jessehallum

Condos in Over-the-Rhine are starting at $85,000 and most are around the $120,000 range. There a a good deal of studio and one-bedroom apartments downtown for under $500. :-o :roll: :? In my humble opinion, the only thing more obnoxious than your self-serving posts is your snotty attitude. I have read posts on the Beacon website and I am at a loss! I don't understand how people can claim to be fostering education when spewing ignorance, trying only to get a strong reaction.

^ Thank you for posting this. I didn't realize that the SCPA would face central parkway. I always assumed that it would face Washington Park, creating a truly dynamic effect for residents. I am frankly disappointed that the players did not cover their bases here. As your article points out, there are many loose ends that have not been addressed. The move of the SCPA should should help revitalize OTR; not create boundaries, surface lots, and vacancy. The obstacles will likely be easy to overcome if the OTR momentum keeps swinging. Step 1, streetcars.....

Price Hill was always a working class neighborhood, but it didn't see substantial decline until housing projects in the West End and English Woods were demolished in last two decades. Many on the west side could see this coming, but their concerns were not addressed by local officials. The result was a mass exodus of home owners and an influx of section 8 housing. Almost overnight, the fine line between working class and decline was crossed largely because the working-class neighborhood did not have the economic power to prevent it. The neighborhood declined so quickly that in 2004, city council passed legislation limiting the number of section 8 housing in the neighborhood. The burst of the housing bubble is just digging the hole deeper, as working families have been forced from their homes by rising interest rates. Lately it seems that any revitalization efforts are largely seen as a joke. Much of the west side views price hill's decline as a domino effect, which has arguably limited investment in other neighborhoods such as: Covedale, Delhi, Westwood, Bridgetown, and Cheviot. The bottom line is that the decline of Price Hill has redefined the whole notion of a 'west-sider', as it has always been the west-side's staple neighborhood. Does anyone have any ideas on how the decline can be reversed?

^No grocery yet, but you will be able to hop on a streetcar to Findlay market starting in EDIT (doh!!) 2007 2010.

I fixed the title: :-D

NOTE: The 45 day extended for a proposal of this project has been missed, there has been no news, and the site is still a surface parking lot. I expect to hear some non-committal fluff from Eagle in the near future.

My favorite quote from the fear-mongering streetcar backlash comes from Joe Deters: "The prosecutor says until police secure the area, operating a trolley is like running cars through Jurassic Park. He says 'this is nuts.'" link

Did I read that Blue ash will contribute $11 mil? Is this the money from the sale of land around the Blue Ash airport or is Blue Ash concerned with mass transit in Cincinnati? (If it is the latter, I am convinced that this is the first sign of the Apocalypse)

^ Most cab companies pass the cost of gas through to their drivers so there is no financial incentive for the company to become more fuel efficient.

I think that perhaps we should grow the f$&k up. Just because some people don't make the same decisions as we do, it does not necessarily mean that they are 'at fault'. Too many are obviously offended by the 'low class' decisions that some people make. Would we like there to be a smell requirement that you have to pass in order to leave your house? Or how about a law that you have to pass a breathalyser test to get on the Metro? Even better, lets pass restrictions stating that the poor can no longer use public transportation! Most people who are 'at fault' are not trying to offend you or anyone else. In fact, dirty looks and snide comments are far more offensive than someone who chooses to drink a beer before they get on a bus. As a society, I think that it is time when we accept the fact that some people are different instead of judging everyone that we see. Besides, why would anyone care if some people smell like pot/cigarettes/alcohol/body odor? They aren't harming anyone. In Cincinnati, most buses do not fill up. If you are truly offended by someone's smell, move to another part of the bus. Everyone seems to forget that the same people who ride the bus are the same people who will be riding the streetcars!!!! Just because the bus rides on rails, it doesn't mean that the people will suddenly become more fragrant, sober, or white. Public transportation is available for the public (surprise!) to use. This includes people who may not behave in ways that you wholly approve of. I am not in favor of obnoxious or offensive behavior on a bus, but come on! This lack of tolerance in our society is a big reason why public transit fails!

^Are you insane? Did you read the whole post?

^ Money Magazine recently released the best jobs in the USA for 2007. College Professor ranks as Number 2. Professors are not underpaid. In fact, I think that the ceiling for effective college professors is higher than it ever has been before. A university will bid hundreds of thousands of dollars for high profile college professors. With the high profile professor, the university gets recognition and, in many cases, funding for research. I understand that the pay for professors will vary greatly depending on the department that he/she works for, but all professors get paid well above a living wage (especially with benefits). As a student at UC, I was shocked to see how many 'professors' performed poorly in their role. Every year, I had half-interested professors and my tuition went up. If anyone should be outraged by Nancy's pay increase, it should be the students, not the professors. So what, they have to kick in for health insurance now? Boo Hoo. I know plenty of people who have to pay for a large portion of their insurance and they didn't receive an 8% raise!

