Mr. Anderson

I like it. I'm just waiting to see how the property around it develops in the future. Hopefully they'll get it right with some mixed-use, commercial, etc. and it won't remain a monolith.

Business to boom (again) at Jungle Jim's GE Credit Union to build at northern end of complex; Chipotle, Panera Bread possible. By Michael D. Pitman Staff Writer Thursday, August 21, 2008 Jungle Jim's International Market is looking to bring in at least three new tenants to his one-of-a-kind supermarket complex. "Jungle" Jim Bonaminio said he has signed GE Credit Union to build a new facility on the northern end of the complex by Michael Lane. Using a baseball analogy, Bonaminio described his discussions with prospective tenants Chipotle and Panera Bread. "GE Credit Union just walked over home plate. Chipotle is at third rounding into home and Panera is on first, thinking about stealing second," Bonaminio said. "I think Chipotle is a definite, Panera is really looking at it very, very seriously and we'll look at some other tenants to fill it in." Click on link for article. http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/08/21/fe082108junglebiz.html

West Chester Twp. Demographics planning spurs the growth of retail centers By Matt Cunningham Staff Writer Thursday, August 21, 2008 Two of West Chester Twp.'s retail centers, the Union Centre Boulevard district and the Highlands retail center on Cincinnati-Dayton Road, have experienced visible growth in the past year, with new buildings and new businesses changing the landscape. According to officials familiar with the areas, this is no fluke; the growth of these areas is the result of planning meeting up with predicted growth patterns. "If you were looking for two words that would give you a reason, it might be 'critical mass,'" said West Chester Twp. director of community development Brian Eliff. He said that anchor tenants such as Wal-Mart at Highlands and the Marriott Cincinnati North on Muhlhauser Road established themselves and attracted secondary "junior anchors" to the areas, a successful mix that is now attracting additional businesses. "It just has been building and building," said Eliff, "and this last year and a half, we're seeing results." Public, private investment boost Union Centre Boulevard area Rob Fischer, president of the Union Centre Boulevard Merchants Association, said the very visible developments in the district over the past year are the result of groundwork laid by developers and local government. "A lot of effort has been put into making this an attractive place for business, an d businesses are seeing that," he said. Along with office development in the Centre Pointe office complex and new retail/multi-use space in the Towne Centre Square development, the district has seen government projects take root, in both The Square @ Union Centre, the township's 2-acre urban park, and initial construction on the new West Chester Library building. "It's all coming together," said Fischer. Convenience a key to Highlands' growth Susan Chapin is the marketing director for Neyer Properties, the developer behind the Highlands retail development. She said the old real estate adage location, location, location has been a factor in the development's growth over the past year. "That convenience is drawing more shoppers to the area," she said, noting that the Cincinnati-Dayton Road corridor has less traffic than the Tylersville Road area. "Residents know that they can get their products and get in and get out." The location has drawn businesses ranging from fitness chain Fitworks to small restaurant The Double Decker, and construction is underway on The Learning Tree Academy, an early education center, and Highlands Market Square, a 15, 750 square-foot mixed use retail plaza. Chapin said the developer is confident of the plaza's success. "We've got a lot of interest in the area," she said. http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/08/21/pjw082108retail.html

As I recall, the Sycamore Township officials were pretty adamantly opposed to the metro moves plan that would have taken rail to Kenwood Towne Center - hopefully they've all moved on since then and have been replaced by move open minded leaders.

It appears that the roundabout alternative proposes a new "parallel" roadway right thru the city maintenance garage adjacent to the existing Central Parkway. I guess the intent is reduce the curves along central parkway, thus increasing speed and efficiency. What a mess! This proposal meshes well with the city's plan to supersize MLK from Central Parkway to I-71.

COAST's Shifting Line on Jail 'Crisis' BY Kevin Osborne | Posted 08/20/2008 In one of life's little ironies, an anti-tax group that prides itself on trying to save taxpayer money and stop government waste actually helped set the stage for squandering millions of dollars in taxpayer money on an unneeded expense. http://citybeat.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A145885

Flying by seat of your pants not as easy at local airport Delta cuts mean 25% fewer seats at CVG, higher fares Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Lisa Biank Fasig, Staff Reporter Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 8:50 AM Delta Air Lines has dropped more than 130 domestic flights companywide in the past year – the most of any U.S. carrier – contributing to an additional 25 percent reduction in seats out of Greater Cincinnati this year as the airline focuses on building sales through global travel. The reduction, a cost-cutting endeavor designed to assure that all planes in the air are fully loaded, not only means higher fares, it could mean no fare at all for last-minute planners. It also means further reduced revenue for an airport that has already seen an $8 million decline in landing fees since late 2005. The figures were revealed during a recent industry conference call with Darin Lee, head of the airline analysis group with the economic consulting firm LECG in Cambridge, Mass. In the presentation, Lee discussed the extent to which fuel prices and heightened competition by low-cost carriers have led major airlines to shift their focus to overseas travel, eliminating domestic destinations and reducing reliance on 50-seater jets, an aircraft that Comair happens to be pulling back from in favor of larger commuters. Full story at http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/08/18/story8.html?b=1219032000%5E1684316

Any renderings? site plan?

Exactly. Plus, it seems the enquirer editors only publish the thoughts of folks who always see the glass as half empty.

What city will join township in GE agreement? By Dave Greber Staff Writer Friday, August 15, 2008 HAMILTON — Commissioner Gregory Jolivette is urging West Chester Twp. officials to form a partnership with a Butler County city for an economic tool integral to the deal with GE Aviation. The $13.2 billion company announced late Thursday, Aug, 14, they would consolidate three offices — two in Springdale and one in West Chester Twp. — to a pair of new facilities to be built at the former Queen City Sports Complex off Cincinnati-Dayton Road. Read more here: http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/08/15/hjn081608gefolo.html

Officials wait on word from GE Company to announce site decision soon. By Matt Cunningham and Josh Sweigart Staff Writers Thursday, August 14, 2008 West Chester Twp.'s approval of an incentive package aimed at bringing GE Aviation's engineering division to the township is great news for businesses, the township and the county as a whole, said area officials. View full article here: http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/08/14/pjw081408geinvest.html

There was a link to a preliminary site plan yesterday on the Hamilton Journal News website - I don't see it now but essentially it was a couple of office buildings surrounding by a sea of parking.

M.T.A. Shortfall Renews Talk of Congestion Pricing http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/nyregion/03mta.html?ex=1218427200&en=2ed0158472160abe&ei=5070&emc=eta1

GE nears decision on move http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/BIZ01/808050376/1076/BIZ

Nice pics. I remember a few years back there was a big debate in Miamisburg about whether to cut the grass and weeds on the mound by mechanical means or unleash a heard of goats to do the job!

New Cincinnati Children's site based on area's need Number of patients was key factor in decision to build campus at corner of I-75 and Ohio 129. http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/07/16/hjn071708decision.html

Actually, the property is already zoned commercial - B-2 Community Business District.

Magazine names Buffalo Wings & Rings fastest growing chain http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/07/07/daily45.html?jst=b_ln_hl

Petition to seek residents' vote on Liberty plan http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080710/NEWS01/807100386/1168/NEWS

U.S. Playing Card picks Boone County for new HQ Tuesday, July 8, 2008 - 9:38 AM EDT Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Jon Newberry Courier staff reporter http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/07/07/daily12.html?jst=b_ln_hl

Transportation summit sought By Josh Sweigart Staff Writer Friday, June 27, 2008 HAMILTON — As gasoline prices tip $4 a gallon and the city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County quibble over control of the county's bus system, area leaders say it's time to get together and think regionally. The proposal, first made by Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune, is for all the players in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties to meet at a "summit" and discuss regional transportation. "As a region, it's something it sounds like we need to talk about," said Christine Matacic, Liberty Twp. trustee and member of the Butler County Regional Transit Authority board. Read More...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/business/14oil.html?hp Plan Would Lift Saudi Oil Output to Highest Ever By JAD MOUAWAD Published: June 14, 2008 Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, is planning to increase its output next month by about a half-million barrels a day, according to analysts and oil traders who have been briefed by Saudi officials. The increase could bring Saudi output to a production level of 10 million barrels a day, which, if sustained, would be the kingdom’s highest ever. The move was seen as a sign that the Saudis are becoming increasingly nervous about both the political and economic effect of high oil prices. In recent weeks, soaring fuel costs have incited demonstrations and protests from Italy to Indonesia.

Mercy plans new hospital Western Hills, Mount Airy affected BY CLIFF PEALE | [email protected] Mercy Health Partners is planning a new hospital on the west side of Hamilton County that would replace two of its oldest hospitals, Mercy Western Hills and Mercy Mount Airy. The hospital operator, a unit of downtown-based Catholic Healthcare Partners, said Saturday that its board has endorsed the idea. It has not identified a site but has been scouting potential locations. In a statement, Mercy said the hospital would take three years to build. The final plan still must be approved by the boards of Mercy and CHP. The hospitals along Queen City Avenue in Westwood and on Kipling Avenue in Mount Airy were built more than 30 years ago, making them among the oldest in Mercy's Greater Cincinnati system. Each employs about 850 workers. Combined, they have about 400 beds. Read full article here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080608/BIZ01/806080341/1076/BIZ

Nice 'stang and SUV in the front yard. :wink2:

GE considering West Chester for $75 M facility Consolidation would move 1,599 jobs to township. By Matt Cunningham Staff Writer Thursday, May 29, 2008 WEST CHESTER TWP. — GE Aviation is considering a West Chester Twp. location for the site of a new, 400,000 square-foot facility that could bring 1,599 employees and a $75 million investment to the township. View full article at: http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/05/29/hjn053008gemove.html