January 18, 200520 yr Yeah, apparently the Cincy media continues to be intent on unjustified downtown/OTR bashing, and it's having a negative effect on business (this according to the owner of Cafecito/Studio Metropolitan on Main St.)
January 18, 200520 yr Returning to the subject of the Banks renderings, does anyone else think that this is some of the most amazing new urbanist architecture they've ever seen? I would be absolutely thrilled if we got buildings that looked like those in the renderings, but something tells me that financial bottom lines will eventually kick in to eliminate architectural detailing and style in favor of Cheesecake Factory-esque buildings.
January 18, 200520 yr damn...wanted to post the renderings, but can't figure out how to do it...guess they're too big and must be resized
January 18, 200520 yr ^ There are renderings on the first page of this thread--unless you meant different ones.
January 23, 200520 yr I think Cincinnati would have been alot better off without the Bengals and their expensive stadium.
February 3, 200520 yr Good, I hope this kicks this project in the ass and gets it moving. State: Get moving on Banks Riverfront grant could be at risk By Ken Alltucker Enquirer staff writer Ohio transportation officials warn that two local groups seeking to jumpstart the Banks project need to make significant progress this year or risk losing an $11 million grant set aside for the ambitious riverfront development. The Banks' construction timeline is one of several questions state and federal authorities want answered before releasing grant money to remake Cincinnati's riverfront with new homes, offices, shops and entertainment. At issue is an $11 million grant that the Ohio Transportation Review Advisory Council approved in 2003 to help build a parking garage and transportation hub along the riverfront.
February 3, 200520 yr In my opinion because of the County lawsuit against the Bengals, the parking revenue issue is the stumbling block.
February 11, 200520 yr Todd Portune is such a dick, but at least things might get moving forward. Port agency shifts tactics -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ By Kevin Osborne Post staff reporter The garages • The underground garages are needed to lift the riverfront area out of the flood plain. • They will serve as foundation for development above the structures. Facing pressure from state officials to use an $11 million grant soon or risk losing it, the regional Port Authority managing the long-delayed redevelopment of Cincinnati's riverfront is shifting tactics. The Port Authority has tweaked plans for the proposed Banks housing and shopping district, adopting a phased approach first suggested by Hamilton County commissioners in early 2002. Instead of starting the project by constructing underground parking garages on four blocks of the Banks' western side, near the Bengals stadium, the Port Authority will initially build garages on two blocks on the eastern side, near Walnut and Main streets.
February 11, 200520 yr How does one go about building an underground garage on the riverfront? I mean, as we've seen, it does flood down there...do you build it to take flood water and then pump it out and clean up, or do you try to defend it against an 80 footer?
February 11, 200520 yr It's unlikely with our region's flood controls that the river will again top 70 feet. The "underground" garages will actually be built at ground level and raise street level by about 20 feet. In the case of another 1997 flood, which I believe was 65 feet, the lower level would be flooded but the upper level wouldn't. The water will recede with the flood, so there wouldn't be that much pumping to do. We also might see a deck or two of above ground parking in order to provide spots for apartment dwellers. I'm not opposed to that at all as long as the parking decks are integrated into the building and not next to it like the Kroger condos. I'm also not opposed to using more of the park for development. After a certain point the size of the park really doesn't matter.
February 11, 200520 yr I'm also not opposed to using more of the park for development. After a certain point the size of the park really doesn't matter. I agree - there's already an open-air concert venue with P&G Pavilion, lots of walking available from the Banks all the way out thru Sawyer Point et al to Friendship park and its paths...it will be fantastic to have a park right in the heart of downtown right along the river, but happily it doesn't have to be everything all in one spot.
February 11, 200520 yr 3CDC spent $211,804 for new architectural designs and a market demand analysis, among other items. new renderings?? does this mean out with the existing, beautiful new urbanist designs on the port's website, and in with some some hideous newfangled things??
