BlackBengal

If the fact that the Banks has already broken ground prevents it from qualifying for federal stimulus money, maybe some aspects of the project that are only proposed will be able qualify. It would be great if federal stimilus money could be used to pay for the decks over FWW. Looking at those arial photos above and imagining what the final poduct will look like it is very clear that the decking over FWW is absolutely critical to integrating the Banks with the rest of downtown.

I am afraid that you are right. They would never say it, but the powers that be probably think that basketball courts=gang violence. I used to live in St. Louis right next to their Central Park, which is about the same size as NYC's Central Park. It has everything. It contains the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, dozens of tennis courts, handball courts, 2 golf courses, several ponds with boat rental, bike trails, concert venue, soccer fields, baseball fields. But no basketball courts. Not hard to guess why. I think that it would be very interesting to see a baseball field integrated in the park. NY's Central Park and Chicago's parks near the lake both have a bunch of them and they are always busy in warm months.

I actually think the opposite. The decor is not nearly as nice as Nada's, but the food is a little better. Just my opinion.

In speculating on which restuarants will go in Phase I, I'm suprised that no one has mentioned the restaurants that are in Atlantic Station. I would think that these chains would be a pretty good bet for Phase I given the Carter/Dawson connection. Here is a list of the restaurants in Atlantic Station: http://atlanticstation.com/dine.php Of these I would guess that the Geisha House (trendy chain-Sushi Bar/nightclub) and FoxSports Grill (Fox's vesion of an ESPNZone that is actually better than ESPNZone in my opinion) are the most likely because there isnt anything else like them in the CBD. As mentioned by someone else, Ten Pin Alley would be awesome. I have eaten at Rosa Mexicano in the Atlantic Station a few times. It is very good, but a lot like Nada. California Pizza Kitchen is too similar to Dewey's. Moes is already in Cincy and it is garbage.

^ I seriously doubt they filed the lawsuit for media attention. I dont think this company wanted to be in the paper. It only makes them look litigious in a business where it isnt good to be litigious; and incompetent for apparently not filing the proper paperwork. It was probably the unwelcolmed media attention that got them to withdraw the suit. It is much more likely that they filed the suit because a) they are legitimately pissed off that they were the low bidder and didnt get the job, or b) the person that screwed up the paper work is trying to save face by placing the blame for not winning the bid on the developers.

There is an apartment building with a similar turret on the corner of Eastern and Tusculum. I have been inside these apartments and the turret makes for a cool space. http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=39.113846,-84.437399&spn=0,359.961548&z=15&layer=c&cbll=39.112823,-84.437134&panoid=TsHWpIKrOWf4xmYE5HN-kQ&cbp=12,60.44226622718844,,0,-15.643705508947592

The Enquirer is saying it, so it must be true: Kelly says he's staying at UC Nippert renovation announced By Bill Koch & Cliff Peale | Cincinnati Enquirer, December 2, 2008 Brian Kelly said today that he plans to stay at the University of Cincinnati as the head football coach, and along with athletic director Mike Thomas announced plans for a massive renovation of Nippert Stadium. Kelly has become one of the hottest coaches in the country after leading UC to the Big East championship in just his second season as head coach, and he told the Enquirer Monday night that he had been contacted by several schools, including the University of Washington. Today, he moved toward putting to rest speculation that he might leave. “There’s been a lot of interest in my services, but I want to be here at the University of Cincinnati for the right reasons," he said. "My family loves it here. I’ve got good people to work with. It’s a really good situation, and it’s only going to get better.” Kelly met with Thomas, UC president Nancy Zimpher, and Jeff Wyler, chair of the university's board of trustees. Among the topics of discussion was the renovation of Nippert Stadium. Thomas said plans include adding additional seats, premium seating such as club seats and luxury suites, and improved infrastructure such as more restrooms and concessions. Thomas said these improvements have been on his radar for several years, but the football team’s success this year and impending bid to a major bowl game put things on the fast track. Read full article here: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081202/SPT0101/312020081/1062/SPT

I think that if they go ahead with a Nippert expansion it will look much different than that model. The model doesnt include a press box or luxury suites as far as I can tell. Throws those two elements in and you have a more realistic design. This looks like a very early and rough draft. Nevertheless, I like where they are going with this design. I was at the game last week and I was trying to picture what a Nippert expansion would look like. I think you have to tear down the press box on the West side and the entire second level on the East side and build a new unified second level, with a layer of suites either above or below the new level (most likely below). They also desperately need to widen the concourse and expand the bathrooms.

