12 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

That Indy rendering shows a 468' tower with a sea of parking and one story buildings beyond.

I also thought it looked awkward. But anyway.

1 hour ago, ColDayMan said:

 

So what "lux" hotel is this going to be? If it's an Omni or Loews...that isn't exactly a step-up from the Columbus or Cleveland Hiltons.

Also from what I understand 3CDC’s goal  and the selling point that Cincy officials are now marketing is quality. They are taking very seriously the renovation of the Convention Center and The Hotel in making it all look and feel top notch. That hints at what I’ve heard Hilton or not they want it to be the best in Ohio and amongst peer meeting cities such as Pitt and KC. The likes of Nashville are now in the big leagues and hard to challenge.

 

I would be happy with a Hilton Signia too they are very nice and would differentiate from the other Ohio cities.

Edited January 9Jan 9 by 646empire

9 minutes ago, 646empire said:

Also from what I understand 3CDC’s goal  and the selling point that Cincy officials are now marketing is quality. They are taking very seriously the renovation of the Convention Center and The Hotel in making it all look and feel top notch. That hints at what I’ve heard Hilton or not they want it to be the best in Ohio and amongst peer meeting cities such as Pitt and KC. The likes of Nashville are now in the big leagues and hard to challenge.

KC’s new Loews Hotel for reference.

 

Edited January 9Jan 9 by 646empire

I've stayed at that KC hotel and I found little difference between it and the new Hiltons of Columbus and Cleveland.  When I think "lux," I'm thinking Conrad, JW, Ritz, etc.

1 hour ago, ColDayMan said:

I've stayed at that KC hotel and I found little difference between it and the new Hiltons of Columbus and Cleveland.  When I think "lux," I'm thinking Conrad, JW, Ritz, etc.

I’ve stayed at both Cle and Columbus Hiltons (and have worked for Hilton) and I’m more impressed with Loews, Omni and others, Service and the buildings had more polish. Maybe it will be an Hilton Signia which I like. Anyway let’s wait for Flag and Detailed Renderings.

On 1/8/2025 at 7:50 PM, 646empire said:

 
Whats the problem? This a whopping 400+ Million Dollar hotel that’s going to be VERY nice. Who cares that it’s not as tall as Indy. The site of the hotel is large there was no need to go particularly tall. 

everyone here had an issue with the height and then I mention it and some of yall decide to get defensive about it. What the fuxk? Seriously I would appreciate an explanation.

14 minutes ago, anusthemenace said:

everyone here had an issue with the height and then I mention it and some of yall decide to get defensive about it. What the fuxk? Seriously I would appreciate an explanation.

I can assure you I’ve never had an issue with the height and didn’t mention it as a negative once.

If the Cincy hotel news was a 400+, we would be celebrating that particular aspect. As it is, with all of the repurposing that is going on downtown, Cincy's revitalization/growth  of the core is almost completely concealed when compared to regional peers. So to me, it's one of those deals that when we do actually get new construction, it's deflating that it's not to the scale (height) of other projects in the region. 

Edited January 10Jan 10 by Rabbit Hash

On 1/9/2025 at 11:51 AM, 646empire said:

KC’s new Loews Hotel for reference.

 

 

 

This is what our hotel is gonna look like, isn't it?

1 hour ago, Miami-Erie said:

 

 

This is what our hotel is gonna look like, isn't it?

No, we know what our hotel is going to look like from the most recent renderings, they are not conceptual. What comes next is detailed renderings that will reflect final interiors and materials used maybe some signage and stuff. Our building will be much more slender and rectangular, not square like KC. Interior wise probably similar, the color palette and finishes will depend on the flag.

Edited January 10Jan 10 by 646empire

On 1/9/2025 at 11:03 AM, 646empire said:

I have been personally hoping for Omni because they are well regarded by the public and planners and ran much better than Hiltons. Hiltons* not all Hilton brands like Conrad etc. This hotel may turn out to be a Hilton not sure although I’ve heard unconfirmed whispers. 

Hilton in Ohio has been attached to every major city's convention centers. I'd say its a given.

1 hour ago, columbus17 said:

Hilton in Ohio has been attached to every major city's convention centers. I'd say it’s a given.