February 12, 200520 yr From the Opinion section of Saturday's Cincinnati Post.... Getting started -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ohio Department of Transportation has done the region a favor by insisting that the Port Authority get moving on construction of parking garages for The Banks. In response to pressure from state officials, the Port Authority has changed its plans and is now planning to go ahead with construction of two garages along the eastern part of the riverfront between the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Great American Ball Park. That acreage today is a gaping missing tooth; it all but cries out for the development that was promised to taxpayers when they approved the stadium bond issue in 1996. The parking garages will serve multiple purposes: • They will serve not only patrons to Great American Ball Park, the Freedom Center, Paul Brown Stadium and other riverfront venues, they will also address the needs of downtown commuters. • They will provide a platform above the flood plain for other development -- which the Port Authority, apparently, is still trying to pin down. This is admittedly a tricky assignment. The danger is that new restaurants or retail or even Class A office space along the riverfront will cannibalize existing downtown businesses. The ambition is for development that will complement what's already in place and help spark a renewal north of Third Street. • They will provide a physical step-down from Second Street to the riverbank -- part of which, someday, will be developed as parkland.
February 12, 200520 yr I'm also not opposed to using more of the park for development. After a certain point the size of the park really doesn't matter. I agree - there's already an open-air concert venue with P&G Pavilion, lots of walking available from the Banks all the way out thru Sawyer Point et al to Friendship park and its paths...it will be fantastic to have a park right in the heart of downtown right along the river, but happily it doesn't have to be everything all in one spot. I would have to disagree. The more green the better I say. I would love to see a huge patch of green when I cross the Brent Spence. Besides, they're evidently having a hell of a time locking up tenants or whatever as it is now. why over-extend themselves. So many people are negative about Cincinnati filling office space and such, it seems odd that some of you guys would want them to build more space that could possibly be empty some day. I myself am confident about the developement. I just don't understand how it takes up to 12 months to design a freaking parking garage. Granted the design of the top of the garage depends on whats going to go there, but is it possible to start construction now, and then by the time they reach the top the design will be done. Aren't the bottom of all parking garages pretty much similar?
February 12, 200520 yr I think Cincinnati's major problems are with Class B office space, where vacancies are around 18%. Class A and Class C are around 10%, which is pretty average compared to most other places. I don't think they'd have too hard of a time filling up small offices. From the editorial above, it seems like The Banks are being pitted against downtown, instead of being used to complement each other. That would be a sad state of affairs. I also agree with the last sentence of the editorial. They should try to do it in phases--hell, at least start something--or they're going to continue to rapidly lose public support for the project.
February 13, 200520 yr There's no way that riverfront development won't compete with downtown for office space, apartments, restaurants, etc., but by being built in phases it won't flood the market. It is in our city's overall interest to have an attractive environment in that area, so I am not opposed to the subsidies. Unfortunately the Freedom Center's ominous presence in the center of the area ruined any chance for a large, continuous entertainment district. As for the proposed park, go down to any of those existing riverfront parks on a weekday and almost nobody is there. I don't know what exactly they have in mind for the area between Mehring Way and Theodore Berry Way, but I can't imagine a situation where those extra few acres are going to make or break an event. Walnut and Vine should be extended to Mehring Way and that area should be sold and be privately developed. And back to the matter of the Freedom Center, the stupid lawn between it and the Suspension Bridge is already tons of wasted space that could have been a 12 floor building. Instead all we can hope for is that the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center eventually expands onto the lawn and hides its hideous face from those driving north on the bridge with the new Intergalactic Underground Railroad Freedom Center. <img src="http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/fww-map-6.jpg">
February 13, 200520 yr Instead all we can hope for is that the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center eventually expands onto the lawn and hides its hideous face from those driving north on the bridge with the new Intergalactic Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Freedom across the galaxy!!! I like it!!! Maybe they should have built it UNDERGROUND. I'm sorry, that was mean. :evil: :-D
February 13, 200520 yr A few notes on the office competion between downtown and the riverfront. First, the amount and type of space that is slated for the Banks is relatively small, boutique style space. It will compete more with only the Class B and C buildings, whereas most large space users would be unable to use the space built on the riverfront. These large block tenants will be looking for large, open floorplates and contiguous blocks of space for efficiency. My other pet peeve is that people talk about the riverfront vs. downtown. Last time I checked, the riverfront is part of downtown. The reworking of FWW was done so as to reconnect the riverfront to the core downtown, making it whole once again. Finally, just to set the record straight, the hold up with the Banks has nothing to do with design or finding tenants. The problem entirely rests with the County, the Port Authority and now 3CDC. The funding for the garages is the only thing holding this project up (remember the funding was supposed to come from the same source as the stadia funding), once the garages are funded, a developer can be selected and it will be their job to find tenants.
