The Indian dude that runs Joe's or whatever it's called on McMillan could do a bang-up job.  Go in there and he has the drinks all categorized by color, so the orange Gatorade is next to the orange juice, but the rest of the Gatorade is in another cooler.  Plus, lots of open boxes sitting in the aisles.  He'll get to stocking the shelves one of these days. 

Joe's has the problem of charging way more for items every other corner store sells for much less. Ravine Street Market was my go to even when I lived at the very top of Victor.

 

Some sort of typical corner store with prepared foods that are of an acceptable quality would probably do well at The Banks once all of GE is moved in and future office projects are completed in The Banks.

Maybe Stop N Go can open a new location at the Banks. That would have the added benefit of saving CPD money because they could just move the Banks police substation into it.

Why doesn't Downtown have a Pret A Manger or Paris Baguette Bakery Café or Corner Bakery Cafe type of place? These are really popular with office workers who want to pop in and get a coffee, salad, or sandwich quickly. I think one of these would do well at The Banks or some other place downtown. The only thing that I can think of that's somewhat similar is Silverglades, but they don't really have anything already prepared, you have to wait to the food to be made.

Panera is close and remember Mallory needed to sell Cincy to them.  Perhaps its more letting these sorts of places know you guys exist.

Yeah I know for certain the Mt. Adams UDF has no pumps and I am pretty certain there is another one in Cincinnati I've dropped into before with no pumps but can't put my finger on it at the moment where that was

 

Northside and Clifton. I think there's one in Pleasant Ridge too.

Yeah I know for certain the Mt. Adams UDF has no pumps and I am pretty certain there is another one in Cincinnati I've dropped into before with no pumps but can't put my finger on it at the moment where that was

 

Northside and Clifton. I think there's one in Pleasant Ridge too.

 

And Norwood. 

Carter just sold the GE Building for $107 million, ~$315 per sq ft:

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/10/17/ge-s-global-operations-center-at-the-banks-sold.html

 

Hopefully, that will give a clear signal to finish filling in the rest of The Banks.

 

 

Also, hopefully Carter can use proceeds of this sale to finance the next phase, especially since the garage has already been built and it's ready to go.

Ubahn is back this weekend, for its third year at the Riverfront Transit Center:

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2016/10/19/ubahn-underground-fest-round-3/92297198/

 

I'm glad this festival keeps making use of the Transit Center. Hopefully with the streetcar running now, it'll make it easy for folks to use the streetcar to and from the festival.

 

 

A look inside: GE's new office at The Banks has no offices

Bowdeya Tweh , [email protected] 9:20 a.m. EDT October 25, 2016

 

DOWNTOWN - Walking through General Electric Co.'s new office space at the Banks is akin to having a front-row seat to corporate transformation.

 

GE's office building, ironically, is office-free. There are dozens of different types of workspaces available from partitioned desks to huddle rooms and multipurpose spaces with telepresence capabilities to a rocking chair in front of a window that overlooks Smale Riverfront Park and the Ohio River.

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2016/10/24/ges-cincinnati-center-reflects-relentless-desire-innovate/92684330/

Ubahn is back this weekend, for its third year at the Riverfront Transit Center:

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2016/10/19/ubahn-underground-fest-round-3/92297198/

 

I'm glad this festival keeps making use of the Transit Center. Hopefully with the streetcar running now, it'll make it easy for folks to use the streetcar to and from the festival.

 

 

 

If only we used the Transit Center for you know, transit.

^100% agreed. I still am hoping that eventually Greyhound will move down there, selling off their land by the casino. 

Denver has built several brand-new commuter rail lines in the past five years.  The trains operate on mix of new tracks and tracks shared with freight trains.  I think the best use for the transit center would be as the terminus of a pair of routes connecting Cincinnati and Dayton...one paralleling I-75 and another traveling through Hamilton, Trenton, and Middletown.  However, it's all a non-starter in the hostile anti-everything Ohio legislature. 

