Cincinnati prolly wanted to pull a Newport and grab the spotlight like Newport did with the music venue. 

Skystar just announced that they are staying permenantly at the banks on Facebook. 

 

 

Glad Hamilton Co. Got a deal done. This makes our skyline to attractive and sexy!

Great news! Something tells me either the city doesn’t think the Newport skywheel will get built or the plans for it will fall apart since sky star is staying. Is there any word on it? I have not heard anything about construction.

so, lawyers, architects, designers, developers fight over every tit and tattle that goes at the banks. But, this carnival ride gets a high five. 

2 hours ago, RJohnson said:

so, lawyers, architects, designers, developers fight over every tit and tattle that goes at the banks. But, this carnival ride gets a high five. 

 

I don't think anyone expected this to be as popular and visually stunning for our skyline than anyone can have predicted. I'm happy Skystar reached an agreement quickly.

 

 

Like mentioned before, hopefully they do some work around it to make it more appealing at ground level.

Edited July 2, 20195 yr by tonyt3524

I read yesterday that City Council approved an expansion of Smale Park.  Are they adding more space at the Bengals lot on the river, adding in docks/piers? The Smale master plan has both of those things, but the Council minutes didn't mention what they planned on doing.

1 hour ago, tonyt3524 said:

Like mentioned before, hopefully they do some work around it to make it more appealing at ground level.

What would be a cool idea imo would be to create a platform that includes the area behind the sky star and build a small cafe or bistro on it and name if after the sky star. Sky star cafe or something like that. 

1 hour ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

What would be a cool idea imo would be to create a platform that includes the area behind the sky star and build a small cafe or bistro on it and name if after the sky star. Sky star cafe or something like that. 

 

Hell just put pour'd concrete pads in front, couple planter beds with some lighting, dress the area up so it doesn't look like hillbilly carnival land...

This article seems to imply that they will make some improvements, including the replacement of the temporary wheel with a permanent one.

 

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/downtown/skystar-wheel-a-permanent-part-of-the-cincinnati-skyline

 

I hope if it's a new wheel its at least as big as the one Newport is working on.

The current wheel looks like it had been storage at the Meigs County Fairgrounds since 1981 before they dusted it off for its big gig in Cincinnati.

 

When The Banks was planned in the late 90s, the London Eye wasn't yet a thing.  According to Wikipedia, it is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Eye

Sorry. This just seems like another half-hearted "that's so Cincinnati" concept. Like an above-ground pool.

13 minutes ago, Rabbit Hash said:

Sorry. This just seems like another half-hearted "that's so Cincinnati" concept. Like an above-ground pool.

 

Agreed. Let Newport have this, I say. I'd also be pissed if I was connected to the Freedom Center. We're putting a garish carnival attraction in front of a museum about slavery and freedom. Oy.

10 minutes ago, Rabbit Hash said:

Sorry. This just seems like another half-hearted "that's so Cincinnati" concept. Like an above-ground pool.

Am I personally going to ride it?  No I haven't and likely won't.  But it has almost a years worth of data that show it's brought in additional money to the city/county and helped the restaurants at the banks.  Even the freedom center has been quoted as saying they like the ferris wheel as it's increased their attendance.  Plus it looks cool at night.  

 

But yeah lets continue to hate on something that actually brings people downtown...

14 minutes ago, edale said:

 

Agreed. Let Newport have this, I say. I'd also be pissed if I was connected to the Freedom Center. We're putting a garish carnival attraction in front of a museum about slavery and freedom. Oy.

 

Freedom center officials have gone on record saying they are pleased with the ferris wheel and the amount of new foot traffic it has brought to the center.

 

Second, rumors regarding the deal have said that the ferris wheel will move to a different location at the banks with a more permenant looking structure. 

