Does anyone else just love the Mr. Red hat/mustache on 312 Walnut?  I do.

 

 

 

It's too easily confused for Lyft moustache. 

Yet another cheesy establishment at The Banks Phase 1.

 

I feel like owners are going hardcore for the "family who's just here for a reds game" market.

They make a LOT of money serving to that market.

They make a LOT of money serving to that market.

 

Holy Grail is more of a bar than a family restaurant, so I don't think you can say they make a lot of money serving families. I just think that's what they're gunning for with their very benign Italian concept.

^ Potential news headline could have been: "Locally owned Olive Garden Concept Opens at the Banks"

They make a LOT of money serving to that market.

 

Holy Grail is more of a bar than a family restaurant, so I don't think you can say they make a lot of money serving families. I just think that's what they're gunning for with their very benign Italian concept.

 

Maybe I should have just said they make a LOT of money...Until the Banks is fully built out I can't really blame anyone for going after the family/Reds game market. There isn't quite enough activity yet on non-Reds days. GE is a great start in the right direction.

Does anyone else just love the Mr. Red hat/mustache on 312 Walnut?  I do.

 

It's too easily confused for Lyft moustache.

 

What's a lyft moustache?

They make a LOT of money serving to that market.

 

Holy Grail is more of a bar than a family restaurant, so I don't think you can say they make a lot of money serving families. I just think that's what they're gunning for with their very benign Italian concept.

 

Maybe I should have just said they make a LOT of money...Until the Banks is fully built out I can't really blame anyone for going after the family/Reds game market. There isn't quite enough activity yet on non-Reds days. GE is a great start in the right direction.

I don't blame them at all. The important thing about The Banks is they got the street grid and park right. People can knock themselves out chasing whatever market demand they think is there. America at its (actual) finest.

Crosspost from the Cincinnati Reds Discussion thread:

 

Reds seek new LED screen outside stadium

 

 

Evidently this was approved as installation is underway today.

About an hour after the Reds game yesterday two large semis that said Lyon Video pulled into The Banks. I assumed they were carrying the new screen. It will probably be pretty crazy at The Banks for the All Star Game.

 

Also, this will be a permanent video board. I like it.

I don't think they have anything to do with the video board...I don't think.  I think they are a production truck contractor for networks.  So they'd be providing the video, etc. for FOX. (?)

Weird coincidence then, I guess. I thought about posting that I saw the trucks and I would guess the screen is being installed this week. Then the post came that they were being installed, so I assumed I was right.

 

Looking at their website, yeah, it doesn't seem to be related. Weird.

The topping out ceremony for the GE Global Operations Center was held today.

 

For skyline enthusiasts, I think we can be pretty happy with what we see here.  Once we get the spec tower and the hotel we'll see some pretty good addition to the skyline.

Can you remind me?  What is the spec tower?  Is it likely to break ground in the next year?

The office tower would be built on the remaining vacant lot at Phase 1 by the whistling batter mural. If the developer does not break ground on that tower soon, they will lose the development rights and the city may potentially give it to another developer. There is not a tenant in mind yet, and there was some speculation that the developer might just build it anyway (hence "spec tower"), but the developer also mentioned that they would like to find a tenant prior to building it. So, no one really knows what's going on yet.

^There should be an announcement soon but I don't know anything for sure.  I also found it amusing the use the phrase "break ground" on these pedestal projects.

 

I would assume the spec tower will be just as tall, if not a bit taller.  Who knows?

 

I also noticed this weekend that they have made significant progress with the glass skin hardware and have started putting in the glass on the ground floor of the GE building.

The spec tower is tentatively planned at around 15 stories or so. So it'll have some decent height to it. Taller than anything else in The Banks.

The spec tower is tentatively planned at around 15 stories or so. So it'll have some decent height to it. Taller than anything else in The Banks.

 

Nice.  Didn't realize it was that tall.

http://www.180walnut.com/index.html

 

That's the site set up for the generic building. If you go to the "facts and stats" section you can see a rendering of the building from the ground.

 

Unless they find a tenant that wants something more personalized we'll likely get a variation of this building.

http://www.180walnut.com/index.html

 

That's the site set up for the generic building. If you go to the "facts and stats" section you can see a rendering of the building from the ground.

 

Unless they find a tenant that wants something more personalized we'll likely get a variation of this building.

 

The rendering appears to show a 14-story building, but the "Facts & Stats" page says it is only 10 stories... not sure if there are any height restrictions on this parcel.

