If anyone wants to go to this let me know! I will definitely be attending this. This is a great way to find out what is going on from the horses' mouth ... per say.

 

 

DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDER MEETING

 

Fountain Square District Update

 

Tuesday, May 2nd

 

8:30 a.m.

 

Westin Hotel, Fountain Room (2nd Level)

 

21 E. 5th St.

 

RSVP to Tricia at 421-4440 ext. 101 [email protected]

 

Please join the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) & Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI) at the Westin on Tuesday, May 2nd, for important updates on:

 

Fountain Square District developments including the launch of a new retail marketing initiative

 

Fountain Square construction status

 

DCI State of Downtown highlights

 

David Ginsburg

 

President & CEO

 

Downtown Cincinnati Inc.

 

Mary Lynne Boorn

 

Vice President

 

Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC)

 

interested!!! :-D

I'd go... if I wasn't at work.

I'd go... if I wasn't at work.

 

Tell your work that you are going to run a little late because the milk in your cereal was a little bad because it was a couple of days old.

 

This is your front yard, you owe it to yourself. ;)

I would love to go myself, but most of my vacation days are already spoken for.  :(

If it is his frontyard, is it my backyard? ;)

well for those that do go, please keep those of us that cant go updated.

Well, I didn't go to the Fountain Square District meeting, but I did receive an e-mail this afternoon from Kelly Fried of 3CDC regarding today’s meeting along with some renderings of both the LED video board instillation and the 580 building renovation.

 

Here is a summary of some of the more notable announcements made during today’s meeting:

 

-- Fountain Square construction is on schedule and is expected to be completed by early fall.

-- A new website focused on Fountain Square is under currently under construction and will be launched at the end of this month.

-- 3CDC has selected a new Mitsubishi Electronics board for the large LED screen that will be installed above Macy's to compliment Square programming. (It is the same technology that is featured on the Reuters building in New York’s Times Square).

-- 3CDC shared plans for seasonal landscaping on the Square, in partnership with the Cincinnati Park Board, including plans for a new children's garden feature.

-- The public is invited to share their views on progress downtown, including programming on the new Fountain Square, by participating in the 2006 Downtown Survey at www.downtowncincinnati.com.

-- More than $90 million is being invested in the Fountain Square District properties surrounding Fountain Square.

 

Here are some the images that were presented during today’s meeting...

 

A skeletal rendering of the LED video screen to be installed above Macy’s:

 

Four renderings of the soon-to-be renovated 580 building.:

 

So, what do you think?

 

 

 

Thanks alot for the update.  The 580 building renovation will be about a million times better than what was there.  Especailly that corner on the 3rd redering down.

 

If only the Cincy press cared about this project as much as we urbanohioans do.  They should have a weekly update on the progress or something similar. 

I think this looks great, and I am slowly getting more excited about the new square.  I was shopping downtown last Friday, and I went by 525 Vine.  Somebody had previously mentioned that the new lobby area does not match the building (and they are right), but this is starting to look like pretty cool space (and Jos A Bank is signed).  Add to that the renovation of 580 Walnut, upgrades to the Westin with the new McCormick and Schmick's, redone Rock Bottom (and the always awesome Palomino's), the renovation of the square itself, and there is going to be a lot of action in this area.  They just need to fill the new space.  This might be silly, but I also like the idea of the LED screen - people will pay attention to this.

I also agree with your LED statement.  I think that it just gives that "big city" feeling (not that we aren't already).  These are the types of things that are people magnets that will draw people to that area.  An experience the 'burbs and Newport can't rival.

 

Is it October yet?

Exactly - the LED has a "big city" feel - I would actually make it bigger or string 3 of them together if I had any say.  For this gone crazy, see Tokyo.  I was thinking about it being done also - if they could somehow have the coming out party for Octoberfest, that would be a pleasant surprise.

I hope they don't plan on using a square(4:3 ratio) screen, that is so 20th century!

Any word on a timeline for the re-facing of the low 5/3 Center?  I'd hate for them to open the square and then a few months later, have all these craines around it again b/c 5/3 did do the re-facing while the square was all torn up.

 

^ I'd like to know that too.

Exactly - the LED has a "big city" feel - I would actually make it bigger or string 3 of them together if I had any say.  For this gone crazy, see Tokyo.  I was thinking about it being done also - if they could somehow have the coming out party for Octoberfest, that would be a pleasant surprise.

 

Or how about adding some 'ribbon boards' along the newly recladed 5/3 bldg.  It could be a stock ticker of sorts or just have anouncements constantly running across it.  All of the new restaurants should also include signs that light up (not your run-of-the-mill neon signs but rather flashing signs or signs that have moving features...whatever) and add excitment to the square after dark.

^ love that idea.  Aronoff has a small or short (making it difficult to read for me) version of that on it's facade, but it is frequently dark.

Amen - bring on the ribbon board.  With news of the day, stock information, downtown events, trivia...we always can use more information.

Yesterday at the downtown stakeholder meeting the DCI reps mentioned that the 5/3 recladding would begin in "summer".  They didn't give a specific date and it's hard to tell how firm a timeline this is.

Not to get too far off topic, but is anyone else here old enough to remember what the Kroger building looked like before it was recladded?

^ The Kroger building was recladded?  When?

^ The Kroger building was recladded?  When?

I think the late 70s.. use to look like a big version of that old office building on reading road...

This is why I have a closet full of items on my website.  One of the forumers on here posted a photo of the Kroger - pre reclad and I saved it off since it was the only photo I had ever seen with the old exterior.

 

 

http://www.pbase.com/montecarloss/image/40398779

That gives me the red x, but playing around with the URL, this one worked for me:

 

Square work creates spinoffs

Fifth Third to rehab exterior

 

By Greg Paeth

Post staff reporter

 

As the $42 million overhaul of Fountain Square moves toward its September completion date, several spinoff projects have cropped up that are either under way or on the drawing board.

 

One is a planned renovation of Fifth Third Bank's low-slung retail and parking structure that runs along Sixth Street on the north end of the square. While the bank's plans are still in the formative stage, it does foresee a complete renovation of the exterior of the building that runs between Vine and Walnut, said Debra DeCourcy, a spokeswoman for Fifth Third.

 

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060504/NEWS01/605040380

I'd like to see Fountain Square West be another spinoff.

That's a great freaking pic of OTR

I'd like to see Fountain Square West be another spinoff.

 

Well put!

A small item I came across this morning from a couple of weeks ago...

 

Graeter's Works On Deal For Fountain Square Store

 

Renovations Continue On Schedule

 

CINCINNATI -- Renovations to Fountain Square are on schedule for a late-August completion, and now developers are trying to lure restaurants to the space above the new garage.

 

Richard Graeter confirmed that his popular ice cream business is making progress on a deal for space on the square.

 

A new survey is under way to get residents' input on musical programming and other events they'd like to see once the square reopens.

 

http://www.channelcincinnati.com/health/9148389/detail.html

While looking for Fountain Square news on Google, I found this old article from the New York Times.  Just an interesting look at how things really turn out...

 

NATIONAL NOTEBOOK: CINCINNATI; Downtown Plan In Jeopardy

 

By JENNIFER STOFFEL

Published: April 2, 1989

LEAD: THE pullout of the developer and a delay of nearly two years has left in limbo Cincinnati's plans for redevelopment by the mid-1990's of an entire downtown block as a mixed-use complex. City officials are nevertheless optimistic about resurrecting the project.

 

THE pullout of the developer and a delay of nearly two years has left in limbo Cincinnati's plans for redevelopment by the mid-1990's of an entire downtown block as a mixed-use complex. City officials are nevertheless optimistic about resurrecting the project.

^It was not to have consumed an entire city block.  It was the southern half of that block, or exactly the footprint of the present Lazarus store. 

too bad.  hey, look at the bright side, atleast theres a surface lot there now. :roll:

^The surface lot is located across the street (5th and Race) from the FSW site.  As stated previously Macy's currently sits where FSW was suppose to rise from.  5/3 Bank still owns the air rights above Macy's and could therefore one day proceed with the construction of a tower that sits atop Macy's.

ohhhh right.  ya know i knew this but I...well i am an idiot.  anyway...down with surface lots in the city and the graeters news is good btw.

Pavilion Restaurant

 

 

 

Cincinnati’s newest restaurant, a beautiful glass-enclosed structure built over the Vine Street entrance to the renovated Fountain Square garage, will be one of the highlights of the newly renovated Square. The main features of the restaurant are:

 

Unobstructed views of the Square and its centerpiece, the Tyler Davidson Fountain.

