^ I'll try to stop by soon and say hi.  :)

Did this get posted anywhere? MiCA opens October 22!  From their blog . . .

 

MiCA 12/v Update!!!

 

It’s taking shape!  Greg Badger, of Urban Sites, and his team are making great strides with the build-out of our new space at the corner of 12th and Vine Street in downtown Cincinnati.  We’re saving as much original material as possible in this gorgeous, old building.  The openings between the two spaces have been cut and already the space feels so much brighter, open and airy.  Greg said they’ll be able to use the brick they’ve removed in another project in the neighborhood.  Also, the original pine floors are being patched with recycled flooring from another Over the Rhine building, and they’ll begin sanding the doctored floor on Monday. 

Here are the updated opening dates; we’ll open our doors on Monday the 22nd of October and we’ll have our grand opening event on Final Friday - the 26th, from 5 to 9 PM.

Hope to see you there! 

Keep checking for sneak peeks of upcoming MiCA 12/v products.  We’ll be carrying lots of new exciting things!

-Carolyn

 

http://www.shopmica.com/Site/blog/CED81E2A-7A9D-4B65-8BDB-3AAE1C4F42B5.html

OK, this may sound like an overly simplistic question, but:

 

Should I take the leap and move into the "Gateway Quarter"?

 

I have only lived in Cincy for about a year, so I don't know the history that well. It really looks like this is all coming together, though.  I still have this sneaking vision in the back of my mind of living in a failed, desolate area in 3 years. 

 

I have also heard that the funding may be cut for the Sheriff Patrol that has supposedly helped the neighborhood so much. Any insight on that news?  Even now, is the area truly safe?

 

Obviously, any info would be of great help, especially from current residents.

 

Thanks in advance.

^I think if you can make a commitment for at least 4-5 years, then yes.  The area will definitely NOT be desolate in 3 years, but resale of condos may be slow because so many are being built now.  I live right around the corner and I am committed to the area, so contact me by PM or email if you want a lowdown.  The sheriff patrols are partially symbolic, in my opinion and are not anything to make or break the area.  There are lots of condo and townhouses to choose from and it is a buyer's market right now.

Do It!  You will have some ups and downs at first but thats half the fun.  If you want complete sterile boredom move to a culdesac street in Mason or West Chester. 

OK, this may sound like an overly simplistic question, but:

 

Should I take the leap and move into the "Gateway Quarter"?

 

I have only lived in Cincy for about a year, so I don't know the history that well. It really looks like this is all coming together, though.  I still have this sneaking vision in the back of my mind of living in a failed, desolate area in 3 years. 

 

I have also heard that the funding may be cut for the Sheriff Patrol that has supposedly helped the neighborhood so much. Any insight on that news?  Even now, is the area truly safe?

 

Obviously, any info would be of great help, especially from current residents.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

I currently rent just outside Gateway, on Central Parkway.  And I have considered buying within a year or so.  And I believe I will consider Gateway for a number of reasons.  First and foremost for me is simply cost.  They have better price points and while you give up on some amenities, it is hard to overlook the bottom line.  Secondly, with the streetcar I think values will only rise so buying sooner than later could be another cost benefit.  The streetcar will happen.  I'm 99.9% sure.  And that lower part of Over the Rhine appeals to me just because it it is still close to downtown so my walk to work is about the same as well as the gym, restaurants, etc.

 

A few things:  Is anywhere truly safe?  On the 3CDC website (www.3CDC.org) is a variety of information on Gateway's development and 3CDC plans as well as crime statistics.  Check out this PDF: http://www.3cdc.org/uploaded/Rap_Session_I.pdf.  It is from 2006 but Derrick Dansby updated some of the figures when I last saw him speak at YP event in Gateway.  Take into consideration in 2004 there were 249 police calls to 12th & Vine.  3CDC bought the properties in mid-2005, closed three convenient stores right around 12 & Vine and in 2005, total calls were 146.  In 2007, totals calls year to date are 2.  2!!!  Violent crimes in 2006 were down about 54% in all of OTR.  And I think that was really before the Sheriff Patrols. (I could be wrong).  Lots of things are factoring in to the drop in crime, including the Sheriff's Patrols, but I believe the Sheriff's Patrols will continue if the Safety Plan passes in November.

