O.K. that's good enough, now let's blow the garage up and get started on Phase 2! :-D :clap:

On my office computer I have a rendering of phase II as wallpaper.  People always ask what building it is, I answer, and they follow with - "Yeah right.  That'll take another 20 years." 

^ Judging by the recent developments in Fountain Square and the Banks, I can't say I blame them for their skepticism.  In fact, I'm kind of sliding into that way of thought myself.

LOL!!!!!!!

Okay, fine.  I am proposing a 223-story skyscraper in my backyard.  I'll start a thread on it.  Just you wait!

So, is this thing a go, or what. I emailed them, let's see what happens.

May-Day that is great!  LOL

 

Someone seriously needs to send May-Day's photoshop job to them to taunt them into building it ;)

 

I wonder when they are going to tear down the old garage

Next Week. :drunk:

^Really? Where did you hear that?

Went for a walk downtown and saw demolition crew taking off brick veneer from the western southern parking garage. Could this be the first phase in the destruction of the garage for the Queen city tower 2nd phase??? :-o  I hope so!!

interesting.  was it "surgical" removal or were they taking a lot of it off?

They are doing the side closest to the new tower it looks surgical but they are getting alot done! The cinder block is now visible. It looks like they have a long way to go but it's a start! :clap:

I talked to David Ottenjohn a few weeks ago over the phone.

 

The main reason was to find out what's going on with phase II. He was hesitant at first, but opened up once he realized I wasn't calling on behalf of a news source. Basically he told me they are waiting on one thing and that is a potential first sign on a lease for phase II. Once, they had that then we would see ground breaking starting. As far as the hold up waiting for the garages to be completed first and then demolition on the old Western & Southern garage is not necessarily true. They plan on keeping it up even when the new garages are finished. The biggest thing was striking a deal on a first lease. I then asked about maybe an ideal time frame on when we see this thing up, there is no straight answer, but maybe in 4 years. I wish I could of recorded our conversation, because it was at least over ten minutes long. He was excited to hear someone interested in the project that didn't work for a news source. He was a really nice guy and maybe if you feel the need to ask him any questions, he would probably be more than happy to answer them.

Thanks for the insider info, Cincy-Rise, good stuff.

 

It looks like the lights are on(taken Wed 10/6):

 

 

 

not impressed.

^lol geez.....what were you expecting

As far as the hold up waiting for the garages to be completed first and then demolition on the old Western & Southern garage is not necessarily true. They plan on keeping it up even when the new garages are finished.

 

 

Cincy-Rise, can you clarify the above statement?  What is going to be kept up when the new garages are finished?  And what new garages are you referring to, the one that is part of Phase I or Phase II?

As far as the hold up waiting for the garages to be completed first and then demolition on the old Western & Southern garage is not necessarily true. They plan on keeping it up even when the new garages are finished.

 

 

Cincy-Rise, can you clarify the above statement?  What is going to be kept up when the new garages are finished?  And what new garages are you referring to, the one that is part of Phase I or Phase II?

 

The original Western and Southern garage and the garages in Phase I.

So basically you are saying that the brick removal is cosmetic and the older parking structure is staying put.  When we see it start coming down, that will signal the start of construction for Phase II  correct?

So basically you are saying that the brick removal is cosmetic and the older parking structure is staying put.  When we see it start coming down, that will signal the start of construction for Phase II  correct?

 

I asked David Ottenjohn if the demolition of the old garage was going to start after phase I was completed. He said no, that was not what is holding up phase II from ground breaking. He basically made it sound like the only thing keeping phase II from ground breaking was a first lease. The tone of his voice made it appear this is the one and only factor in a delay. As far as them removing bricks, I have no idea. I wasn't aware of the bricks being removed (or, I would of asked about this ;) ). They could be removing bricks for more room on the west side of phase I. Think about it... they have hardly any room to work with on the west side of the building.

 

Or, this could be the beginning of phase II, I have no idea. I am only repeating what I was told. Cincinnati_Kid, why don't you give him a call. He is a very friendly person that is happy citizens are interested in this project. First, I would have a list of specific questions and I'd be ready to write answers quickly.

Are they just removing bricks on the north side where the brickwork jogs around where buildings used to be. I think there are some segments that start several stories up with just block on down.

The workers were removing the brick veneer from the east side, closest to the queen city tower

^Sounds like preparation for demolishion to me.

doesnt make sense to me...if they are going to tear the whole thing down why would they waste time tearing brick off?

^maybe because they are afraid it will damage the building when they demolish the garage. Brick seems hard to control in demolishion based on the ones I've seen. Concrete stays in larger chunks and is more controllable.

yeah that makes sense, but i dont think demolition will happen any time soon.  maybe there doing some of it now just because they have some guys out there that need something to do haha

Not that crazy of an idea.

Vacancy rates are going up for Class A and B space.  The Grandaddy is not going to be built any time soon.  My prediction all along on this.  I have been in Cincy long enough to know that.

i noticed on my way home from work today that they had painted the exposed cinder block to match the remaining brick

Perfect time for the new mayor to step in and in light of what may happen to Chiquita announce that the city's intention for the next four years will be to cultivate a strong small business environment, self-sustaining, that will in the end benefit the community, the city, and the region.

I came across an old QCS leasing brochure, here are some renderings.

 

 

 

Those look out-dated.

Where those pic come from?

 

^Read the top of the post.

 

 

(an old QCS leasing brochure)

Thanks Ink...

Wow... I really like the design of the last rendering (with purple around it). It is more appealing to me more-so than the space-age rendering that's been floating around.

^I personally like the space age design. I don't want another Scripps Center.

I'd take another scripps any day, but certainly not if we don't have to.

^thats what I mean, 9997!

As for those of you who doubt the construction of the second 'grandad tower'.  Skyscaperspage.com is still listing it as on target, as well as, those who are in charge of the project Western and Southern Financial Group.  You must have faith in private enterprises to get the job done.

Faith in private enterprise?, thats like asking us to trust public entities!

 

 

Okay, so I guess I can still count on the 5/3 tower over the Lazarus downtown, and the Millenium Monument.  Two things that came and went with an astonishing silence.

 

That being said, I think it will go up.

The listing on Skyscraperpage probably doesn't mean much; I think the information there is just from people like us, not from any official source.

 

(Just pointing that out... I'm not one of the pessimists, for the record.)

Okay, so I guess I can still count on the 5/3 tower over the Lazarus downtown, and the Millenium Monument.  Two things that came and went with an astonishing silence.

 

And didn't they just break ground for the second tower at 312 Elm the other day....

 

:D

 

Actually, I'm confident it will get built, too.

 

^Confident in Cincinnati? That's a change..lol j/k

Man, who ordered the giant plate of pessimism on this thread?

Cincinnati Natives = Pessimism

 

:wink:

Cincinnati Kid, nice find.  The second rendering is interesting.