'Genius' now in temporary abode

Statue leaves Fountain Square for Art Museum during remake

 

By Sara Pearce

Enquirer staff writer

 

The "Genius of Water" is now at the Cincinnati Art Museum while Fountain Square undergoes a $42 million renovation.

(Nice photo btw, could the photographer not wait 30 seconds for another shot?)

 

 

There she was, flat on her back, covered with thick moving blankets and yards of plastic wrap.

 

Both her hands were missing.

 

And for a brief moment, the plate covering the hole on top of her head could be seen.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050922/NEWS01/509220355/1056

(Nice photo btw, could the photographer not wait 30 seconds for another shot?)

 

Of course not!

 

I saw some surreal footage from when they were removing it from the square.  As they lifted it up, it looked like it was levitating.

The Enquirer has a small photo album (8 photos) of the fountain being moved, which I think includes the photo I was talking about above.  Here's the link:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=AB&Dato=20050920&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=509200801&Ref=PH&Profile=1056

 

Also, 3CDC (Actually, AroundCinci) has the webcam up and running.  You can see it from all different angles, zoom, etc.:

http://www.aroundcinci.com/icams/fountain/

 

^The photos remind me of a hanging, or the Passion of Christ.

 

Also, 3CDC (Actually, AroundCinci) has the webcam up and running.  You can see it from all different angles, zoom, etc.:

http://www.aroundcinci.com/icams/fountain/

 

 

Just FYI - that webcam has been there for a couple of years now.

kind of scary how the only way to lift each portion up is by strapping them like that

Just FYI - that webcam has been there for a couple of years now.

 

Did it have all of those same angles?  I admit I never really visited the webcams much.

^ Yeah, it did.

For those of you who don't want to stare at a web cam waiting for something exciting to happen during the square renovation, 3CDC is posting weekly progress updates with pictures.

 

Heres the link for 29 September:    http://www.3cdc.org/content.jsp?articleId=199

 

Here's the link for previous weeks:  http://www.3cdc.org/content.jsp?articleId=202

Square project tests 3CDC

 

By Cliff Peale

Enquirer staff writer

 

So they've started to rip up Fountain Square.

 

The Tyler Davidson Fountain is gone, with its parts distributed to various museums and warehouses. There are barriers all around our most beloved public space. The parking garage will close tonight for a year.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051009/COL01/510090327/1081/BIZ

3CDC is the moneyed elite.  If they can't bring in retailers, then no one can.

 

I like Peale's comments on local businesses.  I hope for as many of those as possible.  It will really suck if the square is turned over entirely to chain restaurants and businesses.

 

The latest weekly status for the renovation has been posted at the 3CDC site.

 

http://www.3cdc.org/content.jsp?articleId=199

 

Here's a picture of that awful stage coming down.

 

They can't tear that thing down fast enough.

Good riddance.  Getting rid of that thing alone would have made the square 10 times better.

 

The "Genius of Water" is now at the Cincinnati Art Museum while Fountain Square undergoes a $42 million renovation.

(Nice photo btw, could the photographer not wait 30 seconds for another shot?)

 

 

I thought the same thing the instant I saw the photo before I read your reply.

They can't tear that thing down fast enough.

 

It's pretty much gone now.. I live across the street, so it's easy for me to see what's goin on.

^I thought that was a hotel?

New location for holiday tree lighting

Square work forces change

 

By Tony Cook

Post staff reporter

 

For the first time in more than a century, Cincinnati's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony won't be on Fountain Square.

 

The program, and an ice-skating rink that has also been a holiday season fixture downtown, will move to Sawyer Point while renovation of the square goes on.

 

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051103/NEWS01/511030354

 

Post all Fountain Square Contruction Photos Here

 

A month ago the Tyler Davidson Fountain was disassembled and the "Genius of Water" was removed and taken to the Cincinnati Art Museum and the base was taken to the Cincinnati Museum Center until construction is complete on Fountain Square.

