Thank you!!

There's some new development happening in the McMillian St. business district between Clifton Ave and W Clifton Ave

 

Looks like a new tanning salon, Glow, has opened next to the art supplies place. The next two storefronts over are currently under construction and have had their facades removed and interiors completely gutted.

 

Meanwhile, Jeresalum Cafe across the street is still vacant and has a boarded up storefront, and Chicago Gyro has been claiming to be moving to former bank on the corner of McMillian and W Clifton for awhile with no construction evident.

Chicago Gyro has been claiming to be moving to former bank on the corner of McMillian and W Clifton for awhile with no construction evident.

 

I have seen some construction going on there. They were doing some major demo of the interior a while back (October/November or so). A friend and I stepped in for a second. It was kinda sad because they were tearing up the tin ceiling. I haven't been in Cincinnati since December, so I can't really speak for current work, but that's the last I saw.

 

They recently did some major utility work on McMillian, Calhoun, and that small stretch of Clifton Ave in between the two. I doubt it was street car related but I do not know that for sure, though I would guess it was for the current development under way.

 

Here is an UrbanCincy article about the streetscaping they did on that block between Clifton and West Clifton. The work was not related to the streetcar at all as there is no plan to take the streetcar there yet. Currently I belive the next step would be up Vine Street and then up Short Vine/Jefferson. It is possible that the streetcar could spur west toward Clifton, but I don't believe that is in any sort of official planning yet.

 

http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/09/streetscaping-improvements-along-w-mcmillan-street-near-completion/

I wish I had a camera.  This place is above ground and starting to look massive.

Yeah, kind of funny how the Hartshorn street sign is still there, and it has been so dramatically erased from existence. 

Speaking of which, is the new street going to be called Hartshorn as well or will it have some new (probably cheesy) name to go with the naming of the development?

The Loop?  :)

Loop Street!

U Street?

Loop Street!

 

Loop Lane

Rue de la Loop

It's going to be called Market Street according to the U Square website.

^Thanks for the info. That's not offensive like the many suggestions above ;) A little boring at most, but at least generic enough to not be corny.

If anybody is near this tomorrow please take some pictures! I'm never up in CUF (car-free and don't head uptown much for some reason...) but I'd love to see the project!

They've started pouring the floor of the second floor and whatever the cheesey food courtish curve is going to be can bw seen.  Looks like this curve curves at an arbitrary spot and isn't centered on any feature on the north side of calhoun st.

^Even if its ugly, I'm really glad SOMETHING is filling up that large grassy field after so long.  Still a big shame that they had to get rid of all those beautiful row houses to put this in :P.

This curve?

 

Those are some of the best/most hilarious restaurant names used on the rendering:

 

bakery corner = Corner Bakery

portlands best = Seattle's Best coffee

los padres = ???

crash burger = Smash Burger

 

Anyways though, I was up there last night and there is some real progress happening. They are clearly wasting no time since we've had good weather lately and had a mild winter. This is really going to change the feel and energy level of that area (for the better)

^I'm hoping they get a Chipoleto

Yes, that curve.  It's visible near Crash Burger and making its way toward Bakery Corner. 

Don't forget about the "Good Buy" on the side

I like that they took the time to include a Cooper Mini in the rendering.

Don't forget about the "Good Buy" on the side

 

Maybe it will be the new small Best Busy concept.

I like that they took the time to include a Cooper Mini in the rendering.

 

I think I see at least one Peej and a Range Rollover.

Looks like there's some good stuff happening on W McMillian as well--

 

A new salon has opened on the north side of the street by the art supply place in a space that was vacant the entire time I lived up there (~5 yrs). It looks kind of modern inside with lots of exposed brick and nice lighting fixtures.

 

The former Korean place called iZen is now a "sushi and nightlife cafe"...whatever that means.

 

Construction continues (slowly) on the new Chicago Gyros space

 

A property management/rental office has moved into the former Jarusalem Restaurant space

 

 

A property management/rental office has moved into the former Jarusalem Restaurant space

 

Unless I am mistaken, it is still vacant but is advertised for rent by Unique Campus Rentals.

I went by there to be sure. It's definitely for rent at the moment. Unique Campus Rental's offices are just down McMillian next to where the Korean joint used to be.

"Drunken Bento" If I'm not mistaken, is the new name of the establishment. It has certainly garnered some attention. More people talk about going to the place now, than I've ever heard of before.

 

I think it is interesting the pressure that US@tL is putting on nearby businesses is only making a positive change. Adriatico's moved up and expanded. Spicy Pickle went independent (at the cost of their corn and green chili bisque :[ ). Glow moved in. Bzhar's rebranded. Drunken Bento. Chicago Gyro. An almost full capacity UPA. I feel like it is more like Cincinnati to complain about new development than roll with the punches of new development. Very proud of CUF.

"Drunken Bento" If I'm not mistaken, is the new name of the establishment. It has certainly garnered some attention. More people talk about going to the place now, than I've ever heard of before.

 

I think it is interesting the pressure that US@tL is putting on nearby businesses is only making a positive change. Adriatico's moved up and expanded. Spicy Pickle went independent (at the cost of their corn and green chili bisque :[ ). Glow moved in. Bzhar's rebranded. Drunken Bento. Chicago Gyro. An almost full capacity UPA. I feel like it is more like Cincinnati to complain about new development than roll with the punches of new development. Very proud of CUF.

 

no you're spot on. we're just a few year late to the ballgame. oh, and then there's that place called corryville as well :-)

Here are some photos from andobayanka.

 

http://andobayanka.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/u-square-at-the-loop-may-24th-2012/

looks like they are making some good progress over there.

They've started pouring the floor of the second floor and whatever the cheesey food courtish curve is going to be can bw seen.  Looks like this curve curves at an arbitrary spot and isn't centered on any feature on the north side of calhoun st.

 

It isn't totally random.  The new street will line up with the entrance to the University Park Apartments garage. That way people leaving the garage can drive straight across to McMillan and turn left instead of going around the block. I would expect them to put a light there at some point if that's not already in the plans.

anybody know if there will be streetscape enhancements when this project is completed? I imagine both Calhoun and McMillian would be due for sidewalk and lighting upgrades...

anybody know if there will be streetscape enhancements when this project is completed? I imagine both Calhoun and McMillian would be due for sidewalk and lighting upgrades...

 

The city already updated the streetscaping near Hughes High School and near Old St. George about 2 years ago. I assume the new streetscaping around U Square will match.

As a general update, the second floor is poured and they are working on the second floor stairwells. For those curious about streetscaping, the city just began redoing the sidewalks along Calhoun by Jimmy Johns and along Clifton between Calhoun and McMillan. I'm assuming that once construction on U Square is finished they will also do the sidewalks there.

 

Also, when driving quickly through traffic, I thought I noticed digging for foundations on the Shell side of the site. Did I see this correctly? I thought that half of the site was a future phase. Or by future phase did they just mean that construction will only be slightly staggered? In any case, something appeared to be happening on that side of the site.

^Slightly staggered.

 

The future phase is the lot across from the church.

Also, it's quite disappointing to see how Moerlein will not be extended across the center of the development.  There was an opportunity to replace Hartshorn with a slightly diagonal cross street connecting Moerlein and the entrance to the UPA garage and they just plain didn't do it. 

^^Cool, that's good news to me. I hadn't been paying any attention to that side of the lot assuming it would be much later, but it's good to hear it will be happening as well.

 

^That would have been awesome. And allowed for some interesting architecture...instead we half a pointless half circle plaza.

U Square project gains traction as retailers sign on

Business Courier by Jon Newberry, Staff Reporter

Date: Friday, August 17, 2012, 6:00am EDT

 

 

After a decade of delays, the pace of activity on Calhoun Street in Clifton Heights is picking up.

 

Two-thirds of the retail space at the $78 million U Square @ the Loop project on Calhoun is now committed, said Arn Bortz, principal for developer Towne Properties. And he looks to sign a hotel developer by the end of the year. The project is targeted to the community surrounding the University of Cincinnati, including but not limited to UC students.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/print-edition/2012/08/17/u-square-project-gains-traction-as.html

...Four Entertainment Group’s Keystone Bar & Grill, Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, Waffle House...

 

I can't read the rest because I don't subscribe. Any other interesting retail/restaurants going in?

Wait, a Waffle House is going to be in an urban storefront? At first, I was like "ewww", then the ironic hipster side of me was like oh, hell yeah!!!!

 

Cheap 24-hour greasy food and coffee is a brilliant idea for this space. Could easily rival Clifton Skyline for the after-bar crowd.

GENIUS. They will be packed. Not enough cheap, late night options in this area and certainly no good breakfast options.

...and certainly no good breakfast options.

 

Agreed. The only places that offer breakfast around there that I can think of are Panera and a couple of bagel places (one on Calhoun by Papa Dinos and one on Clifton by Burnet Woods).

I am not sure if I love this or hate this. The ironic hipster side of me is also like "hell yeah!" but then my realistic UC-student side was like "oh no".. because there aren't enough of us ironic hipster-types around campus to outweigh the "Penn Station" crowd in which case... no thanks!

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. 

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. 

 

Other than Inn the Wood (an unfortunate loss) and Akropolis (I don't think anyone really went there), what are you remembering that I am not?  Baba Budan's relocated, and I am quite glad they got rid of the crappy Hardees, Arby's, and Taco Bell.

Wait, a Waffle House is going to be in an urban storefront?

 

Yea, they opened one on the OSU campus a few months back. It's a new concept that they've started.

This whole development is pretty exciting.  I kind of forget it's going on and then every once and awhile I end up in CUF and go, oh wow! That place was a mud pit for so many years, very exciting. 

 

Any idea what the monthly rate will be for the parking garages? 

 

Also, any idea when phase 2 (Vine street) will begin?  That will be a game changer as well for the feel of the neighborhood when you get up the Hill

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. 

 

Other than Inn the Wood (an unfortunate loss) and Akropolis (I don't think anyone really went there), what are you remembering that I am not?  Baba Budan's relocated, and I am quite glad they got rid of the crappy Hardees, Arby's, and Taco Bell.

 

Yeah, it's not exactly fair to lump Waffle House in with those. Sure, it's terrible food, and it's a lame chain, but it offers something fairly unique for the area and not comparable to anything that was there before. That said, I would have rather seen something along the lines of Joe's Diner come in. Imagine if the Anchor Grill opened a second location at U Square. I would be positively giddy. And they would make an absolute killing, just like Waffle House will.

Wait, a Waffle House is going to be in an urban storefront?

 

Yea, they opened one on the OSU campus a few months back. It's a new concept that they've started.

 

Very smart move. A truck stop oasis in the concrete jungle! Lol