Without going into too much detail, I have heard elected officials talking about the desire to utilize the RTC for Metro bus routes. So if we get the right pro-transit administration in place, we can make proper use of this investment.

How the hell did we end up spending so much money on building the transit center, only for it to be used once a year during music festivals. Mind boggling wastefulness.

"We" didn't.  It was mostly funded through a federal multimodal grant and was not extravagantly more expensive than the original plan, which was to build Second St. on fill dirt.  Also, the transit center is used all the time for Reds and Bengals charter buses, which pay a fee to park there.  I most recently heard that the transit center has $2 million in collected fees sitting in an account, so it is a money-maker for SORTA. 

 

The 3C's rail project was not going to have sufficient funds to extend the service into the Transit Center if ODOT or another source wasn't tapped.  When Kasich was elected, he cancelled the program and sent the free federal funds to California.  If Strickland had been reelected, he might have directed ODOT to skip building the Portsmouth Bypass ($400 million) or any number of other pork projects to the 3C's rail, which could have brought it into the transit center. 

How the hell did we end up spending so much money on building the transit center, only for it to be used once a year during music festivals. Mind boggling wastefulness.

 

It would've cost a lot of money to fill in that area with dirt. It only cost slightly more money to make it into a usable transit center instead. So we wisely decided to build the transit center.

 

And we can utilize that transit center much more than we do now, it we can find the political will to fund its operations.

Wasn't metro supposed to move down there from Government Square? Why didn't they?

 

Why doesn't Tank use it now? it would really relieve congestion on 5th street during the rush hours.

 

Maybe now that there is activity at the Banks, there is more incentive to use it for transit or more of a good reason to use it on a regular basis.

How the hell did we end up spending so much money on building the transit center, only for it to be used once a year during music festivals. Mind boggling wastefulness.

 

Metro uses it every weekday for the Metro*Plus and it generates over $100,000 a year in parking revenue due to special events and Bengals/Reds game bus parking. If you were going to run additional Metro routes through the transit center the 27, 28, 49 and 50 would probably be the most logical choices. 

Without going into too much detail, I have heard elected officials talking about the desire to utilize the RTC for Metro bus routes. So if we get the right pro-transit administration in place, we can make proper use of this investment.

 

I think with the streetcar connecting directly above, it'd be a great thing to do. Much better waiting areas and would really free up some congestion.

To keep it simple, they could just place all the express routes for TANK and Metro in the RTC, and keep the 'local' routes at Government Square. That would be really easy to re-route for TANK since the RTC connects to both the Clay-Wade and Taylor-Southgate bridges easily. I'm not as familiar with Metro's routes but if it was a designated Express Route transit center, it would help distinguish it from Government Square.

The problem is that Metro's express routes off the interstates can get to Government Square much more quickly than they can get to the Transit Center.  The exception might be if the 71X and 28X (milford) were able to turn left on Broadway from the Lytle Tunnel/3rd St. Viaduct exit.  But the current system works very well. 

 

The one real possibility for local buses would be TANK local routes using the transit center from the Taylor-Southgate Bridge rather than traveling up into downtown.  Also, if a new bridge were built between Central Ave. and Covington, TANK could come in from that side as well.  But then we run into the problem of TANK being unable to easily turn the buses.  They obviously want to run Newport and Covington-specific buses, not each as a dogbone that connects in Cincinnati. 

The problem is that Metro's express routes off the interstates can get to Government Square much more quickly than they can get to the Transit Center.  The exception might be if the 71X and 28X (milford) were able to turn left on Broadway from the Lytle Tunnel/3rd St. Viaduct exit.

 

^Seems like this would be a relatively easy fix.

 

I'm sure the present system works well, but there's something about making the major downtown bus depot a place where it is is immediately adjacent to the streetcar and a huge parking garage that would be a great way to get people to really begin to understand how all these things tie together.

For most local bus service to downtown, Fountain Square is a much more convenient location than the Riverfront Transit Center, due to the geometry of the street grid and the fact that businesses are clustered more closely around Fountain Square.

