58 minutes ago, Miami-Erie said:

I wonder if this branding will manifest itself in physical form somehow (ie with gateway signage, banners, marketing materials in hotels and restaurants, swag, events, etc).

I noticed on my commute home the window coverings at the Garfield Suites have been replaced with the branding.

9 hours ago, Miami-Erie said:

I wonder if this branding will manifest itself in physical form somehow (ie with gateway signage, banners, marketing materials in hotels and restaurants, swag, events, etc).

I agree, this is a key point. If the branding takes off, it could lead to unique and better streetscaping, which could then lead to more support for one-way conversions, traffic calming, road diets, etc.

7 hours ago, Dev said:

I agree, this is a key point. If the branding takes off, it could lead to unique and better streetscaping, which could then lead to more support for one-way conversions, traffic calming, road diets, etc.

Totally. A district's branding needs to extend to the streetscape. You should know as soon as you enter the district, not just because of flags and banners, but because of a hyper-pedestrianized pace created with safe street infrastructure, outdoor dining parklets, etc. I think they should push it harder than window clings on leasable buildings, for sure!

Dare we imagine a Fountain District that's pedestrian only? Aside for access for deliveries, buses, and I guess cars to park in parking garages.

21 hours ago, Miami-Erie said:

Dare we imagine a Fountain District that's pedestrian only? Aside for access for deliveries, buses, and I guess cars to park in parking garages.

 

I'd love to see 5th Street in front of Fountain Square made a pedestrian area and closed except to emergency vehicles.  This would allow access to parking on Vine and Walnut and the streetcar on Walnut.  

IMO The most important thing that could happen to improve the “Fountain District” is completing the Terrace Plaza project. 

6 hours ago, thesenator said:

 

I'd love to see 5th Street in front of Fountain Square made a pedestrian area and closed except to emergency vehicles.  This would allow access to parking on Vine and Walnut and the streetcar on Walnut.  

as much as I love a more pedestrian friendly Fountain Square, you're talking about shutting down one of the few connections from 75 to 71, 471, and Columbia Parkway. I just think this would make things worse for every street around the area. Until we get more of the downtown apartments online and residents in the area, closing 5th just seems like a bad idea to me.

14 hours ago, thesenator said:

 

I'd love to see 5th Street in front of Fountain Square made a pedestrian area and closed except to emergency vehicles.  This would allow access to parking on Vine and Walnut and the streetcar on Walnut.  

 

The esplanade should be rebuilt with the fountain returned to its former prominent position.   The remaining square can be given over to programming. 

 

If I recall correctly from the 2006 square rebuild, this was not possible given their allotted budget because the circa-1968 underground garage extends beneath the active part of 5th St. with no provision for the fountain to be returned to its proper spot.

 

 

8 hours ago, Lazarus said:

 

The esplanade should be rebuilt with the fountain returned to its former prominent position.   The remaining square can be given over to programming. 

 

If I recall correctly from the 2006 square rebuild, this was not possible given their allotted budget because the circa-1968 underground garage extends beneath the active part of 5th St. with no provision for the fountain to be returned to its proper spot.

 

 

Sorry, but with the way people drive today, that fountain would have been taken out multiple times by now.

20 hours ago, Lazarus said:

The esplanade should be rebuilt with the fountain returned to its former prominent position. 

If I recall correctly it was moved for the exact opposite reason. The former position was Less* prominent. They centered it so that it was THE center of attention. Its former positioning was only “prominent” to 5th street car traffic not those actually on fountain square.

Edited July 15, 2024Jul 15 by 646empire

On 7/14/2024 at 10:38 AM, 646empire said:

If I recall correctly it was moved for the exact opposite reason. The former position was Less* prominent. They centered it so that it was THE center of attention. Its former positioning was only “prominent” to 5th street car traffic not those actually on fountain square.

 

That's not correct.  The fountain was more prominent both on the original esplanade and on the 1970 Fountain Square. 

