There is one at Tech Square adjacent to Georgia Tech in Atlanta as well. It's in a newer student-oriented retail/housing complex so I imagine this one will be quite similar so that (I've been, it's a great concept)

 

http://www.wafflehouse.com/in-the-community/events/20-waffle-house-restaurant--georgia-tech-opens

^-Waffle House is perfect, college students need cheap late night hangout spots and while Waffle House is low end, it totally fits the bill.  I remember many days at UC being forced to drive all the way down to Covington just to get some late night grub with friends - why be forced to drive when you can get the same thing on campus.

Covington Waffle House between the hours of 2AM and approx. 6AM is alot...to handle. haha.

I'd rather go to Pleasant Ridge Chili late night. A PRC at U-Square would be quite popular. Heck, I'd take one at The Banks/downtown too.

Camp Washington Chili has always been my middle of the night greasy food option, and is pretty close to UC but still requires a short drive.  I tend to always forget they are closed on Sunday, though. 

You know, for all the talk about Cincinnati chili, there really aren't that many chili parlors between UC and the river.

Nope.. The only ones I can think of are the 3 downtown Skyline Chilis...

There's a Gold Star at Tower Place Mall too...

 

This discussion reminds me of Primanti Brothers in Pittsburgh. There are several between downtown and the University of Pittsburgh. I always try to visit one of them when I'm in town. It's tasty, cheap and very Pittsburgh. Can't think of a chain like that in Cincinnati's urban core. But there are several unique chili parlors around Cincinnati (and NKY)...just not downtown.

Gold Stars like to open close to factories and warehouses, I've noticed.

There's a Gold Star on Short Vine. 

You know, for all the talk about Cincinnati chili, there really aren't that many chili parlors between UC and the river.

 

The new sports bar slated to open in the former BlackFinn space on Seventh Street this fall will have Cincinnati food - including Cincinnati chili ... dip. Whatever that entails.

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/newintown/2012/08/17/locals-sport-bar-and-grill-to-open-downtown-this-fall/

My favorite chili will always be Sports Page.  They've got two locations downtown.  I would love for there to be another Gold Star further North though.  One with decent hours.

There used to be a Gold Star on Race Street directly across from Findlay Market. Bill Clinton visited there once as president, IIRC.

I forgot about that one.  It closed around 2002. 

Um, they tore down greasy spoon restaurants and "unique retailers" 10 years ago to clear this site.  Now people apparently want them back, as I predicted at the time. 

 

Yep, Inn the Wood was the shizz for breakfast food!

Yeah, weird. People want something that's unique and local and cheap and yummy. Cincinnati is being spammed with the same unworthy architecture and uninspired chain food places.

Anyway, the development is taking shape, and it looks totally incoherent to me.  It looks like we'll have a surface parking lot directly across from Adriatico's, and something that resembles that thing with the big eye ball on it in Kenwood on the east block.  On the west, it's The Banks north, but with a food court. 

I'm under the impression there are no surface lots. Could that just be a delivery/trash bay?

Also coming to U Square:

 

Altar’d State, a Christian fashion retailer with a "modernized Christian shopping experience". Altar’d State will carry designer apparel for both men and women, as well as “inspirational” merchandise.

 

ummm. yeah.

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/mar/30/were-not-just-a-christian-bookstore/

 

http://www.altardstate.com/

A Christian store at a University?  Calling it now: 6 months for it to go out of business.

 

Although, the clothes look reasonably hip, it might work out.  I thought it was your typical Bible and cross store.

^ Welcome to UO, FancyMustard!

 

I can't help but think that this is a terrible name (EDIT: I'm referencing Altar'd State, not FancyMustard)... I get the reference to both "altered state" and an "altar", but that name is ripe for jokes. Also, I'm not sure how well it will work out with Urban Outfitters across the street. Time will tell though.

I think you guys underestimate the size of the religious crowd at UC.  Also, as was pointed out, the clothes look pretty cute and will probably sell well.  Urban Outfitters does very well, and even American Apparel with their overpriced junk seems to do fine.  People here have been wanting more clothing retailers around UC since this project was announced.  I'm still surprised there aren't any in UPA. 

