What about a movie theatre for that space where The Red Cheetah is?  Sort of on the same lines at the Esquire and the one in Mariemont.  I can see dinner and a movie special with local restaurants.  Children's events on the weekend, etc......

There are several stores downtown where people can get food - produce, dairy, baked goods, canned goods, dry stuffs etc.  I've shopped in downtowns and you just hit up multiple stores.  It seems like people don't want a grocery store they want the Kenard or Hyde Park Kroger downtown.  To me part of getting away from that suburban mentality includes being willing to walk several blocks to get food.  It's about street life and enjoying the urban fabric.  This is a slight rant but I just don't get why many people that I know complain about this when there are other bigger issues downtown.  Including not having places open past 2 AM.  The bars and the clubs let out and then I would love to get something to eat with some half way decent conversation with my girl.  Can someone tell me a place that I can go past 2AM? (besides Shanghai Mama's)

outside will be some hand built furniture and such, I believe.

 

One of the things that could help main would be joining the downtown SID, or better yet, starting their own SID. But I know that is an expensive option, and it requires all the property owners paying into it. But it would bring safe + clean to OTR. And I think it would help blur the line between OTR and downtown. That is not to say I want people to forget that OTR is a very unique neiborhood, but we need to curb the fears people have of venturing north of central pkwy.

This is a slight rant but I just don't get why many people that I know complain about this when there are other bigger issues downtown.  Including not having places open past 2 AM.  The bars and the clubs let out and then I would love to get something to eat with some half way decent conversation with my girl.  Can someone tell me a place that I can go past 2AM? (besides Shanghai Mama's)

 

Balboa's on Vine just started staying open until 4am Thurs-Sat.

 

outside will be some hand built furniture and such, I believe.

 

Yep, unique outdoor furniture and accessories.  I was in the space a couple weeks ago and it looks really really cool.  They even built an indoor wood deck in a space where the removal of a half staircase lead to a hole in the floor.

One of the things that could help main would be joining the downtown SID, or better yet, starting their own SID.

 

This has been underway for almost a year now and known as Vitality OTR.  We are preparing to talk to the stakeholders now to work out a service plan, legal is already complete.  We also have been talking to Ginsburg about the possibility of DCI expansion however their renewal is 2009 and efforts are already underway to renew their stakeholders without an expansion meaning our next opportunity to expand DCI (if they could get the vote) would be 2014.  Vitality could be up and running in 18 months.

Vitality Over-the-Rhine to create incentive district

BY KEVIN LEMASTER | BUILDING CINCINNATI

October 29, 2007

 

OVER-THE-RHINE - Vitality Over-the-Rhine has launched an initiative targeted at clean and safe issues and long-term development along the Main Street corridor.

 

The working group, which is composed of professionals with a stake in the neighborhood, is investigating the feasibility of creating a special improvement district (SID).

 

SIDs (sometimes known as Business Improvement Districts) are public-private partnerships in which property owners agree to a special tax assessment that will be used for anything from development projects to maintenance to additional safety personnel. Any additional services gained from the assessment are in addition to normal public services provided by the city as a whole.

 

The most visible local SID, the Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District, has been in operation since 1998 and consists of over 300 property owners.

 

So far, the group has been measuring the assessed value and frontage of property owners within the proposed SID and have drawn up a draft services plan. They have also teamed up with the law firm Coolige Wall, LPA, who wrote the Ohio Revised Code statute providing for special improvement districts.

 

Vitality Over-the-Rhine now hopes to work with two of its partners, Downtown Cincinnati Inc. and the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce, to gather input on the proposed services plan.

 

After gathering input, the group will work to form a final, comprehensive public services plan that they can submit to City Council for consideration of the SID's creation.

 

The Vitality Over-the-Rhine District Coordinator explains that to effect the greatest amount of change in the shortest amount of time, the geographical scope had to be limited to a highly-visible part of the neighborhood.

 

He hopes that this will be a sustainable model which can be duplicated in other parts of the neighborhood.

 

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

The SID is only part of the answer though.  We still need to adopt the principles that I stated in the past page or two on top of the SID.  In a way, the SID can help facilitate that but I do not think that you will see the language in the Service Plan that would call for the commercial lease changes.

 

What about a movie theatre for that space where The Red Cheetah is?  Sort of on the same lines at the Esquire and the one in Mariemont.

Urban Sites was trying to do the same thing in the old Lawyers Title building and so far unsuccessful.  I would be all for it and is certainly an appropriate fit for an entertainment dist.

