I'll answer your questions.  It's a live/work/play environment.  People will live there, they will visit, and they will work;) it caters to all ages;)

I'm not a fan of heavy programming. I think it should and will evolve to serve whatever crowd ends up hanging around there. BUT if I had to place my bet, I would think that 6th and Walnut area or OTR will become the grown up part of town, while the Banks will be more family oriented, mostly because you'll have a heavily programmed city park surrounding it.

I still think it's laughable that they want The Banks to become a new neighborhood, where people live and play. We have already seen new Downtown residential tenants complaining about noise from Backstage and in Soapbox. It's hard to have both.

I still think it's laughable that they want The Banks to become a new neighborhood, where people live and play. We have already seen new Downtown residential tenants complaining about noise from Backstage and in Soapbox. It's hard to have both.

 

That's true but at the same time, these areas will probably attract younger people (whatever age really) that don't mind loud noise.  People complaining now will have to get used to it because downtown isn't letting up any time soon.

Agreed.  Not even older folks necessarily care that much about loud noise.  It's part of living in the city, in many areas, and many accept it.  I'm one of them.

There's only so much space down there that will house retail, restaurants, etc.  When they go about leasing the place I hope that they take a sensible approach and fit things together in the right way, things don't have to go together but you know a place feels right when it has an identity.  At the end of the day, I hope that they don't go the suburban mall leasing route but instead lease it the right way.  That's why I'm really excited to hear who they'll have down there in the area.  Really excited about Moerlein coming online nearby.

There's only so much space down there that will house retail, restaurants, etc. When they go about leasing the place I hope that they take a sensible approach and fit things together in the right way, things don't have to go together but you know a place feels right when it has an identity. At the end of the day, I hope that they don't go the suburban mall leasing route but instead lease it the right way. That's why I'm really excited to hear who they'll have down there in the area. Really excited about Moerlein coming online nearby.

 

Even though we have a long way to go before build out, I think it's safe to say the Moerline Lager House might be THE anchor for the entire Banks.

Noise is one of those ridiculous city mouse country mouse issues.  I used to live out in the boondocks in Tennessee where only one car passed every twenty minutes or so.  Problem is, since it's so quiet, that one car is way more disruptive to the peace than virtually anything that comes along periodically in cities.  Same thing with farm equipment, rifle fire, chain saws, etc.   

Sorry, I'm pretty late to the convo, but please no Starbucks and please no City BBQ.  I'd be fine with a Dewey's (though the pizza is good they skimp on the toppings) b/c they have a pretty good beer list and a flagship LaRosas would be fine (though i don't care for the pizza too much it's a fun place to go).

 

Also, most of this talk is about dinner places, but I'd love it if there was a good place to get breakfast and lunch and sit outside.  A place like Corner Bakery in Chicago.  Go in, get a nice breakfast and enjoy a cup of non-Starbucks coffee outside.

I'd love to see an Einstein Bros.  Their pizza bagels and bagel dogs are awesome.

^I hope that city leaders take the opportunity to make the front door of the city truly unique.  Would love to see the restaurant community of the region get behind this in a special way.

I think an Aldi's would be great for that area if it can't land a Trader Joes

Tonite:

 

 

 

I think an Aldi's would be great for that area if it can't land a Trader Joes

 

I'd personally prefer a Kroger Fresh Fare because they are local (and I really like the stores) but I think the banks and downtown are still a ways away from getting a full service grocery store.

I am confused.  What is the immediate plan for the area between PBS and the Freedom Center?  Are they going to start building the parking structures right away? Or are they waiting for funding on the buildings that will eventually sit atop the garages?

By all indications the garage is going up. I am a bit worried that this could create a design problem in the future since it won't be built for a specific structure. 

never thought i'd see the day....................... it's been a loooooooong time comin! (10 years)

never thought i'd see the day....................... it's been a loooooooong time comin! (10 years)

 

AGREED!

Tonite:

 

 

 

Looking good!  Things are really starting to shape up.

Drilling has begun on Phase 2 which includes the transit center.  Are they planning a big add-on to the transit center?

If they do I hope they find a way to use it.

I should hope that if they are building anything, its a staging-type area with facilites for a full functioning transit hub. (i.e. ticketing, customer service, etc)

its dumb they havn't started on the Walnut St. grand satircase and waterfall yet. what are they waiting for? thats gonna be the sweetest part!

Any news on the FOUR letters of intent??

 

Trent Germano divulged he had 4 of them. But wouldn't say from who...

Well, it's pretty standard protocol not to divulge the origins of tenant letters of intent.

Received this email today: THE BANKS: Opening of our Pre-Leasing office this week!