 

Finally, almost every major city has a ferris wheel in their downtown core. Is it kinda tacky? Sure... But you can't deny that it's a thing that tourists love riding along with the extra foot traffic it has brought to the banks 

43 minutes ago, troeros said:

 

Freedom center officials have gone on record saying they are pleased with the ferris wheel and the amount of new foot traffic it has brought to the center.

 

Second, rumors regarding the deal have said that the ferris wheel will move to a different location at the banks with a more permenant looking structure. 

 

Finally, almost every major city has a ferris wheel in their downtown core. Is it kinda tacky? Sure... But you can't deny that it's a thing that tourists love riding along with the extra foot traffic it has brought to the banks 

Where else could it go? I think the spot it is currently in is best. 

The banks sort of remind me of Kenwood mall. Kinda glitzy and kinda touristy.

 

With the ferris wheel, music venue, and future improvements to smale park and the continuation of development for the rest of the lots, you can't help but get the impression that the banks could be the perfect place for a liberty township esq type of mall with a movie theater, retail, comedy club, etc similar to what liberty has at their mall.

1 hour ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

Where else could it go? I think the spot it is currently in is best. 

Agreed, its pretty much front and center, in a spot that otherwise is awkwardly small

22 minutes ago, troeros said:

The banks sort of remind me of Kenwood mall. Kinda glitzy and kinda touristy.

 

 

Huh? The Banks has stadiums, museums, apartments, hotel, office space, bars and restaurants, a giant park, and is in an urban environment with a street grid running through it. Kenwood Town Center is a giant single building entirely devoted to retail and surrounded by massive parking lots. What are the similarities? Furthermore, since when is Kenwood Mall 'touristy'? 

 

Liberty Town Center is a lifestyle center that attempts to imitate what cities and town centers have had for decades- mixed use, pedestrian friendly environments. 

2 minutes ago, edale said:

 

Huh? The Banks has stadiums, museums, apartments, hotel, office space, bars and restaurants, a giant park, and is in an urban environment with a street grid running through it. Kenwood Town Center is a giant single building entirely devoted to retail and surrounded by massive parking lots. What are the similarities? Furthermore, since when is Kenwood Mall 'touristy'? 

 

Liberty Town Center is a lifestyle center that attempts to imitate what cities and town centers have had for decades- mixed use, pedestrian friendly environments. 

 

The banks gives a clean feel. Almost no graffiti, no trash on the ground, very safe...while otr is more urban with graffiti, crime, trash in many places, etc. The banks is like Kenwood mall, clean, safe, etc.m.while otr is like the trip county mall...kinda dirty and rough around the edges.

 

And out of town visitor definitely visit kenwood mall...

Even though the Banks doesn't look anything like the neighborhood that was proposed. I do remember reading that there wouldn't be carnival type attractions. It was to be Cincinnati's front yard. By the time something started to be built, I think the entire city was happy that something/anything would be built. Smale Park looks great with the water attractions, steps and lawns. The walks and the swings are integrated and overall it looks like most things belong. Enter the ferris wheel. If its going to be permanent then it should look the part. There are many places it could go, but with a little thought it would fit nicely to the west of Carols Merry-go-round. Add a ground floor to house the machinery. It should be the same level with the Merry-go. Add coffee house, ice cream parlor, maybe an indoor/outdoor restaurant. Or, leave it where it is and add corndog, fried pickle, cotton candy and flavored ice cone stands. And, for the full effect throw some straw down and hang some lights like they did on the Ohio side of the PPB.

I can safely say I'm speechless. 

 

Tri-County Mall is dirty?  It's empty, sure, but dirty is not an adjective I'd use for it, especially comparing it to a re-surging Over-the-Rhine.  Is Mt. Adams the Northgate Mall of Cincinnati?  Both are struggling to keep their identity/tenants, so I guess it makes sense.  Is Covington the Florence Mall of the Tri-State?  Ya know, a once blue-collar driven center turning the corner into a beautiful butterfly filled with Quaker Steak N' Lubes and Commonwealths?  Or is Queensgate the Surrey Square?  A once vibrant center rehabbed into parking lots, useless boxes, and a Wendy's.

