a new restaurant by an operator who already has several downtown

That is not hard to put two and two together.

Yeah I know, so why not just say it :)

Hey folks let me know if those pics look dark on your monitors.  I've gotten some complaints from people I've sent photos to in the last few weeks.  The main problem is that I have an expensive monitor that shows shadow detail better than inexpensive monitors but also I've been perhaps going overboard in trying to get a high contrast slide look from digital. 

Does his name begin with the letter "J"?

^Look good to me on an old iBook, jmeck.

>Does his name begin with the letter "J"?

 

Saying I'm sending them to myself?  I wheeling and dealing, brother, every day of my life.  Specifically I got a complaint from someone whose name starts with "T", said I'd do something for $450 and the guy who bid $2K got it.  Why?  That's the capricious world of freelance for you.   

>Does his name begin with the letter "J"?

 

Saying I'm sending them to myself?  I wheeling and dealing, brother, every day of my life.  Specifically I got a complaint from someone whose name starts with "T", said I'd do something for $450 and the guy who bid $2K got it.  Why?  That's the capricious world of freelance for you.    

 

I think monte was referring to the person opening the new restaurant.

JR I would say.  Throw in an eff and uby and I think you will have it.

 

Saying I'm sending them to myself?  I wheeling and dealing, brother, every day of my life.  Specifically I got a complaint from someone whose name starts with "T", said I'd do something for $450 and the guy who bid $2K got it.  Why?  That's the capricious world of freelance for you.   

I would like to respond to this....

What?

JR I would say.  Throw in an eff and uby and I think you will have it.

 

Ok, the rumor I heard was a JR but add a "_ean _obert de Cavel"  I guess both could work :)

 

But you didn't hear it from me.

 

You could be right.  I was going off of the fact that Ruby said he was looking for another downtown spot and it wasn't going to be on the square.  But like you said, either JR would would work.

Jeff Ruby is already working on something with Bootsy Collins, right?  Would this be it?  Oh, i love the speculation of good things happening downtown.....

Both men have good restaurants, so either one is good news! 

The problem with a game like this is Cincy's big 2 restauranteurs bith have JR as their initials.

I am willing to say I may just be wrong.  This means my next phone call is to Paul and Pam Sturkey.

^ Oh, I would love a Sturkey's owned restaurant in the neighborhood.  My two favs of the moment in town are still Nicola's and Sturkey's in Wyoming.

The sidewalks and street need work on 12th.  Due to the lower traffic it'll probably be easier to restore brick or cobble streets to the side streets in OTR than the north/south streets.

 

Is there any kind of movement to restore brick and cobblestone streets in OTR...or to even re-install them with new materials?  I would like to see it done with the side streets (east-west streets), but I think if you were to try the main streets...it would be more trouble than it is worth with the engineers and public works.

 

I really think in three or so years if the street car is running people are going to come down and wonder where all this stuff came from when it's been there since around...1850.

 

You're absolutely right...I brought my dad along for the Saints and Sinners Tour and he was making those comments NOW!  He couldn't believe the collection of buildings in OTR and the condition that it was in.  Aside from Race St most of his comments were reflecting his astonishment of how much better the neighborhood is getting.

 

*Note we had 1 run in with an aggressive bum of sorts.  We walked down Vine past the man, and nothing was said.  I then stopped to take a picture at Vine and 12th and the man then turned around and followed us onto 12th.  He was shouting at us from across the street and then approached us shouting and going on a racial tirade.  I chalked it up to crazy, but nonetheless I wasn't appreciative of the behavior.

Combining for condos

BY JON NEWBERRY | [email protected]

March 28, 2007

 

OVER-THE-RHINE - Looking for an affordable and not-too-adventurous way to become a part of Cincinnati's urban revival? Four developers think they may have the answer at 12th and Vine streets.

 

B2B Equities, Model Group, Northpointe Group and Urban Sites have banded together to market 93 new and renovated condominiums within a block of 12th and Vine. Including the new Gateway One condos on Vine between Central Parkway and 12th, they're being marketed as a group under the common name Gateway Quarter.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070328/BIZ01/703280334/1076/BIZ

Some photos from the Gateway Open House / Ribbon Cutting:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow...those look as good on the inside as they do on the outside!!!  Fantastic job!!!