 

3CDC has a plan of 100 new units every year in and around Gateway (Again, see the Rap Session pdf).  This is not something that will be abandoned. By 2006 they had purchased 98 vacant buildings and 90 vacant parcels.  (They might have revised numbers.) In my opinion, it will only get better.

 

I'm sure you have walked around, talked to the new store owners, talked with Jim Moll who is handling condo sales.  Email 3CDC and ask for the revised and updated Rap Session.  One guy that works for 3CDC is living in Duveneck now I believe. As you know, just learn as much as you can . . . which you are doing.

 

Good luck!

Aside from numbers...I feel just as safe in the lower portions of OTR as I Downtown.  Downtown is statistically one of the safest neighborhoods in the city (if I remember correctly), and with the success Downtown moving northward and OTR making great strides on its own...things are just continually getting better.

 

I would also feel confident that your investment is safe long-term in that area.  More residents, streetcar and more activity is doing wonders for the area...increased patrols help, but patrols are only a part of the equation is solving the ultimate issue of deterring and preventing criminal activity.  The improvement in the neighborhood is critical and it IS happening.

The CBD is actually 2nd in terms of part one crimes in the city, but 81% of those crimes are non-burglary, non-robbery theft, so we are looking at a lot of shoplifting which really shouldn't be in the same category as rape and murder.

As far as the sheriff's patrols go, the upcoming "jail tax" vote will have a lot to do with whether they stay long term or not.  The FOP has come out against it because it provides funds to continue those patrols.

^ Maybe I'm just too naive, but shouldn't the FOP support this type of funding?  Or am I simply misinterpreting your post?

The Cincinnati FOP is against it because the Comprehensive Safety Plan funds Hamilton County Sheriff patrols.    Apparently someone feels their toes are getting stepped on.  Stupid if you ask me.

single metro police dept solves a lot of problems.

OK, this may sound like an overly simplistic question, but:

 

Should I take the leap and move into the "Gateway Quarter"?

 

I have only lived in Cincy for about a year, so I don't know the history that well. It really looks like this is all coming together, though.  I still have this sneaking vision in the back of my mind of living in a failed, desolate area in 3 years. 

 

I live a block away from the Gateway Quarter (actually across the street from BallHatGuy), and I think the area is fine.  It's amazing the turn around.  Two years ago I would have been hesitant with moving to the area.  I really like most of the condos in the Gateway Quarter.  I don't think it will go downhill because there is a lot of investment going on in the neighborhood, and a lot of people care. 

 

Jskinner does have a good point about how long you plan on staying.  I would do it if you plan on staying for at least a few years.  One of the reasons I say this is because it's condo, so you are owning.  My husband and I sold a house last year, and it can be a pain to do so.  Plus, I think you need to stay somewhere for at least a few years to break even or make money off of it.

I live next door to xumelanie and have lived there for almost 3 years now. It was trouble when I first moved in. I regularly saw drug deals and prostitutes at 12th and Vine. I felt worried enough to talk to the police about what I saw.

 

Now it is amazingly different.  The occasional working girl can still be seen but the open drug deals are gone.  The change and momentum of the neighborhood is fantastic. I would not worry about a relapse in the short term, especially with the SCPA moving in and the streetcars likely to come through.  I would even say that it is a perfect time to buy with the deflated home prices and being one of the early buyers into the Quarter.

I still have this sneaking vision in the back of my mind of living in a failed, desolate area in 3 years. 

 

Perhaps I missed it, but where are you moving from?  The reason that I ask is that many of us on this board including xumelanie, jskinner and others have the benefit of history in OTR.  From the scope of redevelopment (100 condos a year for the next 4 years) to increased business investment including Jean Robert and the reopening of almost every bar on Main and all of this supported by the political will of the city and the powers that be.  Attempts have been made in the past by the few, but without the support of the many--this time is different.

 

I made an investment in OTR, and I like to think I have a good sense of what is happening going forward in OTR.  I have put my money where my mouth is and I say that Gateway is the real thing.  Can something happen tomorrow that will effect your investment?  Absolutely, but we are at a tipping point and you have much more to gain than you do to lose. 

If you decide on OTR I will give you a free I (Heart) OTR sticker.  :-D  We all are helping OTR in some small way,  whether we live, Eat, Shop or talk about this growing neighborhood!

If you decide on OTR I will give you a free I (Heart) OTR sticker.  :-D  We all are helping OTR in some small way,  whether we live, Eat, Shop or talk about this growing neighborhood!

 

Are you the guy behind these stickers?  We have one on our car that we purchased at Urban Eden.

Are you the guy behind these stickers?  We have one on our car that we purchased at Urban Eden.

  I did the original batch of 100 stickers awhile back.    They were printed in OTR and are sold in OTR. It is really great to see them all over everybodys cars.  I had a Cinti Bell guy working in my neighborhood come up to me a couple of months ago and BEG to find out where to get one.  I gave him one, look for the friendly cinti bell guys van in your neighborhood soon. :-D

I had a Cinti Bell guy working in my neighborhood come up to me a couple of months ago and BEG to find out where to get one.  I gave him one, look for the friendly cinti bell guys van in your neighborhood soon

 

I saw him getting on 471 yesterday.

Do oval stickers with "OTR" exist? Though I don't lke the oval stickers in general, they seem popular.

Do oval stickers with "OTR" exist? Though I don't lke the oval stickers in general, they seem popular

.  Thats a cool idea! When you get out of the Nati people don't know what OTR is,  they think it means Over the Road or Old Time Radio.  I originally was going to do the OTR part in German letter Fonts.

When you say "oval stickers" are you referring to the European style country stickers?  That would be kind of cool.  Although I might feel obligated to get a CBD sticker for my car since I wouldn't be entitled to an OTR one.

Do oval stickers with "OTR" exist? Though I don't lke the oval stickers in general, they seem popular

.  Thats a cool idea! When you get out of the Nati people don't know what OTR is,  they think it means Over the Road or Old Time Radio.  I originally was going to do the OTR part in German letter Fonts.

 

:laugh:  My brother always says "Off Track Racing."  We've had several people in the suburbs ask what OTR is.  That and the "I'm For Light Rail" sticker has started a few conversations. 

When you say "oval stickers" are you referring to the European style country stickers?

 

I do. I just set up a store at cafepress (http://cafepress.com/over_the_rhine). $2.50 each. Get 'em while they're hot.

For $2.50 ($3.24 w/ Shipping & Handling) - SOLD!  Already ordered . . .

Here's my ultimate concept for Central Parkway:

 

Since the county owns property in this area they could be a major force in getting this property redeveloped.  Here's an idea:  the county could purchase the rest of the Main Street and Central Parkway block and combine it with their Court Street parking lot and sell the site to 3CDC.  The county could then put that money towards the purchase of Broadway Commons. 

 

This would be a longterm plan.  3CDC is not going to buy a large plot of land such as the Main property right now, but I'm talking 10-15 years down the line, after the Washington Park redevelopment is completed.

 

This accomplishes several objectives:

 

1.  3CDC would be able to redevelop Main and Central Parkway, which is a key development site that would make Central Parkway a success.

 

2.  The county would own Broadway Commons, half of which could be turned into a major greenspace.  This concept is based on the Boston Public Garden:

 

 

 

 

 

3.  The county could then sell the other half of Broadway Commons to 3CDC to turn into parkside condominiums.

 

 

4.  The county would use the money from the sale to 3CDC to construct a garage at the corner of Ninth and Broadway, next to the jail.  A new parking garage would offset the loss of spaces at Broadway Commons, and partially shield the jail from the new condo property on the other side.

