20 minutes ago, 646empire said:

ICON at The Banks is definitely going to be bigger and from what I have seen design wise it will be better too. Also with a already built top notch park, all the restaurants and sitting on top of giant parking garages and being more accessible to the central business district I think ICON wins by a mile.

It's complicated because ICON looks like a much nicer venue, but PromoWest is the better promoter. I wish we could have just let PromoWest run the ICON venue at the Banks, but alas  CSO pulled the strings and now we have two competing similar venues. 

29 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

It's complicated because ICON looks like a much nicer venue, but PromoWest is the better promoter. I wish we could have just let PromoWest run the ICON venue at the Banks, but alas  CSO pulled the strings and now we have two competing similar venues. 

I agree PromoWest is known to be a great concert promoter. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. From what I understand the Newport and PromoWest folks was really betting and expecting The Banks venue to be cancelled/permanently held up because of Cincinnati politics and other reasons. I think they were surprised that it got thru and is being built which changes everything. If I had to guess  Both venues will end up doing OK-Good on the concert side, BUT I think ICON is going to kick Newport’s butt when it comes to everything else like corporate events and such. Let’s never forget how well connected CSO is to the business community.

Edited May 19, 20205 yr by 646empire

Not to completely rehash this debate from 6 or 12 months ago, but go look at what artists typically play PromoWest's venues and what artists typically play MEMI's venues. Then consider that since PromoWest will operate similarly sized venues in three cities (Newport/Cincinnati, Columbus and Pittsburgh), they will be able to block-book artists to play all three, and prevent MEMI from booking those artists.

 

Interestingly, the Newport venue is actually slightly larger (2,700 inside/7,000 outside) than PromoWest's Columbus (2,300/5,200) and Pittsburgh (2,400/5,500) venues.

3 hours ago, taestell said:

Not to completely rehash this debate from 6 or 12 months ago, but go look at what artists typically play PromoWest's venues and what artists typically play MEMI's venues. Then consider that since PromoWest will operate similarly sized venues in three cities (Newport/Cincinnati, Columbus and Pittsburgh), they will be able to block-book artists to play all three, and prevent MEMI from booking those artists.

 

Interestingly, the Newport venue is actually slightly larger (2,700 inside/7,000 outside) than PromoWest's Columbus (2,300/5,200) and Pittsburgh (2,400/5,500) venues.

 

It’s certainly going to be an interesting competition. Keep in mind these music artists/touring companies number 1 care in the world is MONEY. The ICON venue is going to be significantly bigger and designed to generate more money for touring artists over Newport. 

Edited May 19, 20205 yr by 646empire

The booking companies can predict exactly how many people will show up for a particular act on a particular night of the week.  It is rare that you go to a wildly undersold show or a sold-out show.  So the fact that these two venues are significantly different means that they aren't really competing with each other. 

I think there will definitely be a bit of competition for certain events, But I also think they can both find their own lanes to success without stepping on each other too much.

Edited May 20, 20205 yr by 646empire

5/28/2020 Update

^Those might be fake shipping  containers.  At least the orange barrier is authentic.  

 

 

Definitely fake.  Can't believe fake shipping containers is a real design trend.  

6 minutes ago, nicker66 said:

Definitely fake.  Can't believe fake shipping containers is a real design trend.  

 

They don't have the pin things in the corners and aren't beat up.  

 

As someone who unloaded several dozen containers by hand (loads weren't palletized in order to make maximum use of the space) and who worked in commercial shipping (albeit not with containers), I find the whole thing pretty insulting to everyone on both sides of the ocean who works in manufacturing and distributing.   In case anyone was wondering, it took several hours to unload each container by hand.  At one place it was furniture and at another place it was adhesive tape - like thousands and thousands of cases in each container.  

 

The irony of the containers themselves is that they aren't very easy to use for anything that needs to meet code.  The architect who was the first to use shipping containers back in the 70s abandoned them because they don't make much sense.  Yet hope springs eternal.  

 

As an idea, designers love them, but as usual the practicalities just aren't there.  The biggest problem is they aren't insulated, so you have to build out a whole new wall on the inside.  You can't really just slap rigid foam in and plaster over it because you can't attach anything to that like cabinets or window treatments.  So it's 2x4's and fiberglass and drywall and now what's the point of the container?  Ceiling heights are limited, and overall dimensions are obviously constrained.  Any penetrations require painstaking drilling or a plasma torch, and then trying to detail those so they look good and don't leak is a pain because of the corrugated metal.  Thanks, but not for me. 

Why fake grass?? It looks so bad...

These places take some time to get the patina of life

Folks - they aren't finished and they don't even have furniture. Let them at least finish the project before piling on with the criticism. I'm not holding my breath for award-winning design, but it doesn't need to be. It's outdoor dining, overlooking the river. If they can create a pleasant space to sit outside and eat, it can be successful. 

It looks fated to join the ranks of other uninspired public spaces in Newport:

https://goo.gl/maps/DFD3dR3RJ4RJBUXT7

 

??

 

I know it's not done, and I will wait to see the final look.

But the tiny square!

^That is SAD! considering the hustle and bustle of the location in the evenings.

3 hours ago, jwulsin said:

Folks - they aren't finished and they don't even have furniture. Let them at least finish the project before piling on with the criticism.

 

Maybe it's going to get a really, really big bell.  

Photos of Bridgeview Park 6/6/20:

 

 

Edited June 6, 20205 yr by lwoerner
Added a couple non wide lense shots of the seating areas

Pallets of grass??

In the long term, I don't think it was a great idea to demolish a building and replace it with a faux container park, but given the current state of the world, a big outdoor dining space like this will do very well.

^Agree.  Looks aside, I think this is a decent temporary use for that space.  

19 hours ago, taestell said:

In the long term, I don't think it was a great idea to demolish a building and replace it with a faux container park, but given the current state of the world, a big outdoor dining space like this will do very well.

North American Development ran out of funds that was the major reason for this temporary addition to the Levee and not the original proposed new building. I think they got in over there head...

 

Officials press pause on Newport attraction

 

Newport's giant observation wheel is on hold as officials wait to see what happens with a competing project slated for downtown Cincinnati.

 

"Before any final determinations will be made, we need to know what is permanent or not in Cincinnati," Matthew Stack, managing director of Koch Development, told Local 12, the Courier's media partner.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/06/22/officials-press-pause-on-newports-skywheel.html

 

Goettafest is a GO:

http://www.goettafest.com/

Newport should build the wheel. People like variety. anyone who rides the wheel in cincy will want to ride the wheel in Newport. It will be a reason for people to visit both riverfronts. With two wheels and two music venues, the river will become a destination for families, lovers, retirees, etc. They will eat, they will talk, and that will make the uniqueness of two wheels a great marketing strategy.  Unless other cities already have two wheels.

 

It's like having competing pirate mini-golf courses.  

On 6/23/2020 at 11:38 AM, jmecklenborg said:

It's like having competing pirate mini-golf courses.  

 

Makes me think of Gatlinburg.

 

3 hours ago, Rabbit Hash said:

 

Makes me think of Gatlinburg.

 

 

When I was a kid, I saw a guy missing a leg playing Pirate Golf.  He had two giggling women with him.  He was the life of the party.  

 

 

london reminds me of Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg reminds me of the county fair of my youth. The county fair reminds me of a beer garden without the beer. One man's London is another man's beer garden. Mecklenberg's Garden never reminded me of Germany. Ohioians, Kentuckians, and Indies all visit Gatlinburg. If you build it they will come. 

 

Found this gem today, dated 2001:

 

If only there was a rendering that showed the original "big budget" versions of both NOTL and The Banks.

On 7/4/2020 at 3:38 AM, richNcincy said:

Found this gem today, dated 2001:

 

I wish Millennium Tower were in this rendering.

Newport on the Levee starts next phase of redevelopment with renovation of Gallery Building

 

The owner of Newport on the Levee is starting construction on the next phase of redevelopment of the riverfront mixed-use property.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/09/02/newport-on-the-levee-starts-next-phase-of-redevelo.html

 

The entry on the East side will be a great change and the interior does look happening. I wonder if tearing down Brio is still part of the plan. [Faded] Purple People Bridge pedestrian and bike traffic can get pretty clogged and I wonder if it might be better to paint some suggested lanes on the bridge and continue those out to 3rd Street. Seems like the big missing ingredient for all of this is the Newport Festival Park: https://placeworkshop.com/portfolio-items/newport-festival-park/

 

 

 

 

22 hours ago, Chas Wiederhold said:

The entry on the East side will be a great change and the interior does look happening. I wonder if tearing down Brio is still part of the plan. [Faded] Purple People Bridge pedestrian and bike traffic can get pretty clogged and I wonder if it might be better to paint some suggested lanes on the bridge and continue those out to 3rd Street. Seems like the big missing ingredient for all of this is the Newport Festival Park: https://placeworkshop.com/portfolio-items/newport-festival-park/

 

 

 

 

 

Wow that looks really good. Excited for this part of the project to get completed.