 

We are scheduling personal information sessions by appointment only so if you'd like to learn more, call us at (888)715-2678 or send us an email.

 

Once again, the space is located in the Scripps Center, 312 Walnut Street  and appointments are required and available 5 days a week. Our appointment hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 9-6 PM and Saturdays from 10-5 PM.

 

Here are the floorplans to the apartments that will be available at the banks:

 

http://www.villagegreen.com/the-banks/floorplans-at-the-banks

Did you get the email because you signed up for updates from the http://thebankscincy.com/ website?

Did you get the email because you signed up for updates from the http://thebankscincy.com/ website?

 

I received the same thing and it was from signing up thru the banks cincy site.

Are apartments going to be on both sides of Freedom way or just on the north side?

I believe apartments would be just north.  Trent Germano (Lead Developer for The Banks), however, did mentioned he wanted to have 30 townhouses south of Freedom Way, but that the financiers weren't too keen on the idea (at least yet).  Sounded like he was still fighting to build them though (although I may be reading into it too much).

So then what are they building on the south side of freedom way directly across from the stadium (I believe just north of the future Lager House).  I think they are already built up 2 or 3 floors of whatever it's going to be.

A hotel.

Thanks.  I knew they had plans for a hotel but didn't realize it was already going up.  That is going to be one heck of a location for people coming in to watch a Reds game.

I dont believe they have started on the hotel portion yet.  That area is still just the concrete pad at street level.

Well something is going up.  There are at least a couple levels of steal beams.  One side has all the wood framing which my understanding is the apartments, and the other side of the street has a couple levels of steal beams as well as the structure for an elevator shaft.

How many floors will that hotel be? hmm

Photos from tonite:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100805/BIZ01/8060364/1076/BIZ/Tenants-sign-up-for-Banks-homes

 

As always, only read the comments if you like banging your head against the wall. People really think $2/sq.ft is a bad deal for that location?!

Is that "hotel" pad referred to above in the shots?  Is that it in the first pic?  The hotel is not a go yet to the best of my knowledge.

No, they are only framing out the apartments, to my knowledge. However, the area directly across from the baseball stadium and directly north of the lager house along Main is envisioned as a hotel.

I'm a little incredulous that they haven't already booked a hotel and started construction...I men that location is PRIME!

Banks to require retail subsidies?

 

 

By Laura Baverman and Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected], [email protected]  • August 12, 2010

 

 

DOWNTOWN - It may take more than just a riverfront address to lure the first retail tenants to The Banks development.

 

Local officials expect the Atlanta-based development team of Carter and The Dawson Co. could soon approach county and city officials with a request for financial help to secure leases with the four restaurateurs and bar operators they say are interested in the 70,000-square-feet of space now under construction off Second Street.

 

"There is going to have to be some sweetening of the pot to lure tenants," said Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartmann. "I don't know (how much). It will have to be a combination of offers from the county and city."

 

Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Bortz said the city manager had alerted him early this summer about the possibility of a request by developers for help. Bortz advised against it, at least until more details of those tenants had been revealed.

 

 

cont.

I like how the Enquirer poses that headline as if this is some unheard of thing that never happens anywhere and means that the Banks are doomed to fail.

I like how the Enquirer poses that headline as if this is some unheard of thing that never happens anywhere and means that the Banks are doomed to fail.

It's almost like they want it to fail.........

Mentioned in this article on the Casino, a few bits of information on The Banks. A Widmers perhaps?

 

 

Work on casino to speed up

 

By Alexander Coolidge • [email protected]  • August 17, 2010

 

 

...

 

Also speaking at the event at the Receptions Banquet & Conference Center in Erlanger was Trent Germano, vice chair of Carter, who provided an update on The Banks development under construction on the Cincinnati riverfront.

 

The Banks developers haven’t announced any retailers for the first phase, but Germano said they won’t include any apparel retailers.

 

cont.

A dry cleaners at the Banks?? Uh, that would be a bit of a let down...

A dry cleaners at the Banks?? Uh, that would be a bit of a let down...

  Why?

^I've got the exact opposite feeling.  Give me a laundry mat within spitting distance of my apartment and I'm a happy man.

Do they not design apt's to have spaces for washer and dryers or is it that renters just typically don't purchase those items?

 

I can say as a non-Banks resident that I wouldn't be happy about a laundry mat because it serves only a very specific amount of people that go to the Banks.  But if the apt's aren't designed to house a washer and dryer I'd definitely see the need of a laundry mat.  Though I still think that with those places being such prime real estate that it should go to something more attractive to more people than a laundry mat.

All the floor plans I have seen include laundry areas...  But I believe they are talking about a drop off/pick-up dry cleaner, not a self-serve laundry mat.  This would not only cater to residents but business workers who park in the garages.