JYP

Travis, do you have a list of residential units that came online since 2013? The reason I am asking this question is that at the time the City was saying in 2012/2013 that downtown could support an additional 5,000 residential units. I doubt we will hit that number any time soon but I am interested to see if we are anywhere near even half.

I think I read somewhere this is the last round of TIGER grants.

^ I have heard that the new traffic signals that were installed as part of the streetcar construction have this capability. So the biggest obstacle to making this happen is convincing the DOTE as well at the Mayor and City Council that streetcars should have priority and be given the green light over other traffic. You could install the same equipment on buses as well, so this could be a huge benefit for transit riders. Would speed up bus service through downtown!

I am going!

There was a time prior to the existence of the HCB and the OTR historic district where those things could be built and they were. So the building Cricket is in is a relic from that time.

I checked this place out yesterday. They have excellent beer and a simple yet cozy indoor space. A great addition to the avenue!

I think part of that block is zoned DD which means the guidelines may not dictate as strictly the parts of the block along Central Parkway. I could see a Texas donut style development with a garage in the middle ringed by outbuildings or topped by apartments. The front parts of the Davis would stay and a taller building would enfront Central Parkway with a shorter 4-5 story building along Main and 12th.

I witnessed a streetcar "dwelling" with its hazards on for a bit on Central Parkway at the turn onto Walnut Street the other day. The dwell times do not appear to be very long if they occur.

Some thoughts on the routing: Whatever is left of Red Lion will be destroyed for this bypass. Huge sprawl development potential from Franklin/Middletown to Morrow. This will really mess up Lebanon and the I-71 & Rt 48 exit there. The Sierra Club should be upset that it crosses the Little Miami River. Is there really going to be housing subdivision demand in Goshen? Williamsburg? New Richmond!? California KY!!!? The terrain on the KY side is going to be a challenge. It links up too far south of I-71 to be of use for anyone wanting to go to and from Louisville. But anyway yeah lets make it rain for the suburban track housing developers!

^ I see what you did there.

The KTC just released its RFP to restudy the BSB corridor and consider the eastern bypass: KY Transportation Cabinet issues RFP for study to solutions to Brent Spence, Cincy Eastern Bypass The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has released its Request for Proposals (RFP) for a regional traffic study of possible solutions to the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor, including the Cincy Eastern Bypass. “We’re pleased to see Governor Bevin and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet evaluating possible alternatives and reassessing the project,” said Marisa McNee a spokesperson for Northern Kentucky United. The RFP and its call for a review of possible alternatives are a blow to pro-toll advocates who want the project to move forward as currently proposed.

What is that next to the hotel? That is the valet entrance and what looks to be the hotel pool on the floor above it.

Pictures of the new hotel from today.

They finally took the plastic wrap off of the north wall of the building, revealing the balconies. Photo by John Schneider Maybe they will be done before the streetcar opens??!!?

Just walked by 8th and Sycamore to check out the construction. Looks like they are about ready to start on the second residential story above the garage. What is going on with the garage facade? If this is the final product it is hideous!

Definitely agree on the need for downtown residents. If we built three 30 story towers in the next year we still would be nowhere near peak saturation for downtown residential demand.

65,000+ workers downtown everyday and we can't figure out how to get them to shop downtown. Pathetic.

Sure. There are plenty of those but UDF will not build a new one without a gas station.

Great pics! You have a great eye for this.

Where would they put the gas station for the UDF?

Just came from lunch at Maplewood. Its a very solid addition to the street scene. The decor and feel is unlike anything in the Cincinnati area.

I always see people hanging out under that tree. Maybe they are taking it down to discourage the crowd that gathers there.

I am more interested in the trick that Cranley pulled here by refinancing TIF debt into general budget debt. That essentially means that TIF districts can produce unlimited money for new projects. (Maybe not unlimited, but way more that we previously thought.) You just issue the debt using the TIF district and then quietly refinance it as general fund debt a few months later. Then you can go back to the TIF district for more money... I worry about this because really its not unlimited money. TIF's are financed by the difference in tax income between the adoption of the district and the improvement. They last up to 30 years. What happens after year 30 if the debt is not paid off? Does the payment come from the general fund? If so it would be like the city pension all over again. Going into debt to pay for debt.