Has anybody noticed that the 20th Century Theater's (Oakley) exterior neon has been completely restored? I never thought i would see the day...

 

Yeah I saw it the other day, but I need to go by at night.  I wish they would've washed down the brickwork a bit, but still, it's nice to see everything all lit up and no more trees growing out of the top of the tower.  I really hope they bring in some decent sized trees to replant in the esplanade though, it's rather stark right now. 

Yeah I saw it the other day, but I need to go by at night.  I wish they would've washed down the brickwork a bit, but still, it's nice to see everything all lit up and no more trees growing out of the top of the tower.  I really hope they bring in some decent sized trees to replant in the esplanade though, it's rather stark right now. 

 

Whats funny about that is they have already planted the new trees. Unfortunately, they are so small you probably didnt see them. 

 

Downtown Cincinnati building makes way for parking, renovations

Business Courier - by Tom Demeropolis

Date: Friday, January 28, 2011, 2:44pm EST

 

Been wondering what’s going on with the demolished building next to Mainstay Rock Bar in downtown Cincinnati? Me too.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2011/01/downtown-cincinnati-building-makes-way.html

 

City funding to help business districts

4:15 pm, Feb 9, 2011 | Written by lbaverman

 

Cincinnati City Council voted today to fund $800,000 in improvements to business districts in Mount Adams, Mount Lookout and Northside.

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/developingnow/2011/02/09/city-funding-to-help-business-districts/

Why not Bond hill Avondale and or Westwood?

Because the city probably makes a lot more tax dollars of any one of Mt. Adams, Mt. Lookout, or Northside in a given week than Avondale in a month.

And Avondale and Bond Hill don't really have business districts like those other neighborhoods, they're more like disjointed strips that are much more car-oriented.  Westwood's is somewhere in between, but do they or Avondale or Bond Hill even have any streetscaping plans to begin with?  The city isn't going to fund something that's not even on the radar screen.

^^^ The money was supposed to go to Bond Hill, initially. That deal fell through, so it's going to these hoods.

 

Councilwoman Laure Quinlivan worked with city administration to reallocate funds that had been dedicated to the stalled Jordan Crossing development in Bond Hill. The city failed to win a state grant that would have allowed for its redevelopment.

I'm glad to see Northside is getting some money to buy and rehab a building, but I really think Hamilton Ave could use streetscape improvements more than anything.  Burrying the power lines, fixing the sidewalks, and planting some new street trees would do SO much for the business district, imo.  It would help Northside appear less gritty, and probably bring a lot more investment into the neighborhood.

 

Also glad to see Mt. Adams getting some new trees, finally.  It looked really bare without them there.  The streetscape improvement/makeover of Mt. Lookout should also really help pedestrians there.  Good stuff, and money well spent.

What im saying they don;t want to improve the area's at all. No wonder the area's will never improve.

Why not Bond hill Avondale and or Westwood?

 

I would love to see what a little bit of love would do on the Harrison Ave corridor of Westwood.  The potential there is off the charts with how the neighborhood is oriented surrounding the Town Hall.  The remodel of the elementary school is shaping up nicely already. 

 

They'd need more than 800k to make the Glenway stretch look any good.  :wink:

What im saying they don;t want to improve the area's at all. No wonder the area's will never improve.

 

1) Did you see that all of this money was originally supposed to go to Bond Hill? Doesn't sound like it's being ignored to me.

 

2) I would instead focus on Walnut Hills and Corryville, initially. As these neighborhoods have more commercial presence, should they become desirable, Avondale can become a focus working off that energy. Then maybe Bond Hill.

 

You have to have a strategy; you can't just throw money around and expect it to work. It would be nice if that were possible, but it's not. (Not with the amounts of money available, anyhow.) You've gotta work with what you have!

 

Thats said, it's definitely a balance in terms of which neighborhoods you put money into. A really poor or really rich neighborhood won't change a lot. But there are other things to consider, too. Does the neighborhood already have a project underway which needs a little boost? (Mt. Lookout would fit here.) Is the neighborhood up-and-coming with some momentum which could be further stimulated or accelerated? (Northside.) Is the neighborhood a tourist attraction which will benefit from brightening the face of the city? (I would say that's the case with Mt. Adams. Maybe Northside, too.)

