I'm not even talking about smoke in bars. They proposed a smoking ban OUTSIDE. Ridiculous.

agreed

^back to Calhoun though.  At least someone decided to plant grass to make it somewhat attractive looking and usable.  I saw hundreds of Marshall and West Virginia football fans use that area for tailgating before the games last fall.  Nice to know someone is using it for something.

I'm curious to see what the development will look like.

I'm curious to see what the development will look like.

 

my assumption is just like UPA? am I wrong to assume that?

I'm sure they'll want it to "fit in" but I certainly hope it's not exactly the same style. I wouldn't mind them using the same building materials. I like the brick they used from UPA.

 

Anyone know if it will be the scale of UPA?

I still think every media outlet should have a specialist who can guide journalists on where to do research and who to friggin interview! They don't seem to do a good job on their own.

 

 

 

think this is from the news record

I'm sure they'll want it to "fit in" but I certainly hope it's not exactly the same style. I wouldn't mind them using the same building materials. I like the brick they used from UPA.

 

Anyone know if it will be the scale of UPA?

 

The original proposal had buildings near the size of UPA. We will definetely have to see what Towne comes up with. I imagine it will still be in that 5-10 story range

I hope whatever they decide to put into the location will "fit" into the existing buildings already located on McMillian.  I think UPA looks ok because of the location.  Do you really want to see a "Canyon" of sorts along Calhoun? 

I guess it would be "canyon" like, but the sightlines down calhoun aren't that great to begin with.  I don' t think more 5 - 10 stories on the other side would really bother me...  In fact, it may help to "frame" the area as a place all its own.

It could actually create quite an interesting view with 5-10 story buildings on both sides with the view terminating at Hughes. . . could really frame the space pretty well (if done correctly)

Yeah, I would expect something in that height range.  I would imagine that it will have a different look that UPA since it is being done by a different developer.  Based off of what Towne has done in the past...I could see this one paying a greater attention to detail.  All in good time though.

Height is Good!

Hopefully there is some ground-level retail or something facing McMillan Street as well, not just Calhoun.

It could actually create quite an interesting view with 5-10 story buildings on both sides with the view terminating at Hughes. . . could really frame the space pretty well (if done correctly)

 

Exactly.  Semi-uniform heights leading up to Hughes could make quite a dramatic street.  Hopefully the western side of the street won't be an architectural failure like the eastern side. Live and learn, right?

Hopefully there is some ground-level retail or something facing McMillan Street as well, not just Calhoun.

 

I don't see the harm in that, but the previous plan called for townhouses along McMillan as to not be such an abrupt change in densities I guess.

The east side could still be saved though especially going about a block up from UC you get some nice variations in architecture but that's tearoff from what will go up on the west side.

does anyone know anything about new businesses opening in the 'Old Town' district of McMillian? ...I'm talking about the block that has American Apparel and Baba Budan's.

 

The old middle eastern restaurant has closed and the space is gutted. They just installed a new all glass facade (similar to the one at American Apparel) on Saturday.

 

Additionally, 2 or 3 doors down, there is renovation of another empty storefront going on...mostly just painting it looks like. 

 

Very interested in what's going in here.

 

on another note, today is free cone day at Ben & Jerry's...which makes the closing of the one on Calhoun that much more unfortunate...

The old middle eastern restaurant is becoming a Jerusalem Restaurant.  I don't know what's going on 2/3 doors down from there.

A Jerusalem Restaurant?  Is that the name of a chain or a type of food?  If it is the latter, I wasn't aware that there was quisine unique to Jerusalem itself.

That's what the sign said that was up a week ago...so I don't know if that's the name or not.  Given the vague name of the previous restaurant there I wouldn't be surprised if this was another one of that sorts.

That's interesting.  Before Mediterranean House opened (that was the official name) the place was called Jerusalem Cafe.  Never ate at Jerusalem Cafe but I think the food was similar to Mediterranean House.

 

For those that were never there, Mediterranean House was a very cute little restaurant (probably about a dozen tables) that specialized in an all-the-time buffet.  Very, very tasty and also included as much jasmin tea and turkish coffee as you want.  The owner (and main employee, it seemed) was also very nice.

 

The new storefront (with the large windows) definitely looks 1,000 times better than what it was.

The new storefront (with the large windows) definitely looks 1,000 times better than what it was.

 

haha agreed. I never actually ate there when it was still open because I could never tell if they were open or closed and it just seemed dead and rather shady to me, buttt I love middle eastern food and I really hope they get their act together to offer this area another ethnic food option.

The guy who runs Baba's also runs the Middle Eastern deli on Ludlow, I wonder if he is expanding/taking over?

The Mediterranean House had some good food although when I went it seemed like much of it had been sitting for awhile. Lets hope all those new windows encourage more business and as a result, fresher food!

does anyone have an email or contact info for someone within CHCURC?

 

I'd like to try and get involved with them, or at least attend meeting and know what all is going on, especially with the Calhoun mess....

oh, also there was a crew this morning doing some minor demolition work on the 2 fast food restaurants on Calhoun. Some guy (the property owner perhaps) drove up in a 7-seres and began directing these guys. They started to take gutters down and had all the electrical boxes open. There were also some guys on the roof and inside the buildings as well. very interesting stuff....this is really the only activity I've seen...ever. 

I don't understand why those two buildings are still there.  Is the eminent domain case still going on?  Even so, there's no way that anyone would ever re-use either of those buildings as they exist now.  Tear them down and put down grass seed like they did on the rest of the block.

They won the eminent domain battle in the courts and kept the land.

They won the eminent domain battle in the courts and kept the land.

 

is this a new development?

