August 9, 20177 yr The park is beautiful. Construction proceeded well until the end. The garage is lovely and the view of the passive green from 1400 Sycamore will be marvelous. They retained the picnic area and the old growth trees as well as could be expected. It is the event that is the flop. They failed to recognize that the PNC was the reason it happened in the first place. Without the PNC it would have been a 2 acre asphalt parking lot for Alumni Lofts. I was being sarcastic about it being closed 3/4 of the year. It seems to me that it is an extraordinary luxury to have so much of an urban area devoted to activities that are padlocked from September to June.
August 9, 20177 yr ^Just be glad for the win. Yea, I have to keep that in perspective. There was a lot the PNC wanted that we did not get. But what we did get is pretty damned spectacular. Every potential renovation in walking distance is impacted by a 400 car garage with $95 monthly parking. And, while 3CDC will push the envelope on what "passive" means, they are at least constrained in some regard. Thanks for reminding me.
August 9, 20177 yr They failed to recognize that the PNC was the reason it happened in the first place. Without the PNC it would have been a 2 acre asphalt parking lot for Alumni Lofts. I was being sarcastic about it being closed 3/4 of the year. It seems to me that it is an extraordinary luxury to have so much of an urban area devoted to activities that are padlocked from September to June. Do people actually call the Peaslee Center "the PNC"? I feel like it is usually just called "Peaslee", but I've never heard it called "the PNC", for the obvious reason that it could be confused with PNC Bank.
August 9, 20177 yr ^^ Thanks for that clarification, i was confused at why the bank was so involved in this.
August 9, 20177 yr I fail to see what Peaslee has to do with the new park. The neighborhood center is not integrated with the new park in any way, and in fact there is a big concrete wall between Peaslee and the park. In fact, 3CDC originally wanted to acquire the Peaslee site and incorporate it into the park, but Peaslee refused. If anything, the fact that Alumni Lofts and Main Street merchants wanted more parking was the biggest motivating factor for the park, because building the new underground garage allowed them to eliminate the surface lot and expand the park.
August 10, 20177 yr I guess this proves the point. If you didn't know that the reason for the park was the tireless work of Tabatha Anderson and the Pendleton Neighborhood Association, it was because the usual cast of characters jumped on stage to claim credit. And, not knowing the acronym (which everyone in Pendleton has on their minds much of the time, is a product of that. Sad. But, as ink says, I'm glad for the win.
August 10, 20177 yr I guess this proves the point. If you didn't know that the reason for the park was the tireless work of Tabatha Anderson and the Pendleton Neighborhood Association, it was because the usual cast of characters jumped on stage to claim credit. And, not knowing the acronym (which everyone in Pendleton has on their minds much of the time, is a product of that. Sad. But, as ink says, I'm glad for the win. Not being able to decode some lazy acronym usage is an issue with the poster and not that of all the other forum users. "Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." - Warren Buffett
August 10, 20177 yr Not once in the decade I lived in Cincy did I hear anyone refer to it as anything other than "the Peaslee." And pretending that the "cast of characters" you're referring to didn't have anything to do with the park actually going from an idea Pendelton residents were pushing for to reality, you're naive. Tabatha and the Pendleton Neighborhood Association could push all they wanted for a park, but without people who can actually provide funding, design fees, etc. they were never going to get anywhere with their desires. They didn't will it into existence.
August 10, 20177 yr And pretending that the "cast of characters" you're referring to didn't have anything to do with the park actually going from an idea Pendelton residents were pushing for to reality, you're naive. Tabatha and the Pendleton Neighborhood Association could push all they wanted for a park, but without people who can actually provide funding, design fees, etc. they were never going to get anywhere with their desires. They didn't will it into existence. Well said. And anyway, complaining that a group "jumped on stage to claim credit" is just another way of saying "darn, I wanted to take the credit but they beat me to the stage." I'd imagine that the Pendleton council folks who actually spent the time, well recognize that a big part of getting it done was aligning with the self interests of those in line to secure funding, approvals, etc.
August 10, 20177 yr I don't know anything referred to as the Peaslee other than that hideous building next to the pool where the antifa meet. What the Pendleton Neighborhood Council did was to enforce the promise that the CPS made when the Cutter Park was donated to the Parks Dept that it would remain green space. Other than they it would have been a 2 acre blacktop parking lot. Core Redevelopment was happy with that plan but for the PNC. One thing stood in its way. For my part, I wanted nothing to be built there at all or at the pool area. But, having had it forced on us, it could have been a lot worse.
August 10, 20177 yr Was it forced on us, or did the "PNC" build this thing because of community input. I'm confused now.
August 10, 20177 yr I guess this proves the point. If you didn't know that the reason for the park was the tireless work of Tabatha Anderson and the Pendleton Neighborhood Association, it was because the usual cast of characters jumped on stage to claim credit. And, not knowing the acronym (which everyone in Pendleton has on their minds much of the time, is a product of that. Sad. But, as ink says, I'm glad for the win. Not being able to decode some lazy acronym usage is an issue with the poster and not that of all the other forum users. You down with OPP?
August 10, 20177 yr I guess this proves the point. If you didn't know that the reason for the park was the tireless work of Tabatha Anderson and the Pendleton Neighborhood Association, it was because the usual cast of characters jumped on stage to claim credit. And, not knowing the acronym (which everyone in Pendleton has on their minds much of the time, is a product of that. Sad. But, as ink says, I'm glad for the win. Is that an ironic use of "Sad." ... or does this actually make you sad? I laughed out loud when I read your explanation of the acronym is for "the Pendleton Neighborhood Association", which would be abbreviated as PNA. I assume you meant to say the "Pendleton Neighborhood Council", which I suppose some people call "the PNC". Clarity abounds!
August 10, 20177 yr Does anyone have photos of the completed spaces or the event earlier this week? Would love to see the completed green space if it's now up and running.
August 11, 20177 yr For my part, I wanted nothing to be built there at all or at the pool area. But, having had it forced on us, it could have been a lot worse. I don't get it... this is going to be a wonderful greenspace where residents of the neighborhood with gather, lay down and read a book, have a picnic, or whatever. Why in the world would you rather have "nothing" directly across the street from your apartment building? On top of it, there's now an underground garage below that greenspace where your residents and their guests can park. Does anyone have photos of the completed spaces or the event earlier this week? Would love to see the completed green space if it's now up and running. They are still pouring concrete and laying sod. Here's the side closest to Alumni Lofts which is basically done:
August 11, 20177 yr It has probably made me a lot of money, but that is not the point. It was what I would call native green space. Like finding an undeveloped meadow in the middle of the city. Birds and critters, natural contours, old trees, naturalized plants.Snake and rodent holes, wild roses. As opposed to sod on concrete which is what seems to be popular here. I'm ok with it. I'm not going to live here. I have my own little meadow in Mt. Lookout. Some lovely couples with dogs and BMW's and whatnot will live here. And, like you, they will like the nice clean sterile sod and concrete. they will admire it from the apartments above and maybe they will go down and read a book. But, I'll say it again, if it wasn't for Tabatha, and the persistence of the PNC, it would be two acres of asphalt, and the Ziegler family would have taken his money elsewhere.
August 11, 20177 yr Lol what? The old version was a native green space? In what world? The site was originally houses and then torn down and graded, by man, to the way it was and the trees, planted by man, came after. Nothing natural about it.
August 11, 20177 yr Lol what? The old version was a native green space? In what world? The site was originally houses and then torn down and graded, by man, to the way it was and the trees, planted by man, came after. Nothing natural about it. Yea, a long time ago.
August 11, 20177 yr And? Will the new trees not grow in? Will the landscape not evolve? Will the parks not grow in as they did before? Did trees and plants stop being able to take root and grow?
August 11, 20177 yr You're pining for this, 1400? https://goo.gl/maps/YxNGnZqABu72 I suppose Washington Park was better before it was redone too?
August 11, 20177 yr Yeah I totally wish the old parks still existed which were filled with crime and drug use. That's much preferable to a nice new clean park where families and children can safely go.
August 11, 20177 yr the Ziegler family would have taken his money elsewhere. What? "Sparked by a visit from the Kantor family, looking for a way to honor their community-minded father after his death in 2012, 3CDC approached the City about the possibility of a new vision for Ziegler Park . . . "
August 11, 20177 yr Get a look at the new Ziegler Park Ziegler Park, which straddles the Cincinnati neighborhoods of Pendleton and Over-the-Rhine, officially opened Aug. 8 after a $32 million renovation. It contains the only deep-water swimming pool in the area, a 400-space underground parking garage, renovated basketball courts, a children’s playground and game grove. Both the garage and the pool opened in June. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/08/11/get-a-look-at-the-new-ziegler-park.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 11, 20177 yr the Ziegler family would have taken his money elsewhere. What? "Sparked by a visit from the Kantor family, looking for a way to honor their community-minded father after his death in 2012, 3CDC approached the City about the possibility of a new vision for Ziegler Park . . . " The park is named after David Ziegler, Cincinnati's first mayor. The Kantor family donated money to the new park to honor their father, Milton Kantor... I don't know how the "Ziegler family" plays any role in the new park... Whether or not that donation happened, it seemed clear that this park renovation would have happened any way. Main Street OTR (the group formerly called Merchants of Main Street) wanted more parking for visitors to nearby businesses. Alumni Lofts needed parking for their residents. The former Ziegler Park was run down and full of drug activity. It made perfect sense to consolidate all the parking into a new underground garage and incorporate the former surface lot into the new park. I'm sure various politicians and neighborhood groups pushed the project forward, but it was pretty logical and inevitable that this would happen...
August 18, 20177 yr I fail to see what Peaslee has to do with the new park. The neighborhood center is not integrated with the new park in any way, and in fact there is a big concrete wall between Peaslee and the park. In fact, 3CDC originally wanted to acquire the Peaslee site and incorporate it into the park, but Peaslee refused. If anything, the fact that Alumni Lofts and Main Street merchants wanted more parking was the biggest motivating factor for the park, because building the new underground garage allowed them to eliminate the surface lot and expand the park. BTW, Peaslee is painting a new mural on the side of their building, which includes the prominent text "this building is not for sale". So apparently they were deeply offended by 3CDC's offer to purchase their building. That's quite a shame, because the building itself is nothing special. What's important is the organization, not the building.
