If they do go ahead with this facade, I would take the Albee frontis and put it where the new mural is in the new park. Then put the rink dead center in front of the Albee part and build the rest of the park around those two items. If presented right it could have an effect like the skating rink in front of Rockefeller Center in NYC. Just to add a bit more; include The Fountain "Genius of Water" as part of the Albee facade. How many people know to look to their right as they pass the only view of the Albee from a block away with traffic coming at you? And the fountain is lost where it is now. As the people of Cincy want to keep their past intact, which is impossible, the old buildings with beautiful facades are repurposed. this proposed park could not only be the resting place for sculptures but maybe their resurrection. At very least people will see Cincinnati past.

Im thinking you better hope it looks like an embassy suites. Look what happened with ovation. no crowning A frames, just lots and lots of apts. Then there is the building that is purposed for the lot next to the suspension bridge. omg

I would like to say that the properties that were sold had been a total eye sore for 30 40 years I believe. One reason people decide to move their businesses to a place is because that place is growing and vibrant. Downtown for years was dead. The redevelopment of OTR has been very successful. Almost every town loves to save the past, but imagine trying to stop I-75 coming in the 50s. I believe by that time queensgate had been flooded twice and many of those homes and businessed were probably not in the best of shape. 50 years ago everyone had to have shopping malls. And today you do most of that stuff on line. And, the malls are empty. Times change. One thing doesn't change. People getting screwed.

@jaketheace41 said, Here me out...Build a new convention center in Queensgate and use the space downtown for more residential. I think its a great idea. If the Convention Center and the proposed FCC, Lindner, Arena were built on or near Liberty in Queensgate that could start a move for downtown to expand. Major problem is the major hotels won't be in walking distance of the new venues. New street car routes could change all of that.

If you had a choice between saving the theater or the church, which would you choose? In a hundred years which one would be appreciated more? Would thespians worship on stage or would believers still drop by to see if he'd shown up? Unfortunately, the rich have been rich a long time and that seems the way it is going to be for a long time. we the huddled masses want sex,drugs and rock and roll and maybe a Tesla and an Iphone. and a boat and beach house. but that is all. we don't need any more. well maybe a Lear Jet would be nice. and maybe a soccer team. we got the soccer team.

I was always taught that the church was the people and not the building. of course the next sunday was a sermon was about a new building program. I was not taught how to remove mistakes ive made trying to post on urbanohio. see above.

FCC developers should slip Ollie's Trolley a few mil. Maybe ungrade the overall ambience but keep the street vibe. Maybe paint the building a neutral grey to simplify and neutralize that big red building. Keep or upgrade the portrait especially if it is Ollie. A tree or two would help. Plus a few inviting covered outdoor eating areas. I don't think the soccer team tore anything down. Those guys don't need second jobs.

If the CET block is a little small and CET building is on an underground garage, then just keep digging. Some of the court/gallery/stands could be underground. The location is right and makes the moneyed people happy. It would fill in and activate the westend, OTR north, OTR and help connect the downtown to FC. Music Hall, FC Stadium, new arena, Findlay Market, Washington Park and the Brewrey area sounds like a very inviting area for all kinds of locals and out of towners. Lots of people and lots of events could convince the city to drop another Connector line from the Museum Center across to the Casino.

FC Stadium has been a tremedous success for the city, state and the tri-state. Not to mention what has happened to north of Liberty OTR. That corner and area in general are an incredible improvements. Now that company is developing residential, hotel, and businesses that looks great in the images. The stadium looks like the renderings. And, if Berning and FC Corp FIFA or whoever wants to add an arena (which the city needs) and foot the bill, say thank you. Tax payers don't have increased taxation and a new area of town becomes even more inviting. The best thing about this new project is that it won't be another 5 story rectangle apartment building. They are boring and cookie cutter; The banks, The Artistry, Walnut Hills, East Walnut hills, CUF, OTR, College Hill, and Madisonville just to name a few. To quote Mark Twain and Einstein, "build it and they will come."

that "kink" could become a great marketing ploy for the hotel. "Let's get Kinky", "Get your Kink on". "Stay Kinky, we'll keep the lights on." or not.

maybe someone should sit the architect and advisory board down and have little heart to heart. Just looking at the suspension bridge and the new building images gives me the he-be-gee-bees.

Needs a bunch of floor-to-ceiling murals that make no sense but you aren't allowed to criticize them. You know these guys? i think that's a great idea and it will fit the current OTR plan. Murals from the ground to heaven.

I found this video on you tube. Maybe these ideas could be used in OTR and surrounding neigborhoods. walkable, no cars, all new and looks old. If someone could buy a particular part of the westend or maybe queensgate then apply Italianate style architecture along a new streetcar line. If the area was designed to accommadate this life style; less cars, more pedestrians, and more small shops. This kind of development could spur a more friendly community.

in my opinion the older CAC had better shows. And the construction/presentation quantity was better. But things change and different ideas become the trend or norm. I believe the entrance is suppose to be discreet and has to do with Hadid's "urban carpet". The entrance is supposed get lost and blend in street. I believe Frank Lloyd Wright hide is entrances in the praire houses. So the street side is no different than the museum side. The building is about concepts. Who knows what people will call our efforts in the future.

Far be it from me to define words but i do try to use them. from a dictionary definition: a layer of something that covers the ground: a carpet of snow Our lawn is a carpet of daisies. Personally the CAC is not a great piece of architecture for me. In fact, it doesn't rank in the top ten buildings in Cincy. That is one of the biggest reasons I rarely visit CAC. But, Ms. Hadid, designed the building with the idea that urbanites preceive the big city as a place to experiment. And she used and defined the term "urban carpet". There are articles written about Hadid and her conceptual designs. The drawings,3D models and computer generated images were fascinating when the old CAC exhibited them. I remember Time Mag. did a article on the new museum. Calling it something like a transparent building you could look thru. There was a 3D model of that idea. I left the exhibit wondering how they were going to pull that model off. Well they didn't. so way. take it up with her.