neilworms

That it's only seven stories is disappointing. That spot could support a much taller building, helping break up the monotony of the first phase Banks architecture. Hopefully the exterior design makes up for its lack of height. Some AC Hotels are really nicely designed, but some are lackluster... like the one they're building in Chicago: Try telling that to Mike Brown, he may want to extort more money out of the county before he approves something larger. I have a feeling that's a factor. (what a scumbag too)

Sigh, http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2015/03/31/motr-wants-emery-theater/70740662/

That urban expansion one with the garage on the first floor is looking like they've got everything right. I'm hoping the final facade will look good (though seeing that they used cement block on the sides instead of vinyl siding gives me hope it will look good) because its a really creative use of a preexisting building that would have otherwise been torn down.

The moment I saw Josh Spring mentioned... ugh. I'm sure he's taking advantage of Messer not being around too.

Yeah that casino was not urban at all. I think that plays into one of Cincinnati's biggest problems - it has no image on the national consciousness other than being a backwards Midwestern town. People don't think neighborhood that looks like Boston or Brooklyn, so I'm sure the guys who were out of state who designed this had no idea what Cincinnati is really like.

Yet another awesome building that was previously criminally underutilized, lets hope this comes to fruition!

I may not agree with her on a lot of things, but I do appreciate her professionalism in handling the streetcar, Cranley could learn a thing or two from her.

Transit is still workable around the University and along the 17 to Northside, and the metro plus is good for commuting on weekdays, though I'm assuming you are referring to the streetcar right? I actually feel that interview was done so he could recapture some of the urbanists he ticked off. I think he actually feels threatened by people like us, look no further than his glib taking credit for Cincy red bike, which was one of the few urbanist policies he supported and when it was successful he ran with it and took credit for it even when it had been in the works for many years before he took office. The success of urbanists on the streetcar was a slap to the face for him.

I have a question for folks on here with opinions about the design of small units. Would it be interesting if I posted the current designs for smallish 1BR units that we're contemplating for an OTR rehab? The idea would be a discussion about what people wanted or needed in a small urban apartment, and the resulting tradeoffs. I'd obviously be interested -- we're still prior to permit drawings, so there's time to make changes -- but I'm also sensitive to this looking like I'm trying to get something for nothing. For the record, I do have an architect (and will continue paying him!), and I wouldn't give out the name of the firm. Anyway, if anybody has any strong opinion either way about the interest or propriety of this, just say so. I'm not sure this forum is best, but if it looks useful I'll follow up with a couple of drawings for discussion. Otherwise, I'll be silent! I know a lot of folks here won't like this, but don't think of the products think of the ideas for organizing a small space - I've always kind of been impressed by the space saving things they do in these displays: http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/rooms_ideas/small_spaces/

Local Cincinnati mentality is holding back many developers, they don't understand that things have changed very rapidly, and how could they? Cincinnati doesn't change quickly and now it has - its blown a lot of people's minds and they still can't wrap their heads around it. Not to mention that OTR had many many fits and starts from the 1970s until the 2010s, this is the only one that's stuck, but if your some developer who wanted to try when they were a lot younger and got burned they'd still be skeptical. There is a mountain of evidence that that skepticism is unwarranted, but remember this person only really travels to Gatlinburg or myrtle beach every year and doesn't really know anyone who lives in a tier 1 or tier 2 city. That's one of the biggest problems with the prices on the marketplace right now (which are as other people have stated, still low by national standards).

I still can't believe the 12th street project got through without scrutiny, I thought this was the 2010s not the 1950s.

A $2 a day garage right next to $1 an hour meters. Over Christmas the year before last I met up in OTR for lunch with a college friend who went to UC and moved to Boston. The first thing she was blown away by was that her normal spot she'd park at to get to the Ensemble theater was filled up - took her a long time to find a spot, as we were heading out after lunch I reminded her that in spite of the changes she was still in Cincinnati and pointed at the ridiculously low price on the garages, lol.

^-I haven't seen much movement on this crowdfunding campaign in the last day or so, if you value Cincinnati's history please donate.

