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-County does not want the City to check any proposal to ensure they arent burned like Center of Cincinnati again

 

what happened during the Center of Cincy project and who got burned?

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  • The view at night is a lot better than I expected. Looking forward to when those trees reach maturity.

  • savadams13
    savadams13

    Walked through the Black Music Hall of Fame. It's overall a nice addition to the banks. I just hope they can properly maintain all the cool interactive features. Each stand plays music from the artist

  • tonyt3524
    tonyt3524

    As anticipated, it was a little cramped. I could tell there were a lot of people without a decent view (normal I suppose?). We managed to land a good spot right at the start of the hill. I think the v

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I definitely want City Council involved in the decisions - they're our elected representatives, specifically for the folks who live in the city, and I want them to have a hand in this.  But good lord, can we PLEASE lock these twelve folks up in a big conference room and not let them out when they have a signed deal?  Make it like the papal conclaves used to be - you get a week to elect a new pope, after which you only get one meal per day for a week, after which you go to bread and water for a week, and after that you're on your own...

A failure of leadership

The Cincinnati Post

 

If you go up to the observation deck in the Carew Tower and look south across the Ohio River, you'll see construction crews working on two separate riverfront condo projects in Bellevue.

 

If you hurry you might still see bulldozers clearing the public housing project along the floodwall in Newport, even as city officials start to review proposals from half a dozen developers for capitalizing on the site...

 

www.cincypost.com

what happened during the Center of Cincy project and who got burned?

 

The Center of Cincinnati is a massive 'big box' development inside the City of Cincinnati.  It is located near the I-71 and Norwood Lateral area.  This project was initially supposed to be a mixed use urban development.  It was supposed to be done by Corporex (the same company the county originally selected to develop The Banks).  Instead of developing a dream project, for the city, Corporex changed their plan and screwed the city with a huge 'bg box' development.  They justified their actions through a technicality within their agreement with the city.

^ Vandarcaar is the developer behind City of Cincinnati

 

I was very disappointed when Hamilton County originally picked them as one of the developers for the banks.

 

 

But Vandarcaar is a part of Corporex (and that guy who owns it) conglomerate?

No, they are seperate companies.  Vandarcaar was going to work with Corporex on the Banks.

No, they are seperate companies.  Vandarcaar was going to work with Corporex on the Banks.

 

ah ha...thanks for the clear up!

Can the county afford Banks?

Stadiums, new jail strain finances

 

BY KIMBALL PERRY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

Faced with heavy debt and a declining tax base, Hamilton County officials see The Banks riverfront development as a potential solution to some financial woes.

 

Consider:

 

The county projects a $191 million total deficit in the sales tax fund that pays for construction of Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park.

 

In addition to the nearly $1 billion invested in The Banks, the county wants to build a new prison, estimated to cost $225 million...

 

 

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060305/NEWS01/603050340

This is a great op/ed piece written by Norm Miller of UC's Real Estate program, I think he really hits the nail and the head and lays the blame on the county where it belongs.

 

Banks' advisers should learn from project's ebb and flow

Cincinnati Business Courier - March 3, 2006by Norm Miller

 

 

It appears that the county has recently been made to understand that the Riverfront development known as The Banks must be a joint, fair and open process and will, working with the city, appoint a small oversight group.

 

In September 1999, the original plan was unveiled after hundreds of hours of community input. In retrospect, this residential-anchored plan turned out to be consistent with market trends observed over the past five years and with the success of mixed-use lifestyle projects...

 

 

Miller is a professor and director of the University of Cincinnati Real Estate Program. Contact him at [email protected].

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/03/06/editorial1.html

What I dont understand is why they have to do all of the project at once.  Why couldnt they start on one or two blocks...then when the money comes/interest really takes off build on to the site.  I just dont understand the all or nothing sentiment here.

Because then you end up with subway tunnels and no subways.

^Thats the most clever thing I've heard in a while. Thanks for the chuckle!

Because then you end up with subway tunnels and no subways.

 

So you mean buildings with no people then....your point doesnt really make sense.

^No, he is saying that you end up with a project that never gets completed...or is under construction forever.

 

I can see both sides.

Hopefully this April 5th deadline holds up.  I would like to see this thing get going once and for all.  Not just to have an awesome development underway, but to wipe the tarnish off of Cincinnati's name for not getting this project done right....from the get go.

 

My personal preference on the developers, that submitted proposals, would be that Eagle Realty should be the first choice.  They are local, they have done great projects before, and they have a vested interest in the future success of Cincinnati and the Banks in particular.  This interest would be derived from the fact that they are the developer for Queen City Square (overlooks the Banks), and Western & Southern Financial offices overlook the Banks.  They should be very interested in the property values of the area.

Bear Creek Capital?  Oh, please, no.

This project is acting like Fountain Square West.

 

Just build something like the Renaissance center in Detroit.

^ No thanks.  I wouldn't want a building built on the Banks that drains away people and jobs from all of downtown's current buildings.

^ Exactly, RenCen in Detroit is awful.  If you want that Unusual, then you probably like the Louisville Jenga building.

