JYP

Should have moved the vertical height mass of the building to the middle of the block to alleviate scale issues and turned it so it faces east west instead of north south. That way the thin side faces the river and the fat side is obscured by the rest of the skyline or hills. Everyone would have won...except webcam viewers and flagpole fanatics. :P

Ooh pretty drawings!

Just came back from looking at the site. Rear of the 4 story is heavily damaged. That being said, I firmly believe the facade can at least be saved. I know there have been projects of new builds built from existing facades but it costs some serious $$ to engineer. Not sure who's call it is but saving the building looks doubtful.

Kroger is responding to the demands of a suburban low-density and car dependent demographic. Until they learn how to do "Urban" pedestrian friendly and non-car dependent stores like their competitors (i.e. Publix), these stores will continue to under-perform and not adequately serve the surrounding population.

That's correct. Additionally 3CDC is renovating the buildings to the south of Smitty's but they are not damaged.

Word on the street is the main 4 story building is also unsalvageable.

Will there be a flagpole? Or a tiara on this one too?

You know what they say about people with skyscraper obsessions.... ..That they all appreciate architecture! Har Har!

^ In the draft report, that alternative was the last alternative listed so it makes sense that it is just a conceptual piece. It is disappointing that this alternative was not pursued more thoroughly since I believe added CBD space probably will generate more income and restore more residential neighborhood fabric to downtown than maintaining the current development pattern. Additionally, it looks like that alternative cuts through the Hudepohl Brewery which would be opposed by preservationists.

The draft plan for Revive 75 was presented last week. Unfortunately I don't have a link. (We have it hear at UC though!). There is a interesting plan alternative suggesting the realignment of I-75's approach to the new bridge. Basically, it will save Longworth Hall and increase the CBD by 1/3rd! Pretty neat if we can get the political will to pull it off!

http://www.earth-policy.org/index.php?/plan_b_updates/2010/update87

^ Yep. I was heavily involved in the charrette last week. Typically developers come to the city with the project they have in mind. In the case of the riverfront, the area is zoned MLU which permits almost any type of big project with Planning Commission and Council approval. Projects like Harbor Greene actually started out very different than what is built today. It's unfortunate because some of the conceptual drawings would have been more integrated than what was built. The problem with the current zoning is that it has allowed both the types of development that don't fit with the city. Large scale condo towers and suburban style developments are both found in this zone. The very flexibility desired to allow development also allowed the possibility to create this mismatch. FBC's will allow for better integration where the current zoning does not.

The effort is moving along slowly in Cincinnati. I believe they are close to announcing who they selected through RFP. We just finished our code here in Bellevue. Check it out at codingbellevueky.org. I think Cincinnati has ample opportunity to use FBC. Specifically, FBC addresses things zoning does not such as the street corridor and creating a sense of place. If you look closely at the existing ordinance, Cincinnati only has one mixed use zone (the Brewery District). All other zones are primarily single use zones or Planned Districts. Planned Districts mostly allow for mixed use but tend to disregard and divorce new development from surrounding development. Additionally, the traditional zoning process takes a long time. Developing under a FBC allows desired urban and pedestrian friendly development by right, not by process or an endless string of variances. A difference that does impact how developers view working with a city.

No its that 30 story condo tower on the hill! Or the radio antennas in Mt. Auburn!!

Suit claims developer tried to defraud Sanitation District 1 of millions By Jim Hannah • [email protected] • March 11, 2010 NEWPORT - Sanitation District No. 1 claims the original developer of the Manhattan Harbour project on the Dayton riverfront tried to defraud SD1 of up to $3 million. The district, which provides sewage service for most of Northern Kentucky, filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Campbell Circuit Court against developer DCI Properties-DKY of Cincinnati and contractor Coppage Construction Company Inc. of Independence. http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20100311/NEWS0103/3120351/Sewage+suit+cites++3M+fraud

It's really the priorities of Newport and a lot of other local governments. They need the tax revenue and that neighborhood wasn't making them enough $$. And sadly, it makes a lot of money for looking like suburban crap. :(

^They are trying to beat Great American Insurance in naming things! The race is on!!!

Hm... According to the mural at Lucy Blue Pizza, it looks like QCS has already been completed. Why does the webcam not show this!? :?

Funny thing...that ole' neighborhood is still registered as a historic district. Ahhh historic Kroger Marketplace how you feel so old timey. This project has been plagued with problems from the beginning and the developer and interested parties sweeping problems like the storm water pipe under the table. I am not surprised given Beer Creeks track record with the Kenwood project and the project in South Lebanon.

Via @kclightrail: Other Obama administration peeps will appear in Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Charlotte. All are home to modern streetcar projects. http://twitter.com/kclightrail Very exciting times!

It was based on the application which was based on the study. The study called for conventional service between the 3 C's with HSR coming years afterwards. The "vision" was conservative but based on proven models as KJP has reiterated. I am not familiar with Florida's but I think they have more political will than our state does in terms of transportation planning. The disconnect here is that the impression given by the local media was that we were applying for HSR when in fact that was never really the initial intention.

It looks like the Florida line is a demonstration line to promote HSR to tourists and Floridians. I also think that this has something to do with it's swing-state status. (Florida will probably have more Electoral votes after the 2010 Census while Ohio is supposed to lose some). I can't help thinking this is part political play.

Agreed! We should be identifying obstacles and ways to overcome them. From a marketing standpoint it seems that its not going to be faster than driving. So the ability to use wifi and not deal with the stress of driving should be played up. In general, people are willing to put up with added travel time if it means they don't have to drive. This could be a good thing for business travelers among others. For the CUT, we need to identify possible funding sources, and see if there is anyway to expedite the 4th line study. The Obama Administration has proposed an increase in funding for HSR in subsequent yearly budgets. I don't recall the amount. If this is not cut out by Congress, is it possible to apply for these funds for connecting the 3C line to CUT? Additionally, I heard there is talk of running a line from Cincy to Louisville but I don't know how serious KY is about this. If that is the case, CUT could also benefit from that separate application if it gets off the ground.

Anything is possible with enough political and financial capital. But is it feasible in this political climate? My general impression is that existing lines are upgraded to high speed when there is sufficient demand. Since the demand for this corridor is still an abstraction of a number in a study and not based on real world data, it would be more politically feasible to implement something close to the submitted plan. That being said, I think the concerns are that public buy-in of a non-high speed alternative is a non-starter with the public. I guess this is a situation where this project can be chastised either way. It's unfortunate because a lot of people have high hopes for this corridor. I for one am determined to support this wherever it goes (if it comes to Cincy or Sharonville).

I believe CSX just stopped operating freight at the Montgomery Rd location in Norwood. (By the Vespa Dealer). This location would actually work because the track has been recently abandoned and should be in better shape. Also it is served by the 4, 51 and I think the 31 bus lines.