Did anyone cough Ascent when they said folks don't want to live in a work of art?

 

Actually, yes. The argument in that respect was that a condo development such as the Ascent is geared toward a certain group of people and generally only need to sell once. The apts at the banks need to be geared toward a broader, much larger percentage of the population and also have to be rented over and over again. They did mention however that if/when the condo market improves, the possibility of creating a more striking building in respect to architecture would be possible. Further, it was mentioned that in this phase of the development, the officer tower and hotel sections were to be the "center pieces".

 

I don't know.  I like The Ascent, although it's clearly not for everyone, so they have a point there.  But I just think that there's a middle ground to be achieved between something that is truly groundbreaking and something that is totally devoid of character.  Given the option, I think that everyone would take a condo/apartment building with some decorative elements over an identical building that makes no attempt at architectural character.  Seems like it would help resale value as well.

Further, it was mentioned that in this phase of the development, the officer tower and hotel sections were to be the "center pieces".

 

I reeeeally hope they don't consider that Kenwood-esque glass block to be the "center piece"

 

I like The Ascent, although it's clearly not for everyone, so they have a point there.  But I just think that there's a middle ground to be achieved between something that is truly groundbreaking and something that is totally devoid of character. 

 

I totally agree.  I just want something with decent architectural integrity.  I'm not asking for the world here.

where oh where is the webam?

Not sure if this has been posted already, but the new renderings are up on the Banks site.  http://www.carterdawson.com/  If I'm late on this, sorry.

 

I still don't like that office building.  It's good to hear in the article that they want this to be a "landmark" building and are amenable to design changes.  It sounds like the current design is more of a placeholder.  If this is true, then this is a good thing:

 

Latest Banks designs seek to create 'great streets'

Soapbox, 4/14/2009

 

Representatives from the development team of Carter Real Estate and Dawson Company presented their latest designs for The Banks project to Cincinnati's Urban Design Review Board on Thursday evening.

 

In its meeting on March 25, the board had asked designers to address issues they had with some of the building façades, architectural styles, and massing of the buildings that will house the 300 apartments and 70,000 square feet of retail of the project's first phase...

 

Writer: Kevin LeMaster

 

http://soapboxmedia.com/devnews/thebanks0414.aspx

 

 

 

A 14-story office building and a proposed 12- to 14-story boutique hotel would likely serve as the landmarks of the first phase.

 

"We're intentionally deferring to let those be the landmark structures," Pope says.  "I think that all of this

 

Thats fine, thats exactly how it should be....but dont hide behind that as a reason to pass off substandard design.  You can have simple buildings that still contribute to the ambiance.  Currently they dont feel good.  They are getting closer...

Residents Asked for Final Vote on Banks Renaming Developers Include Residents’ Suggestions

 

 

http://www.carterdawson.com/press-releases/04-14-2009.aspx

 

 

Cincinnati, OH (April 14, 2009) – The Master Development Team of Carter and The Dawson Company announced that the final public voting process began today at 12 a.m. to determine the name for the up-to-$1billion mixed-use development on the banks of the Ohio River.

 

The choices are:

 

    * North Shore

    * Roebling Point

    * The River District

    * The Banks

 

“This development belongs to the people of Cincinnati and Hamilton County,” said Malloy Peterson, director of marketing at Carter. “We want their input to help us choose the best possible name for a development that has come to mean so much to the community.”

 

Residents interested in defining a piece of Cincinnati may vote at www.carterdawson.com. The survey will be live for one week, closing Monday, April 20 at 11:59 p.m. The final result will be available for public viewing and announced Tuesday, April 21.

 

Members of the development team evaluated the number of votes that each of the four given names received and reviewed more than 650 online submissions from the first round of voting. Many write-ins appeared multiple times or had similar themes, which allowed the team to divide the suggestions into categories. Some write-ins used the opportunity to shorten their favorite name, Riverfront District, to The River District. Other popular entries focused on the development’s location on the river, the Roebling Suspension Bridge and Cincinnati’s location on the “north shore” of the Ohio River.

 

The team organized a panel of some of Cincinnati’s top marketing, branding and communications experts from business, economic development, tourism and young professionals groups to review the most common submissions and categories from the write-ins. The panel discussed connotations of the submitted names, their favorites and the shortened version of one of the top vote-getters from the previous survey – The River District. After much discussion, the 11-person panel put it to a vote to determine names that would be added to The Banks and The River District.

 

“This is more than just a new development to the people of this region,” said Tamara Kimble, vice president of strategic marketing & external affairs at The Dawson Company. “This represents the region’s progress and promise for future opportunity, and we need a name that the people can get behind.”