Wow those interiors look spectacular! Especially the first ones!

 

The wood beams look like crap, however.

Specifically I got a complaint from someone whose name starts with "T", said I'd do something for $450 and the guy who bid $2K got it.  Why?  That's the capricious world of freelance for you.   

I would like to respond to this....

What?

 

Yeah...turns out the guy had been charging $4,000 for maybe 20 hours (and that includes a few dozen smoke breaks) of work each year for the past few, big boss man put it out to bid, I and a few others came in around $400-600, he's so embarassed at having spent so much the past few years he offers the original guy $2,000 and he takes it.  Sure, he's still overpaying, but he doesn't look to his boss (probably the president) like he'd been overpaying quite so much the past few years.     

 

Wow, those units look incredible!

>Does his name begin with the letter "J"?

 

Saying I'm sending them to myself?  I wheeling and dealing, brother, every day of my life.  Specifically I got a complaint from someone whose name starts with "T", said I'd do something for $450 and the guy who bid $2K got it.  Why?  That's the capricious world of freelance for you.   

 

I think monte was referring to the person opening the new restaurant.

 

LOL, yes.

Some photos from the Gateway Open House / Ribbon Cutting:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's incredible!

Just what exactly are we looking at here?

^ an upsidedown wine glass of course.

 

My guess is they just had to find an interesting way to cover something up such as a column or plumbing.

Thx for quoting the entire freaking post David!

AlambamExPat already posted this in the Cincinnati Restaurant discussion but since we talked about it here I thought I'd post it. The rumor was right! And some new info on Park+Vine and Metronation.

 

Jean-Robert headed to Over-the-Rhine

De Cavel plans restaurant in 'Gateway Quarter'

 

By Joe Wessels

Post contributor

 

Cincinnati restaurateur Jean-Robert de Cavel plans to open a new restaurant late this year or early next in the city's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, joining a growing group of business owners giving the troubled neighborhood a chance.

 

The owner of popular downtown restaurants JeanRo Bistro and Jean-Robert at Pigall's said he plans to open a café akin to his Greenup Café, near the foot of the Suspension Bridge in Covington's Licking Riverside neighborhood.

 

http://news.kypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070330/NEWS01/703300361/1014/NEWS02

I was mistaken, hats off to ballhatguy.  Well I have to call some people up to gloat about OTR now, so everyone have a good weekend.

I was mistaken, hats off to ballhatguy. Well I have to call some people up to gloat about OTR now, so everyone have a good weekend.

 

Thats funny...I made sure to do that as soon as I found out!  :laugh:

Notes on a few buildings...

 

218 W Fourteenth St is supposed to be razed soon by the City.  This two-family from the Civil War era has been falling apart for years and has been deemed hazardous.  It was also a well-documented drug and prostitution hangout.

 

1925 Vine St, which I mentioned in my March 3 post, is going into pre-prosecution hearings soon.  At that point more will be known about demolition or rehab plans.

 

1621 Pleasant St has been declared a public nuisance.  The windows are busted out, the mortar is cracking and the siding is in terrible shape.  The building looks abandoned.  Any work (demo or rehab) would have to go before the Historic Conservation Board, because this building is in a historic district.

 

1534 Republic St has gone into pre-prosecution.  It's had the same owner for many years and has always been in poor condition.  It's a burned-out shell.

(No photo, but, heading southbound, it's two houses down the east side of Republic St from Liberty St.)

 

1618 Pleasant St is heading to pre-prosecution after being condemned in February.  There is a new owner, but no plans have been made regarding the building's status.  This is shoddy infill housing from the 1920s, purchased last December for $1,600.  It needs a ton of work.  Normally I grieve when buildings are torn down in OTR.  This would be an exception.

 

1619 is a cute house just down the street from findlay market. I almost bought it but it needed a little too much work,  over 19 code violations for starters. I have tons of photos of the inside. The garage with 2 tandem spots is what almost sold me, that and the building behind it that came with it.  I had big dreams for that little house.  :cry:

218 W. 14th is gone...  I had my eye on this one, but couldn't take it on this year.  Too bad it couldn't stay up another couple years. 

 

There have been way too many demolitions in this part of OTR as of late.  I hear thru the grapevine that 3CDC is going to start some demos also.  It would be one thing if any new structures ever got built on these demo sites, but we all know the highest future use will be parking lots.

