I still think the Freedom Center should be constructed into a specialty theater.  Maybe like a large version of The Esquire.  It's seems like a complete waste of cool architecture to house such a sad world.

They do not have any plans for underground parking there.

 

What a waste.  Parking is a problem in many urban areas, and rarely do you have an opportunity like this to add some underground.  I had always thought that they would add parking here when the rest of The Banks' garage was constructed, but apparently not.  Too bad.

 

Also, that lawn looks cool.  I wish that had come to fruition.

My comment: I'll rephrase what someone else wrote on the Enquirer's comment page: I would rather have the best contractors working on a quality project, than hire inexperienced workers that are local./> The churches are voicing concern that little local labor is being used, but are they counting solely Cincinnati, which can be inferred from their comments? Northern Kentucky is certainly local, as is areas within a 100-mile radius, which can include Dayton, Springfield and Lexington, Ky. You are not going to find this many workers from a single company in many markets, and if the workers in Cincinnati are not qualified, then please search elsewhere for ones that are. It helps keep costs down, quality up, and it gets the job done.

 

Group seeks more local jobs at Banks

By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn, Cincinnati Enquirer, November 16, 2009

 

DOWNTOWN - A group of local churches say city and county officials should do more to put local residents to work at The Banks riverfront development and other publicly funded projects.

The street lights on the new section of Freedom Way were on tonight.  Until we see them install traffic lights, I doubt that they'll open this block, especially with The Suspension Bridge closing next year. 

Can we fast-forward through winter please? I want all of this to be open AND warm outside. Why are they closing the suspension bridge? I hadn't heard that.

^7 months of painting!!!

I believe it's coordinated with reconstruction of Mehring Way and the bridge approach.  This is the part that Mehring Way will travel under, but I haven't heard if they're keeping this part of the approach or rebuilding it:

 

 

 

All I know for sure is that they are stripping, priming, and then repainting the entire bridge.  The new shade of blue will more closely match the original shade.

Wasn't the original-original shade verdigris or tan?

They were considering tan, as well as Wildcat Blue.

Wasn't the original-original shade verdigris or tan?

 

I think by "original", he means the original color of the current paint (before it faded), not the first color that the bridge was painted.

http://www.wlwt.com/traffic/21350645/detail.html

 

“The structure will receive a blue coat slightly darker than its current shade. It’s a color that will reflect the structure’s history and will blend nicely with its surroundings.”

 

My mistake, I guess when I first read that article I interpreted reflecting the history as the original color.  I do believe the bridge was originally tan. 

County official: Raise taxes for stadiums

By Jessica Brown, Cincinnati Enquirer, November 18, 2009

 

The fund that paid for construction of the stadiums for the Bengals and the Reds is expected to go into a deficit of $13.8 million by the end of next year.

 

In a report obtained today by the Enquirer, the county administration recommends reducing the property tax rollback next year to bridge that gap. The politically unpopular move has so far been opposed by commissioners who likened it to breaking a promise to the taxpayers.

I believe it's coordinated with reconstruction of Mehring Way and the bridge approach. This is the part that Mehring Way will travel under, but I haven't heard if they're keeping this part of the approach or rebuilding it:

 

This section was the first to be repainted. The blue looks good. I'd guess they'll not change this configuration.

Wasn't the original-original shade verdigris or tan?

 

I think by "original", he means the original color of the current paint (before it faded), not the first color that the bridge was painted.

 

I'm sure of that...that's why I asked about the "original-original".  OMG, what a mistake "Wildcat Blue" would have been.  As if Cincinnatians and NoKYians want to be constantly reminded of the cheaters in Lexington.

^If only there were some way to combine the colors of the Bluegrass State and UK with the Colors of Cincinnati Reds and UC...

The original paint scheme for the Kennedy Bridge repainting project (Interstate 65) between Louisville and southern Indiana included three colors. It was never completed and had to be eventually repainted over, but the color variations were interesting...

Can anyone with Photoshop try and workup a transition between blue and red on the bridge?  It would definitely be interesting to see

City BBQ is setting up right now to cater a very large lunch in the middle of the new section of Freedom Way.  dedication perhaps?

Thanksgiving treat for the workers I believe.  The whole place was shut down around noon for them to eat.

 

 

Banks Overbuild Contractor to Host First Outreach Session

Outreach Efforts Continue for Private Development

 

Cincinnati (December 3, 2009) – Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC, the general contractor of the private overbuild portion of The Banks, will host its first outreach session next Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Great American Ball Park from 4 to 6 p.m.

 

Hosted in conjunction with the Carter-Dawson team, the outreach session marks Brasfield & Gorrie’s first efforts toward meeting set inclusion goals – goals that the firm agreed to achieve prior to its selection as general contractor.

 

“We understand fully what the development team expects of us,” said Roddy McCrory of Brasfield & Gorrie, who will serve as project executive. “We’re committed to an inclusive process and will work to deliver on those promises.”

 

The private development team shares the same SBE inclusion goals as the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, set at 30 percent for construction. Despite no specific MBE goals, the Carter-Dawson team and Brasfield & Gorrie expect to work with minority- and women-owned businesses as all companies have in previous projects.