 

To get in/out of the Riverfront Transit Center (entering on Central Ave, exiting on Broadway) requires a significant detour which probably adds ~5 minutes to a downtown route. That being said, I think the Transit Center would be great for rail and/or inter-city transportion (bus/rail).

Orange Leaf has closed...

Yikes. This is embarrassing that retail just can't survive at the banks.

^A number of Orange Leafs have closed.

Yikes. This is embarrassing that retail just can't survive at the banks.

 

Good grief?  As the other poster mentioned, that wasn't a one-off closing.

I understand that now. Still, it's sad to see business after business shutting down at the banks.

 

I understand that Orange Leaf is struggling and they are making their own personal choice in closing. That said, I feel that Orange Leaf was a nice addition to the banks, especially after Reds games during the hot summer months. I know the banks is still a work in progress, but I still feel the ultimate problem is because of OTR when it comes to the struggles The Banks, and much of CBD is experiencing.

 

OTR is an island, a really beautiful island, and has to many options footsteps away from each other (ex, graters next to the eagle, the eagle next to popular bars, the popular bars next to retail destinations like Elm and Iron, etc.). There is no need to explore the rest of downtown. There is also no need to live in the CBD, or the Banks.

 

OTR is way to beautiful for its own good. I know many of friends who could care less about living at the banks, or parts of the CBD, but want to live exclusively in a historic loft in OTR. That's all they care about. They also could care less about hanging out at the banks or chilling out at the CBD (especially when they can just grab a beer at washington park and chill out on the patio deck) and I think that in result alienates other parts of Cincinnati from growing and flourishing.

 

OTR is too much of an island, and is to dense with quality entertainment options, and because of these quality options many residents/visitors seldom have to go elsewhere in Cincinnati to have a good time, and think this in turn handcuffs the CBD/The Banks from growing because they simply don't have the star power that OTR currently has.

The question should be: what makes OTR so successful that can be replicated in Downtown and the Banks? It is not that the buildings are old, per se, it is that they have small spaces that provide a variety of experiences, it is that they are human scaled, that the buildings have intricate details that make walking enjoyable, and public spaces that break up the neighborhood. OTR has good lighting and outdoor seating, music, and well-design sidewalks. These are things that can be recreated Downtown and in the Banks. It is not a battle between these ares, it is a matter of good design, planning, architecture, and practice.

They also cater to very different crowds of people. While many people, myself included, would never in a million years pick The Banks over OTR (or even just other parts of the CBD) I understand why some people would think the opposite. It's about preferences.

 

But with that being said, there are still qualities that any urban environment must adhere to in order to be successful and at the moment The Banks just doesn't have many of those. The biggest is the feeling of the environment being human scaled. At the moment there is exactly one block in the entire development in which there are businesses on both sides of the street that spill out onto the sidewalk and activate both sides. That street is a touch wide, but far from being problematic. And the introduction of things like the string lights, the screens at the end on the Reds Stadium, etc. help make it feel like a proper entertainment street.

 

But everywhere else is the opposite. You have the side facing the Reds Stadium which, except on game day, will always be nothing more than a pass through from the riverfront to the rest of The Banks or Downtown. You have where Walnut passes through that has a giant ugly pad for a future building, the very uninviting side of the Freedom Center (I love that we have that in Cincy, I hate its design and how it doesn't attempt to integrate into the grid at all), a small, closed off one story building (Yard House) and a lawn and roundabout across from a handful of retail spaces. Second Street is inhospitable. Phase 2 has a lot of outward facing retail that points at precisely nothing but uncomfortable streets.

 

It's going to take a long time before it feels properly mature and like a true urban location. And this will require all the proposed buildings being built. Otherwise it'll just be an awkward, gap-toothed development opening up onto uncomfortable streets. But picture the furthest east block of Freedom Way and apply that sense of space to the rest of the development and that's what would be required for it to feel like a human neighborhood/environment and not just a plopped down suburban box that happens to abut the street.