 

does this mean that Towne will develop everything except these two plots of land?

No, the eminent domain case was lost about a year or so ago if I remember correctly.  What this means is that the property owner (same entity owns both properties) will hold onto the land for a little longer and ask for more money.

 

Keep in mind that the Hardee's site has been vacant for years...long before there was an interest to redevelop the site.  So just like in the Norwood case, they'll holdout and eventually get more money for their properties.

 

Towne Properties just came on board and I think the idea is to develop the area in phases (as was already planned)...but in this case the portion where these properties exist will probably be later on so that they can get started right away with the other portions of the project.  The previous development proposal had this location as being one of the earliest parts developed and really was unable to be chopped up in a reasonable fashion to work around these two properties.

 

From my understanding negotiations have been ongoing with the owner so that there will be no obstacles once it comes time to develop.

Great info.  Thanks.  That Kroghetto and lot will be torn down this summer right?

It is just unfortunate that these spots couldn't be a part of 'the field of dreams' that was funded mostly by the promise of UC students paying tuition for years into the future.

Great info.  Thanks.  That Kroghetto and lot will be torn down this summer right?

 

I don't think the University Plaza project is moving forward quite that quickly.  I know some of the development on Short Vine will be developed soon, but the Kroger area is still undergoing studies on how to reconnect Vine Street to Short Vine.

Great info.  Thanks.  That Kroghetto and lot will be torn down this summer right?

 

I don't think the University Plaza project is moving forward quite that quickly.  I know some of the development on Short Vine will be developed soon, but the Kroger area is still undergoing studies on how to reconnect Vine Street to Short Vine.

 

oh man, this cannot come soon enough. that area is such a mess. It actually scares me more than some other considerably more seedy areas of the city.

 

does anyone know who the property owner is of the arby's/hardee's on calhoun? Is this public record? I'd like to try and do some research so I can more easily stay on top of any new developments.

Corryville IS bad. I'm never afraid to walk around there but any time something bad happens in Corryville, it's in the news. It's percieved as that ultra-super-ghetto neighborhood next to campus. It also doesn't help that panhandlers are everywhere on that street and students love to tell horror stories about people being robbed for their laptops in their backpack. Indeed, the new Kroger isn't coming fast enough.

Hamilton County Auditor's site should have the data on the owners.

does anyone know who the property owner is of the arby's/hardee's on calhoun? Is this public record? I'd like to try and do some research so I can more easily stay on top of any new developments.

 

The court case lists the eminent domain case, along Calhoun Street, as the following:

 

CITY OF CINCINNATI

 

V.

 

CLIF COR COMPANY,

RICHARD C. BUCHER,

ROSEMARY BUCHER,

J. VINCENT AUG,

LOUISE AUG,

H. ALTON FESSEL,

KAREN FESSEL,

and

MILDRED DAVIS

Corryville is not bad at all.  No car break-ins, no assaults.  Every two or three months you hear a gunshot somewhere in the distance (you hear them daily in the country).  I've lived there since last September, nothing to report. 

Every two or three months you hear a gunshot somewhere in the distance (you hear them daily in the country).

 

Yeah, but the implication is totally different.  No one is hunting in the city limits, so it's only natural that the sound of a gunshot has a different psychological effect in urban areas than it does in rural ones.

Corryville just has a lot of sketchy people walking around drunk asking for money on Short Vine; it's ruining the perception and the business owners are too apathetic. Kinda annoys me because the neighborhood does have a lot of good retailers. The total number of crimes isn't that high but it's a small neighborhood.

More demo work going on across the street at the Hardee's. They've got a dumpster out there now too. There are two guys sawing away at the HVAC ducts and units up on the roof.

does anyone know who the property owner is of the arby's/hardee's on calhoun? Is this public record? I'd like to try and do some research so I can more easily stay on top of any new developments.

 

The court case lists the eminent domain case, along Calhoun Street, as the following:

 

CITY OF CINCINNATI

 

V.

 

CLIF COR COMPANY,

RICHARD C. BUCHER,

ROSEMARY BUCHER,

J. VINCENT AUG,

LOUISE AUG,

H. ALTON FESSEL,

KAREN FESSEL,

and

MILDRED DAVIS

 

If I live my life without ever seing this caption again, I will be a happy man. 

 

In the trial transcript the Judge actually says to the attorneys "So do you two go home and swallow razor blades for fun?"

LOL

 

What was it in reference to?

LOL

 

What was it in reference to?

 

Nothing specific, it was just what the judge said at the end of the day

does anyone know who the property owner is of the arby's/hardee's on calhoun? Is this public record? I'd like to try and do some research so I can more easily stay on top of any new developments.

 

The court case lists the eminent domain case, along Calhoun Street, as the following:

 

CITY OF CINCINNATI

 

V.

 

CLIF COR COMPANY,

RICHARD C. BUCHER,

ROSEMARY BUCHER,

J. VINCENT AUG,

LOUISE AUG,

H. ALTON FESSEL,

KAREN FESSEL,

and

MILDRED DAVIS

 

If I live my life without ever seing this caption again, I will be a happy man. 

 

In the trial transcript the Judge actually says to the attorneys "So do you two go home and swallow razor blades for fun?"

 

can you post the link for the transcript?

the transcript was well over 1000 pages

can you post the link for the transcript?

 

This should probably suffice for what you're looking for:

http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/docs/pdf/1/2007/2007-ohio-311.pdf (47kb)

The word on the street is that Uncle Woody's (next to Jimmy John's) was sold and has closed. This would surprise me....

 

Does anyone have any information on this? I have not been down there this week to check it out since I've been so busy with exams and whatnot.