mark

I'll be visiting in October if all goes well. Yes, I am serious.

Maybe I just misunderstand this: "A 22-foot-square image from the Tyler Davidson Fountain - the centerpiece of the square - will hang above the breezeway for pedestrian access between Sixth Street and the square." ...But do they mean that there will be a picture of the Fountain... on the square itself?

All the inexpensive units in my building sold out within 3 weeks. Build it under 200k and it'll sell...

There's a lot of nice spaces right there - it seems ripe for some additional entertainment/retail. It's a cool little area.

MED has empty storefront spaces on 4th, 5th, and on Walnut (those 2 spaces across from the Aronoff). I don't think the retail component is a priority for them...

World Series or burst!

Yup, I got the email too. If you want more information, you can contact Huff and I'm sure they can get it to you. You'll want to talk to Casey Gilmore or Christine Schoonover.

"a lot of people on here don't think Cincinnati has a problem attracting and retaining young and creative people." Quote me one. Just pick one such person. If Nick doesn't chime in - my brother (age 27), a graphic designer would be one. He moved to Columbus a couple of months ago. My friend (age 25) would be another. He's an artist, and is moving to Philly. Another 28 year old graphic design person I know moved to San Diego awhile back. A good friend of mine, an actuary (age 25) moved to San Franciso in 2002 or so. Another friend, 26, moved to Chicago. .... I could go on and I'm not even all that popular :p. One day I found myself in a place where all my friends moved away. Luckily I met some new folks who are just as block headed as me and won't move :). Look - I'm hopeful as anyone else and I'm not leaving tommorrow. I think Michael and some others are doing an amazing job. I'm starting to wish I never started this thread, cause yea, it's negative and a downer. On the other hand, we need to look at this sort of stuff seriously and try not to gloss it over. If you picked up OTR and plopped it down in any number of other cities, the leadership would probably do a much better job making it a safe, profitable, vibrant neighborhood. I just don't have the faith I used to have that all the pieced will come together for a turnaround. Certainly it's not all up to government - but they play a big part regardless of the product down there. All that being said... Coopers makes a mean fish sandwich, so I suggest you visit and get one yourself. You completely misread what I was saying, just as Nick has completely misread this thread. I was asking him to name one person on this board who doesn't think Cincinnati "has a problem attracting and retaining young and creative people." I haven't seen anyone say that. It's a mischaracterization of the entire conversation, he's arguing against a straw man. What I've seen everyone agreeing on so far is: 1) We're losing young people, and that's bad. 2) A thriving Main Street would be great for this city. 3) An entertainment district is important to many folks in the creative class. What I've seen questioned here is: 1) Exactly how many young people are we losing? The 28K figure appears to be inflated by nearly three times from any data any of us can turn up. We'd love to see the figures Citybeat quoted so we can figure out where the discrepancies are. 2) What's the best way to achieve a thriving Main Street? Just bring security and folks will come? Alter the product and folks will come? Market to the suburbs, or market to the city folks? 3) How important is a pure entertainment district to the young creative folks? Is it truly make-or-break, or are the current dispersed offerings sufficient? When you take people who agree with you on the big items (young people are leaving; Main Street is important; entertainment districts are good) and mischaracterize what they've plainly stated, it really, really turns people off. At least it does me. He said, "a lot of people on here don't think Cincinnati has a problem attracting and retaining young and creative people." He's arguing against a position nobody stated. We're all on the same side here, and that kind of mischaracterization is completely unhelpful. My fault - I did misread what you said - I thought you wanted examples... I think there's just a lot of frustration coming out... I think you are all a great bunch of people. *Some* folks tend to gloss over the issues sometimes... It's unfair to lump everyone into a group however (no matter how cute we all may be:). I wish Nick would stick around in OTR - but I think he's reached the end of his rope... and I don't really blame him. Hopefully Michael will keep working on the residential and business end of things and at some point there will be a decent market for the kind of places we all want down there. ... hope I haven't gone and offended anyone too badly.

"a lot of people on here don't think Cincinnati has a problem attracting and retaining young and creative people." Quote me one. Just pick one such person. If Nick doesn't chime in - my brother (age 27), a graphic designer would be one. He moved to Columbus a couple of months ago. My friend (age 25) would be another. He's an artist, and is moving to Philly. Another 28 year old graphic design person I know moved to San Diego awhile back. A good friend of mine, an actuary (age 25) moved to San Franciso in 2002 or so. Another friend, 26, moved to Chicago. .... I could go on and I'm not even all that popular :p. One day I found myself in a place where all my friends moved away. Luckily I met some new folks who are just as block headed as me and won't move :). Look - I'm hopeful as anyone else and I'm not leaving tommorrow. I think Michael and some others are doing an amazing job. I'm starting to wish I never started this thread, cause yea, it's negative and a downer. On the other hand, we need to look at this sort of stuff seriously and try not to gloss it over. If you picked up OTR and plopped it down in any number of other cities, the leadership would probably do a much better job making it a safe, profitable, vibrant neighborhood. I just don't have the faith I used to have that all the pieced will come together for a turnaround. Certainly it's not all up to government - but they play a big part regardless of the product down there. All that being said... Coopers makes a mean fish sandwich, so I suggest you visit and get one yourself.

