^I thought St. Paul's was an Episcopalian Church south of where St. Peter's in Chains is.  But you could be right.  When I gave tours for Architreks lo so many years ago one of the blurbs about St. Xavier's was that it was the only surviving Catholic Church in the vicinity of the Bottoms (essentially where I-71 is now), which had a large Irish population for sometime.  Mike Mullen was the famous ward boss there, bringing his ward to the Democrats and the Republicans as he saw fit.

have thought the same thing when I look at the P&G complex...  I imagine...

 

I hope they leave it alone.

 

I'm going to have a incredible unobstructed view from the north of QCS2 from my balcony where the QCS1 tops out. It's going to sit pretty between the Times Star building and Atrium.   Note to self... Better stock the fridge full of beer.  :-D 

I think the catholic church was Church Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus, aka Church Of The Sacred Heart, or simply the Italian Church.  Also lost was the venerable Fenwick Club,and the old Allen Temple which formerly was the jewish synagogue K.K.Bene Israel constructed in 1852.

 

That sounds most right. I guess one of us could look it up or something.

Huh,  I have never given that any thought that they could use that park to put a mega tower in some decade.  (Later down the road)

 

Good Catch!

That sounds most right. I guess one of us could look it up or something.

 

I don't know, that sounds a bit reckless.  Why don't we all just keep spouting off what ever comes to mind?  I think that strikes a better work/life balance.

 

Huh,  I have never given that any thought that they could use that park to put a mega tower in some decade.  (Later down the road)

 

I think it's more about welcoming (but not really) the masses to the Imperial Gardens of P&G.  There's something about the whole P&G complex that comes as Vatican or Forbidden City (you might notice that P&G's official address isn't 5th or 6th streets, but 1 P&G Plaza.  This is the circular drive between the formal gardens and the buildings to the north).  Do they still put those little chains up at night?

Do they still put those little chains up at night?

 

I think so, I've seen them before...

They put the chains up at 5m and on the weekends.

Never stopped Ms. 5chw4r7z and I from making ourselves at home.

We usually sit farther out, out of donut range of the renta cops.

LOL, maybe they don't even care.

Queen City Square: friend or foe to real estate scene?

BY LAURA BAVERMAN | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

January 11, 2008

 

DOWNTOWN - Cincinnati's newest skyscraper will either devalue downtown real estate or become a key tool in attracting out-of-town businesses to relocate.

 

Planned to open in 2011, Queen City Square has real estate professionals buzzing about its impact.

 

Designed by the St. Louis office of one of the world's largest architecture firms, Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, and managed by Turner Construction, Queen City Square will stand 40 stories, 660 feet tall and house 825,000 square feet at Third and Sycamore streets.

 

American Financial Group plans to move more than 2,000 employees into 530,000 square feet. It now operates out of six downtown buildings. Developer Eagle Realty Group, part of Western & Southern Financial Group, will break ground this summer.

 

It's good news for the city, said Economic Development Director Holly Childs. Cincinnati hasn't seen new skyscraper construction since the early 1990s. The only new building to go up recently was the shorter, 17-story 303 Broadway.

 

This is juicy...

 

With work, project can be win for all

EDITORIAL | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

January 11, 2008

 

DOWNTOWN - That giant sucking sound you're hearing in downtown's central business district is not the Banks project, as many in this market - and in particular, local power broker John Barrett - had feared.

 

In fact, it's Queen City Square, which Western & Southern Financial Group CEO Barrett is moving forward on with a vengeance now that he's persuaded the Lindner family to move many of its local operations' headquarters to the site in 2011.

 

That's not necessarily a criticism. Moreover, it's a challenge that Barrett and others need to work beyond self-interest in improving the state of downtown's standing as the premier headquarters and business-center location in the Tri-State.

 

WOW!  Tell it like it is.

So it seems that QCSII could be the preliminary stages of what could be another downtown "building boom".  That would be awesome!  On the other side, if they fail to attract new tenants downtown it could be a slow few years for a while.  We'll just have wait and see.

It will be interesting to see how this region reacts to the upcoming year.  (Nationally - The negative economic outlook!)

I took this shot from Mt. Adams, if anyone wants to photoshop in QCSII, please have at it!

 

 

This all seems like good news to me.  Obviously, I'm not familiar with all of the office space downtown, but I've worked in some crummy offices in my time.  As Great American vacates office space, this could be an opportunity for local businesses working in offices that are too small or in poor condition to upgrade to something more appropriate for their needs.  It could also attract out-of-towners to relocate or open new branches here.  It's also possible that some of this vacated space could be redeveloped for other uses like apartments, condos, or something more creative, allowing more workers to live downtown or providing additional amenities for those that already do.