 

The 2006 rebuild moved the fountain from the SW corner of the square, in line with Fifth St., to the center of the rebuilt square.  This unexpectedly hid the fountain behind panoply of tents and other random objects.  My dad remarks that the assemblage looks like a refugee camp.  The fountain somehow became an afterthought.  Now the new Fifth Third sign shines brighter than the lights on the fountain. 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Lazarus said:

 

That's not correct.  The fountain was more prominent both on the original esplanade and on the 1970 Fountain Square. 

 

The 2006 rebuild moved the fountain from the SW corner of the square, in line with Fifth St., to the center of the rebuilt square.  This unexpectedly hid the fountain behind panoply of tents and other random objects.  My dad remarks that the assemblage looks like a refugee camp.  The fountain somehow became an afterthought.  Now the new Fifth Third sign shines brighter than the lights on the fountain. 

 

 

 

 

 

Your wrong, It was not more prominent, that was the point of them spending millions CENTERING it. It actually would have been cheaper to leave it where it was. If you don’t know when you want to make something stick out more a common thing to do is to put it in the middle not off into a corner LOL. Fountain square was redesigned around 1970 to improve traffic flow*  not making the fountain or the plaza more prominent, 2006 fixed that.
 

Also the fountain is hidden behind tents and other random objects(festival and event setups?) It looks like a refugee camp? Pure none sense. Pointless to even respond. Meanwhile the square is absolutely bustling and pretty much 100% leased.

 

https://myfountainsquare.com/history/

 

Edited July 15, 2024Jul 15 by 646empire

This was the quickest of studies, and probably doesn't account for a ton of issues, but a super block could be created between Central, Broadway, 4th, and 6th with limited vehicular traffic coming from 4th and 6th to a pedestrianized 5th Street without closing off access to parking garages. With 4th Street losing its access to I-75, I think it might be a good idea to pedestrianize 4th between Central and Home Alley. Transit access and emergency access would of course be preserved.

 

The fountain is and should be the focus of the square.  It's not meant to be viewed in passing from a car and shouldn't be located for these people.  It can still be seen from people on the sidewalk from across the street the the square is much more open and inviting now.  Before the fountain and then the old stage blocked the southwest corner of the square which in effect boxed it in.  The square is now open and inviting, and the fountain is the center of the square.  That's the way it should be.  

On 7/15/2024 at 1:33 PM, Chas Wiederhold said:

This was the quickest of studies, and probably doesn't account for a ton of issues, but a super block could be created between Central, Broadway, 4th, and 6th with limited vehicular traffic coming from 4th and 6th to a pedestrianized 5th Street without closing off access to parking garages. With 4th Street losing its access to I-75, I think it might be a good idea to pedestrianize 4th between Central and Home Alley. Transit access and emergency access would of course be preserved.

 

 

One can dream! The major hurdle I see is access to all the parking garages in this area. If access to those can be preserved somehow, it becomes a much more feasible idea. Does anyone have a map of all the garages/parking areas in this study area?

3 minutes ago, Miami-Erie said:

Does anyone have a map of all the garages/parking areas in this study area?

Almost all of the parking is accessible from the N/S streets. IIRC that was an intentional choice in the past to improve circulation, aka not congest the E/W streets that feed into the highway ramps. The lot where the convention center hotel will go might be the only parking directly accessible from 5th.

 

The Westin porte cochere and the 5th Street entry to the 84.51 Garage are really the only two egregious car oriented uses along 5th.

 

I do think this is pie in the sky thinking, but that's pretty much my favorite way to think!

Just got a quick pic but a very nice salon is about to open along the 6th St side. It’s almost finished and looks great inside. I’m hoping to see more amenities and retail start to mix in among all the restaurants and bars.

This Super 8 footage from 1970 shows how prominent the fountain used to be when positioned at the SW corner of the square.  The before/after the 3CDC reconstruction is...hilarious:

 

6 hours ago, Lazarus said:

This Super 8 footage from 1970 shows how prominent the fountain used to be when positioned at the SW corner of the square.  The before/after the 3CDC reconstruction is...hilarious:

 

Prominent... from the street. They decided to make the fountain a part of the pedestrian experience in a square instead. It is widely considered a civic success, Even with it not being as visible.

