Anyone on this blog moving in soon??

 

I'm moving into Current in 32 days! Can anyone tell me exactly where the Schmidlapp Event Stage is being built? Is it in front of the south apartment building overlooking the river? I'm just wondering if I'm going to have a view of the stage and the new Riverfront Park since I'll be on the top floor facing the river...?

Anyone on this blog moving in soon??

 

I'm moving into Current in 32 days! Can anyone tell me exactly where the Schmidlapp Event Stage is being built? Is it in front of the south apartment building overlooking the river? I'm just wondering if I'm going to have a view of the stage and the new Riverfront Park since I'll be on the top floor facing the river...?

 

You'll probably have a good view of the Event Lawn.  It's exactly where you described it.  The stage however is covered...so if you're the top floor, you might not be able to see the performers.

 

Congrats on the move.

Also... are there going to be fireworks for July 4th near downtown?

I believe the 4th of July fireworks on Fountain Square will actually be on Sunday, July 3rd.  Supposedly there will be someone other than Rossi doing the fireworks this year with some cool new effects :-).

I believe the 4th of July fireworks on Fountain Square will actually be on Sunday, July 3rd.  Supposedly there will be someone other than Rossi doing the fireworks this year with some cool new effects :-).

They do a little something on July 4th, but Labor Day is the big fireworks day downtown.

Will they have Fioptics at the Banks?

Will they have Fioptics at the Banks?

 

Per CinBell's check availability website, yes.

 

I used: 120 Freedom Way 101 45202

Wow, I'm blown away how quickly this project is being built. Cincinnati has been very impressive lately.

Someone didn't close a gate...so here's some iphone pics of the Event Lawn/Moerlein House area from Sunday :evil:

 

Looking at the lawn toward the Moerlein House

 

Some shots of the stage

 

Looking back at the Moerlein House

 

Looking from the lawn at the Current apartments

Wow, what a treat -- a sneak preview! Thanks!

Love the shots--

 

That last one shows how great the townhomes will be once they are finally built!!  They will be RIGHT against the park. haha

 

Are they actually building town homes there or are they just making them to "look" like town homes?  Has construction started on those?

Well- they might technically be condos and not townhomes-- but the point is that they are for sale and not for rent...

 

Also, I believe there is no specific timeline for their construction, but I would guess, late this year or early next spring.

Are they actually building town homes there or are they just making them to "look" like town homes?  Has construction started on those?

 

Construction has not started on those yet. 

Well I hope these town homes are able to take the focus away from the fact that the "back" of this apartment building faces the river. 

^ agreed!

 

Upscale Ruth’s Chris looks to open steakhouse on Ohio River at the Banks

[glow=red,2,300]Meanwhile, first tenant Holy Grail already plots expansion[/glow]

Business Courier

Date: Friday, May 27, 2011, 6:00am EDT - Last Modified: Thursday, May 26, 2011, 12:07pm EDT

 

 

Ruth's Chris Steak House, the world’s largest upscale steakhouse, looks to be the next new retail tenant at the Banks.

 

Read more: Upscale Ruth’s Chris looks to open steakhouse on Ohio River at the Banks | Business Courier

 

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/print-edition/2011/05/27/upscale-ruths-chris-looks-to-open.html

Went for a walk yesterday- The storm had knocked down a lot of the fencing and almost none of the gates were closed-  Looks like they ditched the site when the storm started. 

 

The southwest corner of the south Block.

 

The southwest corner of the south block, looking towards the Event Lawn

 

Patio area on northern building- still under construction

 

Patio on northern building- still under construction

 

 

Already showing some wear and tear...

 

Staircase midway down Freedom Way (between Main & Walnut) - Clearly has some sort of water issue (everywhere else was dry by now) and the glass is shattered, possibly from a recent storm (all of the fencing had been blown over).

 

 

I'm guessing the banners are at their appropriate locations...

 

Wine Bar has a cut away- looked like they were framing out the inside.

 

Shot from across Mehring Way

 

 

And- just as a reminder-- If you don't like these buildings, you're sure to hate U Square (formerly uptown commons) same design firm (CR Architects) and the most recent designs look almost the exact same.