 

Known as The Banks since its inception, the development is a joint City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Carter, Dawson project. Once completed, The Banks will be Cincinnati’s largest single, mixed-use development and be composed of a dynamic blend of residential, office, hotel and retail components. Phase 1A of the riverfront development is under construction and will include a revised street grid, parking facility, a minimum of 300 apartments and 70,000 square feet of retail.

Is anyone able to see the link to vote in IE 6? I'm seeing it in Firefox (also not able to see in in IE Tab)...

I'm voting for Roebling Point (not that anyone cares).  I don't see how this development is a "point", but it's certainly not multiple "banks", and I just love the tie-in with the bridge and Cincinnati's 19th century history. 

Created a Tiny URL that will take you directly to the Survey.

 

http://tinyurl.com/votethebanks

I'm voting for Roebling Point (not that anyone cares). I don't see how this development is a "point", but it's certainly not multiple "banks", and I just love the tie-in with the bridge and Cincinnati's 19th century history.

 

 

ditto

Roebling Point is a good nod to history and will be a nice old neighborhood in time for the Bridge's bicentennial in 60 years.

Roebling Point is a good name for a part of the Central Riverfront Park. Better yet, name the park Roebling Point.

 

My vote is to keep the name "The Banks" as it  has been known as that for almost a decade now.

I think I've mentioned this before, but if The Banks is successful, people are just going to call it "Downtown" or probably just "over by the ballparks/river."

 

Branding is great for the real estate development part, but unless they are going to run the retail like a self-contained lifestyle center, I think most people won't really care after completion.

I dont get this desire to change the name.  Its called the Banks for better or worse.  Changing the name will feel very contrived.

From a branding standpoint, they may want to change the name to anything that isn't "The Banks".  Rightly or wrongly, that name has become synonomous with disappointment and frustration in this town.  Rebranding this development might not be a bad idea, since so much negative sentiment has become associated with "The Banks" over the last decade.

even if the name changes i bet it remains the banks to locals

Does anyone else think that the time table is a little unrealistic? They want to start construction on the buildings by June, but the garage isn't even close to being complete.  Am I missing something here?

From a branding standpoint, they may want to change the name to anything that isn't "The Banks". Rightly or wrongly, that name has become synonomous with disappointment and frustration in this town. Rebranding this development might not be a bad idea, since so much negative sentiment has become associated with "The Banks" over the last decade.

 

Changing the name won't change how people feel about the project.  People arent that dumb.  Changing the name looks desperate.  Changing the name calls more attention to the frustration of the past ten years and will invite another round of jokes about the project from the local-yocals.  I really hope they just stick with the Banks.

Allow it to develop its own name.

I bet you out of all these names being thrown around, the next generation will simply ask their friends "hey, do you wanna go down on the riverfront tonight?"

Does anyone else think that the time table is a little unrealistic? They want to start construction on the buildings by June, but the garage isn't even close to being complete.  Am I missing something here?

 

I don't think they are too far off.  The steel cages are up to street level already and after those columns are poured, the decking should go pretty quickly.  If the weather cooperates they might even beat that completion date of June. (Not that they would start building structures on it before then!)

^Agreed

 

I walk the site almost daily throughout the week. The decking for Freedom Way (East) is roughly 75% complete. The columns are also almost complete. I fully expect that once June arrives, we'll see buildings rising from The Banks.

All I have to say about this is, don't change the name or announce the new name until phase 1 is finished. If anything bad happens or anymore delays happen, you don't want it being associated with the new name, but rather The Banks. People already have resentment towards The Banks, so that won't hurt all that much.

King Kong would have to take a crap on the site for it not to be completed now.  There's way too much momentum.  I can't wait until we actually see buildings arising:)

I think the most obvious name is being overlooked...

 

"Finally"

^

remember the Cincinnati Subway was near completion and look what happened to that. I'm staying optimistic, but anything could still happen

Changing the name won't change how people feel about the project.  People arent that dumb.  Changing the name looks desperate.  Changing the name calls more attention to the frustration of the past ten years and will invite another round of jokes about the project from the local-yocals.  I really hope they just stick with the Banks.

 

I'm certainly not a marketing or advertising expert, but rebranding a promising product with a poor image is fairly standard.  While it's not on a store shelf, "The Banks" is definitely a product that the developer needs to sell to both potential tenants and the public.  Package redesigns, renaming, etc are common techniques because they actually do work.  Obviously, the public would seem to be smart enough to see through this kind of tactic, but they often don't.  Also, there's a psychological aspect to be considered.  What's the first word you think of when you hear "The Banks"?  For too many locals, that word is: failure, delay, joke, etc.  Not exactly the mindset you want your investors to pick up on.