8 hours ago, Lazarus said:

This Super 8 footage from 1970 shows how prominent the fountain used to be when positioned at the SW corner of the square.  The before/after the 3CDC reconstruction is...hilarious:

 

Oh my goodness. Yes, the urban design goal should absolutely be to highlight the fountain as one is driving past it in a car on 5th street. Maybe you'll get lucky and be stopped at the light for 30 seconds so you can gaze upward at its majesty through the windshield.

The "Fountain District" branding has spread to the CVG baggage claim:

On 4/5/2025 at 9:29 PM, Lazarus said:

The "Fountain District" branding has spread to the CVG baggage claim:

Putting the logo right over somebody is hilarious

3 hours ago, tonyt3524 said:

Putting the logo right over somebody is hilarious

9 hours ago, tonyt3524 said:

Putting the logo right over somebody is hilarious

 

The Fountain District logo doesn't have the fountain on it.  Kind of like how the fountain itself is overshadowed by the text of "FIFTH THIRD" and other clutter. 

Fun times in the Fountain District, 4/13/25:

 

 

 

 

Edited April 13Apr 13 by Gordon Bombay

1 hour ago, Gordon Bombay said:

Fun times in the Fountain District, 4/13/25:

 

 

 

 

 

We were just at Vine Chairsstand last weekend and were surprised that they hadn't changed the sign.

18 hours ago, Gordon Bombay said:

Fun times in the Fountain District, 4/13/25:

 

 

 

 

Walked through the area last night after the reds game and a lot of the bars/restaurants were packed. Glad to see the nice weather bringing people back down. 

13 hours ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

Walked through the area last night after the reds game and a lot of the bars/restaurants were packed. Glad to see the nice weather bringing people back down. 

I was in the area too and it was booming. It looks great down there. Lots of construction and coming soon tenants too. 
 

And yet another announcement, This place is going to be super right next to the new Salazar. The whole Fountain District is coming together big time. It’s definitely time for some retail. A couple of clothing stores would do great.

 

https://www.wcpo.com/entertainment/local-a-e/local-dining/flight-club-cincinnati-a-darts-focused-bar-and-restaurant-to-open-in-downtown

 

 

Edited April 14Apr 14 by 646empire

Oh… and there is another announcement being finalized for those blocks.

Edited April 14Apr 14 by 646empire

On 4/13/2025 at 1:41 AM, zsnyder said:

We were just at Vine Chairsstand last weekend and were surprised that they hadn't changed the sign.

It’s a nice little remnant still hanging on, but it’ll be great to see Terrace Plaza reborn and bringing some life to that corner. 

Yeah we can make fun of the name (though I actually like it) but this area has seen a huge improvement from 5 years ago.  When the convention center is back open those visitors are getting a totally different and much better area to walk around.  

4 hours ago, 646empire said:

This place is going to be super right next to the new Salazar.

 

I LOVE that carousel themed bar. Straight out of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. 

1 hour ago, Gordon Bombay said:

I LOVE that carousel themed bar. Straight out of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. 

just got this book from the public library. One of my neighbors years ago said, I swear like a sailor... he should listen to Fear and Loathing...

11 hours ago, 646empire said:

 The whole Fountain District is coming together big time. It’s definitely time for some retail. A couple of clothing stores would do great.

 

 

 

Yeah like a Brooks Brothers and a Tiffany's.  And maybe a horse & carriage out front. 

2 minutes ago, Lazarus said:

 

 

Yeah like a Brooks Brothers and a Tiffany's.  And maybe a horse & carriage out front. 

Do you have to be negative about literally everything? Must be exhausting to be upset about so many things 

Brooks Brothers and Tiffany's are for old people. We need a MUJI or Supreme or Carhartt store.