 

Are people still moving in? When do the businesses opening in the summer start opening?

I know Toby Keith's bar wants to be open on the first of August...not gonna happen. Not sure about the others.

According to a friend who works for the health department, all the restaurants have been slow to submit their plans to the health department for review and final approval. They were due in May, and they are still not in.

Are people still moving in?

 

I've seen moving trucks there almost daily the past 2 weeks. Walking by today at lunch there were people going in and out of the leasing office. It looks as if the next tenant opening it's doors will be the Cincinnati Police.

Anyone know the official opening date for Block #2?  I remember hearing June-ish. 

 

West Freedom Way won't open til October.

I meant the building-- the second block of apartments which are still unoccupied.  South of Freedom Way

Those are open and some are occupied.

south building is definitely open. moved in last tuesday.

Oh cool-  I know the plan was June, but I didn't know it had opened at the beginning of the month-

 

Is the pool open?  Can anyone shoot a picture of it? It had looked incredibly small in the original drawings.

WVXU did a segment of Impact Cincinnati interview focusing on the Banks project and the Riverfront park:

 

http://www.wvxu.org/impact/impact_archiveview.asp?ID=6/16/2011

 

Looks like they plan on starting the above ground part of Phase II (the block west of the Freedom Center) after the parking garage is competed.

^ Thanks for the link. There's a lot of good info there.

 

Sounds like we can expect a few tenants to be announced in the near future and there is a chance that there could be some local establishments.

 

Also, interesting that they are considering a movie theater for one of the next phases.

 

Sounds like all the announced places will be open in September.

 

Read the latest Banks Project Monthly Report Here:

 

http://thebankspublicpartnership.com/sites/default/files/MonthlyReport_MayDRAFT3.pdf

 

 

I'm not sure where this photo came from, or when it was taken, but I found this on the Ohio Beer Blog:

 

 

That does look like a tiny swimming pool.

Great shot! Love it-

 

I think in the long run, the biggest disappointment of Current at the Banks will be the shared semi-public spaces. They have an entire parking structure roof that could have been an area for residents to grill out, meet up, hang out etc, but instead, the accessible space is a very small portion of that with very little potential for use.  In the second building, the public area is that tiny little pool and some small walking space around it.  The 4th and plum pool isn't that much larger, but the shared area for residents seems much better.

I know it's a cost issue, but Columbus had a thriving downtown rooftop pool bar culture in the '80s. It could be done again today, but everybody thinks that they are going to get a disease the second they kiss a stranger these days.

I doubt that these common areas really foster much sense of community in these types of complexes. Even if you talk to someone at the pool one day, you are only going to run into them once or twice per year in the parking garage. 

 

I have been to the 4th & Plum pool parties after the fireworks several times.  One time, I think in 2002, it got completely out of control, with lots of people taking their clothes off and some people having sex in the pool with 50+ people around.  Honestly I'm not sure something like that can happen anymore with the threat of photos being posted on Facebook a very real threat.  That said, that pool is the place to be after the fireworks!   

The Current buildings are shameful. Rock bottom quality. Cheap and desperate. For those of us who have followed The Banks, it's like taking 10 years to bake your wedding cake and then frosting it with fresh turds.

 

To the layman, though, he'll never really notice. It got things off the ground.

 

As for the pathetic communal space inside the donuts, it's offset by the fact that the true "amenities" are the city itself, and the world class park that is being created at great expense, a true civic amenity.

The exteriors look less cheap than Great American Ballpark, at least.  But my issue with the mixed-up "sections" of the building is that it's a sort of admission by the architect that they have no faith in themselves to create a block-long cohesive statement.  All of these issues were tackled 100 years ago in New York City.  It would be less of an issue if the budget allowed higher quality materials. 

Did you attend any of the meetings about the design of The Banks Jake? There were people actually addressing those very same concerns. One person asked why the windows seemed to be "misplaced" throughout - nothing matched any consistency, and it was explained that the columns internally were hampering the exterior design. What about the lack of detail in design? Color choices? Cost. Why stucco? Cost.

