This is sweet...well...not the news I got, but the guy that wrote me about QCS wrote me again this morning. He's *gasp*, the vice president of HOK! Western Southern is really being hush hush about this. To me, the first portion was a "dramatic" change from what the original rendering. I wonder if they flat out got something in the works for phase 2 that is going to be worthy? Well anyway, here's what he said...

 

 

August 20, 04

 

Ron,

 

This project is public knowledge, however, the owner is very low key about it and does not want any information about the project released. I will forward your name and e-mail address to our client and let them decide if they want to contact you directly or not.

 

 

Other than that I am not at liberty to provide any additional information.

 

Joe

 

X. XXX XXXXXXXXX, AIA

Vice President

^ That's cool that he contacted you. Hopefully it will lead somewhere!

I'm hoping!

That is pretty cool. When I emailed them probably a year ago, I didn't get a reply and you got TWo!!!!!!

Yea...it's amazing what sexual favors...I mean umm...sobbing stories about your grandmother will do.

 

:drunk:

I agree with WhoDey...I think a significant structure away from the dense core of high rises that Cincy has would definitely add more to the maturity of it's skyline than another right in the middle (QCS fits this pretty well since it will serve as a bookend for the highrises on 3rd).

 

Think of how the Kroger building adds expanse to the Cincinnati skyline when you view downtown from Mt Adams. Or if a highrise were built at Broadway Commons how it would have the effect of filling the "basin" with highrises despite being away from the core and having basically nothing between.

To Be or Not To Be?

 

Awesome! It looks much better than I thought it would from that view.

That realy looks nice. I say build it and build it NOW!!!!

Ronnie you have talent. Very Nice. You should send that to the developer as a tease.

I agree with WhoDey...I think a significant structure away from the dense core of high rises that Cincy has would definitely add more to the maturity of it's skyline than another right in the middle (QCS fits this pretty well since it will serve as a bookend for the highrises on 3rd).

 

Think of how the Kroger building adds expanse to the Cincinnati skyline when you view downtown from Mt Adams. Or if a highrise were built at Broadway Commons how it would have the effect of filling the "basin" with highrises despite being away from the core and having basically nothing between.

 

I disagree. Personally, I think the Kroger building is terribly out of place. It doesn't seem to fit well with it's neighboring buildings. To me, it just seems completely out of scale with the rest of the neighborhood.

 

While I'd probably prefer a 1000 footer more on the edge, rather than on Fountain Square; I think I would have to be located very close to the existing hirgh-rises, which Kroger is not. I like the location of QCS, as you pointed out it will serve nicely as a bookend for the high-rises on 3rd. It definitely will fill a gap. As Ronnie's illustration shows, it should look pretty nice.

 

Oh well, I'm dreaming about a 1000 foot building and I live in Dayton. Both reason enough to get back to reality--or not.

thanks for the compliments guys. Pretty much all I did was resize my QCS diagram and edit it into the picture. But I am working on different angles of Cincy with QCS added. I will post them as i get them done. I will make 1000's of flyers and drop them from a plane all over the city. think that will get the project done?? :drunk:

I disagree. Personally' date=' I think the Kroger building is terribly out of place. It doesn't seem to fit well with it's neighboring buildings. To me, it just seems completely out of scale with the rest of the neighborhood. [/quote']

The entire Central Parkway corridor was supposed to be lined by tall buildings, but only the American Building and the Kroger Building (1959) ever got built. That's why those buildings look so out of scale.

 

Sound familiar? The riverfront was supposed to have quite a few highrise apartments--only One Lytle Place got built. It's kind of a local trend.

^ LOL. So true. Sad, but true.

For those who are curious about the progress they are making at QCS, here are a few pics taken today. It is finally above ground level, but the progress seems a bit slow.

 

 

 

 

much appreciated!

yeah....thanks

I must comment on this thing. First of all, it is never going to happen. Why? Because they will build the smaller one first and it will sit empty for years or further create vacancies in other buildings in downtown. Then the developer will have no incentive to go ahead with the taller building. What should have happened here in my opinion: Convergys should have located to Queen City Square instead of recycled space at the Atrium buildings. QCSquare will never be built unless a large corporation decides to locate their corporate headquarters there. It also will never be built unless vacancy rates downtown drop significantly. I will say, however, I think new development forces other building owners to upgrade their buildings. Competition is a good thing. Again, my prediction: No tall Queen City Square building this decade. And furthermore, it is the ugliest most dated looking building of late. It has no context with that end of town and looks ridiculously out of place. In fact, I would argue that it harms the skyline.