 

 

 

 

As it turns out this is going to be my senior Capstone. I want to create a large green space (at Broadway Commons) to Central Parkway and linking Central Parkway to Union Terminal through linking green space (Based on Olmsted's Emerald Necklace concept in Boston and using some of John Kessler's ideas from his 1907 plan for Cincinnati. Obviously some there will be a lot more than just green space to make a project like this work.

 

The reason i am posting this is because i need to find a bunch of case studies like the Boston Public Gardens and Common Wealth Ave. and i just wanted to know if anyone knew of any really effective urban parkways.

 

Thanks for the help

Milwaukee had a very intact emerald necklace, and there have been great strides recently to restore it.  It was designed by Charles Whitnall, but has three parks by Olmstead in it.  One of the most important parts of the system is a trail that links it all.  In Milwaukee it's called the Oak Leaf Trail.  Check out this site for more info:

www.countyparks.com

 

The system map includes a nice map of the bike trails too. 

I did a similar "emerald necklace for Cincinnati" project in a studio a couple years ago.  Some of the examples I remember using were:

 

Minneapolis' Grand Rounds

Atlanta's proposed Beltline Park System (you can download the report here http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=17915&folder_id=249)

And a book called "Designing Greenways"

 

Like I said, its been a couple of years ago, so I don't really remember all the sources I used.  Hope these help though.

Stylist deviates from suburbs with OTR salon

BY LISA BIANK FASIG | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

October 19, 2007

 

OVER-THE-RHINE - Downtown's latest entrepreneur is a suburban hairstylist who is selling her Warren County home so that she can live near Central Parkway and operate a salon and spa.

 

Melissa Campbell, who has been in the business 11 years, most recently in South Lebanon, will open Deviate Salon & Spa in early November. Having lived in the suburbs all her life - an admitted standout in her pink hair and tattoos - she said she and her boyfriend, Paul Collins, and three young children just needed a change.

^Thanks for posting Rando, but the headline is wrong, as it is not in OTR.  It is on Race, half a block south of Central Parkway.  I posted about this salon a few weeks ago on my blog, but it is cool to hear the details, especially that the whole family is moving down here!

I took a tour of the Gateway Quarter...WOW. Those units are NICE. For the price, you won't find stuff like that anywhere. I love open floorplan loft style units with exposed brick.

Vine St. plan sees 100 condos

Group seeking funds from city to aid repairs

BY LISA BERNARD-KUHN | [email protected]

 

 

A portion of Vine Street would get a new look and about 100 more condo units would be developed in Over-the-Rhine, under the latest proposal by Cincinnati Center CityDevelopment Corp. (3CDC)

 

The nonprofit development group wants to spend $29.5 million to transform vacant buildings along Main, Vine, Pleasant, Race and Republic streets into 108 new condominiums and about 15,000 square feet of commercial space.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071125/BIZ/711250337/1076

All Hail 3CDC! I'm sure any new buildings will cause a hissy fit by a few.

 

It will be interesting to see how the city responds with their ongoing budget problems.

 

 

 

This sounds like money that could come from the capital budget...aka money that can not be used towards the operations budget.  It is my understanding that the capital budget is relatively stable/sound...it is rather the operations budget that is normally the one on the chopping block.

 

I'm not entirely sure, but what I do know is that 3CDC is awesome and is becoming a true asset for this city.

This sounds like money that could come from the capital budget...aka money that can not be used towards the operations budget.  It is my understanding that the capital budget is relatively stable/sound...it is rather the operations budget that is normally the one on the chopping block.

 

Yep.  It would come from capital funds and TIF revenue, which would then be leveraged to get  over $20 million in new market tax credit loans.

 

So far so good.

