It's such an incredible amount of space that this one project is using up; something like 22 acres.  I'm hoping that when it's done that this project comes off as an extreme wow, maybe a bit of flare.  Maybe huge gorgeous fountains in all of that extra space they have.  The plans that I’ve seen appear to make it look closer to a suburban project especially with the way it’s all sprawled out, even the design of the building.  Maybe it will wow me after it’s done, but it just doesn’t appear to be doing that so far.  When they build the hotel portion, is it being built on top of the parking?    I’m assuming that maybe with a high-rise hotel, it will have a signature look to it that will add a grand look to an impressive skyline.  Once it’s operational, the hotels in the downtown area will presumably start filling up and be at a high occupancy, then the construction on the hotel portion should be just around the corner after that happens.    I’m sure with all of the money that they’ve put into this that they should have an idea as to what the hotel portion would look like when it is to be built.  Curious to see the plans of the hotel if this is the case. 

The hotel threshold is pretty high- Casino reps are just counting on the 5 year limit for the hotel, not the high occupancy.

 

Hotel will be built on the orange outlined section.

^That will be a dramatic improvement. The casino is filling the site up pretty decently, but creating a larger streetwall is definitely desired. Are there plans for the other portions of the site? That garage being completely surrounded by development, either for the casino or private development, that would really result in an awesome district.

No other plans at this time.  I do figure that a few years after the hotel opens (8-9 years from now) they would consider doing something with the back half of the lot.

Really looking far ahead but what of the possibility that a convention center could occupy the NE arm of the property.  How big of a footprint does that have?  Thoughts?

It's smaller than the current site, also you'd need way more parking. Do while it would be neat, it's not very feasible :(

 

 

Why couldn’t they have put the parking underground underneath the casino?  It could’ve freed up a lot of that huge 22 acre parcel.  Such a waste of prime downtown space.   

Why couldn’t they have put the parking underground underneath the casino?  It could’ve freed up a lot of that huge 22 acre parcel.  Such a waste of prime downtown space.   

 

Yea, who knows.  I honestly cannot believe the community approved this project.  It is a travesty and is so unfortunate.  It is about as urban as DT Indianapolis.  (zing)

^A caller into Cincinnati sports radio tonight who went to the superbowl remarked "there was no traffic!".  There is serious Indianapolis envy going on amongst the sports bar set, so they'll love this casino. 

Six firms cited in casino accident

 

The six firms cited and their proposed penalties are:

• Messer Construction Co., Bond Hill, four citations, $25,200.

• J&B Steel Erectors Inc., in Hamilton, five citations, including one deemed not serious, $19,600.

• Pendleton Construction Group LLC., Spring Grove Village, four citations, $16,800.

• D.A.G. Construction Co. Spring Grove Village., four citations, $15,120.

• TriVersity Construction Co. , LLC in Lockland, four citations, $16,800.

• Jostin Construction Inc. in Walnut Hills, three citations, $14,700.

 

Six construction firms working on the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, including construction manager Messer Construction Co., were issued proposed penalties totaling $108,220 stemming from the casino’s second-floor collapse on Jan. 27, which hospitalized more than a dozen workers and halted construction for a week.

 

The size of the proposed fines reflect that the violations were found to be serious, but not willful, as well as the firms’ strong safety records. The citations end OSHA’s investigation into the collapse, other than appeals by the firms.

Somebody just noticed the proximity of the jail.

Must be an election year.

Jail proximity to new casino raises worries

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120509/NEWS/305090149&Ref=AR

Wow... next they're going to notice how close it is to the Greyhound Station. 

Meh... if they're going to bring it up, we should use it as an excuse to improve the pedestrian environment in that area -

 

-Pedestrian Scale Lighting

-Creation of pedestrian corridors through improved wayfinding & signage

-Improvement of the human environment through aesthetic enhancements - sidewalk textures, planters, lighting, etc.

 

That area along Broadway & Sycamore has always felt sterile to me - I walk along Main just to avoid it.

Proximity to the jail was argument #1 against the Broadway Commons baseball stadium.  Now they're using that fear to argue for a new jail.

I've been checking this thread for you all's Casino rendering or progress so far but I can't find it...can someone help?

You're right...maybe nobody's posting photos because everyone who posts here sees the damn thing every day.

You can see some renderings here: www.horseshoe.com/info/cincinnati/ and a virtual tour here:

Councilman Winburn wants casino revenues to balance the budget.

 

Here are some pictures of casino progress from a really cool blog that I just started to follow:

http://andobayanka.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/casino-update-permanent-road-closure/

 

 

As an expat, I always welcome pictures of the developments going on in Cincinnati.  I haven't been home in over 6 months now, and am anxious to see the progress of the various big developments when I visit in 2 weeks.

Thanks for sharing!

In that video, I'm not seeing any part of the casino floor with a high ceiling like what the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg has.  Is there going to be any kind of central interior architectural feature, or is this thing going to be as bland as what I'm seeing here?

You're right...maybe nobody's posting photos because everyone who posts here sees the damn thing every day.

God that was rude I just wanted to make some interior comparisons of yours to the one here in Cleveland. Even though we saw or building everyday we still posted progress and the rendering to the Phase II. Thank you to the people who helped me..

So your casino is downtown as well or somewhere else like Columbus'?

You're right...maybe nobody's posting photos because everyone who posts here sees the damn thing every day.

 

What the hell is this post? Damn Jake- If I hadn't seen what you look like I'd think you you were a 75 year old cranky westsider. 

 

 

So your casino is downtown as well or somewhere else like Columbus'?

 

Downtown! And walking distance (8 blocks) from the riverfront. 

So your casino is downtown as well or somewhere else like Columbus'?

 

Downtown! And walking distance (8 blocks) from the riverfront.

Thank you sounds like a good location that's where our second phase is supposed to be (off the cuyahoga river) Good luck with yours!!

I travel by the ongoing construction almost daily (either by the #4 Metro on Reading Rd. or the #11 Metro on Gilbert Ave.), and I, too, can attest to how much a part of downtown this new casino really is.  Yes, it DOES sit uncomfortably near the Hamilton County Jail, but so what?  What are all the inmates gonna do--break out and rob casino patrons?  That's really a non-issue.

Watching that video I am getting pissed off all over again about the "front lawn"!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrr!!!

 

Especially after seeing how swank the Cleveland casino is. They are going to spend a sh!tload of money on poor urban design? Lame!

Watching that video I am getting pissed off all over again about the "front lawn"!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrr!!!

 

Especially after seeing how swank the Cleveland casino is. They are going to spend a sh!tload of money on poor urban design? Lame!

What do you like about our (Cleveland's) Casino lol

It's in an attractive historic building rather than a postmodern monstrosity with a front lawn.

It's in an attractive historic building rather than a postmodern monstrosity with a front lawn.

Your cities design isn't that bad I actually like it but the grass space in a downtown neighborhood is head scratching

It would be okay without the grass space.

It would be okay without the grass space.

Yeah that aspect makes it look suburban instead of urban

While it's a very poorly defined space, at least the grass can always be replaced with a plaza, which would be much more appropriate. 

Ya, and I don't see how anyOne can argue that the parking lot that was there would be better than the grass.

 

And there was 0 chance that would ever be a building. It was a tiny triangle parking lot owned by the county. No developer was going to touch it.

It would be okay without the grass space.

 

I think it's pretty cool...I agree about the lawn space, though.

Should be a good addition to the cityscape of Cincinnati.

 

Well they make it look like there's going to be a semi-permanent stage.  Can't wait for them to start poaching acts from the Taste of Blue Ash.  Sheena Easton.  Cherry Poppin Daddies.  Foghat.

A lawn won't be too bad there, especially if there is some sort of stone border or something around it, like the lawn at Smale.  Lots of people sit there during lunch, etc. and so long as the casino "lawn" is open to the public I think it'll be utilized during an average day, aside from the events they will have.

I'm still hoping for a fountain at the end of Central Parkway. 

I'm still hoping for a fountain at the end of Central Parkway.

Yes, yes, yes!  A fountain would be very nice.  I would hope for many water features in that area.

 

A roundabout with a fountain or other large sculptural item would certainly be a good way to go.  Alas, we get a front lawn instead.

 

 

http://www.jjakucyk.com/portfolio/otr.html

Looks like the first racinco rake in 12+ million after a month of operation. Casinos should have their revenue announced soon. I thought July 5. I guess Cleveland is still laundering the profits before they make it official. I know what goes on up there. I just watched Kill the Irishman. ;-) http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the-irishman/

A roundabout with a fountain or other large sculptural item would certainly be a good way to go.  Alas, we get a front lawn instead.