No they haven’t. Cincinnati didn’t have a Hilton it had a 900 Room Millennium Hotel.

Edited January 11Jan 11 by 646empire

Also many are forgetting Cincinnati already has a Hilton Hotel downtown a block away from this site. So either the Netherland Plaza is going to lose the flag or the Convention Hotel will be Hilton Signia or a different company altogether. If the netherland plaza loses the Hilton flag that may force much needed renovations under a rebrand and or a sell. Worst case scenario they lose the Hilton Flag and they cant find the money/ partner for a renovation and new flag and we see the hotel and it’s 400 plus rooms eventually close indefinitely (the city definitely doesn’t want that) nor should the owners of the adjacent Carew Tower. Best case Hilton forced a  renovation commitment and the Convention Hotel is a different company.

27 minutes ago, 646empire said:

So either the Netherland Plaza is going to lose the flag

 

Hilton has already threatened to pull the flag from the Netherland Plaza if improvements aren't made.

43 minutes ago, taestell said:

 

Hilton has already threatened to pull the flag from the Netherland Plaza if improvements aren't made.

Well this would certainly have been the ultimate do it or else. It’s a shame because Netherland Plaza could be a stunning property.

Netherland Plaza really should be an Autograph Collection or a Kimpton Hotel Monaco.

5 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

Netherland Plaza really should be an Autograph Collection or a Kimpton Hotel Monaco.

Yupp spot on!

On 1/11/2025 at 4:22 PM, ColDayMan said:

Netherland Plaza really should be an Autograph Collection or a Kimpton Hotel Monaco.

 

Very hopeful this happens. Would be a stunning and smart addition to the "Fountain Square District"

I hadn't driven by in a while but the "hills" have been framed in and the new form is already starting to take shape. 

To everyone saying the convention hotel is going to be a Hilton, it wont i have first hand knowledge, it will not be a Hilton or Hilton branded property. 

 

The Netherland is under a PIP right now for change of ownership. So something positive might happen with that property...

On 1/11/2025 at 4:22 PM, ColDayMan said:

Netherland Plaza really should be an Autograph Collection or a Kimpton Hotel Monaco.

Well the autograph flag is already taken for the Lytle and the Kimpton is being built at Walnut and Fifth so both brands are out of the equation if that were to ever happen. 

29 minutes ago, savadams13 said:

To everyone saying the convention hotel is going to be a Hilton, it wont i have first hand knowledge, it will not be a Hilton or Hilton branded property. 

Great! I’ve also been hearing the same since the fall when I mentioned the flag had already been chosen. Once the refined renderings came out as I mentioned/hinted at even the shell of the building didnt look like a Hilton and that kinda confirmed it for me. Anyway thanks for keeping us all looped in!

Edited January 20Jan 20 by 646empire

1 hour ago, savadams13 said:

Well the autograph flag is already taken for the Lytle and the Kimpton is being built at Walnut and Fifth so both brands are out of the equation if that were to ever happen. 

 

While yes, they are both taken, there are places with 2+ Autographs, FYI.  Birmingham, Denver, Atlanta, blah blah. Hell, even Downtown Davenport (Iowa) has two!  Cincinnati can handle two Autographs.

1 hour ago, 646empire said:

Great! I’ve also been hearing the same since the fall when I mentioned the flag had already been chosen. Once the refined renderings came out as I mentioned/hinted at even the shell of the building didnt look like a Hilton and that kinda confirmed it for me. Anyway thanks for keeping us all looped in!

 

So a Loews or an Omni.  Got it.

24 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

 

So a Loews or an Omni.  Got it.

Its Omni if anything, Loews is not financially stable at the moment for another property. 

26 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

 

While yes, they are both taken, there are places with 2+ Autographs, FYI.  Birmingham, Denver, Atlanta, blah blah. Hell, even Downtown Davenport (Iowa) has two!  Cincinnati can handle two Autographs.

I can tell you right now with Western Southern owning the Lytle and planning on a JW Marriott, Marriott isnt going to piss them off and allow another autograph flag downtown. Yes you see it from time to time, but that typically owners with less pull and muscle to prove themselves...

