Yes and notice the last photo, that is the back of a big box strip mall with Dick's Sporting Goods and Bed Bath & Beyond.  Nothing like viewing the trash dumpsters and loading docks of a strip mall on the way into your subdivision.  While it is refreshing to see a little density in suburbia, that development stills gets a big "F".

It's nice to see that they completely obliterated every tree imaginable in order to build this.  You can build density in suburbia, but this still isn't even what suburbia is supposed to be.  Preserve some darn trees/nature and maybe we'll be getting somewhere with this.

 

You can't preserve trees that never existed.  The original photographs from 2004 show no trees on the site.  The land looks like farmland in the picture.  The site may have been cleared prior to 2004, but that was years before this construction began.  As far as a nature feel, they built the islands in the road, which will facilitate some form of green space (yay).  Also, I would expect some trees to be planted to block the breathtaking view of the back of the strip mall. 

 

I think that the whole development looks misplaced and/or forced.  Is this what "city living" has been reduced to?  With small yards and a uniform style, this looks more like low-income housing projects than upscale townhouses.

It's nice to see that they completely obliterated every tree imaginable in order to build this.  You can build density in suburbia, but this still isn't even what suburbia is supposed to be.  Preserve some darn trees/nature and maybe we'll be getting somewhere with this.

 

You can't preserve trees that never existed.  The original photographs from 2004 show no trees on the site.  The land looks like farmland in the picture.  The site may have been cleared prior to 2004, but that was years before this construction began.  ....

 

Correct, here is a bird's eye of the site, on the right side of the street (Note the "traditional" patio homes across Wilken's Blvd did not take out any trees either)

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=qjht9h7z5zjn&style=o&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=9537615&encType=1

 

Google's air photo is even older

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=39.305363,-84.320573&spn=0.00484,0.009238&t=h&z=17&om=1

 

 

They still have neglected to preserve enough space for trees and other dense vegetation to be healthy.  Sure there is a median, but that is not large enough for large trees to survive because it will choke out the root systems.  I am all for density in the suburbs, but if you're going to do it at least preserve enough space for plants and what not.  It is the darn suburbs/exurbs...there is plenty of room to do so.

 

Cincinnati finally seems to be understanding the concept about these medians, and seem to be planting flowers/shrubery in them instead of trees...if trees are planted they are the resiliant trees that max out at a small/medium size.  There is no excuse for this nonsense in this location.

My issue with this development isn't so much the development itself as it is the location to the rear of a big box strip mall.  I also wonder if they are going to include sidewalks in this development.

I haven't heard whether or not there will be connecting sidewalks, but they'd be crazy not to.  This picture shows how close it is to Casto's Village Square development. With that kind of proximity, you absolutely have to connect to that as well as the whole Deerfield Towne Center.  If you want to charge "walkable prices", it better be walkable to something.

anyone know if there's a site plan online?

Here's the site plan for the whole project, Phase II includes these, the theatre, and the Village Square, etc.

 

http://www.castoinfo.com/retail/collaterals/additional/cidtc-masterplan-04M066.pdf

Thanks SD, are you affiliated w/ the project?

No, I'm not affiliated with it at all.  I'm just by there alot, so I've looked into it a bit.

Beacon Hill?  It looks more like the Kentlands gone wrong.

I take it that the building labeled "Commercial" is the new Regal Cinema under construction?

Yes, that is the Regal.  On a side note, the neon lights on it are now lit at night.

It a start for the suburbs of Cincy. Hopefully this will lead to better development and design in the future.

And judging from their site plan, it looks like these two rows are just the beginning of a larger scale like-kind development.  In larger mass, with well manicured medians, these will look alot better than just one lonely strip.  If they execute their full site plan, it will likely be enough critical mass to make it look like they make sense to be located there. 

 

Now if they could just do something with the backside of Deerfield Towne Center.

Well I hope people move into these homes soon to help support Deerfield Towne Center, because the strip mall is struggling and you won't hear that in the Enquirer.

