Caseyc

take a look at the core today and you'll see exactly what I was talking about.

here's the CaseycCam report: steel framing (in part) is now one floor below the top of QCSI. It also looks like they are going to shrink the core, as previously reported. The western edge of the core roof looks to have been pulled in approximately 25%. They have brought their border fence in and seem to be pulling up the temporary floor. The next core "jack" will most likely leavethat section behind. Cement looks to have been poured up to the 4th floor.

an Enquirer reader poll is about as useful as tits on a mule...that said, after 4,000+ votes, I'll take this margin any day. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Do you support a streetcar system for Cincinnati? Yes (2545) 62.1% No (1456) 35.53% Unsure (97) 2.37% Total Votes: 4098

couple of updates from where I sit-- looks like they poured concrete for full block of Freedom Way last night; also--there are actually two new Reds signs, one above the HOF entrance and one inside the park once you go through that gate and to the right. They are of the "flip" variety. Not totally cheap, they show images and can be rotated.

Senate is moving forward. Looking good..they will open up to a sidewalk cafe, which will be elevated a bit to be flush with the restaurant floor. The actual restaurant/bar will not be very large as far as seating goes, but comfortably cozy befitting the neighborhood vibe they're shooting for. They will also keep better hours, i.e. open until 1 am on weekends. I heard yesterday from a knowledgeable source that Melt is still moving forward for the location next door, no rush tho. Sounds like they will have beer and wine as well.

interesting. the Righteous Room folks told me the grand opening was the weekend of august 1.... In other news, I saw where "Aunt Flora" was moving into the old Tom's pot pies space on Vine today.

I think they meant decimated the image, but I don't get that either. It had an unsavory reputation long before the riots. And "Traffic" took care of making it national. Half the neighborhood has been destroyed since 1930, not 2001. That was a weird line...I guess they just needed to get that jab in.:wink: Someone needs to do a "Traffic" compared to the current reality side by side pictorial of OTR, I wonder what has changed One of the major scenes was at the Fort Washington Hotel on Main between 6th and 7th, not even in OTR. That has been totally redone.

I'm on floor 28 of Atrium II facing south and the tattered orange flag on the end of that crane is directly at eye level as I look out the window from my desk. It looks like it could swing around and take my windows out. Steel framing has about two more floors to go before it matches QCS I.

This weekend the Queen City Square Project Tower Crane will be raised higher. In order to accomplish this task, Sycamore Street will be closed at 7:00 a.m., Saturday, 7/18/09 through 6:00 p.m., Sunday, 7/19/09.

the core of QCS II is now taller than I. Steel is about four floors below the top of QCS I from my perspective.

here's my letter...not holding my breath to see it in print:

I ate there when it was Queen of Sheba...quite enjoyed it. I am glad someone is doing something on that frontage, as the facade is trashed. Also the photography studio on the corner recently vacated for new digs in City Beat's building, so it's good to keep some life on that block other than Walgreen's (along with the residential, of course, which is decent on that block, as noted above).

does Barry Horstman also work for COAST?? http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090704/NEWS01/907050345/Transit+center++Bust+or+bargain Unbelievable.

This is true. Her concerns were quite different than Cranley's "why NOT in my backyard" approach. Qualls is a prius-driving, Lytle Park living urbanist as well as a complete streets fanatic who would love to see a streetcar in the city. I think her "concerns," if we can characterize them as such, were as Randy noted. I also think that those concerns derive in part from the belief that expanding the scope of the project, at least to Clifton, makes it more politically palatable (while also increasing the price tag). There is a delicate balance in all this, and I don't necessarily see one way or the other as right or wrong. I will tell you that adding the uptown connector makes the project much easier to support for the uninitiated and or uninformed who may be on the fence.

from my view from above next door, it appears that the core is one floor below the top of QCS I. They did add a nice banner to the core announcing this as "QUEEN CITY SQUARE."

they are back to working on ZZ's Pizza on Gilbert in Walnut Hills....guys were there painting today.

re the print edition, they kind of buried it on page 3 of Local. The comments on the web page last night were the usual, knuckle-dragging, clay eating dump truck full of stupid.

A response from Smitherman...Christopher that is....hopefully you haven't had lunch yet. http://naacpcincinnati.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=229&Itemid=1

Senate is briefing Duveneck residents tonight. Prepare for more information soon.

indeed....as long as we ignore the Enq's comments board

Just received the following email from one of my neighbors:

My wife is a real estate agent who has sold several houses on Rose Hill. A couple of years ago, she was representing an elderly lady in the first Queen Anne style house on Rose Hill next to the Belvedere. There was a beautiful stained glass window on the stair landing, as well as a lot of other fixtures and ornamentation. She also never threw anything away and the house was a major project. The client had a shady contractor whispering in her ear telling her that she could make more money selling the house off piece by piece. My wife had to disabuse her elderly client of this notion, and was ultimately successful. Ultimately the house was sold to a good guy (even tho he's a west sider) who has lived in it and worked on it ever since, and it looks great.

with regard to this..... http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/69parksandplatitudes.aspx replace "local restaurant group" with "the Wades." That's where things currently stand.

Freedom Way is concrete from end to end. Huzzah. The great divide has been conquered.

absolutely, and it's a damn shame. also, those stables have been on teh verge of falling down for at least 25 years. see excellent site for more on the zoo.... http://www.sweet-juniper.com/2009/01/where-wild-things-arent.html