 

OTR plan gets early nod

BY LISA BERNARD-KUHN | [email protected]

 

A Cincinnati City Council committee gave an early nod today to a proposal by Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) to update Vine Street and develop more than 100 condos in Over-the-Rhine.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071126/BIZ01/311260036

i like it.  i like it a lot.

City closer to funding Vine St.

BY LISA BERNARD-KUHN | [email protected]

 

A Cincinnati City Council committee gave an early nod Monday to a request for money to help Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) upgrade Vine Street and develop more than 100 housing units in Over-the-Rhine.

 

Council's Finance Committee agreed to recommend that council consider 3CDC's request for $5.3 million. The money would be used to cover a gap in what is expected to be a $29.5 million redevelopment cost.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071127/BIZ01/711270335/1076/BIZ

It almost seems like Roxanne is going out of her way to express concern about every single thing that comes before council.

It almost seems like Roxanne is going out of her way to express concern about every single thing that comes before council.

 

Yup. 

^

 

I might not agree with all of her points, but they are always valid concerns.  She is concerned that 3cdc is moving ahead with the next big project in OTR while its last project is still largely vacant.  There is a limited amount of people and business that will relocate to OTR.  Investment in another part of the OTR will compete with the existing investment in the Quarter.

 

3cdc seems to believe that every incremental reclaimed building/block in OTR helps the reclaimed buildings/blocks that preceded it by making the whole area safer.

 

Both arguments make sense to me, but I like 3cdc's approach because it attacks the problems in OTR more aggressively.  If Cincinnati could finally reclaim OTR from the drug dealers and criminals this city would explode.  You would see the CBD take off, Mt. Auburn, Coreyville, Clifton, etc. 

While Councilwoman Roxanne Qualls applauded 3CDC's work, she said she also was concerned about a slowdown in development initiatives elsewhere in Over-the-Rhine.

 

Her answer was sighted in an article a couple of days ago.

 

redevelopment costs - such as the removal of lead paint and asbestos, as well as restoring historic buildings under preservation standards - are so high that repairs aren't possible without subsidies.

 

The city almost caused a halt to Vernon Rader on the corner of Main and Liberty.  Historic almost made the Fielers walk away from their project on Milton.  The city does not make it easy on people to save OTR.

concerned that 3cdc is moving ahead with the next big project in OTR while its last project is still largely vacant.

Huh?  Do you think they have to completely sell out a phase in order to move to the next?  Remember, Builders Recourses is ahead of schedule.

 

There is a limited amount of people and business that will relocate to OTR.  Investment in another part of the OTR will compete with the existing investment in the Quarter.

This is slightly more complicated than that.  There are a finite number of people who will move or relocate a business to OTR at any one given time.  But this is a moving target.  The more that do come, the more that will come.  The cannibalization is offset by the growth of the entire community and the change in perception that is inherent in this.

^Only a matter of time!         It's coming!   

 

I wouldn't worry too much on the vacancy factor.  They will sell.

I wouldn't worry too much on the vacancy factor.  They will sell.

It is beyond just having faith at this point, they are selling.

Remember, I'm not moving out there until Summer 2010.  But I'm still planning on moving to OTR.  I'm sure I'm not the only one that is planning to move there at a later date.  There is a definite "movement" going on there.  And with most movements, it takes a while for them to get going before they switch into high gear.  Just wait, it'll happen.

PS - thank you to all of you forumers for keeping me updated on Cincy while I'm here in Milwaukee

I too foresee my first home being in OTR.  I plan on renting for a bit, then the first purchase will be in this neighborhood...there is plenty of demand from my perspective.

^I am about two years out myself!      Trying to make it a second house purchase!      I am always nosing around OTR, but haven't ruled out West End, LPH, or Sedamsville.    Presently, OTR is where the most reinvestment is happening and that is a major factor for me.

I am waiting until we finalize a streetcar route.

I am waiting until we finalize a streetcar route.

 

AMEN TO THAT!!!  Streetcar in = me too!

Just curious, is there any word on what's going to happen with the old SCPA when the new one is open?