 

And as for the Exchange, you do realize that is no longer there right?

For downtown folks looking for dry goods, I must say that a combination of Amazon Prime and the grocery on Amazon.com would pretty much get you anything you need. Findlay Market for fresh fruits and veggies and of course high quality meats and cheeses and a run every few weeks to Trader Joe's and Costco and you are good to go.

Nice to know that Balboa's stays open that late.  Thanks

Does lucy blue still do late night pizza? Is it any good?

ive had it in mt lookout and it was good drunk food. 

^^Yep, they still stay open late on Walnut as well.  I stopped there during Bockfest in the Great Blizzard of 08. 

I would like to invite everyone to a tour of Trideca tomorrow, Sat March 29th between 11-1:00.  It will start at the front of the Duveneck and will go next door from there.

 

Location: 1232 Vine Street

Units: 9 loft style units

 

As part of the expanding GATEWAY QUARTER, Trideca Lofts is located in the center of an urban renaissance designed to further home ownership, retail, services, and business in Over The Rhine. Situated on the corner of 13th and Vine, Trideca Lofts is the latest addtion to this exciting and popular area.

 

Here is the map showing where Tideca is relative to the rest of the Q.

 

 

I can't wait to see whats going to happen to OTR once the streetcars are in.

There are a lot of things that do make and will make OTR a great community.  The streetcar is one, but so much is happening everyday that is just as important and so many people are doing their part to make this the pride of Cincinnati.  I hope people come down tomorrow, or any day for that matter and see the shop owners, condo owners, bar owners, theater and gallery owners who are investing in this community and show them the support they deserve.  If we help build the businesses, help fill the condos, help put people in the seats and through the doors, then the streetcar will come, the crime will go, and Cincinnati will get back its greatest historical community.

^Agreed...and this rain needs to go too;)

How did the tour go. I was out of town and couldn't make it. First impressions of Trideca?

So we have the Gateway "Quarter" inspired by NoLa, now we have our little version of TriBeCa.

 

Castro Condos? Beacon Lofts? Residence at Buckhead? Ybor Flats? One Coconut Grove Plaza?  :-o Okay, that last one doesn't fit at all.

 

Anyone take pics on the tour?

Holly said it went well and was very well attended.  I don't know if any pics are floating around of this tour but I know there are some on here of Trideca from the Blogger Tour a few weeks ago.  And David, I was thinking the Burj DuVine.

Rookwood moving to OTR

BY LISA BERNARD-KUHN | [email protected]

 

OVER-THE-RHINE – Grand plans are in store for an 80,000 square foot building near Findley Market that is expected to be the new headquarters for The Rookwood Pottery Co.

 

Martin Wade, owner of the recently reopened Grammer’s restaurant in Over-the-Rhine and financial partner of Cincinnati restaurateur and chef Jean-Robert de Cavel, finalized a more roughly $500,000 deal Monday to purchase the 106-year-old building at 1920 Race St.

Fantastic, I hope they have a mini-museum to display original Rookwood pieces.  (That's assuming they still have a collection.....they must)

 

Burj DuVine.....classic.

There are a TON of original Rookwood Pieces in the Art Museum. I love looking at that stuff whenever I go to the Art Museum.

OUTSTANDING!!!

'Outside' to open in OTR

BY STEPFANIE ROMINE | [email protected]

 

Outside, an outdoor décor store, opens Saturday at 16 E. 12th St. in Over-the-Rhine’s Gateway Quarter.

 

Terry Lee, who spent 18 years in corporate retail jobs, said he hopes the store will “really be a regional destination because of the unusual product mix."

Outside is also listed on the map I posted above.

Yeah, do they have a website?  I can't figure out how to Google it without finding a whole bunch of crap that's literally outside of Cincinnati.

I just love all this news...I am especially excited about Rookwood Pottery.  The Gateway Quarter has been getting much of the OTR attention lately, but many other things are chugging along throughout the entire neighborhood.  Fantastic.

If they do have a website up, I would imagine there would be a link off the Q site.  If not, and there is indeed a site, I will speak to the powers that be to see if we can get some links from there.

The Outside website is not live yet, but should be within the next week or so.  I'll let everyone know when it is.

Good News!