 

I'm almost certain there are but I think they are not as stringent as the blocks to the south and to the west.  I seem to recall that interested parties had stricter height restrictions written in for west of Vine.  Making this up???

That sounds correct.

 

I believe the height limit here is more a factor of the structure of the garage underneath and not a strict height limit. And I believe it came out to about a quarter of a million square feet of buildable space would be capable with the structure which equated to about 15 or so stories at the max.

 

But based on their stats page it sounds like they're thinking about a building that would be full lot floor plates all the way up which could happen. But a slight setback along one or more sides could reduce the square footage of each floor bringing the tower higher.

 

But if it's built on spec expect the shortest option possible. Reduction in costs without an actual tenant will be sought.

Here’s which contractors will be next to build at the Banks

 

The important part of the article "Crews are expected to begin construction at the site by July 20, and the work is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter of 2016."

It's really good to see that they're already beginning the next phase before Phase II has even completed. Reducing the time period between phases will really help that area.

It is great they are starting soon. But how can this $4M prep-work project take until 4th quarter 2016 to be finished? Or is that including the entire garage buildout that is something around $20M?

They're stating the garage platform will be finished by then. Meaning construction on the next phase of apartments/reatil/offices/etc. could theoretically begin at the end of next year.

This may be overly optimistic but I think by the time the developer portion of Phase III begins in late 2016 we'll have every component of Phase 1 either completed (the AC hotel) or under construction (180 Walnut).

No way!  You think the AC will be finished by then?  When is the start date?

I think they said they have an 18 month construction schedule and they're starting within the next couple months so it won't be finished but it'll be quite far along.

 

180 Walnut will likely be rising as well, either with a tenant or as a spec tower.

I don't think that future phases of The Banks should be rushed, but I would at least like to see the parking garages built out quickly so that we can get rid of those darn surface lots and complete Smale Park.

Panoramic that includes The Banks.

Curtain wall for GE going up, a little greener than I was picturing.

Not sure if this is a permanent addition to the south side of 2nd Street or for the All-Star Game:

Is that space between the fence and the road meant to be the full width of the sidewalk??

 

That can't be more than 3 feet wide...

^It appears there's a walkway between the seating area and the building that's intended to be used instead of walking along the curb portion.

That can't be more than 3 feet wide...

 

I have a feeling it is a permanent "classy" replacement to the busted temporary fencing they put up during baseball season to keep people from jaywalking.  The sidewalk is on the other side. 

^I'd agree. If it is indeed permanent, they should fill the planters with year-round plants. Now if only the establishments outdoor seating railing could be bolted to the concrete as seen at the 580 Building's restaurant row.

That can't be more than 3 feet wide...

 

I have a feeling it is a permanent "classy" replacement to the busted temporary fencing they put up during baseball season to keep people from jaywalking.  The sidewalk is on the other side. 

 

I wish they'd make that street a pedestrian area. Do they use that street for deliveries? Any through traffic could just go up to 2nd street so why is that street really needed?

^We are discussing 2nd Street. Are you referring to Freedom Way?

Ahh, yes, sorry. I was thinking that was freedom way in the picture and didn't look at it close enough...

Ahh, yes, sorry. I was thinking that was freedom way in the picture and didn't look at it close enough...

 

Which unfortunately illustrates just how bland and monotonous the appearance of the Phase 1 buildings are. 

Is the streetcar stop before this picture or will they have move these boxes for the stop construction?

They should've put the seating area right up to the curb. Unless maybe there will be plantings there. Otherwise it's wasted space.

This is not a seating area.  It is a barrier from the street.

Is the streetcar stop before this picture or will they have move these boxes for the stop construction?

 

Streetcar stop has been constructed here, just to the right of this pic, in front of Toby Keith's entrance. The boxes stop as the curb/sidewalk slopes up for the stop. The decorative fencing can be lifted up and removed in spots. E.g. the parking garage entrance.

Here's a shot of the streetcar stop.  You can see how much room there is behind the planters:

 

Generally, I think it looks pretty good.

 

...until you get to Toby Keith's awful patio setup.  Someone need to corral them in ASAP.

 

 

In other news, the added tivoli lights to Freedom Way!

Nice!

 

There should be an ordinance that you can't wall off your cafe seating with steel tube utility fences.

What a horrible bottleneck there. TKILTBAGs area seems like it's always underutilized anyway.  And the streetcar stop shows obvious signs of being a heaving bowl for exiting bar jockeys.

Toby Keith's is easily in violation of ADA standards, not to mention proper taste!