19 hours ago, savadams13 said:

I can tell you right now with Western Southern owning the Lytle and planning on a JW Marriott, Marriott isnt going to piss them off and allow another autograph flag downtown. Yes you see it from time to time, but that typically owners with less pull and muscle to prove themselves...

 

What indication do we have that JW will go over the Taft Theatre other than W&S's relationship with Marriott? There are a lot of Marriotts downtown that aren't associated with W&S. Would love to see a higher end Marriott as the Convention Center hotel. No other brand has invested as much in and around downtown Cincinnati (correct me if I'm wrong).

One thing that occurs to me is that, the exterior and the layout reminds me of The Omni in Louisville. Just seems to make sense for that simple reason. But what do I know. 

On 1/20/2025 at 1:37 PM, savadams13 said:

Well the autograph flag is already taken for the Lytle and the Kimpton is being built at Walnut and Fifth so both brands are out of the equation if that were to ever happen. 

Well we were gonna have a Pendry at the Gwynne building. Not sure what that’s going to be now. But if Pendry is still interested in Cincy then Netherland would definitely fit the bill.

Edited January 23Jan 23 by cblhaus

28 minutes ago, cblhaus said:

Well we were gonna have a Pendry at the Gwynne building. Not sure what that’s going to be now. But if Pendry is still interested in Cincy then Netherland would definitely fit the bill.

No the Netherlands building is not at all ideal for a Pendry.  Pendry doesn’t really do old school luxury style it’s focus is polished but Modern, they would have to gut just about everything to even try to make it work within their brand but that would be too expensive and they can’t anyway because the building is a historic landmark. Seems best for it to stay Hilton but with significant renovation.

Edited January 23Jan 23 by 646empire

On 1/21/2025 at 11:28 AM, Miami-Erie said:

 

What indication do we have that JW will go over the Taft Theatre other than W&S's relationship with Marriott? There are a lot of Marriotts downtown that aren't associated with W&S. Would love to see a higher end Marriott as the Convention Center hotel. No other brand has invested as much in and around downtown Cincinnati (correct me if I'm wrong).

The indication being that W&S has the flag currently for the JW brand. Which means Marriott has been paid and they have approved W&S to have first right to the brand for x amount of years. And yes there are many Marriott brands downtown but each one is a different type/style and caters to different clientele and has different service offerings. But you rarely have multiple Autographs in an condensed area such as CBD. One could easily be seen in OTR but not two in CBD. 

12 hours ago, savadams13 said:

The indication being that W&S has the flag currently for the JW brand. Which means Marriott has been paid and they have approved W&S to have first right to the brand for x amount of years. And yes there are many Marriott brands downtown but each one is a different type/style and caters to different clientele and has different service offerings. But you rarely have multiple Autographs in an condensed area such as CBD. One could easily be seen in OTR but not two in CBD. 

I know it's just a few tidbits here or there but if there is a tower over Taft I have a couple questions:

 

1.) How big would the tower be most likely in terms of hotel rooms and tower height which is typical for a JW?

 

2.) Would that close down the Taft for awhile and would they also renovate the Taft (which IMO even 5 years ago the last time I went it felt like it needed $40 million + in reno)

6 minutes ago, IAGuy39 said:

I know it's just a few tidbits here or there but if there is a tower over Taft I have a couple questions:

 

1.) How big would the tower be most likely in terms of hotel rooms and tower height which is typical for a JW?

 

2.) Would that close down the Taft for awhile and would they also renovate the Taft (which IMO even 5 years ago the last time I went it felt like it needed $40 million + in reno)

I'll leave this here and you can decipher it as you wish too.

 

Built in 1928 as the Masonic Temple for the Scottish Rite Freemasonry, the property included the Taft Theatre, which was named for Charles Phelps Taft, who headed the building committee.

On the outside, the Cincinnati Masonic Center boasts a 21st-century neoclassical design: large limestone masonry at its base, iconic columns on the upper facade and an ornamental cap. There are very few windows − and those that punctuate the exterior are narrow and small.

It's a building that's easy to miss if you're staring at the Taft Theatre's glittering marquee just west of the temple's entrance.