 

All of that said, I'd be shocked if they haven't had a name picked out since day one.  My guess would be that the vote will have little to do with what is chosen, and is simply a way for the developer to avoid criticism for dumping the current name, drum up a little buzz and get some more positive stories in the local news.  "The Banks" is one of the final four options simply because it has to be, and the new name is one of the other three.  I find the title of this section of CarterDawson's site to be rather revealing: "Rename The Banks".  It would be sort of silly to rename something with the original name, wouldn't it?

Actually having specific things there will help with any transformation of the identity. If it becomes the place with ESPNZone or whatever that will do the harder work. If we get apartments and a couple bars, then it will still be 'The Banks' with all the connotations that brings with it.

Design panel OK's Banks plan

By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • April 16, 2009

 

Designers of The Banks riverfront development today landed the nod they need to take their designs before Cincinnati Planning Commission next month.

 

The approval from the city's Urban Design Review Board was critical, considering the project's developers - Atlanta-based Carter Real Estate and The Dawson Co., also of Atlanta - plan to begin construction by June on the buildings that will house up to 300 apartments and 70,000 square feet of retail space...

 

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090416/BIZ01/904170368/1055/NEWS

 

A few pics from today 4-18-09.  Not a whole lot going on today like at the QCSII site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thanks for the updates.  Looks like things are moving along.  The first image is a great shot of the Covington skyline.  I like how the Ascent starts where the Roebling ends. 

Nice shot of the bird hiding in the rebar!

I'm so happy for Cincy. Way to go!

I see they have designed the large circles in certain parts of the garage walls similar to the ones you could see under the freedom center for all these years.  Is their a certain purpose for these or are they purely trying to add an architectural element?       

Is this where they would have elevator/staircases?

^ my guess is openings for garage ventilation system.

Today, The Banks; tomorrow ... ???

Voting ends today on new name for riverfront project

By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • April 20, 2009

 

Today is the last day to vote to rename The Banks, the $1 billion riverfront project now under construction.

 

Public voting is under way at the developers' Web site www.carterdawson.com, where you can choose from the names North Shore, Roebling Point, The River District or The Banks...

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090420/BIZ01/904200353/1055/NEWS

 

 

^ha.  fyi, when I copied that in, the question mark smiley automatically appeared.  :)

I really wonder how much time, effort, money was put into this renaming push only to have the vote overwhelmingly for what has been and shall continue to be known as "The Banks".

 

 

bah.  I really hope they decide to change the name anyway.  'Hey, we're heading down to the Banks' just doesn't sound good at all.  So cheesy.  Freedom Way...bah! 

^I can almost best people won't call it The Banks even when its officially named that.  People will probably say "hey guys lets go down to the riverfront"  same thing happens with Newport on the Levee.  The majority of the people I know just call it AMC.

Developers Announce Final Name

 

The Banks to Remain The Banks

 

Cincinnati, OH (April 21, 2009) – After 3,788 votes were cast, the Master Development Team of Carter and The Dawson Company announced today that the name of Cincinnati’s riverfront development will remain The Banks.

 

“We’re pleased that the people of Cincinnati and Hamilton County took such an avid interest in this event,” said Malloy Peterson, director of marketing at Carter. “They have validated “The Banks” as the most fitting name for the neighborhood and clearly share our excitement that it is finally becoming a reality.”

 

More than 1,790 residents or 47 percent voted for The Banks. Roebling Point received 28 percent of the votes, followed by The River District at 18 percent and North Shore at 8 percent. The online survey was open to the public for one week closing Monday, April 20 at 11:59 p.m. Residents were able to watch real-time results of the survey, and it became clear early on that The Banks was the favorite.

 

Despite its name remaining the same, the development team viewed the entire process as a success. The online surveys received thousands of votes and generated interest in the development among city and county residents. In addition, write-in suggestions are being considered as names for smaller portions of the 18-acre development.

 

“The Banks is a lasting name to the community,” said Tamara Kimble, vice president of strategic marketing and external affairs at The Dawson Company. “We’re eager to continue construction at the site to create a development that everyone in the region can be proud of and enjoy.”

 

Next steps for the marketing team include branding and logo development.