 

Thursday, April 3, 2008 - 8:32 AM EDT

 

Strickland plan adds more historic tax credits

 

Business Courier of Cincinnati

Cincinnati-area developers who complained about Ohio's Historic Preservation Tax Credit program got a prompt response from Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. An economic stimulus package, announced Wednesday by the governor, includes $120 million in new funding for the program, whose suspension in mid-March threatened more than $100 million in local development projects.

 

The tax credit program provides a 25 percent refundable tax credit to developers who purchase and renovate historically significant properties. The program was intended to fund up to 100 projects a year, but the state only set aside $120 million for the credits, all of which was gobbled up by the first 37 projects.

That is especially great news.

Here are a couple of pictures I took at the grand opening of Outside tonight at 12th and Walnut, a block East of the main Gateway Quarter area. Great addition to the neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely love it.

I'm happy about this even though there isn't even the slight bit of a chance that I'll buy anything from this store (broke as a joke.

Yea that store is rad and a good thing for OTR.  Now all we need to do is keep getting stores like that down that street(and neighboring streets) and NOT be scared to go to that Kroger;) am I wrong? the loitering that goes on on the street outside is absolutely ridiculous.  Thats the reason everyone is scared to go there.

^As someone that lives down here, that is not what keeps me from going there (can't speak for others). I walked there last night because I needed trash bags, and other than one offer for weed, I was left alone. Most of the time I don't go because it is so d@mn small. They basically have 1 or 2 of each product, vs 4 or 5 options over in Bellevue, or 6-10 options up at Hyde Park. It is the selection that keeps me away...

Yea that store is rad and a good thing for OTR.  Now all we need to do is keep getting stores like that down that street(and neighboring streets) and NOT be scared to go to that Kroger;) am I wrong? the loitering that goes on on the street outside is absolutely ridiculous.  Thats the reason everyone is scared to go there.

 

I've been there a couple of times myself, but I usually walk there with my husband.  However, I did walk there by myself this weekend, and no one bothered me.

Yea that store is rad and a good thing for OTR.  Now all we need to do is keep getting stores like that down that street(and neighboring streets) and NOT be scared to go to that Kroger;) am I wrong? the loitering that goes on on the street outside is absolutely ridiculous.  Thats the reason everyone is scared to go there.

 

I was just in that Kroger. That Kroger is GREAT. Much better than Corryville. And a hell of a lot cleaner.

If I lived in OTR I would shop there all the time. I'm not sure how great the produce and meat is but overall--cool kroger.

 

Sorry, I can't help myself but I find it ironic that people moving into OTR are afraid to walk past some loiterers to get into the Kroger. These are the same people that say suburbanites are clueless and fearful. I guess people won't be happy until OTR gets an expensive organic/natural food store full of disgusting soy products so they can still enjoy the architecture and be an 'urban pioneer' while not having to come face to face with the neighborhood's problems.

Exactly.  I went to SCPA all through highschool and I walked over there several times a month.  Those people aren't mean or looking for trouble, they're just bored sick and hang out there all day(but people are super affraid because they, think oh no big groups of black people...RUN!.  I say give them all a vendors liscense and cake the street with it...haha that might be kind of fun.  You gotta go experience streets like that in NYC to know what I'm talkin' about.

I know loitering is bad, it doesn't do anything to help the perception and I get annoyed when people ask me for money but it doesn't stop me from going to a cheap grocery store within walking distance. If people in the neighborhood have a problem with it, they should tell Kroger management to do something about it. Has anyone on here in OTR talked to a manager about the loitering?

I know loitering is bad, it doesn't do anything to help the perception and I get annoyed when people ask me for money but it doesn't stop me from going to a cheap grocery store within walking distance. If people in the neighborhood have a problem with it, they should tell Kroger management to do something about it. Has anyone on here in OTR talked to a manager about the loitering?

 

Whenever I've been up there, most of the loitering was not on Kroger's property.

I go there and no one really bothers you.  It is a very nice Kroger inside.  Great for getting the basics. You won't find many options for certain things but a three block walk beats getting in my car anyday.

As far as the Kroger goes, decent Kroger if it wasn't for the size.  Also, not a big fan of their meat or produce, but passable.  Honestly, I am probably just biased because if I am shopping down there its either the weekend and I am at the market, or its a weekday and I am walking back uphill, and I can still, well, hit the market (but I will stop there for a few things time and again on the way home)

 

As far as the loitering goes, does that really bother anyone?  I could care less about loitering, street dealing is what bothers me...  In a residential city neighborhood, thats just where folks hang out.  Noone usually bothers me...