 

There's a ton of money being thrown at downtown right now.  That's the best sign that there isn't anything for the CBD to worry about.  Downtown sat stagnant for years while the decision-makers chose not to invest in it for several reasons.  Now that the rush is on to build things like QCSII, The Banks, The Streetcar, and the ridiculous amount of condos, etc that we're seeing, it should be clear that Cincinnati has turned a major corner.  Basically, rich people and successful businesses didn't get that way by blowing money on investments they didn't expect to get a return on.  Whatever happens after QCSII is open, the free market will sort out, and the city should be fine.

It's also possible that some of this vacated space could be redeveloped for other uses like apartments, condos, or something more creative, allowing more workers to live downtown or providing additional amenities for those that already do.

 

This is a reality that is starting to take place.  MED has recently purchased the old Enquirer Building on Vine Street.  It currently is bottom of the line office space and has bad occupancy rates...they are planning on keeping some minimal office space there, but the rest is going to be turned into apartments.

 

The Downtown apartment market is HOT, HOT, HOT...rents are going up and there are very few vacancies to speak of (knowledge from my current Downtown apartment search).  It is also rumored that the troubled Barlett Building may also be converted from the Class B office space that is there now to apartments as well.

 

These older buildings are perfect for those types of conversions...they are no longer suited for office uses, but still make for intimate/interesting residential spaces.  By building QCSII there is now going to be extra incentive for those troubled buildings to do something else...either lower the prices and let new people into the market, or convert the buildings into another use.  I tend to find this as a positive chain of events.

 

Now consider what will happen to the office parks and what not when they are no longer desirable.  Are they going to be easily reused for something else?  What will happen with them, especially when people seem so hesitant to tear that kind of stuff down.

I took this shot from Mt. Adams, if anyone wants to photoshop in QCSII, please have at it!

 

Ask and ye shall receive!

 

^---Obviously, that offers the first real perspective we have of what QCSII compared to 303 Broadway will be and the differences between them become fairly noticeable. I can't wait till they come out with an updated model of this so everything matches!

sweet

I would still really like this design if they had to lose the tiara on top.  The symmetry and lines of this building are terrific.

The first thing I thought of when Great American was vacating their old buildings was that some of these older buildings would be great apartments. Just like rando mentioned with the old Enquirer building. The apartment market is really thin since, I've been looking for after graduation. It seems that there is an incredible surplus of condos in the planning stage or waiting to be sold, but the YPs that the city is trying to attract can't afford condos right after graduation. They need apartments.

Obviously it would be best if new companies moved into the market and took up these vacancies, but it would be good to see some apartments built.

^Yup I don't think many people would complain about a new influx of young people moving into the center city.

So im guessing the Tiara will be over 100 feet alone? It should look much higher on any rendered pictue.

^---Well, even though Carew would still have a higher top floor, my guess is not by very much at all...maybe 8-10 feet. If QCSII is 86 feet taller than Carew, I could not imagine the tiara being more than 90 feet. Maybe 90-95? Even so, how you see the renderings is pretty much dead on to how the tiara will be in comparison to the rest of the structure.

Thanks for photoshopping that Ronnie, I just sent it to the guy whose deck I took the photo from.

I would love to see a night time shot of QCS from this angle. Is it doable?? Ronnie, I'll buy you an OTR if you can do it!  :-D

 

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/Hakaida/?action=view&current=IMG_2765.jpg

Oh that's cool looking.

I would love to see a night time shot of QCS from this angle. Is it doable?? Ronnie, I'll buy you an OTR if you can do it!  :-D

 

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/Hakaida/?action=view&current=IMG_2765.jpg

 

I'll see what I can do, night shots are hard to do with the original renderings. Now...ummm...what's an OTR??

I would love to see a night time shot of QCS from this angle. Is it doable?? Ronnie, I'll buy you an OTR if you can do it!  :-D

 

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/Hakaida/?action=view&current=IMG_2765.jpg

 

I'll see what I can do, night shots are hard to do with the original renderings. Now...ummm...what's an OTR??

 

Christian Moerlein OTR Ale:

http://www.christianmoerlein.com/site.php

 

Go to the site and click on the tab that says 'Our Beers'...it is the first one there.

Oh well heck yea! I'm all about trying different beers! Now I have some incentive! :-D

Here is a photo of the P&G site from around 1979-1980:

 

At the time I lived in the since-demolished building on Baum St. furthest to the left, meaning I might actually be in this photo. 

 

 

The first thing I thought of when Great American was vacating their old buildings was that some of these older buildings would be great apartments. Just like rando mentioned with the old Enquirer building. The apartment market is really thin since, I've been looking for after graduation. It seems that there is an incredible surplus of condos in the planning stage or waiting to be sold, but the YPs that the city is trying to attract can't afford condos right after graduation. They need apartments.