But the inside is a different story. The Masonic Center is nearly as big as the Heritage Bank Center in square feet but nothing like the concrete arena. Its richly designed interior features ceilings with decorative plasterwork, wood and tile, intricate wall carvings, floors covered in bright red carpet, and even more columns.

There's room for thousands of people. Among its many spaces, the Masonic Center includes one 820-person auditorium, another 300-person auditorium, a grand ballroom for 800 people, a chapel and a handful of large rooms that Barrett wants to outfit as future restaurants. There's also a hidden 500-person amphitheater on the roof, a library and a basement ballroom.

Barrett sees the whole thing as a multi-level entertainment venue that can host concerts on one floor, dining on another, and even exercise rooms. He also wants to build a hotel on top of a new parking garage he'd develop next door. So far, it isn't clear where exactly that would be constructed and Barrett said more property would need to be acquired. (There is a surface parking lot on the corner of East Fifth Street and Broadway where a garage could go.)

"That would give you another 300 rooms," he said. "We're studying that right now to see if there's a need for it."

1 hour ago, IAGuy39 said:

I know it's just a few tidbits here or there but if there is a tower over Taft I have a couple questions:

 

1.) How big would the tower be most likely in terms of hotel rooms and tower height which is typical for a JW?

 

2.) Would that close down the Taft for awhile and would they also renovate the Taft (which IMO even 5 years ago the last time I went it felt like it needed $40 million + in reno)

 

I anticipate them tearing everything down and then doing nothing.  Like they did with Coney Island. 

 

 

3 hours ago, ucnum1 said:

I'll leave this here and you can decipher it as you wish too.

 

Built in 1928 as the Masonic Temple for the Scottish Rite Freemasonry, the property included the Taft Theatre, which was named for Charles Phelps Taft, who headed the building committee.

On the outside, the Cincinnati Masonic Center boasts a 21st-century neoclassical design: large limestone masonry at its base, iconic columns on the upper facade and an ornamental cap. There are very few windows − and those that punctuate the exterior are narrow and small.

It's a building that's easy to miss if you're staring at the Taft Theatre's glittering marquee just west of the temple's entrance.

But the inside is a different story. The Masonic Center is nearly as big as the Heritage Bank Center in square feet but nothing like the concrete arena. Its richly designed interior features ceilings with decorative plasterwork, wood and tile, intricate wall carvings, floors covered in bright red carpet, and even more columns.

There's room for thousands of people. Among its many spaces, the Masonic Center includes one 820-person auditorium, another 300-person auditorium, a grand ballroom for 800 people, a chapel and a handful of large rooms that Barrett wants to outfit as future restaurants. There's also a hidden 500-person amphitheater on the roof, a library and a basement ballroom.

Barrett sees the whole thing as a multi-level entertainment venue that can host concerts on one floor, dining on another, and even exercise rooms. He also wants to build a hotel on top of a new parking garage he'd develop next door. So far, it isn't clear where exactly that would be constructed and Barrett said more property would need to be acquired. (There is a surface parking lot on the corner of East Fifth Street and Broadway where a garage could go.)

"That would give you another 300 rooms," he said. "We're studying that right now to see if there's a need for it."

Thanks for looking that up and sending it!

On 1/23/2025 at 1:33 PM, Lazarus said:

 

I anticipate them tearing everything down and then doing nothing.  Like they did with Coney Island. 

 

 

Well I sure hope not.
 

Aren’t they still building Coney Island? I wish they could have preserved that better and connect Riverbend with it, would have been so much better. 

 

So much tear downs. I work in E Walnut Hills right off McMillan on Ashland and it does seem like they are working to preserve the buildings that are left there fortunately. They need to do a lot of work on the streetscape though throughout that whole area. 

1 hour ago, IAGuy39 said:

Well I sure hope not.

 

They bought out the Midpoint Music Festival and then promptly mismanaged it and it died.  Did the same with Bunbury - dead.  It's pretty obvious that Western-Southern, MEMI, and the other "stakeholders" really don't know what they're doing when it comes to conventions, entertainment, etc.   All they had to do to do their big imagined annual Bonnaroo/Burning Man at Riverbend is build a temporary main stage somewhere near the existing permanent stages and then allow camping.   You know who really likes swimming?  People who are camping all weekend.   Plus, Moonlite Gardens and the other Coney Island buildings & rides would be a great "village" for a big festival.  