^Although much of what you say is true, keep in mind that high vacancy rates don't always equal 'no new towers' or at least it's not the ONLY indicator. In 1989-1991, Cleveland's CBD had a vacancy rate around 20% (pretty bad) - nevertheless, Key Tower was built and the vacancy rate actually improved afterwards.

 

As far as the design, when you say "ugliest and dated"... can you offer some specifics? I personally don't care for the crown but I can live with the rest of it.

^ What he said.

^^^^^^^^^^^

I disagree with that entire post. Phase 2 will be built. I confirmed this myself when phase 1 was starting construction earlier this year. The plan is in place, they want the old garage down and they want the tower up. Low vacancy rates DO NOT decide if a building will be built or not. Both Dayton's One Dayton Centre and 5/3 Center were built with low vancancy rates. Enquirer in Cincy was, and even Convergys.

 

Although the new design is totally hush-hush, I do know the tower is going to be just as different from the original design as the first phase is different. If you don't know how different, compare the two renderings side by side and you'll see.

 

As for being ugly and out of place? I think not. While downtown Cincy looks good, one thing has always bothered me with the look. There is no seperation. QCS will add that. It will make Cincy appear that much bigger which it really needs in this day and age that every other tower being built seems to be at least 600+.

 

The crown I think is a nice touch and everyone seems to be missing the whole point of the crown. This is the Queen City...the building is named Queen City...the crown is supposed to represent a Queen's crown. that is the whole point of it. The crown is my favorite touch to the whole building and is IMHO better than your everyday pyramid crown being stuck on every building being built these days.

 

I guess what everyone is really saying is that they want another 20 story "box" built in the middle of all the other "boxes" in Cincy? Is that what I'm hearing??

 

I'm sorry for the harshness of this reply, but I am getting ever so frustrated with the negativity of something that Cincinnati needs so deeply. Carew is old, downtown Cincy is struggling, and we haven't had a high-rise built in more than a decade (I don't count phase 1 as a high-rise). It is time for this too happen. It needs to happen. It will happen. I'll bet 50 bucks on it. Any takers?

very well done ronnie

While writing that last post, I came to a stunning realization that the designers were watching Forbidden Planet while designing QCS...

 

 

Robby the Robot

 

Queen City Square

 

Robby the Robot? Queen City Square? Is there a correlation?

Ronnie, I'm well aware of the crown/Queen City reference - it's that there is little cohesion between the crown and the rest of the tower. It just seems like a hoop skirt turned sideways and "plunked" on top of a stretched out version of Sacramento's US Bank Plaza http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1514 The crown *could* work (imho) if they made a better attempt at integrating into the rest of the tower.

I just found a new tidbit on QCS I have never seen before. Nothing big, just a pic that includes what looks like a site-map...

 

 

 

I wish I could get a more detailed closeup of this. It may lend to some insight of this project.

Ronnie,

 

I appreciate your reply. While I would love to see something built there, I am not sure this is the right design, mass, or time for the project. What it could do is get 5/3 off its ass to exercise its air rights over Fountain Place and build the 25 story building it has proposed. If that happens the market will be way over built and buildings will be empty thus creating another decade long drought of building. I would rather see several medium sized infill projects than one huge buliding creating too much space. There is a lot of need for infill downtown. By the way, I love the reference to Robbie the Robot.

 

By the way, the Enquirer Building was supposed to be two phases. Only one got built because of a lack of market demand. I fear the same for the current two phase project.

By the way' date=' the Enquirer Building was supposed to be two phases. Only one got built because of a lack of market demand. I fear the same for the current two phase project.[/quote']

Dammit! You beat me to it. I was going to bring that up too.

 

I also love the Robbie the Robot reference. That's just great.

I've heard P&G might be in the works of a masterpiece HQ.

^ Wha? Unusual stop the lies

 

Let's not forget Provident was suppose to get a new tower too.