^ Damn. I may be able to catch the second half of this meeting after work. I wish I would have known sooner, I would have more time to compile information and formulate meaningful questions. Do you have any specific information on the nature of this presentation or a more specific agenda?

horrendous idea.

^Exactly. The bus route will surface again next year when Kings Island needs workers. Mason has no real interest in participating in Cincinnati's mass transit system. I do not think that they see themselves as having a symbiotic relationship with Cincinnati. In fact, I believe that they are betting against Cincy. If you look at what Mason has done, they are trying to be an 'alternative' to urban (city) living. They are trying to expand population density while building a mass of commercial and retail space. I don't see any of these developments even trying to work with Cincinnati proper, rather they are relying on suburbs (like west chester) and future sprawl to forecast growth. They are hoping that all Urban Cincy projects fail. They are directly competing (and winning) against OTR gentrification. It is sickening, I know, but Mason thinks that they might be able to scavenge while the city flounders. They want the businesses that will not locate in Cincinnati proper because 'the numbers' might not be right. They want to be like NKY, but without all of the crime. I apologize if my previous post may have sounded crass, but I am upset with Mason. The 'holier than thou' attitude is pretty ridiculous if you consider the context. They have as much to gain as Cincinnati (maybe even more) with a comprehensive transit solution, but they are failing to see the big picture. No suburb stays 'perfect and white' forever (pardon the sarcasm) and they should realize that.

^It always seemed to me that this route existed primarily to bus workers INTO Mason. I work in a suburban office complex in Mason and the bus ridership was made up of a few business people and a lot of low income folks who work at Kings Island. In fact, I am not sure that the shuttles went from Mason to downtown early in the morning. Why would MASON, OHIO care about transportation needs of poor people, especially when Kings Island no longer demands it in non-summer months? **whispers**especially when the bus is fill with blacks and Mexicans. Those criminals might decide to relocate to and terrorize the precious suburban paradise **/whispers**

^ I too love the approach. OTR needs pioneering (and legitimate) businesses to occupy as much space as possible. Fresh storefronts will help with perception which will help with home ownership rates and spur new development. Does anyone know exactly what part of OTR this will be located in?

I'll take that bet. There is a lot of money being thrown into that neighborhood. I would be shocked if that site is surface parking in 2013 The amphitheater will work when (if) City Link goes through and the drop inn center is moved. In fact, I think that the amphitheater is a great idea. I don't think everyone is ready to give up on the dream of a real washington park neighborhood just yet.

^The darker the color the poorer? What do the numbers mean?

I really don't understand the need for a dog park. How about just having a nice park? Dogs should be allowed in the park and there should even be baggie dispensers for dog owners to clean up any waste. That 'park' in Chicago looks more like a pit for a Bad Newz Kennel prize fight than anything that should sit across from Music Hall.

They need to banish the homeless alcoholics from the park so it will be safe for kids AND dogs.

It is not a speedbump. With all due respect, some of you are speaking as though you have never been the Washington Park Neighborhood. The people in that building are fine. They are not the problem with the neighborhood in any way, shape, or form. They are not dangerous. This building is not a haven for drunks and convicts. It is not a free handout for crack heads and convicts like at the drop inn center. As a society, we should be rooting for these people to make it. These are the people who are either serious about recovery or are just not adapted to world that well. There is enough room for some service agencies to stay in Washington Park and I think that that a few Tender Mercies buildings should be in the plans for the area. The redevelopment of OTR should include a mix of uses and income levels. We should help the responsible service agencies, while focusing on finding solutions to the real problems of the neighborhood (like running the Drop Inn Center up I-75 to West Chester).

City of Steam??? Shouldn't that be Cleveland, you know, Cleveland Steamer...

Well Said. Since I am only 25 years old, most of my exposure has been through the 90s and early 2000s when stagnation was the norm. I almost forget about this ´growth´ thing. Great point! I am just fearful that OTR will not turn the corner. It is by far my favorite neighborhood in the city. On a cheesy and mushy side note.... I love this message board!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good post. Thank you. ...I too believe that the church idea is amazing! The city could really use a musical theater in the neighborhood to compliment its performing venues.