PhattyNati

That's what she said! Hahaha... Nice.

^ will it fit?

Wow....the density in #5 is incredible. What is the status of this neighborhood? Are there currently rehab projects going on in this area?

...still, we shouldnt settle for "its better than nothing". This is our chance to truly do something special. Something that generations of Cincinnatians can recall as a time that we "did it right". I agree with everything you are saying about that special sense of place, rando, but i dont think thats a reason to settle for less. We should demand more. There is already a heirarchy of sorts set up down at the banks. You have the three primary architectural nodes in place with PBS, GABP, and The Freedom Center. I think the architecture of those buildings should speak louder than the architecture of everything else. So while i agree that its appropriate that some of the secondary housing buildings take a back seat, if you will, they should still be done well. I dont put much weight on this round of illustrations.

these guys have been growing like wildfire. i understand that at least one of the spaces they were looking at is downtown and hopefully the rest are as well.

Does anybody have an idea who the architect is? Im sure it has been mentioned somewhere.

^ Wow that is great. I had no idea they renovations would be so extensive. A perfect way to honor one of the cities spectacular architectural icons.

It seems you simply are not that familiar with the development industry. You cant show the final plans unless your plans are...final. The project design is still being developed and probably will be for some time now. Groundbreaking ceremonies are more often than not a marketing ploy to bring attention to a project. Developers trying to lease a project will often experience a spike in interest from potential tenants as its an indication a proposed building is closer to reality. This was the case with One River Plaza off the top of my head. That project broke ground, what, almost a year ago? No action since then.

^ I simply cant imagine that they wont. Its the RESPONSIBILITY of a design review board to critique and suggest improvements. Otherwise, whats the point. I understand where you are coming from but i think the decision makers realize this is something they cannot get wrong. Id say there is more at risk by letting something slip through the cracks thats substandard than pushing back on design. Everyone will forget how difficult it was to get the project finished once the final ribbon is cut. But we'll always be reminded of how it did or did not meet the promised expectations if they fail to deliever.

^ Right On BDRUF.... We might be 10 years into the process but were not 10 years into building design. I have no understanding as to what the communication has been like between the developer and the city. So its impossible for me to know if this has been back and fourth or if this is the first time the city has seen design representation since the architects started working. Requesting the architects take another pass is not a deal breaker by any stretch. Most likely the general layout of each building is essentially complete...how else would the coordinate with the garage structure below. Whats left if that is the case is facade articulation which could go through several variations without creating an insane amount of additional work. I feel it highly unlikely (at least i hope) that this is anything more than a first pass. Through my experiences i have come to understand that its pretty easy to develop seemingly "polished" design image in a relatively short amount of time when demanded by the client. These new images just scream last minute and hopefully the architecture represented is the result of that as well. There might be good reason that no particular view is especially close. I hope that good reason is the designers knew they were way off the mark.

^ What kind of demo are we talking about? Is this surgical demolition for a rehab project?

I think we should hold off judgment on the city at this point...if this is the first time they have seen these renderings then obviously they haven't had any direct input. I'm giving the city the benefit of the doubt that this is NOT their vision.

Yeah, i was going to say. The westin looks MUCH better than those buildings.

That is great. Hopefully EVERYBODY else follows their lead. There is absolutely no reason not to unless developers want to be left behind. I keep hearing bits about queen city square vying for certification but im not aware of any substantial proof. Is this true?

I hope you are right Rando. I know i was tooting the "poor rendering" horn for the Gateway garage and condos and we all know how those turned out. While overall the Keystone development blows big time, i think there are some better than average architectural details. The power must have been out when the picked the color palette but the materials are pretty nice at Keystone. I am now genuinely concerned as to how this project is going to turn out. This screams of Atlantic station where details are underwealming and cheap, and materials are fake. And yes, the renderings are quite simply terrible. I would be embarrassed if this was my work. I would be far more interested in seeing an elevation of two with more specific massing/site info. These images really do nothing to tell the story of the neighborhood. I hope the design review board says things like "hey! a little height variation can go a long way!"...not to mention a little horizontal plane change. This is not the "front door to Cincinnati" they have been touting. On the other side of the coin i see potential. A few of you have already renamed the project Calhoun street south. To me thats not all that bad for i see the single most prevalent flaw of the Calhoun street project being its scale. Chop Calhoun up about 700 times and then you've got a decent development. I hope i feel better about this as the design continues to develop and the folks tending the render machine hone their skills.

I just threw up in my mouth a little. I am very interested to know what the design review board has to say about this proposal. Carter Dawson must have thrown these together last night. Does anybody know who the architect might be?

^ from the looks of it nothing. it could potentially screen some rooftop mechanical equipment but that would be secondary in function. other than that i understand princess dianas head dress to be an open air "cage"

^ i believe thats the 5/3 tower, not kroger.

If i hear one more reference to princess dianas tiara im going to fricken throw up.

^ Well its too bad 4th and Race didnt work out. That would have been an incredible space for an architecture firm with fantastic visibility. Nice to see the "Northern Kentucky" card was played too.

^ Agreed.

I wonder when they are going to install the ornamental x-bracing...or have they cut that from the project? The concrete work looks pretty good in that balcony shot.

^ i sure hope not.

I cant imagine that that would actually work, at least not in true "beach" fashion. The river just doesnt have the "bathing" appeal that the lakefront obviously has. It would seem that the first time the river floods i would imagine all the sand would be gone when the waters receded. I think you have to have a system to control the edge of the river bank which is why a wall similar to the serpentine wall...but significantly shorter would be very nice. It would leave the water accessible and maintain a very clean boundary. From the renderings i get the feeling that this is the plan.

lets get this bad boy going!