 

After looking at Stetson Square in Cincinnati's CUF - which looks more on-par with what The Banks was envisioned to reality, it's disappointing. And that's what the frustrations were aimed at - we were given renderings and designs of something grand and distinct. Easton Town Centre and The Greene have more detail and better build quality than The Banks...! Here are some photos I took recently:

 

The Banks "quality"

 

Looks a little better

 

Stetson Square, with appropriate mass, design and build quality

 

 

Easton Towne Centre

 

 

I do remember that in the unit I saw the windows were not centered in one of the rooms.  You can see it here:

 

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

 

I don't really mind that.  The issue for me was how high priced these small a 2-bedroom units were. 

 

All is not lost, though.  There is still plenty of opportunity for higher quality stuff at the remaining sites.  An area doesn't need to be comprised entirely of the highest quality buildings.  Often one or two standout buildings can elevate the mood of an area.  Obviously The Ascent is a good example of this. 

 

^I saw that too Jake. They explained it away by stating the columns prohibited some design changes, but in reality, the developer wanted uniformity in materials and plans. They could have customized the design to incorporate... say, centered windows and more unique units, but it's built for 300 units that are consumed not for the build, but for the location. Think of the Gateway Building, with its ultra-cheap exterior that requires constant maintenance (Central Parkway & Vine) and an interior that is generic at best.

I'm not too worried about it.  Again, there is plenty of space left for higher quality stuff.  Hopefully Current is rented quickly and helps attract tenants to its storefronts and encourages the next phases of The Banks.

 

On the ground, for those of you not living in town, it really is feeling like an extension of downtown and there is a subtlety to it that I don't think can come across in photos.  Specifically, when standing on the stadium sidewalk along Main St., I think you feel drawn down Freedom way and toward the Moerlein Lager House and Event Lawn.  When you're near the Freedom Center, you can just barely see the event lawn, and want to walk toward it. 

 

I think we've all experienced that feeling while visiting cities on vacation -- where you see something and are drawn to walk toward it out of simple curiosity.  I think The Banks and the park are going to have that in a way that Sawyer Point and earlier parts of the riverfront don't.

 

Overall I agree with Jake-  While the buildings look crappy when you look up close-- The overall feeling is fun, neat and interesting-  Once the storefronts fill up I'm sure it will feel very lively.

 

If the 15 story office tower, the hotel or the condos are done at a higher architectural value, the rest will feel nicer as well.  Already, the Moerlein Lager House looks like it will be a beauty and that should definitely help that side of the development.

 

I'm hoping in future phases they increase the quality-  All of this was financed and built during a major recession and was a huge gamble (nothing had been on the riverfront in decades).  Now that it's obviously successful, I'm hopeful for more risk taking and higher investments from the developers

So an opportunity presented itself to me after the reds/yanks game last night.  All I was armed with was an iphone and the stormy night air. 

 

Enjoy the view!

 

Doesn't that look so much better?

 

How's this for a living room view?

 

Now out on the balcony looking south

 

I look to the east

 

And I step around the corner of the balcony to the north

 

Then the rain comes

 

Good night from Freedom Way

 

I will return with daylight and a better camera

 

 

I have to agree with some that the materials and the overall exterior design is very weak, but one concern I REALLY have is after being in the garages after that storm passed last night.  Their were numerous waterfalls of sorts leaking from in between what looked to be expansion joints.  Could this be because of the giant concrete pads on top where buildings have yet to be built? 

They should be sealed, but I'd have to guess and say that the joints haven't been installed or aren't necessary.

 

Do you live down there now?

Great pics, BTW.

They should be sealed, but I'd have to guess and say that the joints haven't been installed or aren't necessary.

 

Do you live down there now?

 

No just visiting friends

Overall I agree with Jake-  While the buildings look crappy when you look up close-- The overall feeling is fun, neat and interesting-  Once the storefronts fill up I'm sure it will feel very lively.

 

I agree.  There are so many themes and backdrops that contribute to the experience of The Banks that it will feel exciting and create energy for itself.