February 16, 200520 yr New strategy outlined for The Banks By Ken Alltucker Enquirer staff writer Two groups seeking to launch an ambitious riverfront project known as The Banks believe they have a funding plan and strategy to get the long-stalled development off the ground. But the plan depends on securing approval of state and federal transportation agencies that oversee $24.9 million in grants - and negotiating deals with the Reds, the Bengals and Hamilton County to share riverfront parking revenue. "In my mind, it's one of the great urban sites in America," Stephen Leeper, 3CDC's chief executive, said Tuesday at a meeting of the editorial board of The Enquirer. A revised plan proposed by the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (known as 3CDC) and the regional port authority includes: Building a 1,000-space garage and transportation hub on the blocks between the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Great American Ball Park. That's a shift from the original Banks strategy, which called for first developing blocks closest to Paul Brown Stadium.
February 17, 200520 yr Actually, if anyone remembers, when the County first came up with the stadium plan, it called for big, above ground garages south of Third St. That is when the Riverfront Advisors were formed and they came up with The Banks plan we know today, with the bulk of the above ground parking shifted north of Third St. to support large office construction. Hopefully, 3CDC was talking about above ground parking in the middle of the blocks surrounded by buildings along the outside of the blocks. If not, we just catapulted in time back to 1996.
February 20, 200520 yr This editorial appeared in the 2/20/05 Enquirer: New plan to restart Banks project Editorials Cincinnati development officials finally have carved out a doable plan with the best chance in years to restart a new neighborhood development on that prime waterfront real estate known as the Banks. Their revised plan for the sprawling land between the stadiums wisely takes a phased approach. It would start by constructing a 1,000-space garage and transportation hub on blocks just west of Great American Ball Park and only a pop fly north of the river's edge. The publicly funded garage would provide the deck above the flood plain to attract private development. It is envisioned as including housing for 600 to 750 residents, a small boutique hotel, and some office, restaurants and other retail bringing 400 to 800 new jobs to the riverfront. Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) and the Port Authority are pushing to preserve state and federal grants already promised and to fulfill the original pledge to Hamilton County voters that the stadium sales tax would generate more than just stadiums. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050220/EDIT01/502200311/1020/EDIT
February 20, 200520 yr and what of the proposed foutain square re-design, with all the talk of the Banks what progress has been made on that site?
February 20, 200520 yr ^ A few days ago, it was revealed that a new proposal (following all of the public hearings, etc.) will be unveiled in April.
February 21, 200520 yr In the Business Courier I think Leeper commented that the plans would be revealed 1st quarter 05, I guess he meant 2nd. I hope when 2nd comes he doesn't say July and I hope when 3rd is around the corner he doesn't say in time for the holidays... I think you know where I'm going with this.
February 21, 200520 yr So can anyone tell me if this is an above ground garage they're proposing, if if they're sticking to the original underground plan? I can't tell from teh article?
February 21, 200520 yr ^ Not sure if he's talking about putting the garages at the same level as the current central riverfront garage (under the ballpark) or raising the elevation above that of Pete Rose Way. It mentions getting it out of the flood plain, which would require it to be higher than, well, hell, I don't know. Anyone?
February 28, 200520 yr State asks $25M Banks questions Funds tied up until key issues resolved Lucy May and Dan Monk Courier Senior Staff Reporters With $25 million in state and federal funds in hand, local officials are waiting only for a green light from the Ohio Department of Transportation to begin Cincinnati's much-anticipated riverfront development known as The Banks. Trouble is, the light from Columbus might be yellow. "Not everything is reconciled," said Andrew Gall, executive assistant to the director of the Ohio Department of Transportation, which oversees how the $25 million is spent. Gall said he will be sending a letter in the next few weeks, detailing several issues that need to be addressed before the state frees up cash for the project. Representatives of the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority and the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp., known as 3CDC, have been making the rounds to tout their latest financing plan for The Banks, which calls for building housing, shops, office space and even a hotel on the land between Great American Ball Park and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
February 28, 200520 yr It sure would have been nice if the powers that be hadn't sold the soul of the riverfront to the Reds and Bengals.
March 18, 200520 yr Banks inches closer to reality But Reds, Bengals, county have to ante up By Ken Alltucker Enquirer staff writer Local development groups think the Ohio Department of Transportation will endorse a plan to use $24.5 million in state and federal grants to help kick start the ambitious Banks riverfront development. But the regional port authority and the private Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) first must navigate several difficult steps - including convincing the Reds, the Bengals and Hamilton County to hand over lucrative riverfront parking dollars as part of a $52 million funding package to start the project.