Seeing the pics of the new lobby, what the heck are they thinking (not in terms of the cafe, but in terms of all the extra color they added - the building has an elegant simplicity that they just ruined): http://5chw4r7z.blogspot.com/2015/03/collective-cac.html Also I'm really hoping that the wrapping on the outside of this building is temporary... Its kind of a disgusting middle finger to the original architecture.

Same problem happens on muni because like 4 lines converge into one tunnel under mission street. At the very least locals get to use BART in the city with their muni pass.

I'd say San Francisco with some modification as San Fran has some issues. One of San Fran's biggest problems is speed of the transit it has - trains frequently get delayed and backed up as well as busses. BART needs a line along Geary Avenue - the buses there are so packed that it needs something better and Geary is really one of the main backbones of the city. Finally if you think having SORTA and Tank is bad for regional transit, the Bay area has like 20 different agencies, all with different fare rates to get from one end of the bay to the other you could spend like $20 in transfers and what not.

There is a gofundme to get gap financing in place for Nazca properties prevent a building from falling down in OTR on Lang St - http://www.gofundme.com/orqu5w The enquirer reported on it and didn't bother to link the gofundme: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/03/16/lang-street-building-faces-demolition/24864273/

Also, anything that is off or missing from the game, the modding community is stepping in and adding features or fixing things (like 2 way to 1 way road upgrades). Steam Workshop makes the mods a lot easier to mange too - no more SC4 dependencies of dependencies issues. Only downside of that system is people aren't providing enough info about the buildings they add. And yeah I didn't buy Sim City 2013 because EA loves to ruin franchises, and I figured I'd wait and see and when I did there were all kinds of issues (payed off, I saved $60 too). Also, hoping to see some Cincy style townhouses and tenements that would be pretty cool :)

Figured I'd revive an old thread because most of us are fans of this genera of game, and Sim City 2013 was pretty terrible to be honest. There is a new city simulator that is pretty much everything we wanted out of the last Sim City game out now - "Cities Skylines" - I've been addicted to it for the last few days - the headline here sums it up pretty well: http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2015/03/14/cities-skylines-succeeds-where-eas-simcity-failed/

Weird, I have liked every Rhinegeist beer I've tried, which is more than I can say for any other local brewery. If you don't like hoppy beers, you should try Rhinegeist's Cougar. Also try Uncle if you're at the actual brewery- super smooth and mild but still flavorful. Guilty as charged I am not a fan of the hops fad, I like more balanced beer and bitter for the sake of it just doesn't do it for me. They do have good non-hops stuff, but they aren't the best I've had (for the region I like Rivertown, wish they were downtown, and for the country New Glarus, which I wish was available outside of Wisconsin). Still if I bring people not familiar with Cincy down its near the top of my must show list. Getting that rooftop is going to be even more amazing too.

Rhinegeist continues to be awesome at everything (except their beer lol): http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2015/03/13/rhinegeist-brewery-reveals-expansion-plans/70275446/ (the recent issues with Kentucky were unexpected and tragic, but I think they are just going to keep plunging ahead).

Collective espresso is a good place to get coffee not a good cafe. The coffee is great, with good roasts and brewing methods they produce better coffee then the average shop. the cafe is that horrible uncomfortable modern trend that I see too much of in Chicago also like a Chicago cafe it closes way to darn early. Give me the highland over that any day. (Also despite having a Julus Meinl Chicago has a terrible cafe culture even the good ones close at 9pm)

Ugh, each post I read on this is more and more painful: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/03/10/requiem-project-files-new-fraud-allegations-in.html

The FRA has a nasty history of being a really terrible organization. Look at how they saddled long distance US rail with safety crash requirements making our trains look like tanks when the rest of the developed world moved on to more advanced cheaper and faster designs.

Just like how I'm happy with Chicago having a good Polish parade and a crazy St. Patricks day (later is a bit much for me in more than small doses) but I'm happy both of those exist, it gives life color and celebrates what makes us unique.