After what Cadillac Ranch pulled 2 years ago at Midpoint, the quicker they go out of business, the better.

 

the organizer's of midpoint should not have booked those bands (or any band) at Cadillac ranch.

Nice story of a college graduate moving back home from D.C. after college.

 

 

Slideshow: Moving into Banks 'surreal'

 

 

Banks: Loan clause jeopardizes leases

By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • [email protected] • December 1, 2010

 

 

DOWNTOWN - Developers of The Banks riverfront project say a deal to sign the first retail tenant is in jeopardy following actions taken by the Cincinnati City Council Wednesday.

 

The council unanimously approved a $2.75 million loan Wednesday aimed at helping lure retailers to The Banks. But those dollars will be made available only if developers agree to speed up the start date for the project's next phase to May 23, 2012 - one full year ahead of schedule.

 

The move "flies in the face of what everyone is trying to accomplish," said Trent Germano, vice chair of Atlanta-based Carter, which has teamed with The Dawson Co. as lead developer for the retail, residential and office spaces at The Banks.

 

^ Very Interesting---  I didn't realize that the next phase wouldn't start until May 23. 2013.  That seems kind of ridiculous.  Considering the final details of "the next phase" still have some wiggle room, it sounds like Carter-Dawson could just ensure that the next phase isn't anything too over the top due to the sped up schedule.  If the phase they are currently doing is going to be finished in April of 2011, it's crazy to think NOTHING will move forward at the banks for a full two years after that... The Idea of the Banks becoming an Island with only a few things there is very realistic if two years go by with no additional progress...

 

Very interesting...

The office tower, hotel, condo/townhomes and restaurant out parcels in front of the Freedom Center are all part of Phase1 but not under construction.  So there is still a lot that needs to be done.

 

That being said, with the pace of the apartment rental going strong and the west garage already being under construction, it would make sense to build those parts of phase 2.

Toby Keith serenades City Council...

 

Cincinnati City Council may revise position on Banks loan

Business Courier - by Lucy May and Dan Monk  Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010, 2:53pm EST

 

 

The Banks riverfront development risks losing its lead tenant if Cincinnati City Council doesn’t act quickly, according to the top developer for the project. And Cincinnati City Councilman Charlie Winburn said members of council are working on a solution.

 

Council voted Wednesday to approve a loan of $2.75 million to the Atlanta-based development team of Carter and The Dawson Co. on the condition that the developers speed up the time table to build out The Banks, the long-awaited billion-dollar project on the city’s central riverfront.

 

Hamilton County commissioners approved a loan for the same amount, contingent on council’s approval. But county commissioners didn’t include any requirements to speed up the development.

It is hard to get behind a loan for such a cheesy bar, but I will go with the more variety/options the better view.  I liked the piece on the attorney returning to Cincy after law school (and undergrad) from DC.  I was just there again for Thanksgiving and it is definitely a haven for the young, mobile, and educated crowd.

It's a valid point to raise.  When you guys say an island, do you have an example.  I am not as concerned that this would become said island with the more conservative timeline.  After all, it will have residents with some great entertainment options.

it is starting to bother the shit out of me that all these puppets wanna loan cash to toby keith but do erting they can to stop the train that is mos def gonna have a positive impact on this town.  what about bein strapped? why aint the pohlease jumpin up claimin "people gonna get mugged if you give toby keith dat cash"

Say whaa?

^ He's pointing out that the people up in arms about police layoffs being caused by the streetcar are sitting idly by while the city is bending over backward to give money to Toby Keith.

I got that but I still had to put a "Say whaa?"

Oh, in that case...I agree with you.

 

Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

I think he was just clownin cause all the slang blahblahblah.  It made me laugh. but yeah exactly...specialy this ciz or whatever her name is...i think she all against good projects but for kind of dumb ones like toby keiths freedom fries bar and grill.  this morning i had me some freedom toast.

LOL!!!

Mmm-mmm, I want me summadat freedom toast! Bon apetit!

 

Good point about Ghiz, LOL.

 

The bike plan was passed unanimously, though. That's gotta be worth something. I think that is because no arguments were presented against it until they started adding bike lanes in Hyde Park. The nay-sayer contingent simply wasn't creative enough to come up with their own reasons not to sign on.

The serenading worked...

 

No strings for Banks loan

 

Developers of The Banks likely will get a $2.75 million loan from the city of Cincinnati to lure the first retail tenant to the riverfront development – with no strings attached.

 

The City Council’s finance committee on Monday approved the loan, without restrictions imposed last week that would have accelerated the project’s construction timetable.

wow, council's bluff got called big time.

.

The city is full of a bunch of pansies.

I want that as my signature

Just saw this come through.  Interesting, since I had to google to make sure this wasn't some kind of chain with the same name as the Clifton bar:

 

---

Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC has been issued a notice to Bid for the Holy Grail Tavern and Grille Build-Out at The Banks development. The project is located on the First Level on the Building 26 Site and is approximately 5,800 gsf of new interior construction. Address 161 Joe Nuxhall Way Cincinnati, OH 45202.

 

Work on this phase of the project is scheduled to begin the first few weeks of January, 2011 and will complete by the end of the March 4, 2011.

---

 

So the Clifton location is moving to the Banks? That place always seemed gross to me...not at all what I would imagine at the Banks.

There are actually 2 Holy Grail Locations... one on the West Side and one in Corryville.

 

My guess is that they will be opening another location.

 

 

THERE IS GOING TO BE A STEELERS BAR AT THE BANKS?!?!?!?!?!

 

this makes me nauseous

Martino's is... never knew Holy Grail to be though.

Meh.... Martinos is a Penguins bar.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A STEELERS BAR AT THE BANKS?!?!?!?!?!

