If it was full by 8:30AM they are charging too little.  $3 all day parking is pretty ridiculous.

In Cranley's press conference he claimed he wanted to speed up the second phase of The Banks. Don't really know if he has a plan, but that is what he said.

In Cranley's press conference he claimed he wanted to speed up the second phase of The Banks. Don't really know if he has a plan, but that is what he said.

 

If only there were a streetcar line that directly accessed the Banks.  That would surely speed up its development.

In Cranley's press conference he claimed he wanted to speed up the second phase of The Banks. Don't really know if he has a plan, but that is what he said.

 

Of course that's what he said.  Cranley is all talk and cheap spectacle.

They were saw cutting Main St near GAB today.  Is this streetcar related?

 

Pedestrian improvements and repairs to address water penetration into the transit center.

Anyone know when the new pedestrian bridge will open from the Broadway lot to the US Bank Arena?

I thought it was open in October? Am I wrong?

What appears to be the final piece of the project, railing for the steps, arrived this morning. The lighting and railing for the landings were installed several weeks ago.

Interesting.  I think when the Reds were knocked out of the playoffs they slowed down the construction schedule.  THey had planned to work overtime to get it done for the World Series, where they to have been in Cincinnati.

OPINION: Bedinghaus plan helped shape riverfront

Nov. 14, 2013 5:30 PM 

Jeff Berding writes that Cincinnati's riverfront was stagnant for decades until a half-cent increase in the Hamilton County sales tax provided funding for new stadiums, streets, and the purchase of property to develop the prime real estate. / The Enquirer/Gary Landers

 

 

Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty wrote about the marked changes over the last 15 years in Cincinnati’s riverfront (“Bedinghaus built a big idea,” Oct. 27). The article focused on then-Hamilton County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus’ role in 1995-96 in formulating and getting enacted a half-cent sales tax increase to provide funds for the construction of new facilities for the Reds and the Bengals. The column evoked some emotional reaction from a number of readers whose letters The Enquirer published, attacking both Mr. Bedinghaus and Mr. Daugherty.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131115/EDIT/311150050/OPINION-Bedinghaus-plan-helped-shape-riverfront?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

^I don't have any particular problem with Jeff Berding, but that's ridiculous.  The Bengals stadium opened in 1999; the Reds stadium in 2003; it's 2013 and the Banks project is less than half complete.  This simply reflects a desire to praise a friend and Bengals co-worker.

I like that the letter pointed out some oft ignored facts. The revisionist history of the original letter writers to which he is  rebutting, reminds me of people going "OTR & downtown are going to be completely develope without the streetcar. All of the same development will happen anyway".

 

The same question of- ok, so then why are there still a couple hundred vacant and under utilized buildings there? Why hasn't it all just fixed itself already? As soon as the city starts fixing something conservatives immediately go, that would have happened anyway.

^I don't have any particular problem with Jeff Berding, but that's ridiculous.  The Bengals stadium opened in 1999; the Reds stadium in 2003; it's 2013 and the Banks project is less than half complete.  This simply reflects a desire to praise a friend and Bengals co-worker.

 

I was at some sort of economic development meeting in mid to late 90's, I forget the name of the woman who worked for the City at that time,

and she did a presentation on the banks. The Bengals would have gotten a new stadium with or without Bedinghaus, seemingly every

team got a new stadium. Some exceptions are Green Bay and KC. If PDoc wants to give credit to Bedinghaus then he deserves blame

for negotiating an awful lease and not building a retractable roof stadium. We could have hosted NCAA Tourney games, Superbowl,

Big Ten Championship games, or AAC Championship games etc. Zero income from naming rights also.

The kicker is some stadiums are now getting $100m upgrades that are nearly the same age as PBS. Wonder when the Brown family will be making a similar request. $10m for video boards ain't going to cut it.

The kicker is some stadiums are now getting $100m upgrades that are nearly the same age as PBS. Wonder when the Brown family will be making a similar request. $10m for video boards ain't going to cut it.

 

The lease is littered with improvements the county is responsible for, if a certain amount of other stadiums get upgrades.

Zero income from naming rights also.

 

I'm pretty sure the Bengals dropped some money to name the stadium.  Don't recall how much, and I don't know if it was at a discount, but I'm pretty sure there was at least the formal appearance of having paid to name it.