 

 

Quote

So much tear downs. I work in E Walnut Hills right off McMillan on Ashland and it does seem like they are working to preserve the buildings that are left there fortunately. They need to do a lot of work on the streetscape though throughout that whole area. 

 

Yeah Walnut Hills is very fragmented and most of what has been built in the last 20 years looks cheap. 

 

 

 

18 hours ago, Lazarus said:

 

They bought out the Midpoint Music Festival and then promptly mismanaged it and it died.  Did the same with Bunbury - dead.  It's pretty obvious that Western-Southern, MEMI, and the other "stakeholders" really don't know what they're doing when it comes to conventions, entertainment, etc.   All they had to do to do their big imagined annual Bonnaroo/Burning Man at Riverbend is build a temporary main stage somewhere near the existing permanent stages and then allow camping.   You know who really likes swimming?  People who are camping all weekend.   Plus, Moonlite Gardens and the other Coney Island buildings & rides would be a great "village" for a big festival.  

 

 

 

Yeah Walnut Hills is very fragmented and most of what has been built in the last 20 years looks cheap. 

 

 

 

That’s a scathing indictment on the CSO I was wondering what happened to all those festivals and concerts. I don’t understand the lay out at all but I was having trouble comprehending the need to demolish all of Coney when you already have Riverbend there and all that parking (probably want more parking).

 

I’ve been in walnut hills 5 days a week since 2013 and I haven’t seen a lot of stuff get knocked down but I am pretty sure lots did get knocked down shortly before that if I remember right and google street viewing it. Gilbert Street is probably 5% of what it was and really just around McMillan. The Post development looks OK on hoof and driving by but still not sure of the new build where Kroger was. I intermittent fast so I don’t eat lunch but wanted to check out the new grocer but haven’t done so yet, have you checked it out? 
 

Good thing though IMO they are working to restore what’s left at least, but the infill needs to be much higher quality and I doubt that happens going forward with all developers like Kularni just wanted to max profit and the neighborhood be damned. I think though Model does care to a certain extent at least IMO, though it isn’t perfect. 

Edited January 25Jan 25 by IAGuy39

I don't think MEMI ever owned Bunbury. It was bought by Promo West out of Columbus who opted to kill it after covid

 

I do think MEMI mismanaged mpmf, but the event was never making city beat any money, and was essentially run by several super passionate music industry folks who spent months of their time every year organizing this for basically no profit. 

 

Eventually it had to be sold or fold. Individual volunteers couldn't keep it afloat forever. They sold it, MEMI didn't treat it right by making it into a parking lot festival in an attempt to make the event profitable. It took the soul out of the event, and it died.

18 hours ago, IAGuy39 said:

I’ve been in walnut hills 5 days a week since 2013 and I haven’t seen a lot of stuff get knocked down but I am pretty sure lots did get knocked down shortly before that if I remember right and google street viewing it. Gilbert Street is probably 5% of what it was and really just around McMillan. The Post development looks OK on hoof and driving by but still not sure of the new build where Kroger was. I intermittent fast so I don’t eat lunch but wanted to check out the new grocer but haven’t done so yet, have you checked it out?

 

No I haven't been inside any of those new businesses.   There were still a lot of row buildings on the south side of McMillan where The Post is now but they were all torn down in a controversial move that motivated John Back (who co-owned Neon's at the time) to resign from the conservation board.  It wasn't a continuous strip but it would have been a lot more expensive to renovate those buildings individually and then build things between them.  But it would have looked more like what's taking shape between Gilbert and Victory Parkway, which is a lot better than...The Post. 

 

I biked around the convention center yesterday and the total incoherence of the outdoor lawn is taking horrid shape.  It's not as if the Dunhumby building was built in anticipation of this, and the mural isn't fooling anybody.

 

 

 

On 1/23/2025 at 12:34 PM, ucnum1 said:

I'll leave this here and you can decipher it as you wish too.

 

Built in 1928 as the Masonic Temple for the Scottish Rite Freemasonry, the property included the Taft Theatre, which was named for Charles Phelps Taft, who headed the building committee.