August 18, 20177 yr I fail to see what Peaslee has to do with the new park. The neighborhood center is not integrated with the new park in any way, and in fact there is a big concrete wall between Peaslee and the park. In fact, 3CDC originally wanted to acquire the Peaslee site and incorporate it into the park, but Peaslee refused. If anything, the fact that Alumni Lofts and Main Street merchants wanted more parking was the biggest motivating factor for the park, because building the new underground garage allowed them to eliminate the surface lot and expand the park. BTW, Peaslee is painting a new mural on the side of their building, which includes the prominent text "this building is not for sale". So apparently they were deeply offended by 3CDC's offer to purchase their building. That's quite a shame, because the building itself is nothing special. What's important is the organization, not the building. I sort of disagree about the building not being ANYTHING special. It is an example of true, historic, modernism in an urban -not suburban- setting that is not a Mies van der Rohesque skyscraper. As most misunderstood modernism goes, a little maintenance would go a long way.
August 18, 20177 yr ^FYI, the Peaslee building that remains was originally built as an addition to the historic Peaslee elementary school. I saw the blueprints of the addition but I've never seen a photo of the old building that was demolished.
August 18, 20177 yr This is what the old school looked like from Woodward Street: “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
September 6, 20177 yr I just returned from vacation and found that the eastern part of the park is now open and basically completed. The shady area under the mature trees is really nice. They are still working on the connections between Alumni Lofts and the park (construction crews were there today). I also noticed that the city added a new zebra style crossing at 14th & Sycamore, replacing the one that was originally put down just a few weeks ago. I still don't understand why they don't just do this as the standard instead of just for special cases like this. They also added a "stop for pedestrians in crosswalk" sign at the mid-block crosswalk on Sycamore, which I noticed was really causing cars to slow down, even when pedestrians weren't present. There were also "Your Speed" signs installed for both directions of traffic, but they weren't yet turned on.
September 7, 20177 yr I've been saying for a while that Cincinnati needs more of those "watch for pedestrian" bollards in high traffic-high pedestrian areas, especially on Calhoun/McMillan. Good to see that they finally implemented one somewhere. “To an Ohio resident - wherever he lives - some other part of his state seems unreal.”
September 26, 20177 yr I sorta wished they took that giant green lawn space and transformed into a European plaza full of chairs, benches, chess booths, mini espresso bars, etc. Still can't really find that anywhere in cincy where you can grab a meal to go and sit down in a really comfortable and relaxed setting.
September 26, 20177 yr I sorta wished they took that giant green lawn space and transformed into a European plaza full of chairs, benches, chess booths, mini espresso bars, etc. Still can't really find that anywhere in cincy where you can grab a meal to go and sit down in a really comfortable and relaxed setting. They have started putting out a few cafe tables and chairs like they have across the street. I was the only one using them yesterday after work. Also--unfortunately--they removed the "YOUR SPEED" detector signs on Sycamore. I guess that was just a temporary acclimation thing?
September 26, 20177 yr I'm interested to see how traffic counts have changed in the area now that the MLK interchange has opened. I expect that NKY traffic to Christ Hospital is still using some combination of Reading and Liberty St., but anyone traveling to UC Hospital/Children's/etc. will now use the MLK ramps. So what I'm getting at is that they could probably remove Liberty between Sycamore and Reading with no ill effects and re-plat and re-sell the lots.
September 26, 20177 yr I have noticed on multiple occasions that some cars come to a complete stop at that crosswalk, even when no one is crossing. Maybe those "stop for pedestrians" bollard signs are so foreign to the average Cincinnati driver that they are confused and think it works like a stop sign.
January 30, 20187 yr ^ Since my previous post, the "STOP for pedestrians in crosswalk" signs have been replaced with "YIELD to pedestrians in crosswalk". I guess DOTE felt like the signs were too confusing for motorists. Today, crews are pouring concrete for the new sidewalks in front of Alumni Lofts on Sycamore. That will be the final step before all of the Ziegler Park + Sycamore streetscape work is fully complete!
January 31, 20187 yr ^^Honestly is confused drivers coming to a full stop such a bad thing, though? I'd rather cars stop more often that the awkward dance that often happens when people are halfway into the crosswalk and you still have to stand there and wait till the driver waves you on. “To an Ohio resident - wherever he lives - some other part of his state seems unreal.”
February 28, 20187 yr Per the latest 3CDC newsletter: The Ziegler Park pool season is starting early this year! Thanks to a brand new heater, the pool will open on Apr. 30, with limited hours, to kick off another fun summer. Get your Season Pass today, and take advantage of some extra time at the pool.
March 23, 20187 yr A new water pipe is being installed on Woodward Street this week. So the new sidewalks and new asphalt that were just installed last fall are already being torn up. I just don't understand why this city can't do a better job of coordinating utility work to avoid tearing up brand new streetscapes.
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