Seems that many of the new OTR residents would love to keep it an island. Or perhaps just a colony with minimum income requirements.

Even though The Banks is built on a truly massive parking garage, I think the lack of street parking in front of Orange Leaf really hurt it. I love frozen yogurt probably more than the average person, and I would attempt to go down to Orange Leaf down there every so often. I always found it very frustrating that I couldn't park on the street to just run in and get my froyo. Street parking is all but non-existent in The Banks, due to the valet service using all the spots. 2nd St. has no street parking either, and 3rd has it only on one side. I don't know if many of The Banks businesses depend on quick stops like I'm describing, but the street parking majorly deterred me from going to that Orange Leaf.

They also cater to very different crowds of people. While many people, myself included, would never in a million years pick The Banks over OTR (or even just other parts of the CBD) I understand why some people would think the opposite. It's about preferences.

 

But with that being said, there are still qualities that any urban environment must adhere to in order to be successful and at the moment The Banks just doesn't have many of those. The biggest is the feeling of the environment being human scaled. At the moment there is exactly one block in the entire development in which there are businesses on both sides of the street that spill out onto the sidewalk and activate both sides. That street is a touch wide, but far from being problematic. And the introduction of things like the string lights, the screens at the end on the Reds Stadium, etc. help make it feel like a proper entertainment street.

 

But everywhere else is the opposite. You have the side facing the Reds Stadium which, except on game day, will always be nothing more than a pass through from the riverfront to the rest of The Banks or Downtown. You have where Walnut passes through that has a giant ugly pad for a future building, the very uninviting side of the Freedom Center (I love that we have that in Cincy, I hate its design and how it doesn't attempt to integrate into the grid at all), a small, closed off one story building (Yard House) and a lawn and roundabout across from a handful of retail spaces. Second Street is inhospitable. Phase 2 has a lot of outward facing retail that points at precisely nothing but uncomfortable streets.

 

It's going to take a long time before it feels properly mature and like a true urban location. And this will require all the proposed buildings being built. Otherwise it'll just be an awkward, gap-toothed development opening up onto uncomfortable streets. But picture the furthest east block of Freedom Way and apply that sense of space to the rest of the development and that's what would be required for it to feel like a human neighborhood/environment and not just a plopped down suburban box that happens to abut the street.

 

I think completing all phases will drastically help. Covering FWW would make a big difference too because it creates an island. Beyond that, adding more transit options to use the transit center will benefit the area too.

 

I think the Banks has a lot of potential because it is new, fresh and gives some people who want that urban feel in a new apartment complex an option. Some people like OTR but don't want the inconveniences that come living in a 100 year old building. The Banks offers a nice alternative.

The hotel opening will help a lot and that is obviously in the process of being built.  At this point they just need to put up the building at 180 Walnut and try to fill it with multiple businesses.  If they're waiting for one company to come in and build something it's likely not going to happen.  They also need to get the next phase up to add more residents and close off both sides of the street in that section.  At the least once the next phase is up it will feel more like a continuous district whereas now it almost feels like two separate areas. 

There is a steady rotation of retail through every strip mall, every neighborhood business district.  This isn't a big deal.   

Even though The Banks is built on a truly massive parking garage, I think the lack of street parking in front of Orange Leaf really hurt it. I love frozen yogurt probably more than the average person, and I would attempt to go down to Orange Leaf down there every so often. I always found it very frustrating that I couldn't park on the street to just run in and get my froyo. Street parking is all but non-existent in The Banks, due to the valet service using all the spots. 2nd St. has no street parking either, and 3rd has it only on one side. I don't know if many of The Banks businesses depend on quick stops like I'm describing, but the street parking majorly deterred me from going to that Orange Leaf.

 

Most Orange Leafs didn't make it. They were a product of Frozen Yogurt Push #2, with #1 being in the late '80s. The one at Eastgate didn't make it long at all and the Grandview Heights one in Columbus closed with the quickness. Also, the one in the mall where my store is located shut down over 1 1/2 years ago.