Obviously it would be best if new companies moved into the market and took up these vacancies, but it would be good to see some apartments built.

 

Some of the buildings AFG is moving from when they move to QCS are modern office buildings that are very well maintained. I wouldn't want to see them converted from office to residential, although that could be cool! The 580 bldg has over 600,00 sq. ft. & the 525 Vine bldg over 400,000 sq. ft. That would be alot of residential...

you don't want to convert class A to residential, but the city has millions of square feet of class B and C that you can convert.

^Exactly.

^Filtering.

Here is a photo of the P&G site from around 1979-1980:

 

At the time I lived in the since-demolished building on Baum St. furthest to the left, meaning I might actually be in this photo. 

 

 

 

I always read about how great the city was back in the 70's & 80's but when I see photos, I am unimpressed.  There might have been more foot traffic but from an architecture/cleanliness standpoint, the city is much better off in 2008. 

i actually think the buliding would be significantly improved without the crown. i dont even care if that means its not going to be taller than the carew.  its a padded height anyway.

i actually think the buliding would be significantly improved without the crown. i dont even care if that means its not going to be taller than the carew.  its a padded height anyway.

 

True that the height is padded, but in a day and age that most new tallest buildings (outside of Burj Dubai) are only taller because of crappy spires, I'd prefer the tiara any day. At least it took a little design work versus Indy's tallest. No offense Indy, but spires are cheesy.

i actually think the buliding would be significantly improved without the crown. i dont even care if that means its not going to be taller than the carew.  its a padded height anyway.

 

Personally, I like the tiara.  At least it's distinctive.  I'd still like the building without it, but I think that it adds recognizability and character that would be lacking otherwise.

^---I myself like it. But then again, one of my favorite buildings is Bank of America Plaza in Atlanta. If a mesh can work for Atlanta's tallest, it can work for Cincinnati.

 

 

^ughhh....that's ugly.  I would like to see QSCII have a top like the PNC tower.

Nice Ronnie,  That looks sweet. I am not a real big fan of Tiaras and spires but that looks fantastic.  Heres my favorite building in the world.  Tallest building in Japan, earthquake proof, 2nd fastest elevator in the world 1 floor per second and I had a fantastic view of this from my apartment window.  Wish we had this puppy in the Nati!!  QCS 2 is a beautiful building I can hardly wait!

 

Thats the Tallest in Japan?

Whats it's name?

I didn't like the tiara at first but once I started seeing the photoshoped pictures of it downtown I really like it now.

 

LandMark Tower is in the  Minato Mirai 21 area of Yokohoma-shi. There is a 360 degree Observation deck at the top.

I do like LandMark in Yokohoma. dmbfanatpsu, Your really think Bank of America is ugly? The building looks much better in person I suppose. The building is modern art deco style and the pyramid at top is actually 23 karat gold leaf plated. It was completed in just 14 months. Pretty freakin fast for a 1,000 footer!

 

Built in 1992, I'm pretty sure this building provided a lot of inspiration for QCSII. Here's a better pic...

 

 

 

Ronnie, that building is really cool, but it looks like it's still under construction.  The art deco feel of the structure is great, it's just that "the mesh" makes it look unfinished.  If that had been built as additional floors instead, I'd be a bigger fan of the design.  And the spire wouldn't look so out of place, if that were the case.

 

 

Maximillian, I freaking love that tower in Japan! 

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of BOA's mesh either, but I do like QCS's tiara.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of BOA's mesh either, but I do like QCS's tiara.

 

I see where you guys are coming from. I myself like it simply because that's what most people would expect...an enclosed pyramid at top...similar to Key in Cleveland. But that's why I love it, because it's different. It does look really cool at night when it is lit up.

 

Remember, QCS's tiara is also a mesh. So I hope that this isn't going to be the perception that it looks like it's not finished.

It's the design, not the mesh. The cuts in QCS's is what makes it unique. When I see the the lines on QCS it reminds me of a modern-day art deco style tower ... I think the tiara is also designed the same way, that's why I think QCS and it's tiara look good with each other.

 

http://i.pbase.com/o4/73/280873/1/90881788.51LWVqCV.QCSBW.png

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/50/140128626_6845367074.jpg

 

Obviously, I'm not comparing the Chrysler with QCS, that would be sacreligeous, but there are similarities of the design and the "cuts".

 

I don't like the style of the mesh on BOA with the rest of the building. Idk ... it looks too busy, while the rest of the building seems simple???

^---The pbase link is coming up forbidden.