LesterLyles

completely agree with j3shafer. Those 3 are top priority. I know there is design plan regarding a connection bw downtown/westend and Union terminal area, which would be nice. I actually asked today about an air tram to Mt Adams and down the road, conectivity to Mt Adams should be addressed. Still #1 IMO is rehb of OTR. A evived OTR would do absolute wonders for the city..we seem to be headed there.

On one hand, it would be an awesome addition to the City. that bing said, given the scope/costs of the other major projects, I don't see this on the horizon any time soon.

Escalators would be very cool; of course it would have to go over the highways too. The current walkways are too out of the way to truly conect these two key Cincinnati neghbhorhoods. I certainly realize the banks and streetcar are of more priorty but as leaders aim to re-shape the city, direct connectivity of Mt Adams to CBD should be a key consideration. the technolgy exists now that it can be done w/o some buly structure. Archetechturally, it can be a very lean and modern structure, which IMo would enhance downtown quite a bit.

The ride to Mt Adams would iterally be a minute long. Its such a shame it feels so disconnected b/c from a proximity standpoint, it is very close.

I always thought it was a shame that transporation to Mt Adams from CBD was limited b/c of the highways and topography. I realize a streetcar is practically impossible to consider but did anyone ever consider an Air tram i.e. a ski lift type mechanism. There is one from Manhattan to Roosevelt island and it is always busy and works well. I think it would work as far as connecting the visitors a bit more to Mt Adams, especially for out of towners and it seems like it could be a cool attraction for the city. Was this ever explored or are there any viable reasons not to do it?

A German heritage district, if considered, should be done in OTR and not contrived in the banks.

I think creating a german style neighborhood would feel contrived and fake. Given that you could do that in OTR, I don't see a reason why you would do it at the Banks. I always thought OTR should have a designated block that doesn't have cars, pave it w/ cobblestone and make it all German bars and eateries and nothing else. Put flowers in the windows and lamps and signs on he street and hanging off the buildings to give it a true German feel. I attached this article about Stone Street in lower Manhattan which gives a before and after photo. I would love something like this in OTR and I think the German feel would work there. http://www.naparstek.com/2005_04_01_archive.php http://susannassketchbook.typepad.com/susannas_sketchbook/images/2007/07/05/stone_street_4.jpg

why would it be either early next year or late fall '08? If its delayed, wouldn't be spring or summer or even early fall? If hey are saying "late" I assume they mean 07...which sounds impossible.

An upperscale sports bar would be nice. NY used to have Park Avenue Country Club (was a sports bar, not a country club) which was really nice and I can picture something like that in the Banks.

I posed this question a few weeks ago and I don't believe there was a response. W/ this new agreement, are the design plans we all saw in April still being used? If they are sending out RFP's to architects, I assume the prior plans are meaningless.

Siecer, I don't disagree w/ you but I would like to see some of these types of stores downtown. I think Cincy has done a great job revilaizing much of downtown/OT as far as entertainment and fresendential. I think shopping is the next step to address. That's expensive? I pay $700 for a ~700 sq. ft. efficency in downtown Lexington, although being along the Ohio River in a much larger city smack dab between two stadiums and near a proposed park should be much higher

Folks, its very simple: The lack of strong mass transit has been the ruin of somany American cities in the last half century. This is fact, not opinion. I really don't understand how anybody can argue otherwise and therefore be against this project. It is no coincidence that cities w/o mass transit have fallen behind.

Speaking of the park, when is the groundbreaking scheduled for? Is the park project considered part of phase 1 of the Banks or is it an exclusive project i.e. will this project commence construction even if by chance the Banks hits a snag over the next few months?

"Councilwoman Roxanne Qualls expressed concern at Cincinnati city council economic development committee meeting Tuesday that the Banks be truly an urban development, “not basically a suburban model imposed upon an urban center.” She hopes for architecture that inspires, she said, not bores. City Architect Michael Moore, secretary of the Urban Design Review Board, said board members have expressed similar concerns to him" Does this mean the architectual plans we all saw in April will be redone?