 

I shudder what you'd compare Eastgate Mall to.  Or worse...Forest Fair.

7 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

I can safely say I'm speechless. 

 

Tri-County Mall is dirty?  It's empty, sure, but dirty is not an adjective I'd use for it, especially comparing it to a re-surging Over-the-Rhine.  Is Mt. Adams the Northgate Mall of Cincinnati?  Both are struggling to keep their identity/tenants, so I guess it makes sense.  Is Covington the Florence Mall of the Tri-State?  Ya know, a once blue-collar driven center turning the corner into a beautiful butterfly filled with Quaker Steak N' Lubes and Commonwealths?  Or is Queensgate the Surrey Square?  A once vibrant center rehabbed into parking lots, useless boxes, and a Wendy's.

 

I shudder what you'd compare Eastgate Mall to.  Or worse...Forest Fair.

 

Tri county is well, unkempt...and yea otr is resurging for sure... But just this weekend I was walking near 1200 republic, the large affordable housing apartments with multiple floors and balconies...there was literally trash EVERYWHERE around that housing block

 

The poor residents of that housing unit just don't give 2 damns about whether they live in cleanliness or filth.

 

Meanwhile at the banks it's clean, doesn't smell like weed 24/7 and is safe.

Edited July 2, 20195 yr by troeros

21 minutes ago, troeros said:

 

The banks gives a clean feel. Almost no graffiti, no trash on the ground, very safe...while otr is more urban with graffiti, crime, trash in many places, etc. The banks is like Kenwood mall, clean, safe, etc.m.while otr is like the trip county mall...kinda dirty and rough around the edges.

 

And out of town visitor definitely visit kenwood mall...

 

Don’t forget, OTR also has an abandoned Suncoast video. 

 

Edited July 2, 20195 yr by Gordon Bombay

8 minutes ago, troeros said:

The poor residents of that housing unit just don't give 2 damns about whether they live in cleanliness or filth.

 

Meanwhile at the banks it's clean, doesn't smell like weed 24/7 and is safe.

 

This sorta ties in to the debate over 3CDC removing the CityBeat boxes from city sidewalks because 3CDC claims they are ugly and add clutter to the city. Sometimes, things that are ugly and add clutter also add character ... and that's what many people like about cities. I'm not saying that that anyone likes litter, specifically, but you can go too far in the opposite direction and try to clean it up too much, it starts to feel mall-like and sterile.

Case in point, Singapore versus Bangkok.  Most prefer the latter but the former is certainly a "Kenwood."

The Skystar operator stated today to the enquirer that that a new Skystar will be built which will be 50 feet taller, and will take 1 year to construct, there will also be new landscaping and a new permenant concession stand designed for the new Skystar to better reflect a permenant location instead of the current temporary setting.

 

The article mentions that artworks will create a new interactive art sculpture next to the ferris wheel and that the, "Sing the Queen City" installation will be moved as well (not sure where).

Is the Skystar Ferris wheel the only ferris wheel in the midwest urban core outside of Chicago?

No.  St. Louis has one currently and is building a larger one.  

 

 

7 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

No.  St. Louis has one currently and is building a larger one.  

 

 

 

I wouldn't really consider the city museum ferris wheel as a bonafide urban core ferris wheel like navy pier in Chicago or the Skystar m

SkyStar is not just staying at the Banks, it's getting bigger

 

 

One of the most colorful attractions on Cincinnati's side of the banks of the Ohio River is not only becoming a permanent fixture of the city's skyline, it's going to get bigger.

 

The SkyStar observation wheel at the Banks, a 150-foot-tall mobile observation wheel, was originally scheduled to be in place from September through Dec. 2, 2018. It's not just extending its stay, it's being replaced by a permanent wheel that's 50 feet taller. The plan is to begin swapping out the existing wheel for the permanent one in the down months of winter. It will take nine months to assemble the new wheel.

