LesterLyles

I think almost everyone will agree that green spce is very important and should/will be part of the Banks. So what is the next step? Are we waiting for AIG to release preliminary plans? If so, what is the timeline?

So which space exactly will Nicola me moving to?

I don't know martin. The idea that the square is a place for free speech is certainly a positive IMO. While I don't disagree that it was inappropriate, I don't think there is any kind of negative cloud hovering. This what a square is for.

great story. Glad he stuck it out. How is his place doing now? I assume better. i also agree w/ your point on prima Vista. Very dated decor in an Italian American sense (I'm not into painted walls etc etc). The view is amazing but there are a lot of great views all over Cincy. :)

Sorry, I do mean Prima Vista ( I am an out of towner, mind you). I have actually heard great things about Germano's and look forward to trying it. The menu looks good.

Great news about Nicola's restaurant. IMO his place is one of the few "true" Italian places in the city (Primavera is a bit more Italian-American; not that tht is necessarily bad).

I was wondering why its waterless.

Not sure what kind of develioment would really fit on that lot other than a parking garage or green space. Given that there will be plenty of other areas for green space, i think a garage would make sense there.

Probably true SSS but I don't think the opening has any realy impact on how the square will help downtown in the long-run. The "opening ceremony is a one day event and the revitalization is supposed to help downtown over several years. I think overall, b/w the remaining construction plans, planned retail/restaurants and the daily entertainment/tv screen options, they are doing about all you can ask to rejuvinate the area.

I think road Bengals games present a great opportnity to get BIG crowds in the square.

Fountain Square may have never been in doubt in terms of getting the needed liquor licenses, but many other areas around the city are in great doubt...and it is strangling the life of those new projects (see McMillan Park/Calhoun St). Please elaborate

agreed Martin. That is the media in general, though.

Meanwhile, this country's alcoholism is head and shoulders above any other developed country...go figure.

I am convinced people like to complain for the sake of complaining. The buildings are fine, IMO, and given the fact that nothing is there now, this is tremendous news.

Maybe its me being a Nyer but challenges and holdups happen all the time. Its not a big deal. As for lawsuits for the steps, again, if a city has to wory about that than our society is in deep trouble.

Boy people are negative here. Trip hazzard lawsuits? The people that will never come downtowen again just b/c it is not complete are not the people that would support downtown anyway.

If you have development on 3rd and development beginning just south of FWW on 2nd, some green space wwould not separate the areas, IMO. The space over FWW is very narrow so if you create walkways in addition to the streets that exist, access and connectivity will exist. The alternative is building something over FWW. Such buildings would most likely have limitations given the location so I just don't think its worth it. Does downtown have any kind of park right now anyway other than the secluded Lytle? ?

I think a good and very feasible idea for The Banks would be a mix of commercial/residential with a pedestrian-only promenade running right down the middle (north/south) from Vine down to the river. The promenade would have shops on each side, some kind of pavers/cobblestone and a landscaped median (picture Rockefeller Center). I think it could attract some medium/upscale shops i.e. banana Republic, Cole Haan, J Crew, Sharper Image etc etc. I think this would essentially become THE shopping destination for the Cincy and would be an overall destination for anyone downtown i.e. "we are in Cincy/downtown, lets go to the Promenade". Even if people are window-shopping/ taking a walk to the river etc etc, it would attract people. I think the bars and restaurants could be spread out on the other streets in the banks but the promenade would be "pure shopping" perhaps until the end where you could have two cafes on the right and left over looking the river/river-parks. The promenade itself could end with a balcony type setting overlooking the river/park. Here is a link of a pic the Rockefeller promenade which has the rink and Christmas tree at the end instead of a river. (Cincy's median does not have to be this extravegant). http://www.plombenzieher.de/nycvisit/pics/rockefeller6.jpg

This are typical streets in Milan...overhead wires everywhere. I love it. http://world.nycsubway.org/perl/show?30120 http://world.nycsubway.org/perl/show?30331 http://world.nycsubway.org/perl/show?9263

I like the phony cables bridges. Bw the faux cables, and the greenery, the goal was to "beautify" the area and I think they did a good job.

Covering FWW would essentially solve any problems that 3rd street encountered due to noise/inconvenience etc etc. If some kind of open green space is there and residences/stores are built on the other side, jsut south of the green space, I think you will see 3rd street develop. Would capping FWW be that costly?

The only thing going above FWW is greenspace. No parking decks, no buildings. I would tend to agree. You figure the banks will consist of green space anyway so why not build it there rather than compromising planned buildings. If they do develop 3rd street, it could create a very attractive area with resendential buildings overlooking a nice park, kind of like Central Park West (or east).

Excellent points here guys. Some more thoughts: - Totally agree that the type of buildings/businesses that exist have big impact on how alive an area becomes. Certain areas are designed better than others for cultural life. Midtown and downtown Manhattan, for example, have condos and are still somewhat dead at night compared to other areas b/c the buildings are mostly sky scrapers/bank buildings/headquarters etc. This goes for most business districts in US cities. -Still w/ all the residents built in CBD, the cultural attractions like airnoff and museums, and the proximity to OTR, which has loads of potential, it is absolutely essential to connect the banks to this area and t/f I completely agree that 3rd street development is a key. - I personally thought they already did a good job of connecting the roadways b/w the Banks and CBD. I guess you guys think building over Ft. Washington way as a necessity to connect it even more? As for building over the highway, how feasible is that? Can you build deep enough for a solid foundation for buildings? - Wholefoods somewhere downtown is a tremendous idea.

You nailed it. People living downtown will create a domino effect, which will help the overall city in countless ways. Attracting Corporations down or getting them to stay, for that matter, is a more challenging issue but not unique to Cincy. In my own NYC, for example, more and more companies are leaving b/c its just too damn expensive. Companies are eitehr flocing to the burbs or moving to cheaper adjacent areas like Long Island City and Jersey City. This trend can be said for many cities in the U.S. I think incentives are a key.

Thx aweeks. I really think that one great thing Cicny did in the last 10 years was make the Banks accessible to downtown w/ the several street connections that now exist (previously I believe there was only one overpass). While I think constructing roadways/bridges to go over the highway is unrealistic, perhaps a series of 3 or so pedestrian overpasses may create. Mt Adams is such a jewel and it would be nice for visitors downtown to have easy access to it. Sure its a big hill but wouldn't be much different than walking around in San Fran would it?