JYP

Grammer's has closed again. This time indefinietly: http://winemedinemecincinnati.com/2011/08/grammers-closed-indefinitely/

It's official: NAACP's Smitherman steps down to run for City Council Cincinnati NAACP President Christopher Smitherman will temporarily give up his office to run for a Cincinnati City Council seat in the November election. Smitherman said he has met the qualifications to run and that, in accordance with NAACP National Board of Directors policy adopted in 1968, he will relinquish his office as president during the period of his candidacy.

I'm really just trying to figure out why they would choose either of those areas aside from a large tax incentive package. Honestly, everyone thinks a business would relocate somewhere based on cost of living yet, transit availability, quality of life and proximity to employer base have been factors in companies moving back into the city. I can't stress enough it's about employee quality of life. If they choose any area in either of these cities it will be close to where they think their employees will be living, regardless of transit. Although I think proximity to mass transit should be a factor, it probably isn't something Sears is thinking about.

They're going to be in DC along a metro rail line as part of a TOD. It's not about cost of living, it's about quality of life. Alternatively if they pick a auto-dependent location in either city, they might as well be dead and gone.

I know for a fact that many in the UC planning department are highly skeptical of the streetcar project. It's such a strange thing.

I don't see why there would not be demand for a mixed use apartment development here. There are people out there looking for a downtown location that might be more affordable than the pricier river view apartments at the Banks. Not to mention the location, it's close to everything downtown has to offer.

Our fearless hero is here to save us from our greatest enemy...Progress!

If it's a court case at this point, I'd say let the courts determine what is what. That's not up for speculation in this forum. It seems both sides have stated their case so lets not make a mess of things here.

I don't think so because he still has people out there. The appetite for people to vote again on this issue is a lot smaller. In the last press release, he blamed the weather but I don't think that's a factor. I think the membership of these organizations do not have the drive they once had or may be distracted by other issues like SB5 which is a more pressing issue for public employee unions. Speculation aside, there's six days left. Anything can happen and CFP is definitely prepared for this thing to head to a vote. As much as any supporter would hope this thing never makes the ballot, it's best to prepared for that scenario.

I agree. Basically it needs to lose that middle median lane. That will free up about 10 or so feet for wider sidewalks and maybe more room for any development on the south side of the street.

I did a quick analysis of Liberty street the other day and one of the things that struck me is how wide it felt. I measured the street on Google Earth and it turns out it is about the same size as the north-south avenues in NYC (approx. 60 feet wide roads). Unfortunately Liberty feels a lot wider that it really is because the south side of the street is either parking or poorly implemented infill. It would be great if 3CDC or other developer developed some 4-6 story buildings along the south side. It would help make the street feel narrower and probably reduce traffic speeds.

Yeah I saw that and was curious about it. Unfortunately they only mentioned the Maisonette & Barleycorns buildings so far. I hope there's something going on behind the scenes but realistically, it's probably in a holding pattern till the economy starts a proper recovery.

The corridor is the perfect opportunity for a "complete streets" approach with slow traffic, bike lanes and median for potential light rail. And I think it would be a win for the neighborhood and the City if they pursued that route.

I think a lot of people are wondering why they are asking people to vote on this project again. It's tougher to bring an issue back up once it's already been voted on, even if the vote is coming from a different angle. Also I think people were more receptive to having a vote on rail projects with Issue 9 but are less receptive to an outright 10 year ban on them. In other words, Issue 9 was faux democracy, whereas this issue is just really bad policy.

After this phase it looks like the only places 3CDC has left to work on in the Gateway Quarter is Elm, 15th & Race to Liberty and 15th & Vine areas. Wonder where they'll go next.

I thought petition circulators have to be Cincinnati residents?

Last I heard the City is having 3CDC work on it.

Discussion on architecture has been moved here: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,19291.240.html

Dead. Officially. Developers: Museum Plaza is Dead "Museum Plaza will not be built. Museum Plaza may be remembered by most as the story of a bold dream. To those of us on the development team, Museum Plaza will be remembered as a seven year journey that reinforced the power of teamwork, tenacity, and innovation. An iconic building will not be built, but we hope that we have laid a foundation for ourselves and others to realize the aspirations we pursued. Through this process we have endured four years of the worst recession of our lifetime and the most challenging lending market ever. There are no signs of improvement in the near future. We were realistic, yet undaunted, as we pursued many financing options. A completed financing plan seemed within reach but even with all of the help from the public sector, in the end, we were not able to put together a sensible financing package. As much as our team wanted to make Museum Plaza a reality, as much as our team had already invested financially and emotionally in the project, we painfully decided that this project could not be built in this economy."

You forgot Charlie Winburn's $158,090.

I'm going to disagree. Actually, I think the streetcar needs the support of low-income minority groups. These people are the ones getting convinced by the local NAACP that it's going to kick them out of the neighborhoods. They're the ones volunteering for the ballot initiative. The surprising thing is that the streetcar is going to benefit them as well. But they've been convinced it's a gentrifying agent that will displace them from the urban core. While it's true that the streetcar will bring increased investment, I think there can and should be a balance in the neighborhood that should contain a population from all income levels.

Did anyone attend their presentation to the Historic Conservation Board? I'm wondering if their was any discussion afterwards.

This show is the perfect example of the typical insular culture that pervades Cincinnati socialites. In the first few minutes of the show they made almost five Grippos references. Who cares about that stuff outside of the Cincinnati region? No wonder why Gawker hated it. The show basically presents Cincinnati as a place that's got great looks but no depth. A real missed opportunity.

Banks wants Ruth's Chris steakhouse Written by Sharon Coolidge and Lisa Bernard-Kuhn DOWNTOWN – The developer of The Banks told Hamilton County commissioners separately over the last week that he’s working to bring a prominent national chain steakhouse to the riverfront development. Commissioner Todd Portune confirmed Thursday that the restaurant is Ruth’s Chris. “Ruth’s Chris is the worst kept secret of anyone that’s interested in the banks,” Portune said. Portune added several prospective retailers are “hanging in the wings to be new tenants” at The Banks.

^ Amazing! To think that it was slated for demo and is now going to be the anchor of redevelopment at that end of Vine!!