^ Weird. I didn't know about that.

haha none of ohio's skylines are ready for a key tower including the one with the key tower. why do you think approaching cleveland just looks like approaching the key tower, lol columbus could use it to fill in that gap in the middle of their skyline just put it on the capital building. who needs politicians anyway.

columbus could use it to fill in that gap in the middle of their skyline just put it on the capital building. who needs politicians anyway.

 

thats the best thing i've read all week. although i suppose we do actually need them, they could just build the capital square tower they planned years ago (build that on the parking lot right next to the old capitol.)

 

although the gap you speak of isn't always visible, and new highrises on the capitol would block leveque from the southeast(my favorite angle)

 

 

about key tower being out of place in cleveland, i think it fits in, and it could plan for the future. just like in 1930 how cleveland and columbus were with their only supertalls of the time.

let's face it all of ohios skylines are akward. ours in cincy is like clustered into three blocks. clevland has like two buildings that make the rest look tiny. columbus is like in a semicircle shape. toledo is spread out and daytrons just don't match. maybe if we push them all together we can form one giant super mega ohio town!!!! :clap:

I like Cincy's and while Cleveland's is lacking, the substance at street level makes up for it.

"why do you think approaching cleveland just looks like approaching the key tower"

 

Yeeeeah, I only see Key Tower in these pics - I don't see any others at all... riiiight:

 

 

 

 

:crazy:

hehe I'm only playing no need for viscious smileys. I love all of ohios cities :D

^ Except Norwood, right? :D

oh I love norwood too. I just love them so much i want them to join the nati :D

Got a little bored and made a 3:1 diagram of 303 Broadway (QCS Phase 1).

 

 

Kinda gives a new perspective to the rendering that we see so much of.

Keep it up Ronnie.

^

lots o' talent

Interesting Ronnie. I need those blowups these days. Those little tiny renderings they put in the Enquirer etc. are too small to see well. I'd like to see one of the new Gateway Condos & Kroger parking garage at Vine and Central Parkway. The current Downtowner newspaper has what seems to be a new rendering with more details, but again it is tiny. Unfortunately they don't have an online edition as far as I know.

303 Broadway SUCKS! BORRRRRINg

hmm yea i thought they stopped building boxes back in the 80s...

 

Plus it looks wider than it is tall, i pray that phase two comes about or Cincy is left with a boring glass box and a "shoulda coulda woulda" story...

 

As far as Cleveland heh well its missing the Progressive Life Tower and Ameritrust Center oh and all that shit the Ratners were going to build... but the skyline is still better than most cities in the US. The only thing id say is that it needs more supertalls around the square and perhaps some taller buildings on lower euclid and the WD.

^

Hey, look guys...it's just part of a much BIGGER project. 303 Broadway was not meant or designed to be a spectacular showpiece building. It's only 15 stories, and it's main use is a parking garage with a few offices on top. It's not going to hurt the skyline, it's not even tall enough to be seen from anywhere, you will barely even notice it there after it's built except for a few feet of driving on Ft. Washington Way.

 

I think as soon as the whole thing comes together, it's going to look great IMHO. plus, I can think of a lot worse looking buildings downtown, and it sure beats the hell out of what was there before...which was an empty beat up parking lot.

By the way...the building is not wider than it is tall. The diagram I made (and the released rendering) shows two sides of the building which makes it appear wider than it really is. Here's one that will show what it should look like from just one side...

 

yea its understandable, but im just saying if the actual tower doesnt get built (look at the economy, and specifically ohio's) then it will be a dissappointment.

^

If Bush gets re-elected, then yes it probably won't be built...vote Kerry! :rock:

Worry about getting the horse-toothed jackass out as the Gov first and foremost. Then work from there.

Here is the scoop:

 

303 Broadway St - Queen City Square

Cincinnati, OH 45202 - Cincinnati CBD Submarket

Future Availability of 135,000 SF

200,000 SF Under Construction Class A Office Building Delivering 11/2005

 

 

Total Avail: 135,000 SF

Typical Floor Size: 25,000 SF

RBA: 200,000 SF

Max Contig: 135,000 SF

Max Contig Floor: 135,000

SF Stories: 8

Smallest Space: 25,000 SF

Max 1 Floor: 135,000 SF

Delivering In: 11/2005

Rent/SF/yr: Negotiable

Total Spaces Avail: 1 % Leased: 32.5%

 

Parking: 650 Covered spaces are Available; Ratio of 3.25/1000 SF

 

For Sale Info: Not for sale