Save-a-Lot in Northside gets the "Most ghetto grocery store in Cincinnati" award. They win with a landslide victory!

 

That Kroger could actually be a huge selling point for Vine St. and the surrounding area. I think most people assume it's terrible and dirty inside based on the loitering they see outside and if people haven't been in there because of that, it's likely they won't ever find that out.

Ah good ol' Save-a-Lot.  :-D

Perceptions are reality in those that hold the perception.  That means that this is a problem if anyone feels unsafe when walking into any store here in OTR.  It is a problem that needs to be tackled as many of our businesses like Kaldis fights for every dollar they get and can not afford to have anyone scared to walk through their front doors because of 10 or 15 people just parked outside.  That being said, it is imperative that we who do not feel intimidated by this visit these stores, Kroger included, and that store will do what it takes to keep us as a customer.  If we are not customers in the first place, why would a store want to drive away the loiterers as they are at least potential customers  We need to become actual customers and the store will respond accordingly.

 

The other problem is that some of these people are not customers of the store they are in front of but of an adjacent store.  There should be accountability for any business that negatively affects another.

The other problem is that some of these people are not customers of the store they are in front of but of an adjacent store.  There should be accountability for any business that negatively affects another.

 

Wasn't there some sort of major bust recently at an adjacent store?  I was hoping that would cut down on the loitering by Kroger.

I will be honest...the loitering bothers me.  I get the impression these are able people who should be at a job who are up to no good. I get comments made to me when I walk by like "hey blondie" ect.  There are nice parks around that people can congregate in but I don't like it on corners with no bus stops or in front of businesses.  Is there a cop at that Kroger like the there are at the ones at the Corryville and Walnut Hill location?

Hmmm, I wonder if this is more of a problem for women than men?  I hardly ever get a word out of folks hanging around on the streets, but I also am a fairly large man.

 

To Michael's comment, when the people who are loitering aren't doing anything wrong (and comments like "hey blondie" certainly aren't what I would consider "doing nothing wrong") I would much rather change the perception.  I prefer to work to change reality when reality and perception are, in actuality, the same.  However, when at least some of the perception is based upon what people imagine these folks are up to, well thats a different story.  (And I certainly think that is part of what goes on here) 

 

I certainly respect business owners who want to make sure people feel comfortable walking into their stores, but having grown up in a city as a kid, the sidewalks were our stomping grounds, its where we would play, and I wouldn't want that taken away...  There were parks around my parents place, but the cops were far more likely to chase us out of the  park so that we wouldn't bother the visitors there than from the streets.

 

I guess it all boils down to the fact that I dont' like drawing absolute lines.  There are people who are hanging out on the streets who just aren't doing anything wrong (regardless of whether they "should be at a job" - not quite sure what that means really - if they can afford (without govt. help) to not work or only work sporadically or work night shifts, whats the harm in hanging out).  Then there are folks who make nasty comments or who engage in street dealing, and those are the folks I would rather see something happen about.

Hmmm, I wonder if this is more of a problem for women than men?

 

If that's the case, then it really is a problem.  I can't remember if I read this here or somewhere else, but if you're trying to revitalize a neighborhood, the most important thing you can do is make sure that women always feel safe walking around.  The minute they don't, you have a major issue, because it doesn't matter how great the architecture is or how many trendy stores you have, if women are afraid of the neighborhood, they're more likely to stay away.  I had never thought about that before, but as soon as I heard it, I realized that it was true.  The men will go anywhere, provided that women go there as well, so you don't have to worry about drawing them in so much.  It's the women that you have to cater to.

^ Yup, this is absolutely true.  I am working on convincing my wife to sell or rent our current house to buy a place in OTR in the next few years, and frankly, this is the stumbling point.

 

However, the counterpoint is that I think many women wouldn't feel safe walking around in very large swaths of most cities... There has to be a balance, because we can't make the entire city Hyde Park Sqaure...

I still walk to Findley Market from my condo on 4th street, and I usually get left alone.  But it only take one time that someone lunges at you (oh yeah that happened one morning on a run) or someone makes you feel uncomfortable with comments, that makes you reconsider going to an area.  There was a time recently where a confrontation was happening on a corner of Washington Park, and I crossed the street to avoid being near it.  That is my problem with loitering....it can be territory driven.

 

I get the impression these are able people who should be at a job who are up to no good.

 

Thanks for calling me out on that comment.  It was not fair.  There are many people who work shifts, and I should give them the benefit of my doubt and not pass judgement.