 

“We believe that diverse experiences and perspectives make for the strongest project and end product,” said Harold A. Dawson, Jr., president and CEO of The Dawson Company.

 

In addition to set inclusion goals, Brasfield & Gorrie has also voiced its commitment to utilizing a significant amount of local talent to get the job done efficiently and effectively.

 

“We have every confidence in Brasfield & Gorrie to deliver on their commitments because we have worked successfully with them on similar projects, in similar markets for nearly 20 years,” said Trent Germano, vice chairman of Carter.

 

The outreach session aims to encourage the participation of small, disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned business enterprises, and minority and female workers. In addition, the session will provide general information regarding the private development phase of The Banks and encourage both DBE and SBE certification. Residents interested in potential business opportunities at The Banks should attend.

 

During the free event, participants will have the opportunity to hold one-on-one discussions with members of Brasfield & Gorrie, the Carter-Dawson project team and other project personnel. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

 

Individuals and businesses interested in attending should e-mail [email protected] or call (513) 554-4012.

They have removed the fencing and concrete barriers surrounding the completed Phase I platform. Looks like construction of the buildings should begin in the next few weeks.

2010 key year for The Banks

By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • December 21, 2009

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20091221/BIZ01/912220303/

By January, construction is expected to begin on the 300 apartments and 70,000 square feet of retail space that Carter and Dawson are building between Great American Ball Park and The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

^That's a terrific article from the Enquirer...great summary and easy to read/understand map.

Anyone have any new photos? Haven't seen any in a while.

Thanks Johio. All I gotta say is good riddance mud pit;)

They started tearing up the western part of the Freedom Center lawn yesterday.  Anyone know what they are doing there?

They started tearing up the western part of the Freedom Center lawn yesterday. Anyone know what they are doing there?

 

It looks to me like they are doing something where one of the two restaurants would go in that area.  (I think the plans include small buildings on either end of that grat lawn behind the URFC that are supposed to have restaurants, if I recall correctly.)  Maybe just some prep work to get a concrete pad in place for those buildings?

So I hear there is a soft opening for The Banks...

 

 

...THREAD THAT IS!!!  It's back!!!!  :clap:

Nice job cleaners!!

The Freedom Center lawn (or what's left of it) is staging ground for the above-ground (i.e. non-platform/parking structure) construction teams.  A number of double-wide trailers have been hauled in there in preparation for vertical construction of the actual buildings on the Banks platform.  The NW corner (where the office tower would ultimately go) also appears to be where they are massing materials/supplies in anticipation of new construction.  I would also note that they have begun construction of a wall on the southern end, delineating between the platform/stucture and the park/reconfigured Mehring way.

^In other words, some kickass shit is goin down lol. 

By now I would think there would be a webcam (again) for the Banks...does anyone know?

Construction of the roof of the first floor of the apartments has begun, so the thing's really above ground now. 

Why are they building the roof first?

Jack, my opinion is someone is just too damn lazy to hook up the webcam so they'll put it on the back burner until the BOSS tells them to put it up.  It sucks but happens all the time.  They'll give excuses like.."wiring is bad" or "weather conditions" bla bla bla.

Or few people really desire it. There are a ton of reasons. The QCS web-cam was rarely viewed, FYI.

Welcome to the Banks of Cincinnati

Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 3:31pm EST

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2010/01/welcome_to_the_banks_of_cincinnati.html

 

 

Nobody paused for speeches and fireworks when an important milestone was crossed on the Banks riverfront development. Construction of a privately-financed apartment and retail building now is underway.

 

“They poured the first column above the podium last week,” Assistant City Manager David Holmes told a Cincinnati council committee Tuesday.

 

The podium is the roof of a public-financed parking garage, which serves as the ground floor of the $80 million first phase of the Banks project.

rendering?

I've got some, but it's late and I'm tired, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow.

BLIMEY!

I've got some, but it's late and I'm tired, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow.

 

Screw you, Rando ... UPLOAD it!

It's now today, where are our renderings?!?  ;-)

I've got some, but it's late and I'm tired, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow.

 

Screw you, Rando ... UPLOAD it!

 

LMAO!

Some renderings can be found at http://www.carterdawson.com

 

 

 

 

Unfortunate that some of these buildings will be wood framed.

 

--

 

The Enquirer has others, at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070514/NEWS01/70514003, but they aren't showing up right now.

Meh.

The top rendering looks remarkably similar to the building on the corner of Garfield Place and Elm St. on the south side of the Garfield Place. The buildings are all uninspired. But I almost feel selfish for being so critical of the buildings when they will be so much better than what was there before. :-/

Some renderings can be found at http://www.carterdawson.com

 

 

 

 

Those are outdated renderings that don't reflect the changes made based on the recommendations of the Urban Design Review Board.

 

UrbanCincy was on the scene yesterday for The Banks update at City Hall.  At that meeting we were able to secure an exclusive interview, details, renderings, and upcoming tour of The Banks construction site (stay tuned).  But here are the updated renderings that were directly provided to us from the Project Manager.

 

 

 

 

 

They also provided us with two recent construction site updates:

 

Meh.

 

Columbus, Springfield, Dayton, Fairfield, CDM, all meh.

Says the man living in Lizard Hill.