I know a couple of Forumers were at the Tweet Up last Wednesday. Any links to your pictures?

 

And just like that, Carter posted these pics: http://carterblog.typepad.com/photos/the_banks_tour/index.html

I worked on barges and one coming loose spontaneously in the way that this restaurant did is extremely suspicious.  That stuff doesn't *just* happen.  In a situation like this they are not secured with just one wire at each corner timberhead, but probably two at each.  That the restaurant was kept from floating away by just one cable illustrates a) how strong these cables are and b) if the upstream wire didn't break, how exactly did it become detached?  There's basically only one way: the ratchet was kicked open.  Usually in permanent installations like this, there is a lock on the ratchet.  But if it's unlocked, anyone who knows how to can flip over the ratchet dog, give it a few cranks, then kick it loose.  It takes 5 seconds. 

 

I don't doubt that, though I'd think one would make sure not to do when there are folks aboard. If something went wrong, one could be wiped out and probably put in jail.

I know, doing it with people on board seems like a mega-lawsuit waiting to happen.  But then again, doing it in this way is higher profile and obviously brought a lot of free publicity to the restaurant.  Maybe it's a set-up to force a move to Covington Landing.  Who knows. 

 

When I worked on the boats, barges only got loose when they were hit by towboats or other barges.  For example, I heard of 60 getting loose on the Mississippi River one night near Baton Rouge when the captain was arguing with his girlfriend on his cell phone.  I'll probably take a swing by where the Waterfront was docked and see what their shore fittings looked like, but I've never heard of one of them failing.  And if a cable breaks, it sounds like a shotgun, and they didn't report that.   

He has said he wants to reopen but at covington landing.

There is some signage going up on the apartment building.  Right now it just says "CU" and then "at the banks" below it.  Presumably they are actually putting up "Current" on the side of the building, but I don't know how I feel about that.

 

Or perhaps it's just written as with a text, encouraging people to come down to the Banks.

They are now working on completing the "current."  As I said above, they already had the "CU" up.  Today they have started from the other end, and have put up the last two letters (still awaiting on the "r-r-e").  The effect is unfortunate....

why is that unfortunate?  i just heard they are now completely sold out of apartments..apparently 1,000 men came running all at once to get an apartment but they had to turn some away.

They are now working on completing the "current."  As I said above, they already had the "CU" up.  Today they have started from the other end, and have put up the last two letters (still awaiting on the "r-r-e").  The effect is unfortunate....

 

Haha, are you serious?

why is that unfortunate?  i just heard they are now completely sold out of apartments..apparently 1,000 men came running all at once to get an apartment but they had to turn some away.

 

The order of the letters they put up is pretty unfortunate. Or fortunate, depending on your sense of humor.

That's horrible! Someone take a picture- haha

i have a picture.... but am unable to upload.

I have a picture too.  If no one else gets it, I will get it uploaded at some point. 

 

Believe me, I laughed.  But it was sort of hard to believe...

why is that unfortunate?  i just heard they are now completely sold out of apartments..apparently 1,000 men came running all at once to get an apartment but they had to turn some away.

 

The order of the letters they put up is pretty unfortunate. Or fortunate, depending on your sense of humor.

 

i was joking. also joking about men rushing to the Banks to buy up the aparments, cuz you know, they thought it said CU....NT @ the Banks.

^And Toby Keith's hasn't even opened up yet!

Just getting ready for Cincinnati Urban Neighborhood Transit.

haha, speaking of that, everybody come on down to my new store on 7th Street!

 

 

the name CURRENT plays off is dual use as a noun (river current), and adjective (en vogue, fashionable).

 

An in-process shot of them putting signage up at the Banks.  The signage is complete as of April 12. 

 

 

Cunt. Fantastic!

Sherman, I'm hurt...I feel like you weren't reading the posts just a bit above on the process! 

 

(BTW, I saw some of your photos at Joseph Williams Home...big fan of the Emery Theater photo.  I may buy it soon.) 

Good job, jdm00! ;)

 

Now where is the crowd of men rushing in to rent units?

^^^good stuff. so is there a court yard in center of that hole, er building?

Jesus, there's a lot of crap on that roof. 

the signage really looks bad.  why are people so obsessed with wearing nametags on their buildings around here?  like anybody will need to identify where "current" is.  tacky.

Yeah, I didn't think they really needed to put the signage up. 

An in-process shot of them putting signage up at the Banks.  The signage is complete as of April 12.

 

Additional signage going up today on the left side of the above picture.

Move in day tomorrow at the banks:

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/developingnow/2011/04/18/first-residents-to-move-into-the-banks/

Anyone on this blog moving in soon??

Anyone on this blog moving in soon??

 

^ I graduate soon and depending on where/if I can find an architecture job, I would seriously consider one of the smaller units.  That'd be at least a few months away though, so hopefully a few of the 40% of the units that aren't leased yet are still available. 