^Orange Leafs are fad stores. They pop up and have a staying power for 3-5 years at most. Like Coldstone Creamerys or back in the day, the Discovery Zone play places. There are a lot of fad places like that which die out after a few years. I was shocked the one at the Banks lasted as long as it did. It was never the right location for that type of business and I think as pointed out above, the fad is ending.

The new 4EG bar 'the Stretch' is installing exterior materials and unfortunately I couldn't grab photo because I didn't have my phone with me. If you thought the Banks Phase I had too many exterior materials before, just wait until you see the new (what 6th different?) brick color that they have laminated over the CMU with and faux-wood exterior tile on the facade. There are 3 different brick colors, a cmu color, and faux-wood all within about 20 feet and its great (awful).

^Orange Leafs are fad stores. They pop up and have a staying power for 3-5 years at most. Like Coldstone Creamerys or back in the day, the Discovery Zone play places. There are a lot of fad places like that which die out after a few years. I was shocked the one at the Banks lasted as long as it did. It was never the right location for that type of business and I think as pointed out above, the fad is ending.

 

There was an explosion of fro yo places in Cincinnati about 3 years ago and most of them have now closed. I'm not worried about Orange Leaf closing this location.

Walked down by the new hotel today. Looks like the they are building some sort of conference/ball room where the townhomes were originally planned.

Bold Prediction:

In 2020 FC Cincinnati will join MLS and start playing in Paul Brown Stadium.  The team will be owned by the Browns and the Lindners.  In anticipation of the 2026 expiration of the Bengals' lease, the Browns will demand a new stadium or else they'll leave with both the football team and the soccer team.  Hamilton County will extend the 1996 tax for another 30 years to pay for yet another new stadium where the Bengals practice fields are now situated -- PBS will be demolished and The Banks will be extended. 

 

This was all predicted by the control of The Banks Mike Brown negotiated in the 1996 lease -- he was always ensuring that The Bengals would have a second stadium site available.  With the clout of a second tenant, he'll get it.   

The stadium is to large for MLS. The capacity is 65K. Good MLS attendance is around 25K-30K. You don't want more than half the stadium empty. It's a horrible look for the  team and creates a cavern.

Maybe build the office tower at the banks? Have Paycor's HQ there.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/12/05/paycor-to-add-1-000-plus-jobs-but-where.html

 

 

Maybe build the office tower at the banks? Have Paycor's HQ there.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/12/05/paycor-to-add-1-000-plus-jobs-but-where.html

 

The first place that popped up in my mind as well. Would allow for future growth as well, as I'm sure not all of the new positions will fill the capacity of that spec office tower.

Maybe build the office tower at the banks? Have Paycor's HQ there.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/12/05/paycor-to-add-1-000-plus-jobs-but-where.html

 

Probably not happening. Paycor moved from their Queensgate location to Norwood because their employees asked for free parking in a surface lot. It's pretty unlikely that they're going to pull a 180 and move back to an urban location.

I believe Paycor also owns their current HQ building too. Probably would not want to give that up.

it surprises me they would build and own a building they planned would only meet their needs for 5 years and only actually lasted 2 years. Maybe the fast growth and new CEO would change their mind on downtown. Probably won't happen but it would be nice.

 

Maybe build the office tower at the banks? Have Paycor's HQ there.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/12/05/paycor-to-add-1-000-plus-jobs-but-where.html

 

I initially thought the same but we are seeing a trend of companies locating leadership talent base in the core and leaving the call centers and other lower tier functions in the suburbs. It really comes down to what type of jobs they are aiming to create and if there are enough higher paying positions to warrant a move to a new office tower in downtown.

 

My guess is that its very unlikely. They will probably get another site at Linden Point or maybe expand to the second Oakley Station office site.

Probably not happening. Paycor moved from their Queensgate location to Norwood because their employees asked for free parking in a surface lot. It's pretty unlikely that they're going to pull a 180 and move back to an urban location.