ragerunner

Atlanta and urbanism in the same sentence. Funny! So what would you consider an urban environment? While it may not be the type of architecture you like, etc... Atlanta has some very urban areas, mass transit, mixed use developments, and a rapidly growing density in its urban core (one of the fastest growing urban City's in the US). I not sure anyone is saying Atlanta is perfect, but the city is working towards a more sustainable future. I agree Buckhead still has work to be done. But, it has come a long ways over the last 10 to 15 years when it was mostly two malls and some parking lots. Lets hope all urban malls can create the density that Buckhead is becoming. I also think its great for communities to have multiple urban cores. This allows for the population to have better access to these denser areas. This is the concept that is being used in Europe. Don''t just have one urban downtown, but multiple urban, dense downtowns.

Anytime one of the main national players decide to exit an entire market, it is general not a postive sign. While its great to have some local players step up, their reach into the business world is generally a lot less then these national players like Duke.

I would love the see the actual research and data that supports that concept.

I really hope this gets built. This would be a huge plus for Downtown Cincy and for mass transit efforts throught the metro area. I really believe once people see this type of mass transit in action they will be more open to other mass transit projects.

Sweetening the pot so that they can land a financial backer and get the project off the ground. Not a bad idea in today's market place.

It a start for the suburbs of Cincy. Hopefully this will lead to better development and design in the future.

Interesting gas station, that's one way to make it fit into the urban neighborhood. The skylift would look great in Cincy or even one going across the river.

Wow, I really like the new, clean, modern architecture and how its fits around some of the older buildings.

Great pics. Love the urban feel, with all the mixed use, mass transit and public spaces. Look forward to the next set. I really like the motorcycle parking areas and the flexcars. :clap:

I thought the streetcar report said 5 years (2012). I hope phase one of the banks is done before that (2010 or 2011). Lets see how quickly they can get a financial backer in place. Now if we are talking about a finished Banks projects or the first streetcar system, I vote for streetcar, Banks won't be finished probably until 2015 to 2018. I wonder if we will have light rail in the Cincy area before then?

Banks project 'agreement' The Banks Working Group said this morning it has an "agreement in principle" under which Carter Real Estate and Harold A. Dawson Company will serve as master developers for the Banks, a $1 billion riverfront project. The seven-member Banks Working Group has voted unanimously to recommend Carter and Dawson as the master developer for the Banks project. The formal legal documents are expected to be forwarded to the city and the county for their approval within 60 days. "We are in the final stretch," said Bob Castellini, head of the Banks Working Group, the city-county panel charged with overseeing the banks project. "If sucessful this will set in motion Ohio's most complicated economic development project ever," he said. The non-binding agreement calls for 300 apartments in the first phase, followed by 100 condominiums and 70,000 square feet of retail. It will also include an unspecified amount of office space. The agreement also sets a policy on economic inclusion and workforce development that will allow for the inclusion of minority and female-owned businesses. Banks Working Group members said they have come up with a viable financing plan for the project and that the inclusion portion of the development deal is "the most aggressive policy that the county has ever seen," said Steve Love, a new minority member of the Banks Working Group. The developers and the city/county will have a 50-50 partnership in the public/private development. County Commissioner Todd Portune praised the work of the team. "The commencement of the Banks redevelopment project has begun," he said. "And we should all be thankful for that." http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070614/NEWS01/306140025 While no agreement has been finalized, it looks like they are getting close. Glad to see them move away from condos and focus more on apartments. I think this will help in the financing of the project and getting individuals into residential units. I think this shows just how over built the condo market is becoming downtown. My only question is, are the apartments going to be phase one then they will start construction on the condos, retail and office space?

Maybe they were unable to find a local minority partner that had the money and/or ability to support such a large project.

I have felt the same way from the beginning...I have wanted more local participation on the business end of things in this process. AIG has ZERO vested interest in the community. They have a vested interest in Carter...which has an interest in Cincinnati, but there is no direct interest for AIG. I say keep it local, with someone who truly wants the best product...which may or may not be the most profitable. I personally am glad that AIG is gone...get someone involved who is willing to sit down and work with the community. I still believe they will find a new financial partner, but being glad that a big project like this lost it financial partner because they were not from Cincy seems a little strange. Even when they get a new financial partner it may very well be from out of town, just like the minority partner is from Atlanta. The lose of the financial partner just makes the project more delayed. I personally don't care where the money comes from (Russia, China, California, or Cincy), I just want it to come.

Once again, how can you be so against development that is infill, mixed use, pedestrian oriented and multi-story? Even if you don't like the color or the architecture can you see the quality in site layout and location.

Wow, a townhouse project in the area that doesn't have a front loaded garage. What will they think of next!!!

well its no palm beach, it's all for the help. As if that crap is something to write home about. puh-leeeeeeeze. its all tacky..tacky..tacky! I understand not liking the architecture, but, most of these are great infill/redevelopment projects, mixed use, very pedestrian oriented, urban and within walking distance of mass transit. Sure wish we could get more of this type of development patterns in Ohio and the midwest.

well its no palm beach, it's all for the help. I'm not sure everyone got it but mrnyc isn't that the truth :laugh: Unfortunately the help can't afford this. But, if prices continue to drop in Florida we may all be able to get a free condo.

Those colors are part of the culture of south florida. The latin and caribbean cultures are very colorful and it shows in the colors of the buildings.

Some of these pics look to have been taken in the winter, hence the no leaves trees. But this isnt really a problem. This place actually has good pedestrian traffic and at night, the corridor between McFaddens and Mad Mex is packed with people. It really is a oool little atmosphere I think! The pics were taken in April, if you look closely some of the trees are starting to get green. The time was the middle of day on a week day. I like the development. It fit nicely into the streetscape, was very pedestrian oriented, and worked well with surrounding buildings. The modern architecture didn't bother me and the use of brick on many of the buildings helped the project blend in with some of the older architecture in the area.

Sorry, didn't go down on Clematis Street this time. Next time I'm there I will get Clematis, the new library and city building.

Here are some recent pics of South Campus Gateway.

Here are some recent pics of Downtown Stuart Florida. They have done a great job in preserving the old, adding the new and making it very pedestrian oriented. Love these trees. Theater New Mixed Use project in downtown Jensen Beach, Fl. Downtown Traditions. Traditions is a New Urbanist master plan community in Port St. Lucie, Fl. [/img]

Just posted more pics to the thread.

Here are some pics I took recently of downtown West Palm Beach, CityPlace and Downtown at the Gardens located in Palm Beach Gardens. Downtown West Palm Beach has come a very long ways since the 80s and early 90s when it was pretty much just a crime zone. Tri-Rail Station Downtown West Palm Beach CityPlace Publix Grocery Store Downtown West Palm Beach. It even has an outdoor cafe area with it. Downtown at the Gardens area is the Palm Beach areas Kenwood. [/img]

I really love how the europeans integrate old and new architecture into their city's and neighborhoods.