I'd much rather see this money going to help the neighborhood business districts than to try to redevelop a suburban shopping center that's failed multiple times and is in a very pedestrian-unfriendly location to begin with. 

Corryville is getting about $2 million this summer in streetscape renovations already (short vine)

 

Bond Hill was supposed to get that money but it was contingent upon a roughly $2 million grant form the state government to redo that whole development area.  Since the state grant fell through, the city felt the money would be better used in other neighborhoods.

The whole corridor needs it bad. From Bond Hill all the way through Roselawn to Cross County on Reading Road.

The new FBI building in Kenwood is coming along. It's on it's second floor now.

Not sure if this deserved its own thread but the Dennison Hotel building is going to be remodeled...

 

The Model Group and Talbert House people spoke at our DRC membership meeting a couple of months ago.  Their thoughtful plans include well designed housing and supporting services for helping those in need, a design that is also community friendly, and restoration of a historic building.  Last I heard they were having issues raising money, but hopefully this means they are getting close. :)

Where is that building?  I didn't see an address referenced in article.

Where is that building?  I didn't see an address referenced in article.

 

 

716 Main St

Oh... THAT building.  Thanks bfwissel.  I've always liked that particular building; I just didn't know that was the one they were referring to.  Great news.

Yeah, their plan includes un-bricking the windows and doing a lot of restoration work to return it to its former glory.  Combining that with a really well planned low-income housing plan makes this one of the most exciting up-and-coming projects for me.

Ridge Pointe - Former Kmart site in Columbia Twp:

 

Columbia Twp., developer near deal

Columbia Township and Neyer Properties are just days from completing a deal that has been approximately five years in the making.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/eyeontheeastside/2011/04/07/columbia-twp-developer-near-deal/

Currito, events center coming to 5th Street

2:35 pm, Apr 20, 2011 | Written by lbaverman

 

 

The new owners of downtown’s Mercantile Center have a plan to transform vacant space along Fifth Street into restaurants, retail and an events center.

 

Currito will open in October a flagship burrito shop in retail space left by Walgreens in 2007. Above it, the old Contemporary Art Center will become a 14,600-square-foot event space called The Center.

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/developingnow/2011/04/20/currito-events-center-coming-to-5th-street/

That's good to hear, though I don't know about calling the space "The Center." 

I saw this through facebook: http://historiclafayettehall.com/

 

Seems like they are planning on making it into a Resturant/office space next to Findlay Market.  Though it was lately profiled in the Enquirer as being a place adversely affected by streetcar cuts.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110410/BIZ01/104100304/1076/BIZ/Streetcar-fate-may-derail-man-s-dreams

 

Still seems like an interesting project.  Nice to see development creep its way north of Liberty.

5/3 will update tower sign

7:33 AM, Jul. 1, 2011 

 

 

Fifth Third Bancorp is updating its signature on the city’s skyline, replacing the bank’s signage on its iconic headquarters for the first time in 15 years.

 

Workers are expected to finish all four sides on the 32-story tower at Fountain Square by October. “Fifth Third Bank” will be spelled out in 12-foot-tall letters on the east and west sides of the building, while the bank’s blue and green shield will be displayed on the north and south sides.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110701/BIZ01/307010002/5-3-will-update-tower-sign?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Business

^Thank goodness! That old signage across the top is dated and looks worn.

A new Brooks Brothers store is opening in Kenwood Towne Center.  This could spell disastrous news for downtown if it means the location at Fountain Place is closing.  Brooks Brothers, along with Tiffanys and Saks are really the only unique to the region retail that draws people downtown.  If one was to close, I fear that could mean a ripple effect for downtown.

 

From Brooks Brothers perspective, opening a store in Kenwood makes complete sense. I'm sure it will do really well, but I just hope they keep the downtown location open too. The past 2 weeks have really been hard on Cincy.  The shooting on Fountain Square, shooting at Findlay Market, Bengals pre season flops, Reds officially out of contention. Can't we get some big positive news soon!?

A new Brooks Brothers store is opening in Kenwood Towne Center.  This could spell disastrous news for downtown if it means the location at Fountain Place is closing.  Brooks Brothers, along with Tiffanys and Saks are really the only unique to the region retail that draws people downtown.  If one was to close, I fear that could mean a ripple effect for downtown.

 

From Brooks Brothers perspective, opening a store in Kenwood makes complete sense. I'm sure it will do really well, but I just hope they keep the downtown location open too. The past 2 weeks have really been hard on Cincy.  The shooting on Fountain Square, shooting at Findlay Market, Bengals pre season flops, Reds officially out of contention. Can't we get some big positive news soon!?

 

Though it's not entirely out of the question, a Brooks Brothers opening in Kenwood and the Brooks Brothers staying downtown are not mutually exclusive.  While there may be some loss of business to the downtown store, my understanding has always been that it does most of its sales during the business day from people who work in the CBD.  A store in Kenwood will likely capture a lot of customers who may otherwise have gone to Macy's, Nordstrom's, or the other menswear stores already in and around the mall.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/eyeontheeastside/2011/08/26/columbia-twp-gets-grant-to-check-for-contamination/

 

 

 

High-rise condos coming to Columbia Twp.?

 

By Rob Dowdy • [email protected]

 

COLUMBIA TWP. –Demetrios IV restaurant on Plainville Road will close Nov. 1 to make way for high-rise condominiums, according to the owner.

 

Carl Vasiliou, owner of Demetrios IV, said he’s sold his property to Greiwe Development Group, which plans to turn his location – and possibly several others on Plainville – into high-rise condominiums with store fronts.

 

This comes as township officials are preparing the Plainville Road area for potential future development with the help of a federal grant.

Talk about being out of place.  Unless I'm misunderstanding something, high rise towers there will look terrible and won't fit in at all.

In this week's or last week's Business Courier I noticed that Demetrio was behind $13,000+ on some kind of tax.  I'm sure the decision to sell has nothing to do with it ;).

 

This project sounds like the crap that was cooked up before everything crashed.  Unless the next phases of Mariemont's condos sell out I seriously doubt this is viable.

In most Cincinnati media, "high-rise" could mean anything over 4 or 5 stories.

I could defintely see some mid rise residential working really nicely in this location.  The section of Mariemont right across from the site is basically all rental or at least multi-unit.  With the build out of Jordan Park (and the other ___Park) there will be some substantial density that I think a new mid rise could contribute nicely to.  Hopefully any development here compliments the already great pedestrian environment in the area.

Expansion will help Cincinnati Art Museum show off more of its priceless collection

Date: Friday, September 9, 2011, 6:00am EDT

Bruce Crippen | Courier

 

 

The Cincinnati Art Museum is about to break ground on its first major expansion in 40 years – a project that holds the key to its future by unlocking its rich past.

 

The project will be a $13 million upgrade of the 124-year-old building that formerly housed the Cincinnati Art Academy next to the museum. Construction costs for the overall museum expansion project are expected to be $125 million once completed.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/print-edition/2011/09/09/expansion-will-help-cincinnati-art.html

Michigan Avenue property to be renovated

Saturday, September 24, 2011 6:00:07 AM

By Forrest Sellers • [email protected]

 

HYDE PARK – What had previously been an empty parking lot will soon boast a new look.

 

Developer Grandin Properties plans to renovate the buildings and lot from 3433 to to 3437 Michigan Avenue.

 

Developer Grandin Properties plans to renovate the buildings at 3433 through 3437 Michigan Avenue. This is an illustration of the planned development. Potential plans calls for an outdoor courtyard, which could be used for dining. (Provided)

 

“We saw the potential of upgrading the building,” said Peg Wyant, president and chief executive officer for Grandin Properties. “We looked at the parking area and trash and thought that could be a beautiful courtyard.”

 

http://local.cincinnati.com/community/Story.aspx?c=100042&url=http://cincinnati.com/blogs/eyeontheeastside/2011/09/24/michigan-avenue-property-to-be-renovated/

http://www.my3cdc.org/

 

Registrant Name:Joshua Spring

Registrant Organization:Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless

Registrant Street1:117  East 12th

Registrant Street2:

Registrant Street3:

Registrant City:Cincinnati

Registrant State/Province:Ohio

Registrant Postal Code:45202

Registrant Country:US

Registrant Phone:+1.5137167455

Registrant Phone Ext.:

Registrant FAX:+1.5134217813

Registrant FAX Ext.:

Registrant Email:[email protected]

 

--

 

A shame we featured Josh on the feature of our Xavier admissions viewbook. (He graduated from here.)

^ I'm confused. What was this post about.

^ I'm confused. What was this post about.