 

 

Here is what Fountain Square looked like this weekend:

 

 

Good Bye Concrete...

 

 

The redevelopment of Fountain Square should be complete by October of 2006, just in time for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.

It is very nice to see all of that crap concrete being torn up....to be replace by greenery, additional fountains, and outdoor cafes.  Fountain Square previously was dated and very cold.  I can't wait for the warmed up modernized version of the square.

It's like standing in East Berlin and watching the Wall come down.

As anyone seen this recently? It looks like a huge crater now.

  Looking at those pics, I can't help but think that they have missed an opportunity to make some money here. Here's my sales pitch:

 

  "  FRUSTRATED?....ANGRY ABOUT WORK OR JUST LIFE IN GENERAL? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A WAY TO JUST LET IT ALL OUT?

 

    WELL HERE'S YOUR CHANCE!!!!!!!

 

    For $50 you can spend an hour BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF 'FOUNTAIN SQUARE'!!!!!!!!!

 

    You will go home a new person.

 

    So, bring the friends.....hell, bring the family... you won't regret it. "

 

Come on, you have to admit it feels good to tear things up every once in a while. I'm re-doing the walls in my living room and it felt good putting the hammer through that old piece of crap plaster wall.

 

 

^LOL although I don't think the city would go for it. Or at least they would want the money.

 

Why is that one wall marked with paint? Is everything being gutted?

^LOL although I don't think the city would go for it. Or at least they would want the money.

 

Why is that one wall marked with paint? Is everything being gutted?

 

All of the paint markings I've seen basically say "demolish down to garage deck".

I missed this article until I saw a letter to the editor bitch about not using city trees. Fountain Square needs trees with attitude so Jersey it is.

 

<b>New Jersey providing Fountain Square trees</b>

 

By Marla Matzer Rose

Enquirer staff writer

 

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - It may be fenced off and covered with heavy equipment now, but by the summer of 2007, Fountain Square should be shaded by the branches of dozens of carefully chosen trees.

 

Dotted among the thousands of trees in a sprawling nursery in this central New Jersey town of 1,764 residents are about 80 earmarked for Fountain Square. The varieties of red maple, accolade elm, yellowwood and London planetree have been tagged but will be here until next fall, when they will be carefully loaded onto a truck for their 620-mile trip to the heart of Cincinnati's downtown.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051126/BIZ01/511260428/-1/back01

The varieties of red maple, accolade elm, yellowwood and London planetree have been tagged but will be here until next fall, when they will be carefully loaded onto a truck for their 620-mile trip to the heart of Cincinnati's downtown.

 

Excellent choice of trees.  London planetrees will definately add contrast (bark-wise).

The varieties of red maple, accolade elm, yellowwood and London planetree have been tagged but will be here until next fall, when they will be carefully loaded onto a truck for their 620-mile trip to the heart of Cincinnati's downtown.

 

Excellent choice of trees.  London planetrees will definately add contrast (bark-wise).

 

Whoa, Colday, I didn't know you were a tree expert! ;)

 

There goes 4 years...down the tubes...

seems like a LOT of trees

Re-do still debated

Extra fountain, water wall, plantings being hashed out

 

By Marla Matzer Rose

Enquirer staff writer

 

SKYWALK TO DISAPPEAR

After weeks of preparation, including the removal of its canopy, demolition of the skywalk link over Fountain Square and Vine Street is set to begin this weekend. Rock Bottom Brewery will be closed on Sunday and Monday due to the work. Vine Street will not be closed to traffic during this phase, as it will only involve the section above the square itself. A 3CDC spokesman said the project would likely be completed over the weekend of Dec. 17-18, when Vine will need to be closed between Fifth and Sixth streets.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051202/BIZ01/512020377/1002/BIZ

A couple of things from this article:

 

• I really hope they keep the added fountains to the final design. This would be a great thing for families that come in from out of town to visit, especially if they have kids. Plus, there is something special about fountains and a city that just mix well.

