LesterLyles

Is it really the city that is not understanding the zero sum game? I think these businesses are private and not centrally planned. Yes business owners have to keep that in mind but its one of the cases where the strongest survive. And while there is a certain truth to the zero sum theory, the government has to choose where to spend to help promiote growth i.e. make it a non zero sum game but a plus game. Incentivig entertainment districts as part of a strong urban core is a good use of funds IMO. Unfortunately there will be businesses that dont survive. But in the end you hope growth is acheived and I think it is being acheived, albeit slowly.

I've lived in Cincy for 8 years; moved from the Northeast. While I continue to be an advocate of the city and am certainly pleased by some of the positive momentum of the urban core, when I visit other comparable cities, it hits me sometimes how slow Cincy really is. I certainly am not going to compare Cincy to northeastern cities or larger cities like Chicago. but in visiting C-bus this past weekend, I was absoultely amazed how deveoped their downtown is and how there is a crane on almost every surface lot with new condos/rentals popping up everywhere. Ifeel like it takes Cinc forever to move on things and we spin our wheels like crazy. Cincy has such natural/ingerrant gifts and therefore I like the potential and the turnaround in OTR is remarkable but I still cant help the thought thaturban core renewals are happening everywhere and ours actually doesnt feel as special as it could be.

Sorry i am not to speed on everything but is the liberty Street narrowing something that is on the table or just a dsire of urbanites on here? I have a post on here 10 plus years ago about the importance of beautifying imporving Central parkway as gateway to OTR and I feel the same way about Liberty so i am curious about this> I think they did an ok job on central parkway and hopefully they continue to improve it with development of various empt lots. The medians overall are a big improvement. I think they can make the sidewalks more landscaped and consistent. Liberty is a disaster right now.

I am sure i am in the minority but i think the Law school at the Banks is a bad fit. I am all for more mixed use and making a bit less of a party district but I just can't envision a law school in that enviroment. For better or for worse, the banks has become the primary events/entertainment district. Open containers will only make it that much more. Does a law school really fit in that environement? I always hoped UC would covet/develop some of the empty lots by city hall i.e. Elm and 9th area. Some really cool undeveloped town homes, and proximity to OTR and CBD could be attractive.

OK, landscaped medians....is this a concept that we will have to wait until we host the next major event? Seems like a no brainer to me but I don't understand why it has taken 5 years now (new Mehring way opened in 2010).

I think some greenery and trees will be added as construction contines. I alluded to how sterile and uninviting TKILTBAG seems. Clearly there can be some kind of trees or greeneryplanters used on the sidewalks but also many of the restaurants can add there own smaller planters to green thinsg up. As the trees grow, it will get better; will probably be a few years before it ruly fels warmed up. Glad this is finally being addressed 3 years after it was brought up. In all seriousness, did the developers not see the need for this/ i know most on this forum have a particular eye for this kind of stuff but i just dont understand how delayed this was.

are there any plans to landscape the medians on mhering way? They look very dingey and have been unlandscaped for 5 years now.

"artisinal chili parlor" The whole "artisinal and craft buzzword thing is so annoying.

They are renovating Kabat's office and have to go in through the garage side.

I have to say as a general obervation, while its great to see so much contsruction and development, our city is really starting to look like crap and I think some of the shabiness is unnecessary. While ripping up the streets over the last few months is understandable related to the streetcar and associated work, it seems they have been ripping up our roads for the last few years. If you look at essentially any street in CBD or OTR, they are in horrible conditionand most sidewalks do too. The exercise of repaving has been sloppy done and it seems thee has been no thought of asthetics whatsoever. To me, it just seems like streets and sidewalks are just getting blown out on so many unrelated projects i.e. not anywhere near new construction or the streetcar. This has been going on for 4 or 5 years now. Please tell me there is some master paving plan in 2017 that will fix the mess our city is becoming. It seems excessive.

Cincinnati likes to get in its own way.

I always thought they should move the Lincoln stature to the grassy area in front of he freedom center ( in-between the Yard House and Future restaurant)as it would be appropriate for the freedom center/freedom way. I guess the roundabout wouldd work too. With that, of course, I think they should build a Taft stature in Lytle Park, near his home.. How this city has yet to have a taft statue is beyond me.

You have to give a hint

Has he ever used anti-gentrification when he has been on WKRC or WLW? I have not heard that once. Instead he comes off as if he is to the right of Paul Ryan when it comes to budget matters.

I can't figure Smitherman out? To me he is a total enigma. I don't understand how you can be such a budget/fiscal hawk aligning with Coast and support President Obama at the same time.

With so many restaurant/ bars opening, the reality is some will close. I just don't think every single retail space being a bar/grill is sustainable. The banks/coupled with the park will be a huge positive for Cincy; it already has been infact. I don't think a restaurant closing here or there is a sign of trouble. What I hope for is some other kind of retail opening in that space. I think a big positive for the area will be a diversity of retail. Heck a CVS or Walgreens would be welcome there, IMO. Your point about feeling seprate from downtown is valid and I think will only be solved by building the in-fills over fort washington way. I don't think there need to buildings on them. A creative/productive greenspac would be just fine.

Last week I was in a bar in Blue Ash randomly talking to a 50 something guy at the bar. He was a "typical" baby boomer, Cincinnitian that has always lived in the burbs with pretty strong oerceptions of downtown and OTR that have been formed over the years. His 25 year old son now rents in CBD and he wants to buy in OTR. The dad was skeptical but has been down there more often in recent months (sounds like more times in the last few months than his entire life) and he is amazed at the transformation. Couldn't stop talking about how great OTR is and that many of his generation who are retiring soon will consider moving downtown. He said its a total 180 from what he thought. A month ago, I was on the west side and a 60 something true blood, blue collar conservative westsider told me he went to Morlein. He was "amazed" that he felt so safe and was expecting much worse. He would go back and give some other places a try (probably not OTR just yet). While this particular story is not directly OTR related, it is a clear example of the change in perception from many native Cincinnatians. As someone that moved to Cincy in 08, I was shocked at the negative perceptions so many had of their very own city. I clearly was not here in the 70s/80s/90s but I had visited enough over the last 15 years to know that while there have been challenges, it was pretty unwarranted. Maybe I am wrong there but in 08 I used to walk around downtown and really question why so many people thougth it was a warzone. In any event , perspetions are clearly chaninging even from the most unlikely citizens and it is great to see.

Saw that Cheers to Art is opening on the corner of Vine and Centtral parkway. This has been a tremendous success in Madeira and will do well in this location. It is basically art class with party/social approcach i.e. drink wine with friends and learn how to paint in the process. They do a really nice job aand it's very nice night out. Really good for the kids too during the day.

True, although Johnny Rockets is not a destination restaurant. I can't imagine suburbanites driving downtown just to eat there. Rather, there needs to be something going on, and then they eat at JR because it's convenient. During Reds games JR is packed. On the other hand, people will drive downtown for the fancier restaurants, like your Ruth Chris or Crave. I know many suburbanites that make going out to eat one of their only forms of entertainment (so sad I know), but they are my friends and to each their own. Now having said that, these people really do like the experience of going out to eat, it is their fun in life. The banks offers that for them and they will continue to come to the Banks as long as it's a way for them to get their enjoyment, food fetish rocks off. They don't need to see the Reds or Bengals play or go to a concert. They are not interested in walking around downtown either. It feels suburban enough for them without going beyond their comfort zone. But they would eat at these establishments and they will come out and see the fountains and whatever they have to offer because it's not offered in their area of town. It's a way for them to experience something fun beyond what they have in suburbia without getting into the core of downtown. The Banks have actually been able to satisfy both urban and suburban cravings, so kudos to the Banks. is this post for real? You are writing about "suburbanites" like they are some alien race. The constant broad classification and stereotyping has been nothing short of annoying and borderline ridiculous; quite frankly the attitude makes many of you look extremely closeminded; the very trait you criticize those awful suburbanites of. You guys are better than that. Yes there are close minded suburbabites but give it a rest.

I know I asked this before but does anone know if Smitherman supported Obama>? Given his alliance with coast, I am very surious...he is a mystery to me.

Did Smitherman support/endorse Obama? Where does he stand on the national scene. I cannot figure his politics/position out other than the fact that he seems like a Coast stooge.

well, this article explains why there was essentially zero progress from May on this park. As many have hinted, money is indeed an issue for the completion of this park. This is why when I hear potential park funds going to re-do Lytle, I scratch my head. While Lytle isn't perfect, it hardly needs a faceluift and if that work is done at the expense of completing the riverfront and leaving a construction eyesore longer than it needs to be, I will be very dissapointed.

Sal, kroger has had multiple chances to invest over the years. they have been courted countless times by the city and refused. Noone is saying they have an obligation but given that this is their corporate HQ, it would be very good corporate citizenship. Macy's keeps their store downtown despite being no better than break-even for this very reason and it is admirable. That being said, to your point, noone is forcing Kroegers to doso. But if the city is in fact negotiating with a competitor and has a good deal lined up I assume it would be) and Krogers comes in, I would honestly tell them thanks but no thanks. it is a two way relationship and I don't think Kroger deserves any favors at this point.

I would tell kroger to F Off. ...too little too late. They have had multiple opportunties to invest in CBD and have declined.

I think it is remarkable what Cincy hasaccomplished since '08 despite of the status of the nation's credit markets and overall economy. It's a shame the prior 8-10 years were not as positive from a development standpoint; obviously the riots had a lot to do with that. It seems urban development in most of America really boomed in those years spurred by emuch looser credit and Cincy wasn't able to capitalize at all really.