 

"We designed SkyStar to be moveable – we prove out a market, get engaged and hope to open up permanently," Todd Schneider, managing partner of St. Louis-based SkyStar Wheel LLC, told me. "Cincinnati has proven to be a market where the wheel has been so well received and attendance is strong. Knowing what we can do with a permanent project, we're excited."

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2019/07/09/skystar-is-not-just-staying-at-the-banks-its.html

Glad that they are taking up most of that plot of land. I was afraid it would just sit empty.

So the "SkyStar is staying at The Banks" headline wasn't really accurate. The temporary, moveable wheel is being replaced by a permanent one. That's good news.

In the wcpo article they said they will add fire pits and other such things to make the area around the Skystar a place where people linger and chill.

 

Sounds like a win for this city. It's a beautiful addition to our skyline, and sounds like the operators are committed to making the area less carnival inspired and more permenant looking as well as adding elements to allow people to linger!

 

Would be cool if they could add some mini food stalls around the Skystar where you can buy Coney's, pizza, ice cream and all that wonderful disgusting stuff!

20 minutes ago, troeros said:

In the wcpo article they said they will add fire pits and other such things to make the area around the Skystar a place where people linger and chill.

 

Sounds like a win for this city. It's a beautiful addition to our skyline, and sounds like the operators are committed to making the area less carnival inspired and more permenant looking as well as adding elements to allow people to linger!

 

Would be cool if they could add some mini food stalls around the Skystar where you can buy Coney's, pizza, ice cream and all that wonderful disgusting stuff!

 

Spruce Street Harbor Park in Philly has games, permanent food trucks along a "boardwalk", seating areas, and fire pits. The lighting among the trees is super cool. I know there are no trees around the skystar but maybe they can find another way to incorporate cool lighting.

15 minutes ago, DEPACincy said:

 

Spruce Street Harbor Park in Philly has games, permanent food trucks along a "boardwalk", seating areas, and fire pits. The lighting among the trees is super cool. I know there are no trees around the skystar but maybe they can find another way to incorporate cool lighting.

 

This area is great, work typically puts me in the Hilton at Penn Landing, right next to this area, and its always busy except in the winter. The skystar wheel area and the two splash pads at the entry to the bridge could really make an excellent active zone. Only issue is the amount of speeding cars through this area coming off the bridge. 

When I was living in Philly, this was PokemonGo central. Couldn't ever get a hammock (they were always taken), but definitely a good spot to hang out.

On 5/9/2012 at 12:39 AM, UncleRando said:

If we're lucky Guy Fieri will open a Johnny Garlics in phase two of The Banks.

 

^His restaurant at Disney World is some sort of bizarre Flavortown-induced fever dream:

 

 

 

We could even have a Skystar appetizer wheel of flavor!

His burger joint (which appear to only be on cruise ships) is really good. It's a la carte for the most part, so we avoided all the flavor traps.

I went to Louisville recently and our group decided to check out Fourth St live as a joke.  Holy hell is that place terrible.  I'm glad the banks doesn't allow the shitty chain restaurants that are in 4th st live.  The only bar the banks ever had that would fit in there was Toby Keith's and thankfully that placed closed.  

1 hour ago, Cincy513 said:

I went to Louisville recently and our group decided to check out Fourth St live as a joke.  Holy hell is that place terrible.  I'm glad the banks doesn't allow the shitty chain restaurants that are in 4th st live.  The only bar the banks ever had that would fit in there was Toby Keith's and thankfully that placed closed.  

The Banks and 4th Street Live both had a Howl at the Moon dueling piano bar. (The Louisville one is still there.)

1 hour ago, Cincy513 said:

I went to Louisville recently and our group decided to check out Fourth St live as a joke.  Holy hell is that place terrible.  I'm glad the banks doesn't allow the shitty chain restaurants that are in 4th st live.  The only bar the banks ever had that would fit in there was Toby Keith's and thankfully that placed closed.  

 

Tin Roof fits the mold. Though I hate to admit I actually enjoy it from time to time. Condado is also a chain, but a good one. Ruths Chris is a chain. Yardhouse is a chain. And of course, we now have Planet Fitness and Smoothie King. TBH, The Banks is mostly chains.

3 minutes ago, DEPACincy said:

 

Tin Roof fits the mold. Though I hate to admit I actually enjoy it from time to time. Condado is also a chain, but a good one. Ruths Chris is a chain. Yardhouse is a chain. And of course, we now have Planet Fitness and Smoothie King. TBH, The Banks is mostly chains.

I said shitty chains.  4th St Live has a TGI Fridays, Hard Rock Cafe, Guy Fieri's terrible restaurant, a PBR bar with a mechanical bull.  None of the places at the banks are that low level chain.  The few that were in the past close because they sucked.  The banks certainly has chains but not the horrible ones at 4th St that are straight out of the 90s.  

5 minutes ago, DEPACincy said:

 

Tin Roof fits the mold. Though I hate to admit I actually enjoy it from time to time. Condado is also a chain, but a good one. Ruths Chris is a chain. Yardhouse is a chain. And of course, we now have Planet Fitness and Smoothie King. TBH, The Banks is mostly chains.

 

Which is perfectly fine. I would be totally fine if OTR is more botique shops and restaurants while the banks is more focused on tourist traps and chain resturaunts and retail.

 

I would love if one of the banks phases to feature what Kenwood mall has with the Kenwood tower development across the street from Macy...

 

Whole Foods market, Envision Cinema Movie Theater, a Few Resturaunts, a Crunch Fitness gym on the 2nd floor, Ground Floor retail shops with offices above..

 

Cincy needs a development like this. Full of entertainment, retail, food, all in one building scattered between a few floors.

 

One day we'll get something similar..

Hopefully....

4 minutes ago, Cincy513 said:

I said shitty chains.  4th St Live has a TGI Fridays, Hard Rock Cafe, Guy Fieri's terrible restaurant, a PBR bar with a mechanical bull.  None of the places at the banks are that low level chain.  The few that were in the past close because they sucked.  The banks certainly has chains but not the horrible ones at 4th St that are straight out of the 90s.  

 

That's fair. I mostly agree. Except for Tin Roof. It's basically on the same level as PBR, which I also have enjoyed from time to time. But 100% agree that we do not need a TGI Friday's or a Hard Rock Cafe. Unless the casino gets re-branded to Hard Rock, then they can put one in there. 

5 minutes ago, Cincy513 said:

I said shitty chains.  4th St Live has a TGI Fridays, Hard Rock Cafe, Guy Fieri's terrible restaurant, a PBR bar with a mechanical bull.  None of the places at the banks are that low level chain.  The few that were in the past close because they sucked.  The banks certainly has chains but not the horrible ones at 4th St that are straight out of the 90s.  

 

 

 

Is there a Fuddrucker's?

These types of destination are dominated by chains. Local options are exceptions. Yes, some chains are better than others, but whether it be The Banks, Atlantic Station or the new Battery in Atlanta and similar places in other cities... it's like the are templates for chains.

Just now, GCrites80s said:

 

 

 

Is there a Fuddrucker's?

No they did not, but hey I actually like Fuddrucker's.  I was looking for a Rainforrest Cafe after seeing the Hard Rock. 

Every large and vibrant city has a degree of chains to an extent.

 

It's usually the impoverished cities, with low urban population rates, and high level of population poverty rates that struggle to bring on chains because the chains don't have a market to thrive on.

 

So the building caters to some crappy botique shop that is open maybe 3 days a week with insane prices..or some food shack that is probably good but lacks any atmosphere or ambiance.