June 14, 200718 yr There is no need for Cincy to build 1,000 ft skyscrapers. Like it has been said...multiple 700 ft or so skyscrapers would be very nice. Hell even a bunch of 500 footers would do the trick. DC has no megatalls, or Paris, London, Barcelona, etc...supertalls are not what make a city, it is the streetlife; and in my research the taller the buildings the less personal they become. So keep them modest, but keep them coming...I don't want to pull a Louisville where we build some massively tall building that sucks up demand for the next 20 years, but only occupies 1 or 2 blocks. At least The Banks will suck up all of our demand, but take up more like 7-8 blocks.
June 14, 200718 yr Don't get me started on the Jenga building in Louisville. Thank god that isn't going to be built in Cincy.
June 17, 200717 yr Yeah I wish they'd dust off some of the scrapped skyscraper plans from the late 1920's. They had drawings for 40-50 floor buildings along 5th St. that almost broke ground before the stock market crash that looked a lot like the LeVeque Tower in Columbus. Where would one find these old plans?
July 30, 200717 yr Hi, I am Jack , and I am extremely interested in the development of Queen City Square Phase II. I hope to have more to say in the near future.
July 30, 200717 yr Welcome to the forum Jack...hopefully there will be some good news about this project in the next 6-8 months.
July 30, 200717 yr Jack, do you have any personal connection with the project? Or simply another fan in the stands? Either way...welcome.
July 31, 200717 yr I am simply someone who used to live in Norwood years ago, and I still love the city. i now live in Tipp City, Ohio. Cincinnati surely has as much going for as Indianapolis, Columbus and Nashville! Rob Alpern said vie e-mail that they were agressively trying to pre-lease the tower, and were optimistic about construction next year. I would think that pre-leasing must be going fairly well, or they would not say the structure could be taller than originally planned...Jack
July 31, 200717 yr ^^Rob expressed similar thoughts to me a while back, I'm starting to wonder how credible those thoughts are...or if they are legit, and everything is still progressing as Rob hopes.
August 1, 200717 yr I'm very excited to hear that the tower will be taller than originally planned. If that is true to the final blue prints of the building, but either way it's neat to hear that, at least 100 to 200 feet taller than Carew would be nice to see.
August 1, 200717 yr My buddy has an interesting theory. 1990 the Scripps tower was built directly behind River Front. In 1990 the Reds also won their last World Series. Queen City Square is going to be built directly behind Great American hopefully in 2008. Any body else like that theory?
August 1, 200717 yr My buddy has an interesting theory. 1990 the Scripps tower was built directly behind River Front. In 1990 the Reds also won their last World Series. Queen City Square is going to be built directly behind Great American hopefully in 2008. Any body else like that theory? no that is gibberish
August 1, 200717 yr Western Southern/ Eagle Reality is the king of pipe dreams... You've got to dream it before you can build it. Forgive them for trying.
August 1, 200717 yr What I've heard is that Eagle is essentially a forgotten portion of the large Western/Southern company. As a result they don't always have their act together and are sometimes just sloppy in their actions.
August 1, 200717 yr My buddy has an interesting theory. 1990 the Scripps tower was built directly behind River Front. In 1990 the Reds also won their last World Series. Queen City Square is going to be built directly behind Great American hopefully in 2008. Any body else like that theory? I think 2010 will be more realistic, for both the building completion and the Reds!
August 1, 200717 yr Can anyone tell me why it has taken so long for Cincinnati to build a signature building? I can guess two reasons: (1)- the extreme conservative nature of the local business community; and (2)- the fact that unlike Indy, Columbus, Charlotte, Nashnville, Cincinnati already had a good stock of office space decades ago...Jack
August 1, 200717 yr Can anyone tell me why it has taken so long for Cincinnati to build a signature building? I can guess two reasons: (1)- the extreme conservative nature of the local business community; and (2)- the fact that unlike Indy, Columbus, Charlotte, Nashnville, Cincinnati already had a good stock of office space decades ago...Jack Who wants a signature office building when your business can relocate to a nice, new, cookie cutter five story office building in the suburbs for cheap? Free surface parking, too!
August 1, 200717 yr Can anyone tell me why it has taken so long for Cincinnati to build a signature building? Ummm, because it was built in 1931?
August 1, 200717 yr Well...Cincinnati's signature building(s) are Carew and PNC towers. They have large historical roots for the city and people have been very respectful of that. Even as far as the city creating height districts in the CBD that created a tiered effect for the skyline. Bottom line is that it's been a number of things...mainly though being that no one has felt the need for one.
August 2, 200717 yr Well...Cincinnati's signature building(s) are Carew and PNC towers. I'm having to resist the urge to correct you and say the "Central Trust Tower", but I still sometomes refer to Macy's as Shilitos (even though they never occupied the same spot). My wife thinks I'm losing it. :-(
August 2, 200717 yr I was using PNC to reference it in a way that I thought most people would relate to...not just us Cincinnati history buffs. Thx for keeping me in line though. :wave:
August 2, 200717 yr Can anyone tell me why it has taken so long for Cincinnati to build a signature building? Ummm, because it was built in 1931? Some people will never get it.
August 2, 200717 yr Well, the last "signature" office building was probably The P&G towers. Now if they aren't signature enough for you, I think that was probably the point, although their massive presence just off to the side is a pretty good metaphor for P&Gs relation to the City. You might not notice at first, but you always have to take them into account. Other "signature" buildings you may or may not like- Times-Star (800 Broadway); Crowne Plaza Hotel (6th and Vine); the Kroger Building (Court Street). I'm not quite sure what "signature" defines, certainly all corporate headquarters intend to project some sort of message, but even the Carew Tower isn't signature in the sense that some random person would recognize it like they might with the Chrysler Building or old WTC. Using that definition, the only really signature building in Cincinnati would be Union Terminal.