On the outside, the Cincinnati Masonic Center boasts a 21st-century neoclassical design: large limestone masonry at its base, iconic columns on the upper facade and an ornamental cap. There are very few windows − and those that punctuate the exterior are narrow and small.

It's a building that's easy to miss if you're staring at the Taft Theatre's glittering marquee just west of the temple's entrance.

But the inside is a different story. The Masonic Center is nearly as big as the Heritage Bank Center in square feet but nothing like the concrete arena. Its richly designed interior features ceilings with decorative plasterwork, wood and tile, intricate wall carvings, floors covered in bright red carpet, and even more columns.

There's room for thousands of people. Among its many spaces, the Masonic Center includes one 820-person auditorium, another 300-person auditorium, a grand ballroom for 800 people, a chapel and a handful of large rooms that Barrett wants to outfit as future restaurants. There's also a hidden 500-person amphitheater on the roof, a library and a basement ballroom.

Barrett sees the whole thing as a multi-level entertainment venue that can host concerts on one floor, dining on another, and even exercise rooms. He also wants to build a hotel on top of a new parking garage he'd develop next door. So far, it isn't clear where exactly that would be constructed and Barrett said more property would need to be acquired. (There is a surface parking lot on the corner of East Fifth Street and Broadway where a garage could go.)

"That would give you another 300 rooms," he said. "We're studying that right now to see if there's a need for it."

 

Sounds like a perfect space for a high-end hotel complex. Would be a great boost to the street life of that side of downtown.

19 hours ago, Miami-Erie said:

 

Sounds like a perfect space for a high-end hotel complex. Would be a great boost to the street life of that side of downtown.

All the new hotel projects are exciting and if this comes to fruition would be one of the really good ones. Getting the Taft at 100% would be huge for now and the future of downtown Cincinnati and with a hotel topping it (or next to it) would make it easy for people to drive in and go to concerts and events from outside the region

Convention Center Update!

 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2025/03/11/duke-energy-center-well-on-its-way-to-reopening-in-january-2026/82281858007/

 

https://www.wlwt.com/article/renovations-construction-duke-energy-convention-center/64153176

 

Hotel Flag and more final details including groundbreaking date should be soon too.

Edited March 12Mar 12 by 646empire

11 hours ago, 646empire said:

Hotel Flag and more final details including groundbreaking date should be soon too.

 

Sure sure sure 

13 hours ago, 646empire said:

Convention Center Update!

 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2025/03/11/duke-energy-center-well-on-its-way-to-reopening-in-january-2026/82281858007/

 

https://www.wlwt.com/article/renovations-construction-duke-energy-convention-center/64153176

 

Hotel Flag and more final details including groundbreaking date should be soon too.

 

 

Doesn't the state funding for the convention hotel require them to break ground in Q1 of this year? 

Duke Energy Convention Center's $208M renovation progresses

 

The $208 million Duke Energy Convention Center renovation is on time so far, with officials giving city, county and state leaders a tour of the construction site Tuesday.

 

“This is a reinvention of the space,” said Julie Calvert, CEO of Visit Cincy, the region’s convention and visitors bureau.

 

The convention center is very much a construction site, with a temporary wood wall keeping the elements out and serving as a placeholder for the new facade that will line the Plum Street side of the building.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/03/12/duke-energy-convention-center-rehabilitation.html

 

1 hour ago, Miami-Erie said:

 

 

Doesn't the state funding for the convention hotel require them to break ground in Q1 of this year? 

Break Ground Yes and No. Ground Breaking is a mostly ceremonial term that coincides with the start of full scale heavy construction. The state funding is still fine because they have technically kicked off site/prep work.

I'm sure I'm behind the times but I just learned that Indy is getting a FORTY story hotel by their convention center. But I guess I should be happy about ours. It's cool kinda.

12 hours ago, anusthemenace said:

I'm sure I'm behind the times but I just learned that Indy is getting a FORTY story hotel by their convention center. But I guess I should be happy about ours. It's cool kinda.

Its a Hilton Signia that was signed years ago. Indy's convention business is double if not triple what Cincinnati does on a yearly basis. They can facilitate an additional 40 story property and not over saturate the marketplace. 

They get skyline-transforming. We get suburban.