18 minutes ago, Chas Wiederhold said:

Does anyone know why Liberty "wiggles" between Central and Central Parkway? That has irrationally bothered me for a long time.

I don't know why it was done, but it looks like it happened between 1960 and 1968. In 1960 the buildings on the south side of Liberty are demolished, but the road has not yet been expanded. In 1968 Liberty has been fully widened and has the curve after they knocked down the building on the north side of that block.

 

According to the historic aerials site here: https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer

29 minutes ago, Chas Wiederhold said:

Does anyone know why Liberty "wiggles" between Central and Central Parkway? That has irrationally bothered me for a long time.

 

You don't notice it so much in person as you do on maps.  

 

What's crazy in that area is just how much higher the canal was than its surroundings.  The Findlay St. drop from the parkway down to Central Ave. is probably the most dramatic, but Liberty St. has it on both sides.  

I always assumed that the bend exists because when the street was widened, it was easier to acquire the lot to the north rather than the lot to the south on that particular block. Maybe there was a building built right up to the south side of the street but more space available on the north side.

On 8/24/2019 at 3:43 PM, thesenator said:

I heard the Ballet is moving next to the Baldwin.

 I saw they were doing samples a few weeks back in that grassy area south of the Baldwin. Grabbed a shot on my phone bt not worth posting.

I'm curious how tall they will have the new ballet building be. I feel like it needs to reach a certain height to become visible from cars on the interstate

1 hour ago, troeros said:

I'm curious how tall they will have the new ballet building be. I feel like it needs to reach a certain height to become visible from cars on the interstate

Street view from 71N

 

They wouldn't need to go very tall to be seen from northbound 71.

Edited August 29, 20195 yr by osu97gp
fix long google maps link

Let's hope they also move forward with the plan to turn that unused rail overpass into a pedestrian/bike bridge, and also add some pedestrian improvements at the Reading Road/Elsinore Place intersection.

I was surprised to see an FC Cincinnati advert on the side of the streetcar. Hopefully this is a sign that the team's ownership isn't anti-streetcar and might even be willing to work with the city to improve service on game days?

I dont really know for sure, but wouldnt that be an ad from FS1? Looks like its advertising the game, not FCC

11 minutes ago, seaswan said:

I dont really know for sure, but wouldnt that be an ad from FS1? Looks like its advertising the game, not FCC

 

Yeah I'd say either FS1 or Heineken or possibly even MLS. It's not FCC focused enough to be from them imo.  

I guess if FS1 bought the ad, it possible it was done without FCC ownership knowing about it. But I doubt that MLS would buy an ad on the streetcar and FCC wouldn't be aware of it, and if FCC wanted nothing to do with the streetcar they probably could have vetoed it.

https://www.citybeat.com/news/blog/21084781/road-closure-bike-lane-changes-traffic-details-about-fc-cincinnati-stadium-discussed-at-hearing-on-zone-change-request

 

Quote

The idea of this is that... if all of that is brought up to one level, effectively we get to provide more walking surface as all these folks are culminating at the bottom of the stairs before they ascend up the steps," Otis said. "That's where the sidewalk needs to be the widest. This gives us the opportunity to get that width without creating a trip hazard by bringing the cycle track up to the same level as the sidewalk.

 

FCC trying to kill the Central Parkway Bike Lane.

 

Why not pile on more suburban crap?

 

To date:

Killed the Liberty Street Diet

Shortchanging promises to the WE council

Submitted plan puts big parking garage at a big-time corner

Looks like a spaceship

Changing the CP bike lanes into a despicable "multi-use path"

 

Have I mentioned how this would have fit better in Newport?