 

• I like the idea of the overhanging restaurant being two stories instead of one.

 

• And, I like the idea of them turning the water pressure down on the Tyler-Davidson fountain. This is a plus for windy days and when people just want to go to the fountain to chit chat or talk about business.

I hope that the Montgomery Inn Banquet Center moves here or moves to the Banks.

I did some shopping down town today.  They were removing the skywalk over Vine street today, and they had the street and sidewalk closed beneath it.  I watched a little of the demolition from the windows inside Macy's.  It was interesting to watch.  I really wish I had brought my camera with me.

 

I have to admit that I was against them tearing down the skywalk at first.  After reading several articles about skywalks in other cities and their disadvantages, I began to understand why they wanted to do.  Now that the skywalk is gone over the square, I do have to say that the square looks much brighter and bigger.  :)  I think downtown will be just fine without it. 

^ xumelanie, it's funny that you brought shopping up because this article appeared in the Enquirer today:

 

 

Downtown stores shifting lineup

Square renovation among factors

By Marla Matzer Rose

Enquirer staff writer

 

Though the $42 million rebuilding of Fountain Square has pushed the traditional Christmas tree and winter skating rink to temporary quarters at Sawyer Point, many merchants on or near the square report steady, if not record, business for the season so far.

 

And with the final sections of the skywalk that crosses Vine Street to the square set for removal this weekend, some businesses hope to draw Christmas shoppers and gawkers.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051217/BIZ01/512170332/1076/rss01

 

I have to admit that I was against them tearing down the skywalk at first.  After reading several articles about skywalks in other cities and their disadvantages, I began to understand why they wanted to do.  Now that the skywalk is gone over the square, I do have to say that the square looks much brighter and bigger.

 

I've always been a fan of the skywalks.  Just yesterday I was at the Netherland, and was happy that I could go all the way to the Mercantile Library on Walnut without a coat.

 

But I agree, the Fountain looks better without it.  There was never a need for a raised, open air sidewalk crossing a public square anyway.

 

montecarloss also posted this in the Restaurants, Nightlife and Attractions section:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=7152.0

 

From the 1/20/06 Enquirer:

 

 

Seafood chain coming to Square

McCormick & Schmick's to open in Westin Hotel

By Marla Matzer Rose

Enquirer staff writer

 

The revamp of the Fountain Square area will get a boost today when the McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant chain will announce that its first Cincinnati restaurant will be in the downtown Westin Hotel across from the Square.

 

Company spokeswoman Tory Harms said the restaurant, expected to open in August, would be the second in Ohio for the Portland, Ore.-based chain.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060120/BIZ01/601200368/1076/rss01

 

Seafood eatery may lure others

McCormick & Schmick's Westin deal bait for more restaurants, retailers

 

By Lisa Biank Fasig

Cincinnati Business Courier

 

When McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant agreed to open a $2.4 million restaurant at the Westin Hotel downtown, the commitment represented not only a good catch for Cincinnati, it helped to ensure that other big fish will not get away.

 

The 59-store chain, whose average dinner tab runs $45 a head, will serve as a necessary lure to bring high-profile restaurants and retailers to the redeveloping Fountain Square and surrounding area, sources said. The real estate business is, after all, one of contingencies, where sought-after tenants wait for big-name commitments before signing on themselves.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060122/BIZ01/601220383

Awesome...I love it!  I love seafood and nice things...especially nice things happening in the core of downtown!

Wahoo!

<b>Square's retail space attracts lots of lookers

But no signed tenants yet</b>

 

BY MARLA MATZER ROSE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

DOWNTOWN - The design is still being finalized and there are no signed tenants to announce, but the sales team behind Fifth Third's retail property on Fountain Square says it is getting strong interest from prospective tenants.

