oakiehigh

Lowe’s schedules South Lebanon opening Business Courier of Cincinnati http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/12/22/daily36.html Lowe’s, the home improvement chain, will open its South Lebanon store Dec. 26. The store will open to the public at 7 a.m. off of State Route 48 on Corwin Nixon Boulevard. The retailer is among those in the first phase of an ambitious project called Rivers Crossing, which was also to include a higher-end, open-air component. But that part of the project stalled early in the year after it failed to commit tenants. ...

And the hits just keep coming for Springdale Borders closing in Springdale The Borders book store in Springdale will close Jan. 3 as the chain readies to open its new-concept location at Kenwood Towne Place this spring. The store’s 37 employees will be offered jobs at other Borders and Waldenbooks locations and possibly at the new store, though it is not expected to open before March, said Borders Group Inc. spokeswoman Bonnie Schmick. The two-story Borders store, at 28,000 square feet, will be one of the chain’s first new-concept stores. The design includes a digital center where shoppers can burn CDs or download books, interactive kiosks and 32-inch LCD screens in the food and travel sections. The first such store opened in Ann Arbor, Mich., in mid-February. Read full article here: http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/12/22/daily26.html

Banks riverfront project ahead of inclusion goals Business Courier of Cincinnati Developers in charge of the Banks riverfront project say they are exceeding their goals for small-business participation, with 34 percent of all contracts awarded to date now in the hands of small-business contractors. That is 4 percentage points over the project’s small-business inclusion goal of 30 percent. Banks bidders have won a combined $11.1 million in contracts to date. Full story text is available at http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/12/22/daily27.html

Check the comments out! Surprisingly PRO-Transit. Some are funny. NAACP: Stop streetcar plan By Jane Prendergast • [email protected] • December 23, 2008 http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081223/NEWS01/312230020/1056/COL02 Opponents of Cincinnati’s proposal to run streetcars from downtown to the University of Cincinnati area have started collecting signatures on petitions to stop what they say is a waste of money. NAACP President Christopher Smitherman says the project shouldn’t be the city’s financial priority over things like repairing streets and making neighborhood business districts economically viable. NAACP members voted last week to undertake a petition drive to change the city’s charter to prohibit streetcars.

Eighth St. Viaduct to open Dec. 23 Community Press Staff Report • December 19, 2008 http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20081219/NEWS/812190361/ Cincinnati is set to open one lane in each direction on the Eighth Street Viaduct on Tuesday, Dec. 23. The Eighth Street Viaduct Reconstruction Project, expected to be completed in the fall of 2009, includes the reconstruction of the viaduct and the replacement of two bridges between Freeman Avenue and State Avenue.

I wouldn't look too much into these guys. Who gives a rats azz what the NAACP thinks anyway? Last I checked, they weren't Transportation experts. Hell, they aren't even experts at anything anymore other than preaching the very racist comments that they fought so hard over the years to stomp out! This group is a bunch of clowns with Bozo as the ringleader.

Keep up the fight!!!!! Rothenberg rebuilding plans at odds One neighborhood group wants teardowns; one opposed By Ben Fischer [email protected] December 22, 2008 http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081222/NEWS01/812220332/1055/NEWS OVER-THE-RHINE - Dueling proposals to renovate Over-the-Rhine's last remaining public elementary school have split the neighborhood over the fate of four nearby buildings. Cincinnati Public Schools is preparing plans to overhaul the now-vacant Rothenberg Preparatory Academy at the intersection of McMicken Street, E. Clifton Avenue and Main Street. The district is still working to purchase all the property it needs for the expansion. On one side, the Over-the-Rhine Foundation and Community Council leaders endorse a plan that would leave four buildings on East McMicken Street intact. For more info click the link above...

Fairfield is putting one in on Rt 4. While I made fun of their attempt, I agree this would be cool in a more urban setting like OTR.

As long as they don't put up some Waters Edge crap, I'd be fine seeing it sit for something like what is planned after the market comes back.

I want my plug in car yesterday!