BUt tHey sAid THey WaNteD An UrBan StADiUM!!

much ado about nothing. the "close encounter of the third kind" will rise and be magnificent. On game days or event days the police will be present and they will have a plan on how to deal with the traffic. twenty thousand people will get to their seats on time enjoy the event and go home. Life will comeback to normal by the next day when the commuters will never notice what happened the day before. It is not as if for twenty years are so street festivals haven't caused traffic problems in specific areas of downtown.  However it is truly sad that the corner of Liberty and Central Parkway will have a parking garage as its anchor. Maybe someone will come up with a better idea. Like retail and a parking garage or how about a hotel and parking garage or maybe even a Cincy Ballet and parking garage. If by chance it ends up as a parking garage, maybe that corner could incorporate a sculpture garden or incorporate bas relief art like the Great American. In a few years time there will be soccer heroes. That corner would be perfect for Cincinnati's future Pele.  Either way if you built this stadium in Newport - Rhode Island should be consulted first. 

^Well there are soccer heroes now, but due to the way players are bought and sold internationally you only see them in MLS on an irregular basis.

"Well there are soccer heroes now, but due to the way players are bought and sold internationally you only see them in MLS on an irregular basis".

 

ideas my friend just ideas. just because a few mistakes are made with any project doesn't mean the end of the project or the sport. For instance, a bas relief of soccer players or a fountain or a gigantic reflective soccer ball like the bean in Chicago. What I'm saying is that it doesn't have to be an ugly corner. 

 

Cities change. Cities evolve. We are just a ripple in time. In 200 years that FCC stadium will probably be replaced with something else. That's only thing consistent about life, it's change. Likewise the sun will eventually supernova and become a black dwarf and our entire Galaxy will go dim. Destroying every man made archeticturial element on this Earth. Burnt to dust. 

 

Moral of the story; Don't get too attatched for anything in life for it will surely change.

 

They should build the garage wrapped with retail (1st floor) and shared work spaces (upper floors) on Central Pkwy and Liberty sides.

There's a new planning commission document up full of new stadium details: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/planning/about-city-planning/city-planning-commission/sep-13-2019-packet/

 

I haven't had a chance to go through it yet, so not sure what is new.

My thoughts on a 'quick' skim:

-The infamous cycle track is there, and will be walked all over (similar to the one at Smale)

-RIP Jehovas Witness church, parking lot is replacing it...

-There was mention of lowering the amount of development from 2 buildings to 1.  (Prepare yourselves, these parking lots are going to end up being permanent)

-The view from John St (West End) is actually okay IF they actually plant trees that can cover some of the stadium.

 

Edited September 9, 20195 yr by 10albersa

1 hour ago, oudd said:

There's a new planning commission document up full of new stadium details: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/planning/about-city-planning/city-planning-commission/sep-13-2019-packet/

 

I haven't had a chance to go through it yet, so not sure what is new.

 

Thanks for the link, this has some of the best looks at the stadium design we've seen yet. I know it's gonna be a controversial opinion but how on earth did they create/convince themselves of a stadium design that looks like it's straight out of the 1980s at street level? The closer looks are rough on my opinion. 

 

These designs just give me US Bank (or whatever it will become) podium vibes. Not great. 

 

 

riverfront 2.0

That weird fenced off plaza thing to the NE of the stadium (along Central pkwy) NEEDS to be a 3-4 story building.  Would go a long way to hiding this ugly thing.

what even is that? Why is it slightly elevated?

7 minutes ago, seaswan said:

what even is that? Why is it slightly elevated?

 

It's an existing parking deck that has a beer cellar underneath it.

 

It's a slam dunk opportunity for a sports bar on the ground level (and underground!) and then whatever you want on top of that...  My guess is it will stay like that and they will try and make this a plaza, but they need to hide some of that US Bank arena elevated crap, it's ugly.

 

(The renderings show it being used as parking for the time being)

Edited September 9, 20195 yr by 10albersa

What NEEDS to be removed is the cell phone tower and the blank lot around it with a view into the parking garage. Can't the equipment be mounted on top of the stadium or something so that lot can be developed? 

Edited September 9, 20195 yr by ucgrady

10 minutes ago, DevolsDance said:

 

Thanks for the link, this has some of the best looks at the stadium design we've seen yet. I know it's gonna be a controversial opinion but how on earth did they create/convince themselves of a stadium design that looks like it's straight out of the 1980s at street level? The closer looks are rough on my opinion. 

 

These designs just give me US Bank (or whatever it will become) podium vibes. Not great. 

