Caseyc

I think you mean 15th and Pleasant, right? Also 1428 Republic, work has started on demo and stabilization on what will eventually be a conversion of the building into two apartments. Also don't forget the new frontier of Wade Street! 219 Wade is being converted into a 4 BR single family home, just steps from the Elm and Liberty streetcar stop. Broadway Square has put out leasing information, advertised as being "adjacent to streetcar stop."

This brings to mind something of a cultural difference between shopping in certain regions as opposed to a true urban area. Many people are accustomed to pulling into a Kroger with a car and, after shopping, pushing your loaded cart out to the car and putting your stuff in a trunk or whatever and driving off. It's the "big shop" mentality, whether you do it frequently or infrequently for "just the big stuff," it is somewhat expected. In a true urban area, you aren't going to drive to the store. You will have a wire pull cart for the groceries, and you will drag it on the bus or train or whatever. The jury is still out, however, if a store opened at 4th and Race, whether people would still see the absolute necessity to drive there and drive back. Obviously those that live in the nearby blocks would not. Once you start moving out further, however, it gets murky.

The massing, design and proportions of that single family new construction look a lot like the historic home at 1419 Race that sold for $736,000. Given that John Hueber is the builder that's not surprising, as he did the renovations on the Race Street one. As far as new construction goes, it's not bad so far, although the finishes and trim and other details will tell a lot. I would be surprised if the entire two lots to the South remain vacant. The owner of the Race Street house had a small vacant lot adjacent to the South that they have just started landscaping and it looks like it will be a nice, albeit modestly sized, addition to what was previously non-existent green space for their house.

I live maybe 100 feet max from the building. The greenspace is woefully underutilized unless you are looking to drink out of paper bags and strew trash around. No ifs and or buts, unless you mean cigarette butts, of which there are plenty. While I can sympathize, to an extent, with residents who get a grassy football field as essentially their free front yard, the fact is that is not theirs and never has been. Planting and pruning rose bushes is nice, but it doesn't confer clean title. The fact that a handful of residents will no longer have an unimpeded expanse of green space in which to allow their high strung canines to roam freely is a small price to pay in order to save an amazing albeit vacant and deteriorating building. And let's not forget--there will still be green space. And it will be improved, as opposed to a rusty basketball rim sitting in stagnant water, and crumbling asphalt paths leading nowhere. At the last meeting with Core, there were a few vocal opponents who vowed that "not one inch" of green space would be given up! The Core folks left the meeting with no interest in that hornet's nest, and gave the Hotel developers an option. Now that that has expired, we are back to the drawing board, with only the passage of time (and deterioration). Let's not make the same mistake.

Cranley gets a review in Soapbox: http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/032514-mayor-cranley-soapdish-progress-report.aspx

I toured the Westfalen II condos a few weeks back. The studios struck me as quite small, yes. Like your bed is in the living room is in the kitchen small. Like you're cooking in the bedroom small. Like where would the tv go(?) small. But if you think of it more as a pied a terre, an expensive crash pad for an exec who lives quite far away, or someone who is in town only for a short period of time a month, but still wants a place to call home, then it makes more sense. I mean, looking at the studios, it was honestly hard to envision where a bed would go...where a tv would go etc. But it is not for long term nesting and domesticating. It is an in/out place where you probably won't even use the kitchen. A murphy bed or convertible sofa would be the best bet.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20140215/EDIT02/302150025/OPINION-Cranley-needs-rethink-his-parking-plan

Yeah that was depressing. I stood outside for over an hour watching them dismantle the cornice... CPS is not usually very kind to historic buildings. As did I. Several days. And it was pretty damn cold.

Smitherman will vote. Solicitor's office says no conflict.

My take in Soapbox. http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/121713-soapdish-haile-mary-miracle.aspx

I got blocked by Cranley and Smitherman a long time ago. Sad really. I had some good stuff up there.

Was there for lunch on Friday with 7 coworkers. CLOSED FOR LUNCH MON-THURS special brunch on Sun, forget about Saturday People seem to like the service & food but not the construction - say it's too noisy. But it's still open for lunch. The Senate isn't open for lunch. Nor was Bakersfield until very recently. The Senate is open for lunch and has been for a long time. Just not open Sunday/Monday.

The host--Joe Kernan-- grew up in Western Hills and graduated from St. X (and later MIT), so he is not as ignorant as you might think. Then again, it is highly likely that his memories are probably a bit dated.

Given the discussion about the Casino's design, this is as good a place as any to drop the following link from today: http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/021913cincycrit.aspx

Less Than Jake (mecklenborg)?

What the hell is this? Another way to back door anonymous comments on the Enquirer? http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/02/15/what-city-council-is-hearing-about-the-streetcar/

47 new apartments in 4 buildings on 14th between Clay and Walnut. This is great. I walk by these buildings every day. Glad they are finally being revitalized. To my knowledge, only one had been partially occupied in recent years. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=AB&Dato=20130207&Kategori=BIZ&Lopenr=302070130&Ref=PH/Grammer-s-Place

The term "Gateway Quarter" is on the way out. It was used as a way to market OTR without saying OTR. Now, Over-the-Rhine is preferable to Gateway Quarter as 3CDC's portfolio of listed properties encompasses areas far beyond 12th and Vine. 3CDC and the leasing agents put out a statement this year that they were doing away with the whole "Gateway Quarter" terminology, but it really hasn't taken with local mainstream media. The Enq routinely uses the phrase repeatedly, as the local TV stations. Whatever, I guess. I would just saddle the abhorrent "Gateway" condo building at Central Parkway and Vine with the moniker and move on.

It backs up to Republic, but it is not the same number of stories as the facade. BTW, the Cintrifuse project involves all three buildings, with 1313 being in the middle. They have been doing demo work for a while. The building to the South is pretty much gutted. I think it will basically be a shell and facade, based on what I saw yesterday when the door was open. 1313 still has a decent amount of character inside, at least it did the last time I was there four years ago (which happened to be on a Friday the 13th). Sadly, all of our photos were lost in an archive format changeover. http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/55soapdishwhatliesbeneath.aspx

Yes, and they do have a liquor license. And there is always Grammar's (available for rent).

If you haven't checked out the bar at Kaze in OTR yet, now's your chance: http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/121812kazeinotr.aspx

An article I did in '09 Unfortunately the photos were all lost in an archive changeover). http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/01006terracehotel.aspx The windowless portion last saw use as an IBM processing center. I have been in the rooms and they're just huge and lifeless. The hotel itself could be pretty awesome. The 8th floor lobby has a decent-sized terrace facing east along Vine, and they used to do ice skating up there in the winter. The Grill Room on top is pretty cozy but undeniably cool. Unfortunately it suffered from a bit of an 80's makeover, but that can be easily addressed. A local architect told me that Carter likes using CR as they are relatively less expensive and will do what they ask. Then again, the building does not need a wholesale makeover. More of a retrofit.

Does that mean demoing the windowless juggernaut? Presumably they will carve the garage out of the base.

I have not seen it reported, but CarterDawson has bought the Terrace Plaza. CR are the architects. Lower floors will be a parking structure and residential above.

it is not