 

Known as The Banks since its inception, the development is a joint City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Carter, Dawson project.  Once completed, The Banks will be Cincinnati’s largest single, mixed-use development, composed of a dynamic blend of residential, office, hotel and retail components. Phase 1A of the riverfront development is under construction and will include a new block of Freedom Way, a parking facility, a minimum of 300 apartments and 70,000 square feet of retail.

^ not too thrilled about this.  I totally agree with atlas.  It sounds commercial, contrived and not like a genuine neighborhood.

Developers Announce Final Name

 

The Banks to Remain The Banks

 

Cincinnati, OH (April 21, 2009) – After 3,788 votes were cast, the Master Development Team of Carter and The Dawson Company announced today that the name of Cincinnati’s riverfront development will remain The Banks.

 

 

This looks like an Onion headline

 

^I can almost best people won't call it The Banks even when its officially named that.  People will probably say "hey guys lets go down to the riverfront"  same thing happens with Newport on the Levee.  The majority of the people I know just call it AMC.

 

Yea, most people I know say they are going to 'Newport' or to the Hofbrahaus, since thats the only destination left over there. 

^ not too thrilled about this. I totally agree with atlas. It sounds commercial, contrived and not like a genuine neighborhood.

 

Me too.  What a disappointment.  This is by far the worst of the three alternatives, in my opinion.

 

^I can almost best people won't call it The Banks even when its officially named that. People will probably say "hey guys lets go down to the riverfront" same thing happens with Newport on the Levee. The majority of the people I know just call it AMC.

 

Yea, most people I know say they are going to 'Newport' or to the Hofbrahaus, since thats the only destination left over there.

 

Not true.

I will always just call it downtown, which is what it is.  I am not going to say, " I am going to The Banks, or The Backstage Entertainment District, or wherever"  just downtown. 

I will always just call it downtown, which is what it is.  I am not going to say, " I am going to The Banks, or The Backstage Entertainment District, or wherever"  just downtown. 

 

Since I'm typically downtown to begin with, I tend to give names to areas when I refer to them.  The Square, the Gateway Quarter (referring to the shops around 12th and Vine), North Main, etc.

 

Regardless of the name, I think I would always refer to the Banks as "the Banks".

 

Heck, I sometimes refer to Macy's as Shilito's even though that name was gone before the building was there.  I still refer to the garage next to Tower Place as the Pogues garage.

I refer to the construction project as "The Banks," but will probably refer to it as an extension of downtown in the future. I wish the street naming convention would be consistent, because there is no way that I'm going to call those streets by the name of baseball players that I'll always forget. Bring back 1st Street!

I have heard talk throughout the past year or so about ESPN Zones or Fox Sport Zones and Hard Rock Cafe type places. No thanks. I understand these big restaurant ideas are expensive and perhaps best left for large corporations, but I would love for this project to be decidedly local.

 

I have heard a few people throw out ideas here and there.

 

Instead of an ESPN Zone what about a place called "The Big One" (obviously after 700WLW). How great would it be to have pre and post game shows broadcasted live in a big sports bar/restaurant that is local with local personalities???

 

Or, what about Nuxy's? Similar to The Cubby Bear or Harry Carry's in Chicago?

 

Again, I understand there is a lot of money that needs to go into these establishments, maybe it is just a pipe dream. But, there needs to be some thought about this. You can go to a whole lot of cities and eat bad fried food and have a watered down draft beer at an ESPN Zone, but no other City can stake claim to 700 WLW's national radio history or Nuxy's personality.

I have heard talk throughout the past year or so about ESPN Zones or Fox Sport Zones and Hard Rock Cafe type places. No thanks. I understand these big restaurant ideas are expensive and perhaps best left for large corporations, but I would love for this project to be decidedly local.

 

I have heard a few people throw out ideas here and there.

 

Instead of an ESPN Zone what about a place called "The Big One" (obviously after 700WLW). How great would it be to have pre and post game shows broadcasted live in a big sports bar/restaurant that is local with local personalities???

 

Or, what about Nuxy's? Similar to The Cubby Bear or Harry Carry's in Chicago?

 

Again, I understand there is a lot of money that needs to go into these establishments, maybe it is just a pipe dream. But, there needs to be some thought about this. You can go to a whole lot of cities and eat bad fried food and have a watered down draft beer at an ESPN Zone, but no other City can stake claim to 700 WLW's national radio history or Nuxy's personality.

 

I've been screaming this for years now.  It's not a hard concept to mimic.  Just take ESPN Zone, rename it something to do with Cincinnati, decorate it with a bunch of Cincinnati sports stuff, and you're off to the races.  It's a gold mine right by the ball park and would add some local flavor to what is sure to be a bunch of chains down there.