Also coming to U Square:

 

Altar’d State, a Christian fashion retailer with a "modernized Christian shopping experience". Altar’d State will carry designer apparel for both men and women, as well as “inspirational” merchandise.

 

ummm. yeah.

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/mar/30/were-not-just-a-christian-bookstore/

 

http://www.altardstate.com/

 

Except for one in suburban DC, the overwhelming majority of these stores are in the Deep South. I have no idea what their market research told them about UC/Clifton/urban Cincinnati that lead to their interest in U-Square. 

 

Edit: I just looked at their online catalog and their clothes are pretty cool and look highly directed toward the college crowd. They could do well. Better than another sub shop.

Ugh. What a bunch of crap.

Ugh. What a bunch of crap.

 

Did I miss something? What is crap, the clothing store?

 

I think the link and post above is BS, personally.  I see nothing on that company's website claiming to be a christian bookstore.  It looks more like an urban outfitters that gives to charity, to me.

I don't know why people are complaining, having a variety of stores of any type seems to be a good thing. Sure, a Waffle House isn't the best thing in the world, but I know for damn sure I'm going to eat there as well as many, MANY students. It's a place young people go late at night for greasy, unhealthy food. I do it, others do it. It's a plus in my opinion.

 

And any more retail, regardless of religious affiliations (if they even have any) is a good thing in my opinion. There isn't much in the way of clothes shopping around campus at the moment.

From their website history:

 

April 2009:

 

Mason and Walters met in Bentonville, AR to develop the strategy for their store. In a small coffee shop, they sat down and wrote a business plan for a modernized Christian shopping experience. After a borderline healthy amount of coffee and thought, Altar'd State was born.

 

Alright. I'm over it. It's just hokey.

 

That 10 year lease by UC really set this project in motion. Very exciting

I'm all for diversity in the retail and, after all, this adds diversity.

 

The "prayer request" box on their website landing page should clear up any further confusion on the spiritual question.

I took a few photos of the project updates on my cell phone.

 

Looking East in front of Siddal Hall on Calhoun Street:

 

Looking South from the same spot:

 

Looking West from the same spot:

 

Corner of West Clifton and Calhoun looking South in front of DuBois. New pavers on the corner:

 

Looking East between Beelistic Tattoo and Spicy Pickle (now Big Al's). Without looking at the plans, this appears to be an above ground parking garage based on the large columns and slanted suspended concrete slabs:

Stripped these out of the PDF @ http://www2.uc.edu/cdc/CALHOUN-MARKET-PLACE-PLANPERSPECTUS.pdf

 

 

What do you think?  Apperantly I am in the minority on being excited for this project.

 

Comments at link below:

 

http://www.haloscan.com/comments/cincyblog/110913110600055685/

 

 

 

Amazing how much better a cheap development can look with a simple peaked roof and corner turrets. It disgusts me how much this looks like the Banks. Who approved this? It's ridiculous and unnecessary.

 

Oh well.

Altar'd State opens a location in Crestview Hills Town Center

 

In case you want to check out what will be going in at U Square

Stripped these out of the PDF @ http://www2.uc.edu/cdc/CALHOUN-MARKET-PLACE-PLANPERSPECTUS.pdf

 

 

What do you think?  Apperantly I am in the minority on being excited for this project.

 

Comments at link below:

 

http://www.haloscan.com/comments/cincyblog/110913110600055685/

 

 

 

Amazing how much better a cheap development can look with a simple peaked roof and corner turrets. It disgusts me how much this looks like the Banks. Who approved this? It's ridiculous and unnecessary.

 

Oh well.

 

It is the Banks. Same architect.  CR Architecture, one of the most popular & prominent architects in Cincinnati. AND THEY ARE CRAP. 

 

They're about to do "Delta Flats" a 76 unit apartment development at Columbia Parkway & Delta.  The community stood up to CR Architecture and Towne Properties and got them to go from three brick tones to two brick tones by hounding City Council saying they wanted something that fits into the character of the neighborhood.

