JYP

I'm upset that there weren't any bands there that appealed to Asians!

Gilbert's rumored purchase of this dying mall will allow him to re purpose it to compliment the casino development (obviously). I can only hope he does it right and opens up connections to the rest of the downtown or else this will be continued reinvestment in a dying retail model (i.e. you will get ten years or less of good retail and then it all goes back to being crap again). I have faith that he can succeed where the current mall fails as he seems to "get it." If he turns Tower City around it will likely not be a "mall" in the way you or I would define it. That being said, I guess I can continue prognosticating until that rumor is confirmed! :evil:

Oh privy to top secret info? DO share!

Tower City needs to decide what it is and do it right because right now it's doing a ton of stuff and not doing it well. It has to be doing something right, it is still open and fully rented for the most part (although no longer upscale). Look at what's happend to other urban malls. This is not "something right" rather it is something slowly going wrong. Malls (which StrapHanger appropriately pointed out that Tower City is one) decline in degrees of generations from the upscale stores of when they open to the stores that represent slow decline. Just because a mall is occupied does it mean that it is either vibrant or successful. Look Tower City is a wonderful building with so many great things. Unfortunately the mall aspect of it is what is hurting it and downtown Cleveland. What planners in Cleveland need to focus on is how to position this city asset in a way to connect it back to what matters most, the space in front of its front door, Public Square. The mall hinders that, it hinder the Euclid Avenue corridor and the area around the casino.

Tower City needs to decide what it is and do it right because right now it's doing a ton of stuff and not doing it well.

If retail starts to take off it will not be in malls, especially urban ones in small to mid-sized cities.

Malls just don't belong in downtowns. Department stores fair better because they tend to be one store that actually front the street. The problem with malls like the one in Tower City is that they focus all the possible retail in one location, thus reducing the attractiveness of traditional storefronts. It's similar to the skyscraper effect on downtown office vacancy. Also because the space is managed under one entity, it typically has an advantage over the traditional model (one storefront, one owner, etc). One of the reasons why retail in Cincinnati is slowly rebounding is because the owners of Tower Place either are not interested in marketing the mall or can't figure it out. A better Cincinnati example is Newport on the Levee which has failed so badly at attracting retail that they are now marketing their vacant space as office space. Thus malls, and especially urban malls are on their way out. I would be less skeptical of downsizing the downtown department store only because they can serve as retail anchors to smaller street fronting storefronts. Below is something from the Atlantic that I thought was applicable. The Shopping Mall Turns 60 (and Prepares to Retire) By Dunham-Jones' count, today about a third of our existing malls are "dead" or dying. That’s not to say they’re mostly vacant. But they have dreadful sales per square foot. High-end dress stores have moved out, and tattoo parlors have replaced them – "things," Dunham-Jones says, "that would normally be considered way too déclassé for a mall."

Last week I walked up the steps on Reading Road by High Street up to Liberty Hill. Although there was nothing posted on the Reading entrance, when I hit the top there was a bar across the entrance so the steps may have actually been closed. There was some deterioration but other than that it was a pleasant climb. Is there any interest in restoring this section of stairs?

For everyone that is concerned about bicycle tires and streetcar tracks, there is a mod for that.

I'm a bit confused on the pricing schematic. I read at Each Note Secure that the 3-day pass will not count for access to the Washington Park headliner shows. Is this accurate?

A link to the Cincinnati Enquirer's page on the games: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=ENT13

Westwood is still holding onto that dream they will one day secede from the city!

^I've heard it's a 2 year bill.

Bill still has to pass the Senate. Just wrote them regarding the amendment asking that the language be removed in the final bill.

Below is my take on the building. 30 stories and based on the site plan submitted to Planning Commission:

Changed the title of the thread to reflect the topic of the post.

Yeah I have no idea. I went on CAGIS and found they have 3 buildings on Vine and 1 on Green Street. Aside from that there's very little information on the development or any indication of what their appeal will be.

Looks to be at the corner of Green and Vine. A new development is in the works in OTR OVER THE RHINE, OH (FOX19) - A new development is in the works in Over the Rhine. A group of vacant and blighted properties on Vine St. will be redeveloped by the group Property Acquisitions. The group is steering clear of alcohol in the area because they say it will help to prevent some violence from occurring. The development will cost $1.5 million.

They need an anchor tenant. That could have been Dunhumby if they didn't move to 5th & Race instead.

^Slightly staggered. The future phase is the lot across from the church.

Next phase of the Banks looks to be 10 stories tall, 300 apartments. Groundbreaking by the end of the year: Urban Design Review Board on latest plans for The Banks By Jay Hanselman Members of Cincinnati's Urban Design Review Board are expressing some concerns about a new restaurant that will be in a stand-alone building just south of the Freedom Center at The Banks. Representatives describe the Yard House as a high end casual eatery that features nearly 160 beers on tap. The review board is concerned about the orientation of the building for the restaurant. Its service entrance, or the location where deliveries are made and the trash is picked up, will be located on Freedom Way. Board members also are not impressed with a gabled roof that would face the riverfront.

And yet even more distortion from the fishwrap today: Tax debate turns to streetcar Current, former city officials argue funds Written by Barry M. Horstman Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr.’s request for a property tax increase has opened a new chapter in the city’s protracted streetcar debate, with critics attacking the proposal as a “hidden streetcar tax.” It would not be the first one, the critics argue – a claim City Hall officials stoutly deny. Twice in the past two years, the city approved increases to a portion of property taxes used to pay off bonds and notes related to city debts, according to Hamilton County auditor records. The first time was in October 2010, only two months after City Council committed more than $100 million in grants and bonds to the streetcar project.

I'd consider the massing studies to be preliminary with the above ground garage and residential section expandable based on the number of residential stories that will ultimately be built out.

I would prefer 3CDC stay out of Main Street as much as possible. Main Street's problems are much less severe than Elm, Walnut or Race Street.

Feast your eyes on Agenda item #1 of today's Planning Commission packet. http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/bldginsp/downloads/bldginsp_eps45911.pdf