May 6, 200520 yr The project has a pulse! Yesterday's Post: ---------------- Banks design work to begin By Kevin Osborne Post staff reporter A critical step in constructing the long-planned Banks riverfront district will happen this summer when design work begins for underground parking garages needed to start the project. Officials from the regional Port Authority overseeing the Banks development said this morning that they are ready to hire a project manager for the garage portion. Although some planning and behind-the-scenes jockeying for funds has occurred, the garage work will be the first tangible sign of progress at the barren riverfront area in more than four years. The garages will take nine to 12 months to design and two years to build, Port Authority board members said. ------------- Today's Enquirer: ------------- Port to seek director for Banks project Board prepared to spend $200,000 to fund salary and pay search firm By Cliff Peale Enquirer staff writer Moving ahead on its plan to restart the slow-developing Banks riverfront development project, the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority is preparing to spend up to $200,000 to hire and pay a director for the project. The port's board reviewed a job description Thursday morning and probably will hire an outside company to conduct the search. Combined with a first-year salary, the search could cost up to $200,000 during the next year.
May 6, 200520 yr The garages will take nine to 12 months to design This isn't rocket science folks... They should have a design from the last garage they built and modify it for the existing space. 1-2 months tops and would be able to start in August. Why in 2005 are we going backwards with contruction?
May 6, 200520 yr Three years until completion? I agree...WTF? These should have been designed while they were sitting around doin' nothin'.
May 6, 200520 yr This is exactly what I was saying about Government Square. This is getting really stupid now. Give me a pencil and paper. I'll use the original plans as a guideline. After my sketch Ill get to work on my MAYA software and BOOM, DONE. A month at tops. And that's in my SPARE TIME. I'm not trying to sound like I'm an artist or designer or anything, but I'm getting really impatient about this freaking project. A year to design a parking garage that's probably going to be 2 levels in most spots? Give me a break. Two years to build it? NO WAY!! If this takes 3 years I'll go down there with a shovel and bags of concrete and start on it myself. Anyone with me? :drunk: O.K. I feel better now that I got that off my chest. You know, we'll probably wait 5 more years after the garages are done to see anything built on them. And then they'll probably end up putting one of those cheap steel buildings there.
May 6, 200520 yr They probably got bids on the prior design and then put them into re-design due to escalting costs. If something is being redesigned, it means it is being down-sized a bit.
May 30, 200520 yr Playhouse to leave the park? Riverfront site being considered by board Lucy May Staff Reporter After winning the 2004 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park leadership began to wonder what the 46-year-old theater would do for an encore. Top staff and the board of directors launched a long-term strategic plan to guide the Playhouse for the next decade and beyond. While recommendations won't go to the board until after Labor Day, one option being discussed is building a new theater on the Cincinnati riverfront. "We have to think in grander terms," said Ed Stern, producing artistic director for the playhouse. "A new theater is one of the things on the table, but the table's a very big one." Stern said the Playhouse is looking at whether the theater can be renovated or adjusted. And, if the study determines a new theater should be built, there is the question of cost. "Is it realistic, in this day and age, to secure the funding for that?" he said.
May 30, 200520 yr I would love to see this happen. Building a world class threatre at the Banks would do wonders.
May 30, 200520 yr "Playhouse at the Banks?" That would be amazing, but they'd need a better name. At minimum, let's hope this ends up on the Cincinnati side of the river.
May 31, 200520 yr ^Indeed. I get annoyed every time I walk around there. (Good thing that's not too often, I guess!)
June 1, 200520 yr >God, that is such a waste. Yeah, spending $400 million on a stadium that only gets used 9 times a year...
June 1, 200520 yr It might take ten more years to realize the vision of The Banks, but I think it will be worth it.
June 2, 200520 yr it will never happen. city council will be sure of that one, with their idiocy. i mean, look across the river. that is what happens when cities have vision and the followthrough to make it happen. all cincy does is argue, bicker and burry projects in red tape. i mean, its pretty lame when bellvue sudden becomes some hip building spot and cincy can't even get anyone to build on our own riverfront, which in reality should be a lot hotter property. go figure. way to go city council!
Create an account or sign in to comment