 

 

 

 

I agree the Podium is not a good look, but keep in mind It’s not suppose to be exposed to such a high degree long term pending the future development on the site. Also I must say calling the design straight out of the 1980s is wayyy overboard. I like the design alot and think it’s going to turn out great much better than some expect.

I like how they show virtually no pedestrian traffic coming from north of Liberty.

 

At least it looks like the two historic buildings on the Jehovah's Witness block won't be torn down.

The Aviary is a GO!  Bird is The Word!

 

27 minutes ago, DevolsDance said:

 

Thanks for the link, this has some of the best looks at the stadium design we've seen yet. I know it's gonna be a controversial opinion but how on earth did they create/convince themselves of a stadium design that looks like it's straight out of the 1980s at street level? The closer looks are rough on my opinion. 

 

These designs just give me US Bank (or whatever it will become) podium vibes. Not great. 

 

 

 

The stadium renderings look sexy and modern, especially at night. 

 

 

It’s an actual crime. 

1) On page 201, you can see a concert layout, which is pretty cool.

2) Cell phone tower has got to go! Anyone have any idea what it takes to move one of these guys?

3) If I had the time to attend more of these meetings, I would push, push, push for more trees, especially on the west side of the stadium. All parking lots should be completely shaded by trees.

4) happy to see them preserving the cellars. I am really hoping that translates into a public facing tap room, team shop, restaurant, etc with great halls in the old cellars (haven't seen them, but I'm guessing they are large)

5) I am reluctant to swing my support to changing the protected bike lane BUT a raised bike lane will be MUCH safer. This is what I would do if I could attend more of the meetings/ what I will do if I can build a little coalition of cyclists: get FC Cincinnati to raise the entire protected bike lane from Ludlow all the way to Central and Plum. I'm really interested in swinging the political opposition to this project into political action... get this bike lane to be MORE permanent and make FC Cincinnati pay for it. I could really envision something a lot like Indy's trail along CP. It would be nice.

6) All "Future Development" must be rendered and shown. Jeeze, seeing these surface parking lots are the greatest crimes in my mind. This building is no less ostentatious than Music Hall or Union Terminal, but the surface lots are criminal.

Edited September 9, 20195 yr by Chas Wiederhold

2 minutes ago, Chas Wiederhold said:

1) On page 201, you can see a concert layout, which is pretty cool.

2) Cell phone tower has got to go! Anyone have any idea what it takes to move one of these guys?

3) If I had the time to attend more of these meetings, I would push, push, push for more trees, especially on the west side of the stadium. All parking lots should be completely shaded by trees.

4) happy to see them preserving the cellars. I am really hoping that translates into a public facing tap room, team shop, restaurant, etc with great halls in the old cellars (haven't seen them, but I'm guessing they are large)

5) I am reluctant to swing my support to changing the protected bike lane BUT a raised bike lane will be MUCH safer. This is what I would do if I could attend more of the meetings/ what I will do if I can build a little coalition of cyclists: get FC Cincinnati to raise the entire protected bike lane from Ludlow all the way to Central and Plum. I'm really interested in swinging the political opposition to this project into political action... get this bike lane to be MORE permanent and make FC Cincinnati pay for it. I could really envision something a lot like Indy's trail along CP. It would be nice.

6) All "Future Development" must be rendered and shown. Jeeze, seeing these surface parking lots are the greatest crimes in my mind. This building is no less ostentatious than Music Hall or Union Terminal, but the surface lots are criminal.

 

I'm thinking the future development will probably be more in focus once they figure out a plan with the Cincinnati Ballet site.

 

I'm also guessing because of the stadium delays they are sprinting towards the 2021 opening full speed ahead and are too focused on getting the stadium site itself completed and opened first. 

2 minutes ago, Chas Wiederhold said:

Cell phone tower has got to go! Anyone have any idea what it takes to move one of these guys?

 

The 5G cell network depends on lots of smaller transmitters being placed throughout the city. So at some point (way in the future when the 3G and 4G networks are deprecated) it should be possible to eliminate this big ugly cell towers in our urban core. The one near Liberty & Main is awful too and needs to go.