 

Way to go Columbia Tusculum!

^It's amazing that for such a large company there's only one project they've done that I don't hate.

 

At least U Square's materials aren't freaking orange brick. I'm quite tired of seeing that in this city as it NEVER looks good on modern projects and the original renderings of U Square looked worse due to the use of said brick. The physical mockups and rendered elevations on the construction fences are much more red which will hopefully somewhat break up the monotony of the architecture along this stretch of Calhoun.

Again I raise the issue of the void facing McMillan directly across from the new Addriatico's.  What an absolutely horrible piece of design...the way the second parking garage juts out to front McMillan but not the building is something I'd expect in a 3rd-rate city in the 1970s. 

Again I raise the issue of the void facing McMillan directly across from the new Addriatico's.  What an absolutely horrible piece of design...the way the second parking garage juts out to front McMillan but not the building is something I'd expect in a 3rd-rate city in the 1970s. 

 

This plan shows that space being reserved for a "future hotel."  I have no clue how long we'll have to wait for that, but hopefully not long. 

 

http://www.anderson-realestate.com/upload/documents/properties/[email protected]

^ ya, I've been wondering what Jake was complaining about. I'm guessing he didn't know about the Hotel.

 

I'm guessing hotel will be announced in 6-8 months.

Council members concerned about project near UC

 

Some Cincinnati Council Members have serious problems with the subcontractors working on a major economic development project near the University of Cincinnati campus.

 

Cecil Thomas and Wendell Young visited the USquare at the Loop construction site last week and talked to some of the workers.

 

The council members alleged some of the subcontractors are not paying workers the state mandated prevailing wage and the employees are not paying city income taxes.

 

Cont

First time trying to post pictures, so I hope it works. Was on campus earlier this week so I took a few pictures with my phone. Not the best quality but when living in Chicago for the last few years I always liked as many photo updates as possible.

Oooh look, density!

 

Thanks!

I was just thinking about how I'd really like to see a photo update on this project, so this was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks! :)

 

Very weird to feel a bit of a street canyon effect in that area. It'd been wide-open for a decade or so! (And really more than that since as long as I can remember it was mostly low-density fast food buildings/mostly parking lots.) Really makes the approach to Hughes feel dramatic.

^Yep.

 

As someone who remembers a couple iterations of this streetscape, the newest is hard to get used to - in a very good way.  While the aesthetics are completely meh, it sure has the feel of an urban setting now.

I drove through there the other day and this thing is *REALLY* going to change the feel of Calhoun. It barely feels like the same place now.

I will say I'm pretty disappointed the office component is only two floors.  But I am happy it's red Brick.  the residential portion is 4 different shades of brick.ugh.

Wow, they're really making progress. I won't even recognize Calhoun when I get back from LA. The architecture doesn't look like anything that will win any awards, but it will be a vast improvement over the status quo.

Does anyone have pics of what that strip looked like before the Taco Bell and Hardees were built? 

Does anyone have pics of what that strip looked like before the Taco Bell and Hardees were built? 

 

I haven't seen pictures, but I've heard from DAAP architecture alumni that it was tragic to see the historic blocks torn down. I think it was basically commercial and residential buildings of the styles present in the area -- italianate, second empire, etc.

I remember the whole area being half historic architecture, half strip mall style fast food joints with big surface lots, but I was pretty young at the time and was hardly paying attention to urban design.

I remember the whole area being half historic architecture, half strip mall style fast food joints with big surface lots, but I was pretty young at the time and was hardly paying attention to urban design.

 

Read more: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2567.1050.html#ixzz29sfpveZs

 

Still a real shame they couldn't have incorporated the old buildings that were left into the new development.

Does anyone remember where the Phantasy Emporium used to be? I know it was up there in that NBD. I used to walk up there as a kid and buy RPG stuff. Can't remember exactly where it was, though. The store eventually moved to somewhere no longer in walking distance and I stopped going.

 

For some reason CityBeat used to put in joke ads for Phantasy Emporium, I believe long after it closed. Maybe they still do.