On 9/3/2020 at 10:18 AM, Chas Wiederhold said:

The entry on the East side will be a great change and the interior does look happening. I wonder if tearing down Brio is still part of the plan. [Faded] Purple People Bridge pedestrian and bike traffic can get pretty clogged and I wonder if it might be better to paint some suggested lanes on the bridge and continue those out to 3rd Street. Seems like the big missing ingredient for all of this is the Newport Festival Park: https://placeworkshop.com/portfolio-items/newport-festival-park/

 

 

 

 

Koch development pulled out no ferris wheel now in Newport. But all the hardscapes look good

On 9/3/2020 at 9:18 AM, Chas Wiederhold said:

The entry on the East side will be a great change and the interior does look happening. I wonder if tearing down Brio is still part of the plan. [Faded] Purple People Bridge pedestrian and bike traffic can get pretty clogged and I wonder if it might be better to paint some suggested lanes on the bridge and continue those out to 3rd Street. Seems like the big missing ingredient for all of this is the Newport Festival Park: https://placeworkshop.com/portfolio-items/newport-festival-park/

 

 

 

 

This is happening minus the ferris wheel?

The Exchange, featuring artisan market, office spaces, coming to Newport on the Levee

 

An 11,000-square-foot market featuring local artisans is headed to Newport on the Levee. Here's what you need to know.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/09/16/newport-on-the-levee-artisan-market.html

 

$100 million renovation of Newport on the Levee debuts

 

North American Properties purchased Newport on the Levee at the end of 2018 with the goal of investing $100 million into the destination to transform it into a retail and entertainment center on the banks of the Ohio River. They unveiled the revived center to the public on May 28.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/05/29/100-million-renovation-of-newport-on-the-levee-de.html

 

I'll have to go see it. But from the pictures, I'm not sure what they spent $100 million on. ???

I don't understand why everyone likes to paint brick these days. It just creates continual maintenance (repainting) to a generally lower maintenance material.

$99 million to demolish things.

$1 million to create fake shipping containers.

 

The $100 million figure has to be taken out of context.  I always assumed that included new buildings, but they have literally built nothing so far.  

Edited June 1, 20214 yr by nicker66

2 hours ago, ink said:

I don't understand why everyone likes to paint brick these days. It just creates continual maintenance (repainting) to a generally lower maintenance material.

 

To remove detail. Because, apparently, "Millennials don't like detail" so everything has to be dull and monochromatic now.

3 hours ago, Rabbit Hash said:

I'll have to go see it. But from the pictures, I'm not sure what they spent $100 million on. ???

Agreed, just looks like an expensive grey paint job. 

1 hour ago, nicker66 said:

$99 million to demolish things.

$1 million to create fake shipping containers.

 

The $100 million figure has to be taken out of context.  I always assumed that included new buildings, but they have literally built nothing so far.  

I’m thinking the same thing, the 100m must be out of context. Looking thru the pics I estimate 35ish mil in work done. I’m seeing a big paint job, new light fixtures,  video screen, some light demolition and reconfiguration but that’s about it

Went to the AMC theater a couple times during the renovations. The interior of the mall has much better layout and usage than before. Although the trendy furniture that they put in the atrium area seems like a short-sighted idea since people tend to be gross. The exterior renovations look nice for the modern feel. Although it lacks originality that it had before. It would be nice if they had the unique facades for each storefront that Eaton Town Center has. 

9 minutes ago, RealAdamP said:

Went to the AMC theater a couple times during the renovations. The interior of the mall has much better layout and usage than before. Although the trendy furniture that they put in the atrium area seems like a short-sighted idea since people tend to be gross. The exterior renovations look nice for the modern feel. Although it lacks originality that it had before. It would be nice if they had the unique facades for each storefront that Eaton Town Center has. 

Newport on the levee had different storefronts on the riverwalk promenade when it first opened. Newport was designed, developed and constructed by Steiner who also developed Easton. Steiner just never invested enough in Newport to see it through like they did Easton, The Greene or Zona Rosa projects.  

With Easton and The Greene, Steiner had free roam to do as they pleased as it was all greenspace. With Newport on the Levee, they were constricted by more physical constraints.

So seems like the rumors are true, Request for bids have gone out to turn the old IMAX theatre at Newport on the Levee to an Esports Arena, the first of its kind in the region. If this happens, it will be a nice little boost to the area with more foot traffic and spending.