3CDC eyes new downtown development By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • December 17, 2008 Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. is spreading its reach downtown with a proposal to redevelop a vacant building in the Backstage Entertainment District into an upscale bar and two new condos. In June, the private nonprofit developer – which headed up Fountain Square’s redesign and is behind the multimillion-dollar Gateway Quarter in Over-the-Rhine – purchased the former Phoenix Café building across from the Aronoff Center on Walnut for $570,000. The building is also located about a block away from the recently opened bar and restaurant - Bootsy’s, Produced by Jeff Ruby – of which 3CDC is an investor through its Cincinnati Equity Fund. No tenant has been named for the retail space, and 3CDC expects the new condos to be listed for around $220,000, according to city documents. Read full article here: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081217/BIZ01/312170043

Great Shots! Apology accepted by this Irish-Italian. :wink:

Political dynasties at odds Appointment divides Mallory, Driehaus family By Howard Wilkinson • [email protected] • December 15, 2008 http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20081215/NEWS0108/312150051/ Twenty years ago, the Mallory and Driehaus families, both of which have made politics the family business, became allies. The family patriarchs, William Mallory Sr. and H. Donald Driehaus, teamed up to take control of the Hamilton County Democratic Party and bring that then-moribund organization back to life. They even co-chaired the party from 1988 to 1991.

New police station for West Side? Century-old District 3 building full of history but too full of personnel By Peggy O'Farrell • [email protected] • December 15, 2008 http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20081215/NEWS01/812150326/ EAST PRICE HILL - When Cincinnati Police District 3 opened in 1908, officers patrolled the city on horseback or on foot. It was hailed as the finest police station in the country, designed to hold 16 horses and 40 police officers.

New section of Rybolt nearly ready By Kurt Backscheider • [email protected] • December 13, 2008 http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20081213/NEWS/812130314/ Motorists should soon be able to use New Rybolt Road - the realigned section of Rybolt Road. Green Township Public Services Director Fred Schlimm said everything is going smoothly with construction of the new roadway, the first phase in the project aimed at improving traffic conditions at the intersection of Harrison Avenue, Rybolt Road and Interstate 74. "Old Rybolt Road is reopen to traffic and the new section, which we are calling New Rybolt Road, is awaiting traffic signals and lane markings," he said. ... More at: http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20081213/NEWS/812130314/

Wow, that's cool as hell!

^I've always thought that too!

More Catwalks that Randy eluded to just a few blocks away. Growing up in this neighborhood as a kid, I remember using these all the time. More Catwalks: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45211&sll=39.185167,-84.623222&sspn=0.09447,0.202217&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=39.156995,-84.638371&spn=0.002517,0.00486&z=18&iwloc=addr The nicer weather brings just as many pedestrians as you would see in inner city neighborhoods like Mariemont, Hyde Park, Cheviot, etc. The only thing that separates Bridgetown from any other walkable city neighborhood is that they are part of the Oak Hills School District, which ironically sits on the western portion of this Green Acres/Woodhaven Subdivisions that were mostly built thoughout the 40's and 50's. Oak Hills High School - Walked to Bridgetown Middle School and OHHS more times than I can count from near the catwalk above! http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45211&sll=39.185167,-84.623222&sspn=0.09447,0.202217&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=39.147344,-84.647931&spn=0.005034,0.00972&z=17

I agree with you for the most part! Yes, most of GT will never be walkable, but the area around Glenway/Bridgetown/Race is still part of the 1st generation burbs, bordered by two cities AND is very walkable and dense. It's just a shame GT trustees don't see it that way! This area is mostly brick homes that HAVE lasted 50-60 years and are in GREAT shape with many people sticking alot of money into them to keep them updated. Area http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45211&sll=39.185167,-84.623222&sspn=0.09447,0.202217&ie=UTF8&ll=39.155556,-84.63275&spn=0.023627,0.050554&t=h&z=14 Former Glenway Dodge - zoom out from this view http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45211&sll=39.185167,-84.623222&sspn=0.09447,0.202217&ie=UTF8&ll=39.152124,-84.628356&spn=0.001889,0.003433&t=h&z=18

I'd like to stick that hybrid bus up Cranley's...................(nevermind!)

^That's disappointing! And in classic Green Twp. fashion, It does look like they are setting the the main building back away from the road. Too bad! An opportunity to reinvent a whole block doesn't come often.

^LMAO! Right on!

I like the density factor below the tracks compared to above. (Albeit cheaply constructed houses)

This thought process will be key in the coming decade. Good Point.

I am starting to lean from this being a somewhat minor success story to thinking this might be a massive failure. My main reasoning behind this is from looking at the overall economic picture for this country. This place is going to be massive and I am not saying that they won't get stores to fill it. I just think that when it opens, it might be like a Cincy Mills by being 50 -60% occupied/vacant. (The shear amount of how much parking will be included makes me nauseous.) The picture for the Retail Sector is going to get MUCH uglier in the coming months. Being that far from the city, I don't think they are going to draw people from all that far away. If OPEC does cut production and/or oil starts rising again, that might seal the deal. (Expect this after the holidays.) I will say that I think Jeffersonville folds after this place is finished though. Outlets are dying along with the traditional malls. This place was obsolete and outdated before it broke ground.