If I'm still in town in a few years, Northside will be on the top of my list. It's a good example of the right kinda of growth - in my mind anyway. I haven't given up... just don't like what I see happening. I want to see OTR be a vibrant, thriving community. I'm still waiting....and hoping.

UncleRando- I admire your positive outlook. I've tried to make a small difference. I've invested in downtown, I shop downtown.. etc... The reality for me is that I think leadership is steering us down the wrong path. The people who have tried to make a difference 'now' are getting screwed over. Hopefully I'm proven wrong - I'd like nothing better.

I used to think Nick was just a bit of the glass half-empty type... Over time, I've come to realize he's just right.. sadly. He's tried to do positive things over and over and over and has been beat down. We need more people like him, and sadly it seems the city beats those sort of people into submission.

I agree, but from what I understand, the price isn't right.

cramer - I should clarify. They can open as many fine clothing stores as they like. I mean perhaps even I will someday have to wear a suit... However, what I am saying is that if they don't start catering to the sort of people (creative class, young professional, artists, musicians, foodies) that typically make urban areas vibrant, I'll be checking out and looking somewhere else where I can get those things. I moved downtown with the hopes that I'd see some positive changes... continuing to cater to the suburbanite, office worker crowd isn't what I was hoping for. I was probably naive.

Michael - you make a lot of sense... I just wish we could keep what exists now so we have something to move foward from. We can handle one, or even two, closings. When half the street shuts down, however, you have to wonder what made so many people give up at the same time. It says that support (and I'm not talking just handouts) from the city isn't there. Oh well. Hopefully 5 years from now I can talk about how all this turned out OK, but I doubt it. I've finally fallen in with the negative crowd. egads.

Aside from bars, what I'd expect to see 3CDC try to get on/around the Square: -American Apparel -Urban Outfitters -Apple Store -Natural Foods, Wild Oats, etc -Virgin Megastore/Tower Records -Art Film Theater Are they mainstream? Sure, without being another place to buy a suit. Will they attract me, a 20-something downtown resident? - most definetly. I *do not* need another fine clothing store. If they don't cater to me, I'll move. Plain and simple. I'm not the only one. Support main street as is - and try to get some other funky retail establishments in there as well and continue to add residential. I'm thinking video rental, grocery store, vintage clothing stores, affordable *student* housing and a shuttle to/from UC. Quick, good food as well. Make getting rid of the dropinn center a priority. Sorry to sound so negative - but seriously, they have no clue. Their idea of hip and fun is Jimmy Buffet and a steak at Jeff Rubys. I have no problem with that, but man, it's not my idea of fun... Vitality is key. Appealing to the ipod wearing, indie band listening, art making, organic food shopping urban yuppie is key.. Appealing to the 8-5 corporate exec... well, we've paid enough attention to them already.

I had an interesting conversation this past weekend... In addition to Jefferson Hall (moving to Newport), it seems that these business are closing/moving: Alchemize (probably moving to Newport) Japps Harry's Pizza RBC (not positive on this one). This is pretty disheartening. At the same time this is going on the developers at Fountain Square are planning the tenant mix based upon, basically, the needs/wants of a 60 year old company executive. They don't want anything that may draw a young/urban/interesting mix of people, which is just sad. I'm bummed out. What do we need to do to convince our leaders that they need to listen to the folks who run these places? Newport leaders call these folks on a daily basis begging for them to re-locate over the river, while our elected officals don't return phone calls, and honestly, really just don't understand what's 'cool', or what the city needs. Jos A. Banks.. woo.

The building with the flames in the other thread... that's the one I live in. Fun times. :)

Yea - thanks for the fire shots. I live there and amazingly pretty much slept thru the whole thing.

Sorry I couldn't make it to this one folks... I was busy watching my building burn down.

They serve food everyday now.

I think it could be a nice forest in a few years...

I like this Castellini guy so far - he seems to have more than just a business interest in this town. He has passion for baseball and the city it seems... Hopefully something good comes of this, and I won't have to eat my words anytime soon :).

Yup, sure is.

Ok, so I own the portion of it, yes. About 2.7%, which is about the portion of the building I own, to be exact :).