May I ask what the arguments against the Banks are that were expressed on the radio? Is it simply the $$ or they don't like the idea of that land being developed? These people that are against these projects really confuse me. I can understand a project that will disrupt a neighborhood or create a nuisance or even create excess traffic but I don't see any of these problems with the Bnaks. What is their main concern?

WOW!!! This is great news, right (or am I missing something)? Sounds like this thing is legitimately going to be built and begun in the very near future.

What are the next steps here as far as moving torwards approval? It seems the "powers that be" are pretty much on board with this poject so what happens next? Are their formal votes and if so who is voting? Does the public have a say in this process (other than who they elect)? When is the financing being arranged? Now or later? In NY, there was a West Side Stadium project, which seemed to have several greenlightsth all the financing in place. There was tremendous buzz th Bloomberg and Pataki on board yet at the 11th hour, a city coucilman had veto power and squashed the whole thing. Is this possible? What are the risks of this not happening?

Are employees generally happy working at 5th 3rd? I am talking about corporate as opposed to at a branch. What kind of culture is it? What is its reputation?

The Bryant Park Grill in Manhattan has a bit of a similar structure and as you can see by the picture of the link, they warmed it up with Ivy flowing on it and various plantings (taller greens in pots against the wall of the structure). The restaurant fits VERY well now in Bryant park and looks great. They also have an awning (visible in the pic torwards the end of thewall). I think, if possible, Via Vite should follow some of these reccos. http://www.locationsmagazine.com/display.php?id=3641 As for the meat sauce question, just wanted to point out that grillage is dead on. A meat sauce alla Lucchese, for example, has a lot of sausage ini it. There are a few variations to the meat sauce but bolognese is the most popular.

As a NY pizza snob ( I really dislike La Rosa's) I actually like Dewey's A LOT. Not sure if the commen was meant to be an insult or not. As far as he slicing goes, there are some NY thin crust truly authentic Italian places (Naples 45 to name one) that do cut the pizza in slices. The Italians have no problems getting it whole and eating it w/ a fork and knife but I think that is one detail the restaurant should compromise on. Bocca al Lupo.

live in a suburb of NYC. Nice old town center, walkable, older homes, good schools.

Wyoming has that close-knit community feeling. It's like an upscale Mayberry. Little kids outside on the corner selling lime kool-aid. So cute. Thats not such a bad thing.

On the Findlay Mkt train of thought, a streetcar could also lead to the construction of a new supermarket, perhaps on Central pkway. Sure potential supermarkets have shyed away in the past b/c of lack of people downtown and lack of parking/transportation options but the streetcar essentially solves all these issues as people will continue to move downtown and be more mobile. A streetcar would allow OTR residents and downtwon residents to get to a Central Pkway supermarket. This in turn improves quality of life in both areas and continues attract people moving in. You can't look at the need of a streetcar just based on what exists today and what it accomplishes today; you have to look at what it can/will add and what the new additions will lead to. The potential is unlimited and can dramatically transform the city. If the streetcar is in fact extended to UC eventually, you will have 30,000+ students with easy access to OTR and downtown. This will be a huge econmoc boom. It will create an inter-connectivity b/w neighborhoods that now seem isolated. Such isolation is one Cincy's biggest weaknesses, IMO.

Thx again folks. I am hoping to move to a suburb w/ charm and paying a bit extra for it is ok. I have always liked mareimont/Mt Lookout/Hyde park but the commute makes it hard. Wyoming and Glendale seem to fit the bill as far as access to 75 and charm. Any preference b/w the two?

seicer, they detract from the streetscape a lot less than a surface lot. A lot. If the the exterior is a red brick and the sidewalk and immediate surrounds are landscaped, it actually can look quite nice. As for the cost, doesn't the city make it up in parking fees?