I hear thru the grapevine that 3CDC is going to start some demos also.  It would be one thing if any new structures ever got built on these demo sites, but we all know the highest future use will be parking lots.

I have been preaching that forever.

Unfortunately, there aren't many bidders for those buildings.

Revitalization coming to Vine Street in O-T-R

BY NICOLE HAMILTON | [email protected]

April 10, 2007

 

OVER-THE-RHINE – Gateway Quarter, the latest Downtown revitalization project, will bring more than 100 condos, new restaurants and retailers to the intersection of 12th and Vine Streets this year. But Jim Moll of Builder Resources says this isn’t the first time Vine Street will be the epicenter of urban development.

 

“The area was second only to Paris,” says Moll of Vine Street in the late 1800s. “The area was dense and vibrant. It was really at the center [of Downtown].”

^Man, if money were no problem, I would have an OTR townhome for the weekends in a minute, too.

 

I didn't know where else to put this, but I thought it was relevant information to share:

 

OTR group has new director

BY JOE WESSELS | CINCINNATI POST

April 13, 2007

 

OVER-THE-RHINE - After 15 years with the same leader, the Over-the-Rhine Foundation has named a new managing director.

 

Michael Morgan, an attorney and real estate agent, has been hired to take over control of the organization that has been working to promote and beautify the neighborhood since 1992. The organization's first and only director, Marge Hammelrath, has decided to retire, but plans to stay on to help with the transition.

^

Mike is going to be a great director for the Foundation.  He spearheaded most of the Brewery District events and projects over the last two years including the Prohibition Resistance Tour, Bockfest, and the upcoming Moerlein OTR Ale Haus.

 

Morgan said there is still plenty of work to do in Over-the-Rhine to keep the momentum going, and he thinks the many groups in the neighborhood working to make it better - upwards of 100 separate groups, by some counts - are at a point where they are ready to cooperate better.

 

"What I would like to accomplish first and foremost is to get everybody in Over-the-Rhine, or the majority, working together rather than duplicating efforts, stepping on each other's toes and constantly fighting," he said. "Everybody is ready to work together."

 

That is the key quote.  There are a number of different things underway that will hopefully allow us to continue to build upon the great progress down here.

"What I would like to accomplish first and foremost is to get everybody in Over-the-Rhine, or the majority, working together rather than duplicating efforts, stepping on each other's toes and constantly fighting," he said. "Everybody is ready to work together."

 

Unfortunatly Marge could not do this.  I have always liked Mike and he has a good head on his shoulders.  This makes my life on Main a lot easier.

 

He'll be quitting his real estate job with Huff Realty and concentrating fully on working in the neighborhood.

This part I didn't like so much, Mike was, or still is for the time being, a great agent.

Here is a link to a documentary that is being done on OTR.

 

http://www.dorstmediaworks.com/projectnet/OTR/

Here is a link to a documentary that is being done on OTR.

 

http://www.dorstmediaworks.com/projectnet/OTR/

 

Thanks, Michael. I can't wait to see it!!!

This rings very true, (front page of the above link)

" In a neighborhood on the precipice between decay and renaissance, we encounter a quintessential American story: personal struggle and collective renewal. But Cincinnati’s version of the American dream is unique, with dynamic entrepreneurs drawing inspiration from their city’s distinctive cultural heritage. Will they succeed in bringing Over-the-Rhine back?"

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has an eight page feature article on OTR and 3CDC's role in their magazine.  Only an excerpt is available online.

http://www.nationaltrust.org/Magazine/current/feature1.htm

 

Dansby works for a powerful development corporation called 3CDC. Officially, those initials stand for Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation. But in Over-the-Rhine, an impoverished and mostly African American neighborhood, 3CDC is shorthand for "white guys in suits." After all, the business elites who run corporations like Procter & Gamble and Kroger back 3CDC with tens of millions of dollars. Never mind that the stereotype isn't always true: Dansby is black, and on a Friday morning, he is wearing jeans and a red shirt, fashionably untucked. Suspicions are aroused easily in the shadow of skyscrapers.