 

 

 

Roundabouts are awful for pedestrians as well as traffic flow.  Their only useful purpose is commercial space, and that only works in tighter roundabouts specifically planned for such.  Having a landfill in the middle of the road or a fountain no one can interact with isn't as attractive as it seems.

I would disagree. The notion that roundabouts are unsafe for pedestrians or cyclists is unfounded, much like roundabouts are unsafe for drivers because they are too confusing. The University of Tennessee, with a report funded by the Southeastern Transportation Center with a grant from the USDOT, found that modern roundabouts, in urban, suburban and rural settings, reduced vehicular crashes by 39% on average and injury crashes by 76% in one study of 24 intersection conversions (Crash Reductions Following Intallation of Roundabouts in the United States, IIHS).

 

In general, pedestrian incidents are rare. An example was cited in the report at North Carolina State University at a heavily traveled throughfare, where one intersection had 300 annual vehicle crashes and only seven pedestrian incidents. But that is also because pedestrian data is pretty rare, and that at most intersections, pedestrian activity is pretty rare. Modern roundabouts, according to the FHWA Design Guide, should have a roundabout splitter island that acts as a refuge for pedestrians and allows them to cross one direction of traffic at a time. The crosswalks are set back from the yield line to increase sight distances, but this also increases (minimal) walking distances. Roundabouts are not perceived to be safe by pedestrians, but roundabouts improve pedestrian safety, especially at major crossings. Approach speeds are far lower, and unexpected turning movements are eliminated. But a roundabout requires pedestrians to gauge distances between cars since there is usually a seamless flow of traffic.

 

Here is a rundown: There is little pedestrian crash data for roundabouts, and more for intersections. Traffic speeds are lower in roundabouts, but higher in intersections. There are more traffic calming measures (by the inherent design) in a roundabout than an intersection. There is a pedestrian refuge area in a roundabout (or should be) than an intersection. The number of pedestrian and vehicle conflicts is eight in a roundabout, or as low as 16 in an intersection. The judging gaps in a roundabout is fairly easy since speeds are lower and the number of potential turning conflicts are eliminated, but difficult in a typical intersection.

 

Based on the study, which is for the conversion of a major four-lane roadway into a two-lane road with roundabouts, it concluded that based on studies and simulations, and just research, that pedestrian incidents would be reduced while handling the same amount of pedestrians at any given intersection. There would be lower speeds and fewer conflict points, both of which are key for improving pedestrian mobility.

The roundabout that I drew there is definitely too large a radius, which leads to higher circulating speeds that does hurt performance.  However, everything Sherman said is right on.  The other thing is that they actually do improve traffic flow in aggregate, because traffic flows constantly rather than being stopped and started intermittently.  Once you get into multi-lane circles and traffic volumes over a certain threshold (which I do not think are present in this particular area, but I'm not sure) then yes they probably aren't the best solution.  However, they are good at dealing with odd geometric problems like there are here.  Besides, they're all over Europe and the UK, and in many highly urban areas, so they obviously work in such contexts. 

I never said roundabouts are unsafe for pedestrians, but they do require an exorbitant amount of walking and waiting.  At any roundabout, there's going to be plenty of stoplights, and at an economically thriving roundabout, there's gonna be even more stop and go associated with lights from blocks before the roundabout from all sides as well as the roundabout itself.  You're more likely to get caught by a light than you will be to ever make one.  I live in Europe and long ago I safely concluded  that they don't add much but ambiance while passing by in a vehicle.  They're not all that fun on foot.

For what it's worth, driving down Reading Road by the casino definitely gives the feeling of a large blank wall.

That, and it's a humongous road.  I really hope the give a bunch of extra sidewalk space to the north side of Reading. 

Sidewalks will be 15 feet on the north  side (up from about 5-6 feet today) and 13-14 feet on the south side.

 

Buffett's 'Margaritaville' finds new home at Horseshoe Casino

 

http://www.fox19.com/story/19184006/buffetts-margaritaville-restaurant-to-open-in-cincy-casino

^ A slice of Eastgate, right downtown!  Awesome!