UC Football Dome Plans Unveiled Reports that Brian Kelly is about to be named new head football coach at the University of Tennessee are largely internet figments. Sure, he could be lured away from the University of Cincinnati, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. He likes Cincinnati and the university is doing its part to provide everything he needs to elevate the program to national prominence. That includes an all weather practice facility. Recently, I observed that UC administrators should be more aggressive in fulfilling the terms of Kelly's recently extended contract, which included some fashion of cold weather dome. Read full article here: http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=09e3baf2-dbba-4ed3-b2bb-3879712cb392

A couple units are now listed on starone.com. Lots of nice pics and a video tour: http://starone.com/displaylist.asw?listnum=1147470&mls=cincy

^ You read my mind. A W Hotel would be my first choice.

1B, 1C and 1D look like placeholders. I dont think they know exactly what the hotel, office building or condos will look like.

$200M plan for Rookwood By Steve Kemme • [email protected] • October 16, 2008 NORWOOD – The Rookwood Partners are planning a $200 million commercial complex on the 11-acre site at Edwards and Edmondson roads that had been in limbo because of a lengthy eminent-domain battle. The Rookwood Exchange complex would include office and retail space, condos, a hotel and a two-story underground garage, according to preliminary plans recently filed with Norwood. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081016/BIZ01/310160110

The bug thing is dissapointing. I mentioned in a previous post that the element of Atlantic Station in ATL (I've been there a couple of times) that I liked the most is that they designed the street entrances to the underground parking garages to look similar to NYC subway entrances. It looks pretty cool and gives the neighborhood a very urban feel, even if it is a bit contrived. I guess they are going with a more modern design for the parking entrances at the Banks. I think this is a mistake. Modern buildings are great, but I think most infrastructure should be traditional. I wonder if they decided to give the parking garage entrances a modern look in order to blend with the entrances to the transit center.

The garage is no more, but the site is still a mess. Its a big dusty pile of concrete and metal. They will be digging out the rubble for months I would imagine.

It put up a good fight, but the garage is officially down as of this morning.

Does it look like the will install balconies? That is a must.

I am kind of interested in purchasing a unit in this building. There was some pricing info in the article cited on the first page, is there any more recent info? Also, does anyone know when it will be finished?

I always wonder what the Banks and Riverfront Park will look like on Bengals game days. Obviously, the Banks and the Park will remove dozens of acres of prime tailgating real estate. Tailgaters will have to use the downtown lots more and obviously the already packed Longworth Hall lot will be even more jammed. I think this creates an opportunity to do something truly unique in the Banks and the Park that isnt seen elsewhere in the NFL. The city could set up Oktoberfest style vending inviting people to park downtown and party at the Park and in the Banks rather than being tied to their cars.

The old YWCA that was on the site was considerably smaller than the current building. It was about the same length on Delta, but only about half as long on Columbia. It was a nice looking, brick building that appeared to be in decent shape from the outside. I always thought it would make a great residential space. The rest of the current "Columbia Square" site was taken up by scraggly woods and an ugly one-story abandoned building and gravel road. There was also one billboard situated on what is now the back half of the new building.

^ "Drainage! Drainage, Eli, you boy. Drained dry.”

^ found it. http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/12/20/biz_maisonette.html (thats right. I just replied to my own post)

Yes, I have always thought that the area directly adjacent to Playhouse in the Park would be an ideal loacation for a big condo tower. A 30-story tower on that spot would have amazing views. Those would sell fast. On 5th&Vine, I recall about 4-5 years ago that the Maisonette was talking about building a theater on 6th&Walnut (as weird as that sounds) next to the Aranoff. Anyone else remember this? Apparently there is a demand/niche for small theater space. Maybe this new proposed theater is going after this same niche.

Yeah, I was on Vine yesterday and noticed a building with scaffolding covering the entire front like some major work was about to begin. West side of the street. I think it was between 14th and 15th, but I could be a block off either way. Nice looking (but rundown), 4-story (I think) building. It was good to see work that far north of the Q. Are you sure you didn't see the muralworks scaffolding? http://bp1.blogger.com/_-LvpBoDIt4Q/SGhor13Y0uI/AAAAAAAACTI/p_73Z4gUVZc/s1600-h/DSCN4453.jpg No, this was scaffolding that fronted Vine, not the side of a building on Vine. I saw the muralworks thing that you linked to but the scaffolding was slightly North of that.

Yeah, I was on Vine yesterday and noticed a building with scaffolding covering the entire front like some major work was about to begin. West side of the street. I think it was between 14th and 15th, but I could be a block off either way. Nice looking (but rundown), 4-story (I think) building. It was good to see work that far north of the Q.