 

What's causing angst these days is that 3CDC has been rapidly buying up empty buildings and weedy lots in Over-the-Rhine. Six years ago, 3CDC didn't exist. But in 2001, when a police shooting triggered race riots in the neighborhood, the business community decided it had to get involved, and with city hall's blessing, 3CDC became its vehicle. Since then, the development corporation has become Over-the-Rhine's biggest landowner and its chief power broker. Not only is it positioned to decide the fate of one of the nation's largest collections of 19th-century buildings—a veritable museum of Italianate, Queen Anne, and Greek revival architecture—it will also have a big say over who can afford to live and work there.

 

Dansby's job is to manage both the portfolio and the politics, and it's the latter that has him thinking of Star Wars. In the previous weeks, Dansby has hosted a series of what he calls "rap sessions" to explain 3CDC's intentions to the community. Thinking back on them, he sings a few bars of the menacing brass line that signals Darth Vader's entrances: Dun dun dun, don de dun, don de dun. "Sometimes when I walk in the room, it's like the evil empire of 3CDC has arrived," Dansby says with a laugh. "A lot of people think we're out to displace folks and knock down buildings. They're making a lot of assumptions about things that aren't true."

Those curved walls are kinda wild.

 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has an eight page feature article on OTR and 3CDC's role in their magazine.  Only an excerpt is available online.

http://www.nationaltrust.org/Magazine/current/feature1.htm

 

Dansby works for a powerful development corporation called 3CDC. Officially, those initials stand for Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation. But in Over-the-Rhine, an impoverished and mostly African American neighborhood, 3CDC is shorthand for "white guys in suits." After all, the business elites who run corporations like Procter & Gamble and Kroger back 3CDC with tens of millions of dollars. Never mind that the stereotype isn't always true: Dansby is black, and on a Friday morning, he is wearing jeans and a red shirt, fashionably untucked. Suspicions are aroused easily in the shadow of skyscrapers.

 

What's causing angst these days is that 3CDC has been rapidly buying up empty buildings and weedy lots in Over-the-Rhine. Six years ago, 3CDC didn't exist. But in 2001, when a police shooting triggered race riots in the neighborhood, the business community decided it had to get involved, and with city hall's blessing, 3CDC became its vehicle. Since then, the development corporation has become Over-the-Rhine's biggest landowner and its chief power broker. Not only is it positioned to decide the fate of one of the nation's largest collections of 19th-century buildingsa veritable museum of Italianate, Queen Anne, and Greek revival architectureit will also have a big say over who can afford to live and work there.

 

Dansby's job is to manage both the portfolio and the politics, and it's the latter that has him thinking of Star Wars. In the previous weeks, Dansby has hosted a series of what he calls "rap sessions" to explain 3CDC's intentions to the community. Thinking back on them, he sings a few bars of the menacing brass line that signals Darth Vader's entrances: Dun dun dun, don de dun, don de dun. "Sometimes when I walk in the room, it's like the evil empire of 3CDC has arrived," Dansby says with a laugh. "A lot of people think we're out to displace folks and knock down buildings. They're making a lot of assumptions about things that aren't true."

 

 

I may be jumping the gun here,not having read the full article;but this excerpt really gives me pause.  I know there are still some questions concerning  3CDC, particularly their intentions as regards the whole Washington Park ,Vine Street and Rothenburg Elementary schools. Hand in hand with the school question is the unresolved issue (at least as I understand it)of what their plans are for those 22 buidings they had slated for demolition around Mercer street. These seem to me the most obvious reasons to keep a wary eye on 3CDC. Oh, and their plans for the Music Hall garage(am I correct in stating that is their development?).

 

Having said  that, my inclination is to regard 3CDC as ally, supporter and apparent SAVIOR of OTR. Am I going overboard in my praise? Perhaps,but realistically where was the neighborhood headed before they threw their hat in the ring? Suffering a slow painful death with a rapidly approaching "POINT OF NO RETURN". I know there were/are those staunch defenders,the plucky urban vanguard going against the grain, investing their blood sweat and tears etc...but that wasn't enough. There was more tearing down than building up. The face of OTR was changing alright:but it was  an aging,tired,haggard, and increasingly 'toothless' face.  In all honesty, OTR was KAPUT!!