 

The anti-3CDC website is registered to someone who was featured in Xavier's admissions literature. This is something Sherman's not happy about, since he supports 3CDC and works at Xavier.

 

More generally, it shows just who is behind the anti-3CDC webpage. (The Coalition for the Homeless and Mr. Springer.)

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I have been involved with the whole Occupy Cincinnati movement - mostly defending 3CDC. I made a rant on my FB page about why going after the cheap game only hurts their cause further - what about the banks and investment firms that have, for instance, been bailed out and profited off of taxpayers? Instead, they are setting up crap pages about 3CDC, hosting a march this Saturday, and are probably planning for another poop in on Vine Street.

 

Yeah, we featured him prominently on one of our major admissions pieces. It's embarrassing and I told them early on this would happen. He's a lightening rod of controversy and bad for business.

^ ya, considering 3CDC is now funding a major expansion and construction of a new building (of which the City Gospel Mission leaders are thrilled) they doing more than most groups to help the homeless. Blasphemous, I know.

Josh Spring and Smitherman are two sides of the same political coin. Their fight to the death approach is Cincinnati's only real problem. Any solution must necessarily marginalize them. They are filling a void at the center of Cincinnati politics that only Qualls has tried to fill in recent years. I think that sittenfeld will get in and try to do much the same. We need more like them to push the demagoges and thugs out of local politics. I am guardedly optimistic that this will happen in the years ahead. Spring's and Smitherman's influence is like a barometer measuring the degree of dysfuntion in cincinnati politics. The lower they go, the better we are.

^ I think you give them too much credit. Smitherman rides the COASTtails and Spring is marginal at best. COAST gets its power from the Enquirer and WLW. Unless the Enquirer shapes up or ships out, the polarization and battles-to-the-death will persist. It's media profiteering which is the city's worst enemy. Media is the backbone of a functioning democracy, and all that.

I don't think they are the cause of Cincinnati's dysfunction, just examples of it whose influence is a measure of the extent of Cincinnati's dysfunction. Much of the Enquirer's and WLW's power is with non-cincinnatians. This may affect potential or past cincinnatians in their willingness to move to, visit, or cooperate regionally with Cincinnati, but their influence with current Cincinnatians is much more limited. I know some influential Cincinnati transplants who are barely even aware of the existence of the Enquirer or AM Radio. I think the middle east style battles of many locals are actually less significant to cincinnati's future than it might appear. Their rhetoric is motivated by their (realistic) sense of powerlessness in a city they still consider their 'tribal homeland'. This site and other local ones are a sign of the health of CINCINNATI media. I think the influence of urbanohio, urbancincy and other local sources will only grow in the years ahead with those who count; actual, current Cincinnatians.

Anyone know what is going on at Pete Rose Way across the street from the old Montgomery Inn Banquet center?  They are razing the land there.

It surely isn't related to the Oasis Line...right? That's where they proposed the terminus of the rail line, leading from the Transit Center.

 

And from what I recall, that land is pretty much wasteland. I remember a small drive leading up the hill, north of Riverside Drive yet terminating at the summit.

I would think it'd be tough to build much there, but it is pretty much completely razed now.

 

sorry, can't get the link to work.

 

maps.google.com/maps?q=45202&hl=en&ll=39.100992,-84.500774&spn=0.003293,0.004823&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.401733,79.013672&vpsrc=6&hnear=Cincinnati,+Ohio+45202&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=39.100867,-84.500979&panoid=5jNGK71F6ywwgzI_PS95Cw&cbp=12,326.32,,0,9.31

Link: http://g.co/maps/yd23g

 

My guess is paved surface parking. It's been used for game day (Reds & Cyclones) and event parking before, but with the rough terrain it requires several attendants to maintain orderly parking.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111223/BIZ/312230096/4-projects-get-preservation-tax-credits

 

Preservation tax  credits issued for a number of properties, including three in OTR. I think these are in the vicinity of Findlay Market--does anyone know anything about this?

^

Crown Building is at the SW corner of Elder and Elm (grey building).  It is planned for restaurant space in the basement and first floor, offices on the second, and 4 rental units total (2x 1 BDRM and 2X 2 BDRM) on third and fourth floors.  The building is also going for LEED Low-Rise Certification.  Will be in for permit the first week of January, with construction starting around then.