From the city's Twitter account, the pedestrian bridge is open. I like the LED lighting!

 

Drove (which is very rare for me) by the bridge last night. The new lighting looks pretty cool

The Banks selects new project executive

 

Philip Beck has been selected as The Banks’ new project executive, filling a position John Deatrick vacated earlier this year to lead the Cincinnati streetcar project.

 

Beck’s first day in the position was Nov. 1. He will be responsible for coordinating the multiple projects associated with the riverfront area on behalf of the city and Hamilton County.

 

Beck, a Symmes Township trustee and chief executive of Beck Infrastructure LLC, has worked on projects such as Great American Ball Park, Smale Riverfront Park and the first phase of The Banks development in his 27 years of experience.

 

Cont

LED lighting on the stairs does look good but it would be nice to see something programmed besides the random colors.  The new bridge/steps are a lot better than the old bridge which was an eyesore.  The plaza/parking lot also

cleaned up the area.  Too bad the pedestrian circulation around the arena at ground level is so poor.

When will they start construction on phase 2. I thought they said December

I believe though it was originally slated for a December start they moved that back to late January/early February.

 

I also recently saw they applied for money for the next phase of the parking garage. Does anybody know which block this will be? Will it be the block west of Phase II or the area south of Phase II?

Tom Demeropolis of the Business Courier tweeted today that construction on the Phase 2 apartments at the Banks will start this month. 

Tom Demeropolis of the Business Courier tweeted today that construction on the Phase 2 apartments at the Banks will start this month. 

 

That's great news.  Can't wait to see that side filled.

I believe though it was originally slated for a December start they moved that back to late January/early February.

 

I also recently saw they applied for money for the next phase of the parking garage. Does anybody know which block this will be? Will it be the block west of Phase II or the area south of Phase II?

About time

That roundabout is weak. They need the robot right in the middle.

 

That roundabout is weak. They need the robot right in the middle.

 

 

Weak is being too kind. For as elite, world-class and amazing as Cincinnati's riverfront is becoming, that roundabout is a horrible joke. Maybe it's just temporary?

 

Heck, what about a statue of William Howard Taft or Mark Twain ...

 

 

Did you see what it was like before the roundabout? 

Flying Pigs!  Or Cincinnatus.

I'd prefer just a grass patch, or some shrubs.  ANYTHING other than that awkward lamp post.

My faith is telling me someone had the foresight to rough-in electrical and that is the result.

That roundabout is weak. They need the robot right in the middle.

 

 

I'm trying to get MetroBot installed on top of a  streetcar power substation. He'd be like two stories tall and electrified. It would be amazing.

I believe the light post is the intended final result.  FHWA roundabout guidance includes placement of light poles at the center of the island central island for both the lighting effect and to provide a visual cue to drivers that the route must divert around the island when it may not be visually obvious from a distance at night but I agree it a an awkward gateway to the riverfront from the Roebling.

I believe the light post is the intended final result.  FHWA roundabout guidance includes placement of light poles at the center of the island central island for both the lighting effect and to provide a visual cue to drivers that the route must divert around the island when it may not be visually obvious from a distance at night but I agree it a an awkward gateway to the riverfront from the Roebling.

 

There are better ways to light it that are relatively inexpensive.  Heck, why don't they just go down to Smale Park and ask them to order an extra one of those tall pointed lamps like the one at the top of the Main Street Steps?  Put that in the middle with the lights pointed down to the intersection and have Cincinnati Parks plant like 5 small bushes.  EASY!

I think boillards or some raised median treatment would be needed. Folks have already landed on the median not knowing the curb and light is there!

 

Heck, what about a statue of William Howard Taft or Mark Twain ...

 

BallHatGuy was advocating for a Rutherford B. Hayes statue before he moved to Cleveland. Seems like a good spot for a statue of a president from Cincinnati.

Whatever happened to that "gateway monument" effort?  Seems like there were going to be a dozen but I can only bring to mind two.  Reading/Liberty and Fifth/Sentinel.  Seems like this would have been the highest profile spot.

I always thought they should move the Lincoln stature to the grassy area in front of he freedom center ( in-between the Yard House and Future restaurant)as it would be appropriate for the freedom center/freedom way.  I guess the roundabout wouldd work too.  With that, of course, I think they should build a Taft stature in Lytle Park, near his home..  How this city has yet to have a taft statue is beyond me. 

Whatever happened to that "gateway monument" effort?  Seems like there were going to be a dozen but I can only bring to mind two.  Reading/Liberty and Fifth/Sentinel.  Seems like this would have been the highest profile spot.

 

There is also the green bridge near the Greyhound Station and the Paddock Rd. bridge over I-75.

I have moved back!  And yes, we still need a Rutherford B. Hayes Statue!

 

And I think there is a Taft statue near the UC Law School.

I have moved back!  And yes, we still need a Rutherford B. Hayes Statue!

 

And I think there is a Taft statue near the UC Law School.

 

There is indeed. It's at the NE corner of the law school

Bengals lease allows them to dictate height of buildings at the Banks?????

 

The Cincinnati Bengals have asked Hamilton County taxpayers for sole ownership of the naming rights to Paul Brown Stadium.

 

The request – which The Enquirer obtained through a public records request – comes as the team and county haggle over how tall apartments at The Banks can be. At stake there: an 8-foot to 10-foot decorative roof ledge on a 10-story building.......................

 

Agreement sets limits on building size at Banks

 

The Dec. 20 letter to Hamilton County Administrator Christian Sigman stemmed from Bengals concerns over the county violating agreements about the height of buildings at The Banks.

 

A 1996 Memorandum of Understanding sets building guidelines at the The Banks; the Bengals fear the county wants to let developers build taller structures than allowed.

 

While this “relates to a 10-story building that exceeds the guidelines by 8 or 10 feet, the county’s materials and the presentation to the commissioners reveal discussions of what could be a 20-story building on the same block – exceeding the guidelines by more than 100 feet and designs on blocks immediately adjacent to the stadium with building heights far exceeding the guidelines for those blocks,” Dornette wrote.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?NoCache=1&Dato=20140122&Kategori=NEWS010801&Lopenr=301220058&Ref=AR

Since the name of the game these days seems to be breaching contracts when you don't like the terms, I'd say the contract with the Bengals is one definitely worthy of throwing on the dung heap. 

:x

 

Mike Brown is a total asshat.  Sadly these kinds of disputes won't be resolved with decent leadership (Cranley now), I have a bad feeling the banks aren't being built anytime soon.

 

I know football maybe popular, but I really felt the county should have just let him leave town, they would have been better off for it.

Is this going to have any impact on this Phase currently slated to begin construction this month?

 

MOU... Guidelines... How are these enforceable?

Mike Brown is a total asshat.

 

I agree.

 

I know football maybe popular, but I really felt the county should have just let him leave town, they would have been better off for it.

 

I disagree we would be better off without the team than with this terrible deal. It is easy to look at this deal and claim we would have been better without it, but there is never and will never be proof that it's true (or false). I think people overlook the positive benefits of the national exposure Cincinnati gets from the Bengals. I'm not saying we shouldn't have negotiated a better deal, but just saying we should have let the Bengals walk is silly IMO.

 

Though this discussion is a little off topic.

disagree we would be better off without the team than with this terrible deal. It is easy to look at this deal and claim we would have been better without it, but there is never and will never be proof that it's true (or false). I think people overlook the positive benefits of the national exposure Cincinnati gets from the Bengals. I'm not saying we shouldn't have negotiated a better deal, but just saying we should have let the Bengals walk is silly IMO.

 

Part of that national exposure is just how terrible Mike Brown is.  People actually know who he is outside of Cincinnati - I usually get into conversations like this: "oh your from the Cincy area, are you a Bengals fan?"  "No, I'm not, Mike Brown really screwed over the city and I refuse to support him for it, also the team has for many years been terrible".  "Oh yeah I've heard about it".  (I've had several conversations like this, and since sports is a socially acceptable thing to be geeky about, lots of people know lots of stuff like this).

 

To bring it back to topic, having them argue over the height of the banks development just makes things worse.

MOU... Guidelines... How are these enforceable?

 

Was thinking the same thing, if it isn't in the lease then...........and if it was the County could spin off whatever parcel(s) to whoever LLC

and wash their hands from controlling that piece (the height of a building).