I thought I read somewhere that all of the $800 (bottom price) units were gone and most of the $2,200 (top price) were gone- and the remainder were the middle units.

 

Not sure how correct that is- but I did read it somewhere...

Anyone on this blog moving in soon??

 

I'm not personally moving in, but one of our new Downtown Residents Council board members will be moving in shortly.  He's been at our meetings for at least a year even though he does not live downtown yet.  He's been giving us updates almost every month.  I couldn't imagine a bigger cheerleader for this development.  He's even promised to set up an event for the membership to tour the development.  :-)

i realize this is probably my first post.... but i am moving in, but not until june, when the south building is finished... moving back to cincinnati from philadelphia. (also an architect, graduating from grad school, also looking for a job, ram23)

Anyone on this blog moving in soon??

 

I'm not personally moving in, but one of our new Downtown Residents Council board members will be moving in shortly.  He's been at our meetings for at least a year even though he does not live downtown yet.  He's been giving us updates almost every month.  I couldn't imagine a bigger cheerleader for this development.  He's even promised to set up an event for the membership to tour the development.  :-)

 

Awesome! sounds like a great guy.

i realize this is probably my first post.... but i am moving in, but not until june, when the south building is finished... moving back to cincinnati from philadelphia. (also an architect, graduating from grad school, also looking for a job, ram23)

 

Welcome to the forum--and welcome back to Cincy!

i realize this is probably my first post.... but i am moving in, but not until june, when the south building is finished... moving back to cincinnati from philadelphia. (also an architect, graduating from grad school, also looking for a job, ram23)

 

That's fantastic!  Welcome!

Here was the ribbon cutting this morning and a few interior views:

 

Link with more photos:

 

http://www.urbancincy.com/2011/04/developers-city-leaders-welcome-first-residents-to-80m-first-phase-of-the-banks/

Great shots Jake!

That model unit was on the second floor, which has a concrete base.  Only the second-floor units have concrete, all others are wood.  The model felt very solid, obviously, to walk around.  Without visiting one of the upper floor units after people have moved in, there's no telling how the wood construction will affect the sound.  This is my main issue with this type of building -- not the noise of others, but my concern that I'm disturbing other people. 

 

Also, I did not get the square footage or price on this 2-bedroom model, but it appears to be unit type C2a, which rents for between $1400-1700.  More than I'd be willing to pay for what you're getting.  I'd hope that they have storage elsewhere in the building, too, hopefully on the floor you live on. 

 

Do not underestimate the profound impact that will be made on people leaving Reds baseball games and they look across the street and see lights on with people living inside. This psychological impact, I predict, will be a bit of a game changer.

Zing!

^ haha I was just thinking the same thing.

For what it's worth, The Banks is currently on-schedule and $53 million within budget.

^ it's been amazing feat- No accidents in over 330,000 work hours, and actually it's better than Randy says-  That phrase is poorly marked on their website.  Later on it says:

 

"Phase 2a construction budget of $52.3 million remains within budget."  They actually haven't gone over budget this entire time.

City and county leaders were able to benefit from huge savings due to the poor economy. Contractors were desperate for work and submitted very low bids. Add in the fact that material costs also dropped during the down economy and you have yourself the opportunity for huge cost savings.

 

This is exactly why, as Mayor Mallory said in his State of the City address last week, you pursue investment opportunities aggressively during bad economic times. Had things not been slowed up with the Cincinnati Streetcar, the very same savings could have been experienced there.

^ it's simple economics really- amazing more people don't realize this.

I've been trying to figure out the timeline for future development at the Banks-

 

The garage that is currently under construction and the rest of Freedom way will be opening in the fall.  Is there no construction planned for 2013? 

 

I believe there are NO set dates for:

the condos next to Current

the hotel next to Current

residential/retail development above the garage currently under construction

any further garage construction

the restaurant spaces on the grass lot south of NURFC

 

Can anyone verify or correct me if i'm wrong? thanks

The remaining private development atop the garages will occur as the developers are able to line up tenants and funding. This was the major issue earlier this year with City Council tried to put specific dates to their schedule. The developers don't want to be held to that, but obviously would want to get things built as quickly as possible so that they can pay off their debts and start making money.

 

I would imagine that by 2013 there will be some new private development being done. Maybe it's the office tower at 2nd & Walnut streets, maybe one of the hotels, or maybe additional residential/retail space like what they've already built.

A co-worker sent me this aerial shot last week. Not sure how old it is, but I thought it was interesting. I wonder if old Mehring Way is ready to be torn up.

 

 

^ Looks like its from some time last fall. Still a great picture!!

Yeah, that's awhile ago.  They've started planting trees in the CRP.

Anyone have a picture of the courtyard??  I've wondered how it turned out.