Retail businesses constantly walk a fine line of being profitable...they need a couple of things:  large customer base and high traffic volume.  Well most suburbs have the high traffic volume thing down, but most fail miserably at supplying a large customer base to truly make these businesses succeed.  As much as the developers like to say that people don't mind driving 15-20min to get groceries, a movie, or dine out...THEY'RE WRONG.  The glitziest stores may very well be located in the 'burbs, but the cash cows are closer to the center city.

As primary evidence of that compare the Borders in Tri-County to the Fields-Ertel one and the Barnes and Noble in Kenwood to well all other BN's. The best locations are nearer the core. The ones in the far 'burbs have tax advantages and allow the companies to show growth and perhaps be well located ten or fifteen years down the road.

And judging from their site plan, it looks like these two rows are just the beginning of a larger scale like-kind development.  In larger mass, with well manicured medians, these will look alot better than just one lonely strip.  If they execute their full site plan, it will likely be enough critical mass to make it look like they make sense to be located there. 

 

I won't begin to say what I think of that site plan, other than the fact that it will never look like it makes sense.  Granted, it's not entirely the fault of the developer, given the shit site they have to work with, but this is nothing more than new urbanism gone terribly wrong.  (Now that I think of it, it is the fault of the developer, no one forced them to develop that site.)

 

 

Now that I think of it, it is the fault of the developer, no one forced them to develop that site

 

I'm sure that once they ran their models, the dollar signs did force them to develop the site.  That place is going to make a killing.

 

Depending on how well they can tie it into the surrounding developments, it's by no means a disaster.

Retail businesses constantly walk a fine line of being profitable...they need a couple of things:  large customer base and high traffic volume.  Well most suburbs have the high traffic volume thing down, but most fail miserably at supplying a large customer base to truly make these businesses succeed.  As much as the developers like to say that people don't mind driving 15-20min to get groceries, a movie, or dine out...THEY'RE WRONG.  The glitziest stores may very well be located in the 'burbs, but the cash cows are closer to the center city.

 

I would love the see the actual research and data that supports that concept.

^Which concept...that the higher customer base you have, the higher your potential sales are?  Or that stores with a larger customer base typically do better financially...or are you referring to the comment about people not always wanting to drive 15-20 min. to do the most mundane things?

 

From my personal experience I know that Panera Bread's Top 5 performers for the Cincinnati area are (no particular order): Crestview Hills, Western Hills, Hyde Park, Calhoun, and another one that usually rotates around...but most of the time it is Beechmont.  3 of those are in Cincinnati proper and are the only stores inside city boundaries...with Crestview also being fairly close to the city-center (especially when your talking about the Ky population base.

 

Now when the Kenwood Mall location closes (for Nordstrom) the other Kenwood location will pick up a large volume and probably be right in the mix...but then again Blue Ash is a fairly dense area and close to city limits.

 

The worst performer by far is Union Centre Blvd, with places like Voice of America and Reed Hartman coming in close behind.

Retail businesses constantly walk a fine line of being profitable...they need a couple of things:  large customer base and high traffic volume.  Well most suburbs have the high traffic volume thing down, but most fail miserably at supplying a large customer base to truly make these businesses succeed.  As much as the developers like to say that people don't mind driving 15-20min to get groceries, a movie, or dine out...THEY'RE WRONG!!!

 

Quoted for Truth and Emphasized for Greater Truth.

I sure as hell don't like driving 15-20 mins or more to any place, especially since I'm surrounded by moronic and careless drivers.  More time on the road means more time dealing with these clowns.

 

The glitziest stores may very well be located in the 'burbs, but the cash cows are closer to the center city.

 

I would love the see the actual research and data that supports that concept.

 

Now I'll agree with rage on this one.  I'd like some sort of stats on it.  I only have slight doubts about this statement and I will not be surprised if it holds true.

Condo show in Deerfield Twp.

BY JEFF MCKINNEY | [email protected]

 

DEERFIELD TWP. – The number of potential buyers that Towne Properties has been getting at its Beacon Hill townhouse development here has been much higher than Towne has seen at other residential projects in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

 

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080425/BIZ01/304250090

 

Is this project completed?

I'm not sure about that particular project, but the road behind the Towne Center (runs parallel to Mason-Montgomery) continues to get built up with more subdivisions, apartment complexes, etc.