 

Speaking to a crowd of several hundred people at CB Richard Ellis' 2006 Market Outlook Program, CBRE retail specialist Chris Hodge said there had been "significantly more interest from retailers than we will ever have space available."

I'm not sure about that image...looks a little too forested if you ask me!  But this whole re-design thing was pretty necessary.  I haven't been down there in a few years, but when I was at UC, this just wasn't a place that was living up to its potential...much in the same way that Cleveland's Public Square fails in this regard.  They're positioned so well in the Downtown and region, surrounded by high-density uses, yet they're overrun by pigeons and panhandlers.  I hope that Cleveland will be able to reassess how we treat our front door sometime soon as well!

 

The rendering looks pretty cool.  I don't think the amount of trees is accurate though.  I like the look, a lot more modern, than what is there now.  I'm not sure about the Cincinnati written on the side though.  We already have that on the side of the convention center, do we need it in huge letters somewhere else as well?

 

Moonloop, I agree with you.  I am not a fan of the redesigned Enquirer site.  I want to be able to go in and see the same stuff that is in the actual paper that went out this morning, and if I want to see updates, I can look in a specific section.  Now its like all the stories change by the hour.  Its like news for someone with ADD.

I'm not sure about the Cincinnati written on the side though.  We already have that on the side of the convention center, do we need it in huge letters somewhere else as well?

I like that.  At least in that drawing, it's more subtle and pleasing to look at than the convention center with its big panels that are meant to be seen from miles away.  As long as this one is classy enough and well-integrated such that it's not just a tacky billboard, I think it would be nice.  (It'd make a great postcard shot, too, with the fountain in the foreground.  You wouldn't even have to label the photo!)

 

I hope the trees are not accurate in the drawing, because that does look too forested.

I too like the Cincinnati because it seems to be the complete opposite of the one on the Cinergy Center (of which I'm not a fan). In general, I like the rendering, but what is that blue thing under Cincinnati? Also, I'm not to sold on that out building.

 

I really like how the 5/3 tower looks in that rendering, that shows you the potential to clad it.

The trees are not portayed accurately...maybe they did that because there really isnt a design for the pavilion/restaurant/whatever it will be yet.  The cincinnati is stupid - if you are standing on the square and you dont know you are in cincinnati then you have problems.  And last (i realize this is still schematic) does there really need an image of fountain square on fountain square (the green banner)?  I think overall its nice and will be a welcome change to the existing banking center.

I don't have much to comment on except I hope that artist took his own liberties with the trees.  It is a urban square not a park... Nobody wants to get shit on by birds while enjoying life on the square.

The revamp of the 5/3 blg is ok, but what is that barn like structure on the left?

 

Also, I've been against the amount of trees they have proposed all along.  A few strategically placed Sycamores go a long way to softening an urban space.

I don't have much to comment on except I hope that artist took his own liberties with the trees.  It is a urban square not a park... Nobody wants to get shit on by birds while enjoying life on the square.

 

Urban squares can have an abundance of trees (re: Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia).  Generally, there should be a mix of sunlight and shade.  The entire square should not be trees but it should not be barren either.

As for those who do not like the 'Cincinnati' writing on the building....it is in my mind a type of branding for the city.  It is not meant to "remind" you that you are in Cincinnati, but rather give you a feeling of pride about being here....much like the I Love NY slogan.  The powers at be are trying to market Cincinnati not remind you of it.  Keep in mind those powers at be are marketing/branding experts (P&G, 5/3, Kroger, Federated, etc.)

 

I also believe that there will not be a banner of fountain square on fountain square.  This is rather an artists rendering of the branding of Cincinnati that will be prevelant.  Maybe it will be the Taft Museum, UC/Uptown, a stadium, Mt. Adams, or whatever.  I love this design, very modern and very cool.  The combination of the modern looking bldgs. with the video board(s) that will be located on the square will be outstanding!!! :clap: