On another note...shouldn't this thread now be under 'completed projects'?

Going to another market shows you how things can be done other ways. And it also gives you an appreciation for how great this city is.

 

Coming from another market, I understand 100%.

The convention center isnt supposed to be 100% finished until June I thought.

^Plus there is the streetscape, if that is included.

The convention center originally covered one city block, then the mid-80's expansion and renovation closed off a block of Plum St. and took half of the next block.  This expansion merely took the rest of that block, adding maybe 150ft in length and width to the whole place.

 

That ballroom was not very nice, my school's senior prom was there and it was a dull room.  It had a long tinted window with a curved top that looked west toward Price Hill that took some style cues from those old Rax Roast Beef atriums.     

I guess this makes it official.  Time to stick a fork in it and call it done.

 

Duke Center expansion complete

 

Bigger, better and - believe it or not - below budget.  Expansion, renovation and reconfiguration of Cincinnati's convention center was scheduled to cost $160 million, but the project's price tag wound up at only $135 million.

 

Money was saved, but nothing was scrimped on, says Dan Lincoln, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The one word we hear over and over from people seeing the new place for the first time is, 'Wow!' " he said.

 

Work on the convention center, officially renamed the Duke Energy Center, was completed Friday, two weeks ahead of schedule. The sprawling complex takes up two city blocks in downtown Cincinnati, bounded on the north by Sixth Street, on the south by Fifth Street, on the east by Elm Street and on the west by Central Avenue.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060617/NEWS01/606170366

The Enquirer has a photo gallery of 19 images:

Photos: Convention Center

The Enquirer has a photo gallery of 19 images:

Photos: Convention Center

 

On picture 11 of 19, the caption states:

 

    Windows from the third level provide a view of the original arch.

 

I thought that arch was a reproduction of the entrance to the old Albee theater.  Was it there before the latest renovation?

It is my understanding that the arch is the original entrance to the old Albee Theatre.  I wish they would have removed it and placed it into a museum, preferably the Cincinnati History Museum.  The old Albee entrance looks so awful attached to Post Modern 80's faux marble.

 

I am also pleased that our media outlets are putting a positive spin on the remodeled convention center but I apparently must see this "Grand Ballroom" to truly appreciate the $135 million dollar price tag.  I know they weren't done during the "Home & Garden Show" & "The Auto Show" but I just didn't see that much of an improvement at that time.  I guess I should just be happy that the media is  talking positive about downtown for once and shut my mouth.  :|

This interactive thing on the Enquirer's site is pretty neat:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060621/BIZ01/306210022/1076/rss01

Did anyone go to the open house? I believe The Roots are hitting the stage right about now. They probably never played in front of so many Suits before.

I was there.  Today was my birthday so I went to Scotti's for dinner with family and friends and decided to head over to the Convention Center.  I was impressed, I could see a great improvements in the cosmetics even from the Auto Show & Home & Garden Show when I was last there.  Very nice!  The Grand Ballroom looked great and the overall feel of the convention center was much improved.  Glad to see the opening of the center help offset the negativity of the census numbers over the last two days.  Not that I smoke but they even put in a third floor balcony for smokers and people looking for outdoor air.  As someone who questioned the cost of the upgrade vs the limited amount of sq footage gained, you can call me a convert. 

I didn't go to the open house, but from what I've seen and from what I've heard, it's pretty nice.  I'll have to get down there soon.

 

Happy birthday, montecarlosssssssss!

I'm a little surprised the Enquirer did not have a follow-up article, but this is a pretty good one from the Post.  I actually thought the free tickets to the show were limited to 1500, but I might be wrong.:

 

Not your father's convention center

'The Duke' makes its Cincinnati debut with a message: The buttoned-down Queen City is ready to rock

By Rick Bird | Post staff reporter

 

The expanded, remodeled downtown convention center held its grand reopening ceremony Thursday night heralded as "the house that everyone built," with state, city, county, and corporate money paying the $150 million tab for the project.

 

Politicians and business leaders praised the project that came in two weeks ahead of schedule and $10 million under budget.  After the usual self-congratulatory remarks, something very different happened at the traditional downtown booster event. The building rocked.

 

The speeches gave way to rock 'n' roll, jazz, R&B, Cajun music and jam bands as music shook and echoed off the halls of the 750,000 foot sprawling structure now known as the Duke Energy Center.  Edgy jam band Rusted Root drew some 2,000 concert-goers to a free show as the opening also featured two hours of all-star band lineups with some of the region's finest local musicians.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060623/LIFE/606230367

Any word if Cincinnati is having a "Light Up Cincinnati"?  I hope they aren't having it this Monday because I fly out of CVG Monday afternoon.

Any word if Cincinnati is having a "Light Up Cincinnati"?  I hope they aren't having it this Monday because I fly out of CVG Monday afternoon.

 

I was wondering the same thing, hopefully GABP will.

Any word if Cincinnati is having a "Light Up Cincinnati"?  I hope they aren't having it this Monday because I fly out of CVG Monday afternoon.

 

They're doing it October 1 for the Pats game.

 

EXCLUSIVE: City had secret plan to replace aging Millennium Hotel

City attempts to build new hotel as convention business suffers

Jul. 15, 2013 6:28 AM 

Written by Cindi Andrews

 

 

The city is so determined to have a four-star convention hotel in downtown Cincinnati that officials secretly lined up the land and partners to build one earlier this year.

 

It would have replaced the aging Millennium Hotel, which leaders worry is not only a drag on the city’s convention business but the largest single obstacle to completing Downtown’s revitalization.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130715/BIZ01/307150013?nclick_check=1

Secret plan or not, I would like that lot on Plum filled with two towers.

EXCLUSIVE: City had secret plan to replace aging Millennium Hotel

City attempts to build new hotel as convention business suffers

Jul. 15, 2013 6:28 AM 

Written by Cindi Andrews

 

 

The city is so determined to have a four-star convention hotel in downtown Cincinnati that officials secretly lined up the land and partners to build one earlier this year.

 

It would have replaced the aging Millennium Hotel, which leaders worry is not only a drag on the city’s convention business but the largest single obstacle to completing Downtown’s revitalization.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130715/BIZ01/307150013?nclick_check=1

 

So since the city gave the 15 million to the fourth & race tower, what is their new plan to get a new convention hotel or getting millennium to rebuild or update? are they still pushing this hard? any news or ideas? This whole mess is making me so angry that millennium is just dragging their feet and all of us down with them.

Does anyone have any idea what is going to happen with the millennium hotel/convention center hotel project???? I'm a little worried it seems the activity was going on during the Mallory Admin but will Cranley keep this a priority?

I just thought this should be a topic of conversation. This hotel has to be the worst convention hotel in the country by far. This should be the one of the top priorities for our new city manger

Unfortunately, the owners of the Millennium are located in Singapore and singularly unresponsive. I believe that the Mallory administration tried to talk to them about the condition of the hotel, and they had that big Enquirer article about it last year as well.

How much of it is really up to the city government though? Unless Millennium Hotels wants to step up with a bunch of capital, how do the renovations take place? But I'm in total agreement. The hotel is an embarrassment.

Could the convention center just market other hotels in town instead of the Millennium? I know it has the advantage of being connected (though I imagine it’d be possible to eliminate the skywalk between them), but if group rates, deals, etc. were simply set up with other hotels unless the Millennium agreed to renovate that could light a fire under their butts.

Having a hotel connected to the convention center is a necessity when it comes to recruitment.  Anyone who attends conventions understands this. 

 

The connecting hotel is primarily for the convention organizers and exhibitors.  Since they are the people footing the bill and choosing a city, it is impossible to assume that our convention center would succeed without a respectable hotel attached.  Columbus just built a new Hilton and Indy has the newish Marriott complex that has four different brands.

 

Mahoney's "secret" emails from a year or two ago where he was trying to create a plan to demolish and instantly rebuild on the same site echo my statement above. 

If you cannot fix the Millennium, build a new hotel on the surface lot across from the center on Fifth. Follow the lead of Franklin and Cuyahoga counties.

INK is correct.  The Millenium- If you can't go through them, go around them.  If Cranley would like to redeem himself as a Mayor who loves this town more than he loves himself, he should get something together.  Partner with The Port perhaps?

I agree that the Millennium is overdue for a renovation, and it'd be great to see a new hotel built at 5th+Plum, but we shouldn't overlook the fact that there is a recently-renovated Hyatt across the street and Hilton one block away are both connected via SkyWalk to the convention center. The Millennium is roughly 1/3 cheaper than the Hyatt ($127 vs $190 per night), and I think it's nice to have a range of price options downtown. I'm not sure how price sensitive convention planners are, but as a proud cheapskate myself, I'm always happy to find a less expensive option. (To argue with myself: if everybody who goes to a convention is getting their boss to foot the bill, then the price of the hotel won't matter much. Maybe we should just send them all to 21C.)

I agree that the Millennium is overdue for a renovation, and it'd be great to see a new hotel built at 5th+Plum, but we shouldn't overlook the fact that there is a recently-renovated Hyatt across the street and Hilton one block away are both connected via SkyWalk to the convention center. The Millennium is roughly 1/3 cheaper than the Hyatt ($127 vs $190 per night), and I think it's nice to have a range of price options downtown. I'm not sure how price sensitive convention planners are, but as a proud cheapskate myself, I'm always happy to find a less expensive option. (To argue with myself: if everybody who goes to a convention is getting their boss to foot the bill, then the price of the hotel won't matter much. Maybe we should just send them all to 21C.)

 

I understand about the lower prices.  But people are getting attack by bed bugs at the Millennium hotel.  My friend was there 3 weeks ago and got ate up

Heard some more complaints about this embarrassment of a hotel. Everybody in this city should be pushing Cranley to replace or fix up or convention hotel. Worst convention hotel in the country

I think the cheapest and easiest option would be to enclose and upgrade the skywalk that connects to the Hyatt, Hilton and westin which are all much nicer and on all official websites and convention information sources completely ignore the fact that the millenium exists. The only way to get them to renovate is to make them hurt financially. After you switch all official things to the Hyatt you could threaten to demolish the millenniums skywalk as well.

Heard some more complaints about this embarrassment of a hotel. Everybody in this city should be pushing Cranley to replace or fix up or convention hotel. Worst convention hotel in the country

 

Cranley cant do too much about it. The city does not own the building. Now, if they can convince another developer to develop another convention hotel on the 4th and Plum lot that is a different story. As far as the Millenium goes, the out of the country owner is enjoying that it operates as a cash cow for them.

Who owns the 4th and Plum lot?

Heard some more complaints about this embarrassment of a hotel. Everybody in this city should be pushing Cranley to replace or fix up or convention hotel. Worst convention hotel in the country

 

Cranley cant do too much about it. The city does not own the building. Now, if they can convince another developer to develop another convention hotel on the 4th and Plum lot that is a different story. As far as the Millenium goes, the out of the country owner is enjoying that it operates as a cash cow for them.

 

I don't think that's true. Mayor Mallory and the previous city administration were pretty aggressive in reaching out to the hotel's ownership and expressing concern about it's condition and offering plans on what can be done.

 

I just noticed the first post in this thread has an article that explains it pretty well.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130715/BIZ01/307150013?nclick_check=1

Some of the Union Terminal murals will be moved to the Duke Energy Center concourse:

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/arts/2015/05/19/murals-cvg-closer-cincinnati-homecoming/27584945/?fb_ref=Default

 

The murals will presumably cover up *my* photos which were installed there during the 2006 renovation.  I never liked them so I'm not too upset...the check cleared 10 years ago and that's all that matters!

Looks like the murals are indeed coming back to downtown Cincinnati: http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/downtown/union-terminal-murals-to-be-mounted-outside-convention-center

 

I'm ecstatic that they are being saved and moved home, but am a little sad that they are going on the Central Ave side of the Convention Center. Seems that few people will have the opportunity to walk by them in that location and really admire the artwork.

Well this is weird.  Also, half of the murals will remain at the airport.  So this sets the stage for some sort of weird reunion of all of the murals at some future date, should the city build a new passenger concourse at Union Terminal or a new train station elsewhere. 

Looks like the murals are indeed coming back to downtown Cincinnati: http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/downtown/union-terminal-murals-to-be-mounted-outside-convention-center

 

I'm ecstatic that they are being saved and moved home, but am a little sad that they are going on the Central Ave side of the Convention Center. Seems that few people will have the opportunity to walk by them in that location and really admire the artwork.

 

Wouldn't Plum have been a better choice?

Very strange indeed to put them along Central, since so few people walk along there. I wish they could find somewhere inside the Convention Center where the murals would be appreciated by more people.

 

On the plus side (perhaps), I think they will be visible from I-75 and I-71 directly below the giant pixelated CINCINNATI sign, so potentially they'll be visible to thousands of motorists every day. Imagine this photo with the murals illuminated below the sign: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,29531.msg751902.html#msg751902

 

View from I-75: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0989897,-84.5211898,3a,75y,29.9h,83.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLoPulsrXawQe1JlSowfwpA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

Details from the City: http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/mayor/news/mayor-cranley-airport-board-county-reach-deal-to-save-murals/?a

 

Well the important thing is that they're being saved. Originally there was some concern that they would just get demolished along with the old terminal if no one came forward and paid the cost of moving them.

Cincinnati Preservation Association sent an email advocating this to be temporary because the direct evening sunlight will cause damage to the murals over time.