 

I am looking forward to some lowrise density like portrayed in the renderings. 

 

A partnership between Eagle Realty, Hunt Development Group, Jeffrey Anderson, Vandercar Holdings and RTKL.

 

That group scares me.  Vandercar & Anderson are big box/strip mall developers.  Have they built anything "urban"?

From The Enquirer 03/09 ...

 

 

Who will build The Banks?

 

$600 million project draws major developers to Cincinnati riverfront

BY MARLA MATZER ROSE, KIMBALL PERRY AND DAN KLEPAL | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

Hoping to be chosen to bring bricks and mortar to the $600 million riverfront dream known as The Banks, five development teams filed qualifying documents Wednesday with Hamilton County officials.

 

The five include high-profile national developers as well as local firms. The filings do not include specific proposals for the 15-acre development, but present detailed resumés of:

 

AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp./Carter Real Estate.

 

 

 

The Rockefeller Group/Kimco Developers. Kimco owns six local shopping centers.

 

Verdi Construction, which has done local shopping centers and mixed-use development.

 

Eagle Realty/Hunt Development/Vandercar Holdings/Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate/RTKL. Eagle, Hunt and Vandercar are local.

 

Bear Creek Capital/Mandalay Sports Entertainment/Design Development Group. Bear Creek is a local developer. Mandalay owns the Dayton Dragons minor league baseball team...

 

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/BIZ01/603090319/1002

 

 

 

The Banks timeline and relevant articles ...

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=newsbanks

 

 

I think statement sums up my feeling for the future of The Banks ... and leaves me with a positive feeling about the whole thing ...

 

"Hopefully, they'll find a way to embrace a developer and work together through that developer on these issues. If we didn't think that was possible, we wouldn't have put a great deal of time into putting this together."  -Greg Scheper of Bear Creek Capital

 

 

trying something here.

ok it worked.  so yea, what is that?  I saw in on cincinnati enquirer in the banks topic.

That group scares me.  Vandercar & Anderson are big box/strip mall developers.  Have they built anything "urban"?

 

Well they have built the Covington towers (whatever they are called) and I believe that they are the developers behing 'The Ascent'.  Nonetheless, I also despise that group and would not like to see them developing our side of the river.

Corporex built those towers, and are building the Ascent... not Vandercar.

Corporex built those towers, and are building the Ascent... not Vandercar.

 

Vandercar is a subset of Corporex....just like Eagle Realty is a subset of Western & Southern Financial Group.

Corporex built those towers, and are building the Ascent... not Vandercar.

 

Vandercar is a subset of Corporex....just like Eagle Realty is a subset of Western & Southern Financial Group.

 

No.  Vandercar and Corporex are totally seperate entities.  Corporex is owned by Bill Butler, Vandercar is owned by Rob Smyjunas.  Vandercar and Corporex were going to do a joint-venture on the Banks, until Corporex pulled out.

ok it worked.  so yea, what is that?  I saw in on cincinnati enquirer in the banks topic.

 

It's Lindbergh City Center in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, by AIG/Carter (with backing from BellSouth).  It's a 47-acre TOD.

^cool thanks. I thought, for some reason, that that was a new rendering presented for the banks. thanks for the clarification.

... man, April 5th cannot come soon enough! I'm curious as to what the interested developers came up with.

  I should be excited about April 5th but........

  Am I the only one that is burned out on this whole subject?

Maybe, maybe not ... this isn't your little $200Mil project either ... ;)

 

 

No, they are seperate companies.  Vandarcaar was going to work with Corporex on the Banks.

 

ah ha...thanks for the clear up!

 

Remember this conversation? :)

^Yes I do, but the whole deal with those two companies just doesnt seem to be that cut and dry to me.  Maybe I'm looking too far into it, but whatever.  I'm going to declare myself wrong at the mercy of the Urban Ohioers.  Sorry again...it is just a confusing point for me. :wtf:

I visited the Atlanta Station project that was done by one of the developers... I've driven by it a few times, never stopping there, but me and my wife spent the afternoon there yesterday.... living in Orange County for ten years, I'm fairly bored with the "fake" downtown look and lifestyle setup... but this was REALLY NICE... I'm shocked!!...

 

... it's built entirely above a parking structure... roughly 6 to 8 blocks, is intimate like a modern OTR... they even built streets THROUGH project... the key was 4 to 6 stories of residential above everything.... lots of unique high end retail from Z Gallery, Black/White clothing etc etc... and even a Dillard's anchor on one end and a grocery store on the other... a block away is more residentail with an urban lake and bridge kinda like the twin lakes in Eden park if they were surrounded by 6 story urban apts...

 

... i think this would go GREAT at the banks... people and unique shopping would at a vibrancy Cincy hasn't seen in 35 years....

I visited the Atlanta Station project that was done by one of the developers...

 

After reading Yo's post, I checked it Atlantic Station and it looks like AIG really does have some legit experience doing urban mixed use development on a major scale.

 

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This seems like the most recent project that "The Banks" can use for inspiration as well as use to tell developers that this thing is going to work. Let's get this thing off the ground with a solid design!!! :-D ...

