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I was all for the shout box until people started embedding videos. Now I find it to be the most annoying feature ever!

By that reasoning maybe we should allow 24x7 free alcohol, smoking, legalize prostitution and illicit drugs too ;). Where could we go wrong with that?

It's interesting you brought up the smoking ban. Maybe it's the type of people we are, but the smoking ban is part of the reason we are so excited about the new casino in Cincinnati. A lot of people we know are also pretty stoked about the idea of being able to actually breathe and avoid getting red eye at a casino. Chain smoking by people in Kentucky and Indiana is the big reason we rarely cross the borders.

You think The Enquirer will publish this letter to the editor? "The benefits (and risks) of a streetcar system have been analyzed ad nauseum. However, instead of educating the public and publishing a civil debate on the pros/cons, The Enquirer has elected to publish repetitive nonsense and biased polls. We all understand that your paper does not want the streetcar project to proceed, but it is all too late to stop it. The only bright note is that your nationally poorly ranked rag of a newspaper (in an age of dying print media) is crumbling around your ears hastened by your relentless quest to gain exurban readers at the expense of the city. I will not be buying your paper (even for coupons), nor will I be visiting your website again. There are much better sources of information out there that have not resorted to the Jerry Springer method of acquiring an audience."

A couple of people from the Cincinnati Parks Department will be discussing the Riverfront Park at the next Downtown Residents Council meeting on June 8th (3rd floor Main Library Tower Room @ 6pm).

You guys have got my curiosity up on how The Banks is progressing. I think I'll walk down there during lunch and check out the progress myself first hand :lol:.

According to the Business Courier, 3CDC is offering support to the Drop Inn Center with relocation assistance. While I really despise what that organization has done to our neighborhood, I do hope they can find a place for a "shelter of last resort" that supports the homeless community without destroying another residential/commercial neighborhood.

Not to be greedy or anything, but if we were to get funding early on that satisfies the remaining amount for phase 1, could we get additional funding that could be applied for phase 2, 3, ...? I ask because I'm unsure of how the funding applications were set up and if there were any clauses the disqualified Cincinnati if the first phase gets fully funded early.

"Please Dear God tell me that the park will not remain open during construction. " I'm with you, but I guess there were members of the community that were digging their heels in on this. I just hope it ends up being just a few people who are ultimately outvoted by the community as a whole.

I sincerely hope you are right. From the presentation it appeared as though this was a major overhaul of the park with an underground garage that hasn't even seen any digging yet. That coupled with some outstanding questions on whether the park needed to stay partially open during construction made me wonder. Then again, I have no development experience, and I was pleasantly surprised when Queen City Square came up as quick as it did.

Stephen Leeper from 3CDC gave a detailed presentation at our Downtown Residents Council meeting this past Tuesday on the plan for Washington Park. While he did go a bit long on time, it was interesting to hear his take on everything from the efforts to salvage the old growth trees, how the northern parking lot would be designed (including the reasons why it is on the northern end), the details on the dog park, and how the stage area would be set up to handle events. It seems like they have done some fantastic research on how projects like this should be done. I am, however, a bit skeptical on the claim that they would be done by the World Choir games.

I totally agree. XUMelanie and I have done all we can to drastically reduce our driving (including going down to one car), but we have family and friends all over the city that we don't want to dump because of lack of public transportation in Cincinnati. Heaven forbid we visit our sick mother in the suburbs.

DRC meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 6pm in the Tower Room (3rd floor) of the Main Branch of the Public Library.

As an FYI, Stephen Leeper from 3CDC will be presenting at the May Downtown Residents Council monthly meeting to talk about the Washington Park renovation.

Photos of the new signs including one with Vanna "XUMelanie" White.

It was just pointed out to me that there are now some pedestrian wayfinding maps being put up all over the Central Business District. After stepping out of Mayberry from dinner I quickly found two of them along Vine attached to light poles. While they were small and relatively basic, it is still a tremendous improvement. While I doubt the Downtown Residents Council proposal submitted two weeks ago was the reason it was done, maybe it helped light the fire.

Green roofing and green design in general was a major point that came out of the Charrette.

If anyone knows of any good pediatricians or day care facilities in downtown Cincinnati please PM me. XUMelanie and I are starting our research and wanted to know if any of you urban Cincy parents have any recommendations. We'd prefer to keep up our daily commute as walking only, but if there is something downtown adjacent that is exceptional we would consider it too.

I think there was a blog post on April 1st (April Fools Day) about that. I'm highly suspect due to the timing.

Final project proposal: I did this in three days between family stuff over Easter weekend, so please be kind. Thanks Randy for the help! Current concern: There is currently a lack of pedestrian wayfinding. Proposal: 1) Create a comprehensive plan to improve pedestrian wayfinding, 2) correct existing signage (particularly around the outdated skywalk maps), 3) phase in implementation of improved/additional signage, and 4) implement an annual review of signs to repair, correct, improve signage. Wayfinding as defined for this request: Signage, maps and graphics used to communicate directions to districts, major venues, points of interest, etc... to travelers. Proposal Details: As evidenced in the attached downtown map of existing wayfinding points, the vast majority of wayfinding is intended for vehicles (also including some tremendously outdated skywalk maps). Lack of pedestrian signage causes frustration and confusion for visitors. There are wayfinding programs in other cities based on scientific studies that have been proven tremendously successful (two such programs with online information include “Legible London” and “Walk!Philadelphia), While such programs do involve a decent up front cost and ongoing costs to maintain the signage, a strategic phased in approach could reap a great amount of benefits particularly with the increased convention business. Resources: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/microsites/legible-london/ Walk!Philadelphia 95% streets mapped from Central Parkway to 3rd Street and Central to Broadway - assumed 90% accuracy S (red) - skywalk wayfinding V (yellow) - vehicle wayfinding P (green) - pedestrian wayfinding PM (green) - pedestrian wayfinding with map Note: Vehicle wayfinding is pretty well covered, but pedestrian wayfinding is limited to south of 3rd street. Map modified from CAGIS by me. Sketch courtesy of Randy Simes.

Attached is a map (only 2/3 complete) of wayfinding for vehicles (V in yellow), skywalk (S in red) and pedestrians (P in green and PM in green if a map is included) in Cincinnati's Business District. I will post additional information that will be included in my proposal to the city later tonight. Any thoughts? <old photo removed>

Thank you! Just sent an email begging for some guidance :).

I am in a real need of some seriously fast help in regards to downtown Cincinnati and "wayfinding". Without getting into the details, the Downtown Residents Council needed some quick ideas for specific projects for our neighborhood. I recommended improved "wayfinding" (if that's the correct term) since there is little in the way of directions downtown except for seriously outdated skywalk maps and street signage designed for cars. Does anyone out there have links to information regarding this subject? Would anyone mind helping putting together some information for a proposal? I only have a couple of days to put together a draft and until Sunday night to submit it for review to a committee. Sorry about the rushed requests. Trust me, I had no idea this was even something I would need to do until tonight and the deadlines are out of my hands.

Fountain Square in Cincinnati is having an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday starting at 11am. XUMelanie and I will be there helping hide eggs for the lil' ones.

Melanie and I were active for a short while with the Citizens on Patrol in OTR and downtown. If anyone wants any info about the program PM me and I can point you in the right direction. That being said, we haven't patrolled either neighborhood for almost a year. I guess it's time to dust off the old jackets 8-).