49 minutes ago, troeros said:

 

The stadium renderings look sexy and modern, especially at night. 

 

 

Renderings always do. Unfortunately they usually don't reflect real life accurately.

1 hour ago, Chas Wiederhold said:

All "Future Development" must be rendered and shown. Jeeze, seeing these surface parking lots are the greatest crimes in my mind. This building is no less ostentatious than Music Hall or Union Terminal, but the surface lots are criminal.

 

It said somewhere in the packet that a "final" final development plan would be submitted later showing the plans for those surface lots.  Hopefully that comes sooner rather than later; what is shown today is agitating.

 

I will back down on the cycle track as well, after seeing the rendering and realizing that 345 days out of the year, that's a better option for biking along Central Pkwy than the current lanes.

Its gonna be great. the architects came back with a stadium that reduced noise toward Music Hall.They are using old beer cellars as part of the stadium, if I am correct. Images and maybe even moving pictures will be projected on the exterior walls. The overall look is new and exciting and if the lighting effects are anything moving, flashing, or eye catching people will cruise down Central Parkway like Christmas voyeurs looking for santas, reindeer, and a million flashing lights. The surrounds of the stadium probably shouldn't get treelings until after a season or two. I could imagine a bunch of stumps and a concrete tarmac after a major loss. Maybe trees in boxes (gardens) surrounded by seating. Maybe a box garden with seating around the transmitting tower. 

4 hours ago, RJohnson said:

They are using old beer cellars as part of the stadium, if I am correct. 

They have never mentioned using the lagering cellars. The only plans I've seen show parking on that site. Berding alluded to a beer garden, but nothing more.

Ballet is moving to Baldwin site. So only a matter of time before the Ballet building is torn down for additional development.

54 minutes ago, savadams13 said:

Ballet is moving to Baldwin site. So only a matter of time before the Ballet building is torn down for additional development.

 

Got an inside source on this one?

 

1 hour ago, troeros said:

 

Got an inside source on this one?

 

I actually heard from a friend who donates to the ballet and they announced it at one of their get togethers that they are building next to Baldwin. Apparently they tried to buy a plot of land downtown but did not have any luck due to the prices on downtown lots. 

Edited September 10, 20195 yr by Ucgrad2015
Spelling

48 minutes ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

I actually heard from a friend who donates to the ballet and they announced it at one of their get togethers that they are building next to Baldwin. Apparently they tried to buy a plot of land downtown but did not have any luck due to the prices on downtown lots. 

 

At least it's still located in the core. Just wish it was better connected, because that area of downtown still feels quite disconnected from downtown, even though it's in downtown. 

If they end up next to the Baldwin building, they will be close to the recently proposed Art Museum steps (https://www.citybeat.com/arts-culture/visual-arts/blog/21066164/cincinnati-art-museum-is-building-an-art-climb-staircase-to-connect-with-community-activate-grounds).

 

So while that stretch of Gilbert is currently cut off from things, the Art Museum will at least have more of a presence right across from the proposed Ballet location. 

Wasn't there a proposal not too long ago that would help connect the Baldwin to Pendelton and otr?

What would that involve? 71 cuts it off pretty thoroughly, I dont really see what could be done

 

I assume the Ballet would be where the 'Proposed Restaurant' is shown, and potentially extending into where the surface parking lot is shown. Basically they would re-purpose the train bridge as a pedestrian connection towards Reading Rd.

^seems like a good location for it. Sleepy-but-nice corner of the city, can accommodate their parking needs, near Eden Park and other arts institutions 

When I was a kid, buses on field trips to the Natural History Museum parked where it says "proposed restaurant" and you ate packed lunches in "Baldwin Park".  If you were lucky, there was some homeless activity on the "pedestrian bridge" that the teachers had to shoo you away from.  So we spent our days learning all about Jesus, but then we turned our backs on the bridge people.  

 

Same with Music Hall.  The buses lined up on Elm St., and you had to "stay on the sidewalk" and not look at what was going on in the park.