BlackBengal

All systems go for Rookwood Exchange: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110930/BIZ01/309300119/Rookwood-project-green-lighted?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| Looks like this much delayed development is finally a go.

The buildings in picture #12 are great. Do you know if they are 3cdc owned? Any idea if there are plans for rehab on them?

Every old building in OTR has some trivial historical significance. You can't save them all. The building is an eyesore and wouldnt be very attractive even if it were restored to its full glory. Tear it down. The most biggest and best project in all of the Q awaits.

Great news on this project: Clifton Heights development taking shape Written by Laura Baverman Five-story buildings of restaurants, shops, offices and apartments will rise this summer from two vacant blocks of land just steps from the University of Cincinnati campus. Besides The Banks on Cincinnati’s riverfront, the $68 million project would be the first major retail, residential and office complex to come out of the ground locally since before the recession. Called University Square at the Loop, the complex is set to open by fall 2012. Developers Towne Properties and Al. Neyer Inc. say they’ve got eight tenants with verbal commitments to open restaurants, bars or retail stores on the property snuggled between Calhoun and McMillan streets in Clifton Heights. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110223/BIZ01/302230047/Clifton-Heights-taking-shape?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

^ agreed on the trash collection fee. Cincinnati is the only city that I have ever lived in that doesnt have one.

Agree 100%. UO posters are so unrealistic at times (well most of the time). I would also prefer that this tiny, odd-shaped lot located on the outskirts of the CBD become a 40 story luxury condo complex or the new HQ for a Fortune 500 company, but that isnt very realistic is it? Green/public space that is coordinated with the entrance to the casino is a huge improvement over the current surface parking.

I am really hoping for a movie theater at the Banks. Does anyone know if that is a possibility?

It looks like the only real construction will occur on Red Bank (basically turning Red Bank into an expressway) and construction of an entirely new expressway starting at the intersection of Red Bank and Columbia Parkway in Fairfax, East through the flood plane around Newtown eventually connecting with 275 around Eastgate. This will really help Anderson Twp. connect with the rest of the city. Anderson and Mt. Washington are pretty isolated due to the lack of expressway across the Little Miami. I don't think this is a bad plan. It may help spur growth of near-in suburbs like Newtown and Anderson. But it isnt worth $809 million.

When is Mercer going to begin construction?

Good news I guess, Metropole renovation on track By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • December 20, 2010 Steve Wilson has a vision for the incoming 21c Museum Hotel on Walnut Street that would make the venue unlike any other in downtown Cincinnati. A rooftop spa and bar, a contemporary art museum and a restaurant that promises fresh, locally grown foods are just a few of the perks that Wilson believes will position his boutique hotel as an anchor for Downtown’s continued renaissance. Continued: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101220/BIZ01/312200022/Metropole-renovation-on-track

I would guess that you are wrong about this assumption. The Enquirer writers are constantly arguing for Cincinnati to be less progressive. That doesnt fit the profile of someone that is pining to move away.

There was a lot of negative things said about this project on this site from its inception. It looks like it will end up being a pretty good addition to the neighborhood.

I'm not against this, I just don't believe it will ever happen. I would love to see renderings.

The new construction update video is up: GOT PROGRESS? AT CINCINNATI RIVERFRONT PARK, WE DO!!

^ Downtown was very crowded on Saturday night as well. I know, nothing new. But I was amazed that most of the bigger bars had significant lines out the door. Even bars with incredibly stupid names like "Bartini" were able to overcome that disadvantage and pack them in.

In an ideal world a new W&S HQ would be built on the surface parking lot between 6th and 7th on Sycamore next to St. Xavier church. Too bad they don't own that lot.

Not much chance of that happening. The area in question is on the very outsquirts of the CBD toward the entrance to 471. It's a good area for hulking parking garages, but not for retail.

Any idea how high?

^ I am with you. I love that those modern art deco skysprapers. I wish we had one. They age very well.

He is complaining about "unfinished buildings?" Apparently in Philly, building construction happens in a blink of an eye like in Sim City.

They completely botched the tiara. I thought it was going to be more like the Bank of America building in Atlanta. That is the way to do an open crown. http://assets.bizjournals.com/story_image/205423-600-0-3.jpg The good thing is that it could easily be fixed by simply filling in the gaps with more steel, the bad thing is that it will probably never happen.

I was out of town for a while and looking forward to checking out QCS from the cut in the hill coming from the airport. I was disappointed. The tiara just sort of blends into the sky from that vantage point and the building looks sawed off at the top. They really need to do something to give the tiara have more weight.

There is a McDonalds in downtown Youngstown, that economy must be kicking ass.

This whole funding issue is bs. Does it matter if the streetcar operation is funded through the casino money or as just another item in the city budget? Does the opposition think that if they get the counsel vote to fund it with casino money that it won't get voted through a different part of the city budget?

Our great Mayor is kicking ass for this city and couldnt care less what the old Republicans at the Enquirer say about it.