 

Union Terminal Murals Deserve to be Displayed Within Duke Energy Center

 

 

Central Avenue Site Should be Staging Area, Not a Final Installation

 

(Cincinnati, Ohio) Yesterday City Council's Budget and Finance Committee voted to expend $750,000 to install nine of the Union Terminal murals in a glass enclosure on the west (rear) wall of the Duke Energy Center. "This is a welcome step forward but the plan is incomplete," said Paul Muller, Executive Director of CPA.  "These treasures deserve a more appropriate setting, which we know will take time and planning."  While the murals need to be stored temporarily while the Center is structurally upgraded for their installation, the plan as presented yesterday needs to be modified for the following reasons:

 

Temporary storage, not permanent relocation. The murals deserve a final home inside the Duke Energy Center lobby, where they can be viewed and enjoyed by thousands of City residents and visitors. The Central Avenue location is ideal for storage since the murals would not have to be loaded on trucks once the Center is prepared and funds are raised for the installation. It does not work as a permanent home.

 

Damage to the murals. The idea of a glass wall on the storage structure is unsound.  The ultraviolet radiation and even the visible light from west-facing exposure would cause damage to the murals.

 

Lack of visibility. The lack of pedestrian traffic on Central Avenue means fewer people would see the murals. In their original location at Union Terminal, and at the airport, the artworks were highly visible to an appreciative public.

 

Conveys the wrong impression. Displaying the murals in a glass box outdoors could give the impression that the relocation was complete, reducing the chance that they would end up in a more fitting indoor location indoors.

 

World-class art for Cincinnati. Artist Winold Reiss, creator of the murals, rooted the heroic images in reality, connecting them to the specifics of our region.  This connection explains why the murals are so deeply appreciated by the people of Cincinnati, who have donated $57,000 to the Save the Murals Fund at the Cincinnati Preservation Association.

 

A legacy of preservation. In 1972 Cincinnatians rallied to save all 14 murals from Union Terminal by relocating them to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. This was one of the most successful art conservation rescues in the history of our country. It unique because of both the size of the threatened murals and because of the quality and artistic significance.

 

Recommendation:  The location of the temporary storage is good, the glass is a problem. We recommend that a solid wall be created in lieu of the glass to protect the murals while the final location planning and fundraising is underway.

 

Alfred Moore, who led the original save of Union Terminal and the murals in 1972, believes they deserve a more prominent setting.  "We received support from nearly ten thousand people when the murals were threatened" said Mr. Moore.  "They represent Cincinnati's artistic and cultural heritage at its finest and should be proudly displayed." 

 

In 2014 Cincinnatians overwhelmingly expressed their support for the restoration of Union Terminal. Now is the time to care for these nine works of art, which also are part of that legacy. The full Council is expected to vote tomorrow on funding the mural move. The support of Cincinnatians is necessary to ensure that these priceless works of art are properly cared for and will be installed in the location they deserve. Supporters are urged to contact the Mayor and Council members by phone and email and to attend tomorrow's Council meeting to voice their support.

^I had that exact thought. That the afternoon/evening sun would wash them out. I thought they were going to be outside...a dumb assumption in hindsight.  Now I see they have them behind glass. They will bake!

Anything new on this. I wish Cincinnati would do something about this crap of a hotel

Nothing new unfortunately.

 

I did receive a rendering from someone who works with the city that was a VERY extensive renovation of the Millennium. It looked quite cool (I'd share it but I was asked not to so I'm going to remain good on my word) but unfortunately the deal fell through. I don't remember what brand it was they were trying to court but it would have been a massive improvement. Too bad.

I heard yesterday that the building is going up for public auction, anyone else heard this?

 

*EDIT Sorry for some reason I read this is Terrace Plaza hotel. Problem with reading on your phone.

Nothing new unfortunately.

 

I did receive a rendering from someone who works with the city that was a VERY extensive renovation of the Millennium. It looked quite cool (I'd share it but I was asked not to so I'm going to remain good on my word) but unfortunately the deal fell through. I don't remember what brand it was they were trying to court but it would have been a massive improvement. Too bad.

 

You would think Cranley would be pushing for something like this to get done. I travel a lot and the Millennium is the worst major city convention hotel in the US by far

I believe it was originally a deal started under Mallory that current administration was in favor of but the reason for it not happening wasn't on our end. So there's that.

 

Honestly I don't mind the towers despite their aged blandness. I just hate what it does to the ground level around it. That massive skybridge over 6th. The motorcourt thing on the corner of 6th and Elm. The completely blank facades it has all over. It's just such a bad building.

^and the inside is completely awful. The rooms look like something you'd see in a hostel.

The Business Courier did a slideshow of most expensive hotel rooms in Cincinnati... and in The Millenium, you can see how dated even their most expensive room looks. They have an old-school CRT-television. I mean... wow. For $1700 a night, you can be transported back to the mid-'90s.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2016/02/go-inside-downtown-cincinnatis-most-expensive.html#g10