Indoor dining inside the beautifully constructed, galss enclosed first floor or outdoor dining on the second level’s outdoor cafe.

The restaurant will be open throughout the evening for dinner and drinks, in addition to serving a strong lunchtime crowd.

Over 4,200 square feet of dining space inside and nearly 1,200 feet on the outdoor pavilion.

3CDC is in the process of selecting a restauranteur to develop a unique concept for this exciting new space. Parties interested in leasing information should contact Judy Guttadauro at (513) 651-1469.

 

http://www.3cdc.org/content.jsp?articleId=247

Construction Update

 

3CDC provides a regular update on the progress of the Fountain Square Revitalization. Check back frequently to see the exciting changes taking place on our City's central landmark.

 

Progress to Date

 

The demolition and excavation of the plaza area (Phase I and II) is now 100% complete.

The demolition of the stage at the northeast corner of the Square is now complete.

Skywalk demolition is complete.

Garage preparation is completed. Restoration of the garage has begun and is expected to be completed in late May.

The structural repairs and waterproofing to the garage below 5th Street are now complete and the street has been reopened.

Progress for May 15th

 

Garage restoration concrete repair work has been 99% completed. Work is underway to place a new protective membrane over the resorted concrete.

The chiller room, mechanical room and transformer vault walls are have been formed and poured.

The garage roof has been patched and repaired at plaza level.

Plumbing contractors have begun installing drains, pipes and other plumbing fixtures to be used on the new Square.

The HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) demolition work has been completed and the remaining supply fans have been removed from the garage.

 

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

progress=awesome.  thanks for the update.  i cant wait. 

I'm sorry if I missed this info in the thread, but when is the Grand Opening planned for?

^Well the project is slated for completion this October.  Their intent has been to finish before Tall Stacks and possibly Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.  They have said they are slightly ahead of schedule; as for the restaurants and other retailers I would believe that some would be in by this date but some will not.

 

It seems as though the recladding of the smaller 5/3 bldg will be worked on after the initial opening of FS.  This would lead me to believe that the new retailers, in that bldg, would not be open right away but rather a little later.

I just stumbled upon this photo today (new to me)....but I thought that this bldg was supposed to be recladded.  What the hell are those streamer things?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

What the hell are those streamer things?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

That is an artist's installation on the north side.  It's a series of square metal tubes that are painted different shades/colors on each facet so that as you move past and around the building the effect will change.

 

I've heard it looks pretty sweet.

 

I like this version better.  I think the new consept will become dated very quickly.

I like the streamers. 

 

I also like the people riding Segways in the rendering.

^Great spot skinner, I hadnt noticed those segway riders before.  I would love to see urban areas filled with these transit devices, however it will never happen :|

agree skram, I like that rendering better too.

I'm not too sure about those metal posts either, but I did see a dude in a suit, tie and blue tooth phone cruzing along 8th St. on a segway the other day, just like it was every day's business.  It was the first 'non commercial' use of one of those I had seen downtown.  (any other rider I have seen was part of some kinda ad campaign).   

 

Is it just me, but are there more 'scooters' downtown lately?

 

Anyway - eager for Fountain Square to come back online - we really miss it.

I;ve seen lots more scooters too.  Still not commonplace, but alot more than previous years.

^ too late now - but a scooter corral on/around the square might have been a cool (probably crappy looking) idea to promote use - of the scooters and the square. 

 

Would have worked great until some dude parked his Harley hog in there.

 

All right - I think I'll keep my urban renewal ideas to myself now..  ;)

Jesus...I just took my parents (in from Cleveland-way) to the Rembrandt exhibit at the Art Museum tonight, and saw The Genius of Water up close, and holy ass...wow.  I think Monte got some pictures of it a little while ago...trust me, folks, go to see it while it's still at the Art Museum...it's free, and OMFG, it's absolutely amazing.  Gorgeous.  You're right there, and can see all the detail...amazing, I go to see the prints of one of the, maybe, three greatest artistic geniuses in the history of man, and I'm fascinated by the shower-head-looking holes in the palms of this one fountain statue...

^ Hmm... going to check that out would remove a few hours of bored time when I come home in a week.  Thanks for the tip!

 

And I would just like to mention that I have to chuckle every time you use the phrase "holy ass." :lol: