Civvik

In 2 years, she's going to be working at Chris's buffet. Watch out.

One thing I took away from Urban Planning before I left the profession was that at the end of the day, people do and build what they (think) they want. We are not really that rational, and rational cost/benefit analyses are at best complements to political will, and at worst, window dressing. It's OK to build something because it's what you want, even if you can't completely justify or analyze every single impact or eventuality.

QFT

I welcome such offensive references. The more offensive, the better, as at some point it will galvanize people in the city (which he is not) to stop putting up with offensive shit coming from suburban mouths. Enough "crack" this and "ghetto" that and the Cincinnatians who live in the city by choice will quickly tire of such ideas. Suburbanites can't vote down the streetcar project, much as they would like to.

Smitherman clearly regards the Cincinnati NAACP as his black political fiefdom, rather than a chapter of a respectable national organization. It's hardly surprising then that he would disregard any ethics rules that they have.

Wow, you got screwed. Sorry man. If Moerlein is handling the event lawn scheduling, I wonder how many of those dates are actually for them. Just reading your post I get the impression that they are acting like the event lawn is an extension of their restaurant. That's pretty shitty. Soon, America will have no concept of public space.

The upside to all of this is that upon build-out, there will be a three block stretch of modern, flexible and heavily amenitized commercial space that can be whatever it needs to be going forward. In 2020 it could easily have evolved into a sort of downtown shopping strip. Moral: Because they got the urban design right, it doesn't really matter what the first commercial tenants are. Good urban design is flexible and timeless.

Why a company that needed that much space and was in the market to move wouldn't snatch up that Banks spot is beyond me. Can't think of a more high profile spot in Cincinnati.

Wow, a restaurant announcement at The Banks that I'm actually excited to try. I still think it's going to be over-restauranted, though. :( But I hope this one makes it, Cincinnati needs more southern/soul food choices, especially considering its history and geographic location.

There is so much entertaining shit in this thread that it almost deserves its own website.

Based on demographics, the writer of that first letter to the editor will likely die sooner rather than later, and the world will be a better place for it. On topic, what is the target date for groundbreaking? LaHood or no LaHood.

Sorry neil, jjakucyk is right. That building is an example of OK materials but they didn't pull off the design quite right.

As much as I want to praise that fine-looking structure, I've seen too much awful, Parquet-brick infill in Chicago to not be objective. I agree with some of the other regulars, once the Streetcar is in the ground and running, property value will shoot up, and developments won't be as basic. Just as we all have to live with the fact that even with downtown revitalization, Cincinnati as a whole will still be one of the more blighted cities in the country, we will have to live with some disappointment in city accomplishments. Things are changing in America and Cincinnati is not really more blighted than average. Take a city like Orlando, where blight in the form of poorly maintained 1960's cinderblock ranches cover large swaths of the city, AND its commercial corridors are pretty ugly to boot. Only the trendiest urban neighborhoods in Orlando approach the charm and architectural interest of middle class neighborhoods in Cincinnati like Clifton or Oakley.

The site along Vine is all clear now, to be honest it already feels a lot less ghetto from 12th all the way to 14th. In fact, it feels almost completely revitalized. Strange what removing (or had they renovated, not making a claim either way) that purple building did to improve the feel of the street.

Why the hell would the EPA shut down the Streetcar project after it got a Finding of No Significant Impact?

I don't know, man. My intuition tells me that The Banks is going to be terribly over-developed with restaurants. They have done great things in the urban core lately, but bringing online something like 10 new restaurants in the next 1-2 years on top of everything happening downtown and in OTR...Cincinnati's market isn't that big.

The south would be a wonderful place if it had better cities, and ones that adapted better to the climate.

Janice Daniels: You're a huge bitch.

COAST made a facebook page so they can return to trolling news articles like this one. Except when you visit their page, the only people who post on their wall are making fun of them.

I remember when people were shocked and dismayed that the architecture had gone that far modern from the original quaint brick sketches. Now I would kill for the Banks to look that good.

I bet the LED's can be whatever color they want, and they are simply testing the system.

Win win for them! Very nice!

Bad news for Detroit...but I can't say I am surprised: Feds, lawmakers talk about next steps after light-rail line canceled in favor of cheaper bus plan U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is meeting today with Michigan’s congressional delegation, a member of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters’ staff confirmed today. The meeting was expected to concern a change in course from a planned Woodward Avenue light-rail transit system to rapid-transit buses. Tuesday night, Crain’s reported that Detroit’s dire financial situation had forced cancellation of the $528 million plan to build a light-rail line along Woodward from downtown to the city limit at Eight Mile Road, ending four years and millions of dollars in planning work in favor of a cheaper plan for dedicated bus lanes. Today, Detroit officials denied that the city’s worsening financial condition played a role in the decision. The city is expected to run out of cash in April, and the state has begun a review of the city’s finances — the first step on the road to a state takeover. http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20111213/FREE/111219964

I predict $10.9M from feds changes nothing about this project, just patches financial uncertainties. Perhaps takes it to 2nd street. Unfortunate that it can't get up the hill. This project had, and continues to have, an enormous amount of resistance. If they break ground, it will be a testament to a well-played game by a crafty and resilient mayor.

PS Where the hell are the TIGER grant announcements? It's the middle of the month and soon everyone is going home for Christmas.