August 2, 200717 yr Well, the last "signature" office building was probably The P&G towers. Now if they aren't signature enough for you, I think that was probably the point, although their massive presence just off to the side is a pretty good metaphor for P&Gs relation to the City. You might not notice at first, but you always have to take them into account. You are correct about P&G, the towers were highly acclaimed in architecture circles as a fantastic example of post modern (I believe) architecture.
August 2, 200717 yr I still sometomes refer to Macy's as Shilitos (even though they never occupied the same spot). My wife thinks I'm losing it. :-( Don't feel bad. My mom will still sometimes say Shillitos as well.
August 2, 200717 yr Somebody could do a fun little paper about P&Gs effect on urban space and Cincinnati society some day. The massive park in the middle of downtown. The rules about where Proctoids ought to live in the region.
August 3, 200717 yr As you can see...many people don't feel there is the need for a 'signature skyscraper' like you speak of. Most European cities also lack this 'signature skyscraper' but they certainly do not lack signature buildings. The same can be said for Cincinnati with Union Terminal, Central Trust, Carew, P&G, CAC, Vontz, PBS, Music Hall and some others. None of these particularly jump out at you if you are a visitor, but after you get to know the city and/or see the sights...these buildings can/should be GREATLY appreciated the same way a 'signature skyscraper' would be.
August 3, 200717 yr I still sometomes refer to Macy's as Shilitos (even though they never occupied the same spot). My wife thinks I'm losing it. :-( Don't feel bad. My mom will still sometimes say Shillitos as well. Your mom? That makes me feel much better. :wink:
August 3, 200717 yr Somebody could do a fun little paper about P&Gs effect on urban space and Cincinnati society some day. The massive park in the middle of downtown. The rules about where Proctoids ought to live in the region. That's actually a very interesting idea. One I may even take you up on... edit: I am hereby claiming ownership to the undertaking of this. That is, unless you (dmerkow) or anyone you know is already in the process of doing it.
August 3, 200717 yr Don't feel bad. My mom will still sometimes say Shillitos as well. I didn't even know what the hell a Shillito was until I moved here. Crowne Plaza Hotel (6th and Vine); By signature you must mean a piece of fecal matter because I know you aren't implying that the Crowne Plaza Hotel is anything to be proud of...
August 3, 200717 yr Crowne Plaza Hotel (6th and Vine); By signature you must mean a piece of fecal matter because I know you aren't implying that the Crowne Plaza Hotel is anything to be proud of... That's funny, because I thought almost the EXACT same thing when I first read that. :laugh:
August 3, 200717 yr at the end of the day, a nice symbol of progress would be the most important thing that could come out of a new skyscraper. the suburbs and too much of the city don't believe we can accomplish anything and a new tallest would be a concrete example of what we can do, couple that with a downtown streetcar loop that would be extended to uptown and nky and we have some real momentum. the expected return on investment for the downtown streetar loop is 15.2 to 1.
August 3, 200717 yr Although a signature building would be great and a symbol of progress, a building of that size could strike a large blow to the CBD office market, unless a lot of the tenants came from outside CBD. The former Convergys building (7th and Vine) is undergoing the same crisis, as it is struggling to fill the void left by Convergys in their move a few blocks south to Atrium I. I am all for a new building, believe me, it would only add to Downtown excitement. But at the same time, I would hate to see Eagle get ahead of themselves (surprise, surprise) and build before securing tenants so as not to start a "rate war." Also, the word from awhile ago was that they built GABP in "the notch" because W&S agreed behind the scenes that they would build said building. Otherwise, it would have been in Broadway Commons, and Downtown would be sandwiched between the stadiums instead of the Blanks. Ponder on that...
August 3, 200717 yr Just out of curiosity...does anyone know the occupancy rate of Central Trust and Carew? I would hate to think we are building more office space when we aren't utilizing what we already have. Just a point of order, Carew Tower and Central Trust Tower are Class B buildings, they would not compete directly with new Class A towers. Their floorplates are generally considered too small for todays modern, large office tenant. They are usually filled with smaller tenants, or tenants with whom large, open contiguous space is not a huge concern.
August 3, 200717 yr Personally I feel that the biggest sign of progress would be the removal of surface lots. They are such an eye soar downtown. Hopefully the streetcar will really impact the need for parking downtown
August 3, 200717 yr i love how these discussions go through cycles. i think we have had these same exact discussions at least once ever year for the past 3 years.
August 3, 200717 yr Personally I feel that the biggest sign of progress would be the removal of surface lots. They are such an eye soar downtown. Hopefully the streetcar will really impact the need for parking downtown. And the good thing is that you see that happening...SCPA will take up a large lot along Central Parkway, Gateway Condos took up one as well, Parker Flats...I believe 303 Broadway did too. Oh and don't forget the sea of asphalt that will vanish when The Banks is completed and the proposal to remove the surface lots at Union Terminal. The large vacant buildings have been filled downtown, and now the infill is starting to come. I believe that's a better strategy - fill up vacant before building new - which can ultimately lead to a collapse in the market. Downtown is VERY strong right now...and that 15.2 to 1 return from the streetcar will only strengthen it more.
August 4, 200717 yr i love how these discussions go through cycles. i think we have had these same exact discussions at least once ever year for the past 3 years. Worthy of being an "Urban Ohio Favorite Quote"
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