 

 

Now however, there is change afoot. Not just talk of change,but TANGIBLE PROOF!!  Everywhere there are signs of this change,evidence that a new day has dawned in OTR.The best part is that the most striking transformation is occurring not on the outskirts,not on the hillsides ringing the city:but in the heart of the district,VINE STREET and areas adjoining it are experiencing a renaissance. The momentum is building and these are very,very exciting times!!

 

 

You all know this.I have not said anything that is not obvious to anyone who is following this rebirth. My concern here is the aforementioned article,and National Trust For Historical Preservations' take on what is occurring in OTR. As I said at the out-set,I may be premature in my assessment.....however, I just cant shake this bad feeling. Many of you are not old enough to recall another  comparable  period in OTR history. In the late 70's early 80's there was great interest and will to invest in the neighborhood. The developments taking place on Prospect Hill,Mulberry and others was pushing down the hillsides and was destined to arrive in the inner city. Apparently this was a terrible,terrible thing, a fate worse than death. A crime of unspeakable proportions was about to take place in Cincinnati.This sad tale was repeated in the national news and on 60 Minutes. Opposition had to be mounted to counter this great injustice. Soon, homeless advocates,minority leaders,socialist organizations  and everybody else were involved. "Gentrification" was a very bad word indeed. And the city and investors were hammered with claims that the rich white element was pushing out the poor,the homeless,the minority,the infirm etc.  It seemed as though it was preferred that OTR remain a slum,a ghetto for those on the fringes of society.  Investment stopped,notwithstanding the occasional urban pioneer,staking his claim to this truly magnificently unique neighborhood.

 

It seems as tho the National Trust is  trying to resurrect that type of environment. An environment of resistance to investment and gentrification.  I hope I am wrong.. There are so many good things happening now. I would hate to see all that momentum lost.

I am not advocating that 3CDC get a carte blanche pass to do as they please.By all means let us hold their feet to the fire. In fact,most signs point to them as being very respectful of the needs of the neighborhood. Residents needs should be addressed,their voices above most others should be heard.But,   NEW LIFE  NEW BLOOD  is needed.     If there is a villain here it is hubris, of the group or the individual thinking they know whats best for OTR.We all have a stake,and a voice in the future of OTR. A future that,for the first time in a long time, is looking very bright indeed. 

Lets turn back the ravages of time and neglect and reclaim what is perhaps the greatest asset of THE QUEEN CITY.

And not let others, however well intentioned, move us off of our goal.

I would rather that OTR was rehabbed by home-owners and small developers aka Northside, and that is happening in parts of OTR.  But OTR is bigger, with subneighborhoods, and the buildings are often bigger and in worse condition, which requires a more sophisticated developer than one and two family houses do.  On top of that is the political nature of being the neighborhood right next to downtown that was experimented on by several waves of programs and invested with so much mythology by the larger city.

 

Interestingly 3CDC has concentrated in the area that was traditionally buddy gray's area of concentration.  I'm not saying they consciously decided to pick a fight with Restoc, it may have been that the west side of OTR was worse off because there were few if any of the small developers operating over on this side, and it finally got to the desperation point after 2001. 

 

Most likely 3CDC is going to come into more and more criticism as they become the major player and land developer.  I just hope they actually rehab the hundreds of units they have purchased and that they don't expire by scandal or some change of political winds before they get their job done.  Yes it would have been better if the rehabs had happened years ago in a more organic way, but it didn't, and now corporate Cincinnati has stepped in. 

Has anybody tried to buy a property from 3CDC ?

There is not much incentive to rehab a building that is surrounded by run down vacant shells owned by a variety of people.

Just having one owner (3CDC) commited to fixing the area up could help get individual rehabbers to commit to the neighborhood.

Or, maybe I am too optimistic. (not usually one of my problems)

Gateway Quarter lures business

BY JEFF MCKINNEY | [email protected]

April 22, 2007

 

PHOTO: Metronation owners Jerry Schmidt (left), George Crawford and Melissa Waters are opening a bigger store in Over-the-Rhine that allows for more furniture, and a larger baby and children's selection.

THE ENQUIRER/GARY LANDERS

 

OVER-THE-RHINE - Hoping to prosper from new development and people willing to shop in rejuvenated areas in this neighborhood, specialty home accessories and gift store Metronation is moving to a new site that will triple its size.

^ The expanded furniture idea should work well.  Ambitious to plan opening in 1.5 months.