 

this makes me nauseous

 

You're thinking Martinos

I'd go to a gigantic Steeler's Bar especially if it was right out front PBS - preferably visible from Mike Brown's office.

No one else is disappointed that the two tenants we know so far are 1) a country bar with a mechanical bull, and 2) a below average college bar? This is what we want in our premier riverfront destination? I was hoping for some actual nice tenants...too much to ask I guess.

In the long run it doesn't matter much who leases the retail spaces at first, since they can always change.  The important thing is that we have some good urban buildings going in (regardless of the criticisms on the architecture itself, the building typology is excellent).  Tenants come and go, but the buildings will last for decades, and that's what's important. 

Yeah, but first perceptions can last for a long time.  If the Banks opens with shitty tenants, people will visit once, say there's nothing there worth visiting and write it off as a failure.  The opening of the Banks should be accomanied by excitement, not with the promise that things went better.

 

Maybe my expectations for tenants was unreasonably high.  I assumed it would have a similar tenant mix to LA Live, which has a Rosa Mexicano (nicer, contemporary Mexican restaurant), Trader Vics, a Wolfgang Pucks, and an ESPN Zone.  Oh well...

Sometimes I wonder where the idea that the Banks retail/restaurants would rival Kenwood.

 

So what are the chances a large grocery will be part of the Banks someday? I'm guessing about zero percent.

I would hope zero percent for a "large" grocery. A reasonably sized urban grocery, on the other hand, I'd say greater than zero. I'd actually hope for a major urban grocery in a more central location, though...not on the river. A few blocks north would be much better.

I would hope zero percent for a "large" grocery. A reasonably sized urban grocery, on the other hand, I'd say greater than zero. I'd actually hope for a major urban grocery in a more central location, though...not on the river. A few blocks north would be much better.

Yeah agreed...but I've heard rumblings...

The easy sell for the folks trying to lease out the Banks is to point to the two stadiums and say they will drink there before and after about 90 days a year (and more if you add U.S. Bank Arena). Whatever one thinks about what kind of urbanists reside in Cincinnati, I think these are the kinds of places that folks traveling to these facilities will partake.

I think the Toby Keith bar will be a big success. You have to remember the larger market is the suburbs, and I think this appeals to that market. I think a lot of neighborhood type bars and restaurants already exist downtown that its residents currently frequent. However, that's not to say that it is adequate. The major attractions downtown that people from outside the city already come down for, are the places that don't attract downtown residents. I would expect The Banks to follow this same model. Most suburbanites that go downtown on weekends don't even realize what other attractions surround them, except for the handful of places they routinely visit. This is the clientele possible tenants will look at attracting, not the smaller urban population.

 

Edale, I think something like your list would be great for attracting both suburban and urban residents. I wonder if such high profile tenants will ever be within reach?

 

So the Clifton location is moving to the Banks? That place always seemed gross to me...not at all what I would imagine at the Banks.

 

Probably why its moving into a brand new space;)

^ I would think this is going to be Holy Grail's 3rd location, not a relocation.

I also think people are getting their panties in a bunch thinking The Banks will immediately bang out the best tenants we could possibly imagine.  Truth is everyone has different tastes.  What we think is mediocre might be phenominal to a bunch of other people.  A country bar is obviously going to attract an enormous amount of people from NKY( no offense but they do listen to a lot of country in KY;) There isn't any other place like that for miles and miles.  Bobby Mackey's doesn't count.  I don't like country but I'd rather see that go in than another FB's...and about the grocery.  I think an Aldi's would be great down there if they don't land a Trader Joe's or something.

The Submarine Galley needs to open a location down there, which would similarly permit smoking crack at the bar.  I'm really looking forward to my annual Christmas visit. 

^ huh?

I also think people are getting their panties in a bunch thinking The Banks will immediately bang out the best tenants we could possibly imagine.

 

I was expecting Versace and Michael Kors. 

The Submarine Galley needs to open a location down there, which would similarly permit smoking crack at the bar. I'm really looking forward to my annual Christmas visit.

 

 

Seriously...what?

 

 

Looking at other developments that have gone up recently, I'd be happy if they leased all of the spaces.  Toby Keith's sounds awful to me, but it's a huge win for the development.  I really wouldn't mind if they stuck around there for years.  OTR will still be there for the rest of us.

I love the Holy Grail and think the Banks would make a great location for it.

I heard R Club and maybe Mr K's are thinking of re-opening with locations at the Banks

I love the Holy Grail and think the Banks would make a great location for it.

 

I agree...great wings!  we need one of those downtown.  I would imagine it will be a nicer place than the one in Clifton (will serve different clientele, not college kids).  I would rather have a local spot than a BW3s!!!

I heard R Club and maybe Mr K's are thinking of re-opening with locations at the Banks

 

To attract the under 18 crowd, right?  ;)  Oh, the memories.

Quote from: Mr Sparkle on Today at 02:59:49 PM

I heard R Club and maybe Mr K's are thinking of re-opening with locations at the Banks

 

 

To attract the under 18 crowd, right?    Oh, the memories.

 

WORD, my liver still hasn't recovered and it has been about 18 years!  Bring on Uncle Woody's on the Wiverfront too!

THERE IS GOING TO BE A STEELERS BAR AT THE BANKS?!?!?!?!?!

 

this makes me nauseous

 

You're thinking Martinos

 

Haha good call, totally scuzzed on that one.

The Submarine Galley needs to open a location down there, which would similarly permit smoking crack at the bar.  I'm really looking forward to my annual Christmas visit. 

 

Me and some buddies did the Submarine Galley for Christmas one time; 2006 I think. Fun.