Banks tops federal fund list

BY MALIA RULON | ENQUIRER WASHINGTON BUREAU

www.enquirer.com

 

WASHINGTON - As Greater Cincinnati's U.S. House members assemble their wish list for this year's budget, one item stands out as the king of all requests: the Banks.

 

The proposed residential, commercial and retail project on the Cincinnati waterfront has a price tag of about $600 million. But Mayor Mark Mallory and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber are focusing on one part of the deal - the proposed $88 million Central Riverfront Park that would be the centerpiece of the development...

 

Contributing: Brian Tumulty of Gannett News Service. E-mail [email protected]

Lets hope we get that money, the more money the better. But that does not seem like much money.

[move]BULLsh!t!!!  BULLsh!t!!!  BULLsh!t!!!  BULLsh!t!!!  BULLsh!t!!!  BULLsh!t!!!  BULLsh!t!!!  BULLsh!t!!!  BULLsh!t!!![/move]

 

 

State threatens city funds over Banks

Mallory vows to sue for $30M targeted by Seitz, Schneider

BY DAN KLEPAL | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

Two Republican state lawmakers are threatening to insert themselves in the tug-of-war between the city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County over control of the $600 million riverfront development known as The Banks.

 

And they're pulling for the county - leading City Council members to accuse state lawmakers of "blackmail" and "dirty pool..."

 

 

E-mail [email protected]

 

Potential impact

What $30 million means to Cincinnati:

 

* 522 police officers or 528 firefighters.

* The entire $22 million public services budget to handle trash collection, snow removal and street maintenance, among other things.

* The entire budgets for the Health and Parks departments, which keep open eight health centers, the home nursing program, the school nurse program, 75 parks, 450 landscaped gardens, 50 miles of hiking trails and maintenance for 5,000 acres of parkland.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060317/NEWS01/603170412/1056/rss02

 

This is getting re-god-damn-diculous!!!!  I just cant stand the governing officials in the State of Ohio.  Its hard to believe that the state reps are even getting involved in this...when we all know they have enough of their own shit to swim in.  This should obviously be in control of the city...seeing as how in is the frontstep to Cincinnati's CBD. 

 

The county claims that they have the say due to the sales tax that was passed county-wide.  Well if that is the case then why dont THEY pay for all of it, since they did promise a riverfront development in the initial tax issue that was voted on.  The county is trying to get the city's legit money to fund their budget deficits.  Yes the city is in the county, but Cincinnati is not soley responsible for bailing the county out.

 

What happened to:

Green Twp.

Colerain Twp.

Indian Hill

Blue Ash

Delhi Twp.

Anderson Twp.

Springdale

Fairfield

Mariemont

Norwood

...you get the point.  The city only makes up a fraction of the county size and about a third of its total population.  Give the city a break for once and stick your greedy hands out to someone else who doesnt have to pay for social services for the entire region.

 

What now makes the entire situation worse is that the state is ganging up on the city too.  But then again why wouldnt those two reps speak out against the city (Green Twp. & Maderia)...they certainly dont want to pick up the county's tab.

:whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip:

Inclusion sought for Banks

Minority groups devise guidelines

BY MARLA MATZER ROSE AND JEFF MCKINNEY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

 

A coalition of groups, including the NAACP and the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, wants 25 percent minority inclusion in all aspects of the Banks project, along with a plan for housing geared toward various income levels at the mixed-use riverfront development...

 

www.enquirer.com

E-mail [email protected] or [email protected]

Banks talks go public

Officials look to end feuding

BY DAN KLEPAL | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

Private talks and secret meetings between Hamilton County and the city of Cincinnati will give way to an open and public debate today over the proposed $600 million riverfront development known as the Banks...

 

www.enquirer.com

 

Reporter Kimball Perry contributed. E-mail [email protected]

County moves ahead on Banks

City opposed to selection process; disagreements remain

BY MARLA MATZER ROSE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

DOWNTOWN - The list of prospective developers for the Banks has been narrowed from five to four - all of which are planning to make public presentations of their qualifications at a meeting next week.

 

Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich and county legal adviser Tom Gabelman said the groups headed by Cincinnati-based Bear Creek Capital and St. Paul-based Verdi Construction had combined to form one team vying to develop the mixed-use Banks project...

 

www.enquirer.com

Banks finances still divide city, county

 

By Joe Wessels

Post contributor

 

 

After a joint meeting between city and county leaders Tuesday, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory said he was optimistic about plans to proceed with the long-delayed Banks riverfront project, and said the two sides will meet again to iron out minor remaining financial issues.

 

But the joint session between Cincinnati City Council and the Hamilton County Commission at the Great American Ball Park indicated that considerable differences remain on the project, with issues emerging around financing, minority inclusion and the bidding process...

 

www.cincypost.com

Blah blah blah blah blah....

 

This image pretty much sums it up:

malloryheimlichbanks6jn.jpg

You would think the fighting and bickering would get old after a while and the two sides would get along. 

^^That pic is hillarious grasscat! LMAO!

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