May 22, 200817 yr ^ Yeah, they need to post a sign near that expressway exit ramp that says "Welcome to Covington: Where Downtown Cincinnati goes to buy White Castles and gasoline."
May 23, 200817 yr Author Nothing to inspiring, but it is early and pretty hard to tell from these early renderings..... Ascent developers unveil hotel designs Buildings to create public square BY MIKE RUTLEDGE | [email protected] PICTURES: http://cmsimg.nky.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=AB&Date=20080523&Category=NEWS0103&ArtNo=805230404&Ref=AR&MaxW=315&border=1 http://cmsimg.nky.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=AB&Date=20080523&Category=NEWS0103&ArtNo=805230404&Ref=V2&MaxW=315&border=1 COVINGTON - Instead of turning RiverCenter Boulevard near Covington's riverfront into a concrete cavern of buildings, developer Corporex Cos. plans to carve a semi-circle out of two proposed buildings to create a public square. The two buildings - both to be hotels with retail space on the street level - will rise seven stories and 10 stories, with construction probably starting next year. ... http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080523/NEWS0103/805230404
May 23, 200817 yr "Rather than build square buildings that extend to the street, the company wanted to "do something beautiful, creative," for a public area." Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Sorry, that was just funny.
May 23, 200817 yr The preliminary design, of the site, isn't all that bad. Although they are still essentially creating square buildings...they're just leaving a notch out for a plaza area (which is quite typical). So I say I like it, but it will be interesting to see how dedicated they (Corporex) are on the public space and making it successful. Public spaces are fairly difficult to pull off correctly. Just because you show a 'public area' on your site plan does not necessarily mean it will be a hub of activity. Hopefully they get it right.
May 23, 200817 yr Seriously? That whole district IS visual pollution that runs against Covington's historic image! Is that really their argument against the video screen? How in the hell does The Ascent fit in with a "historic image"? Not to mention the rest of those pink highrises, that nasty old courthouse, the massive one story IRS complex, and the fast food district nearby. I like Covington, I'm excited to see new development there, and it has a lot of architectural gems waiting for restoration, but it waived goodbye to most of its historic riverfront charm long, long ago. Ditto. And that's what that one story crap was next to the convention center. I was down there yesterday and was wondering why there was this high fence, guard shack and a lot of security in the middle of the city. Ugh. So this is going in the parking lot west of the Ascent, east of the convention center, south of the RiverCenter complex and north of that 10-story parking garage? I was in that parking lot yesterday and thought, "hmmm... this would make for one awesome infill location!" I don't know if we need more hotels, though. Is it that warranted, given that there are two hotels across the street? What about mid-rise apartments or condos?
May 23, 200817 yr ^I tend to think that apartments have largely been ignored, by developers in the core, for the past couple of decades. There is quite a bit of pent up demand for apartment living within the core right now.
May 23, 200817 yr Pretty much any city needs apartments. But investors hate that, because they can't recoup their costs immediately, and there is somehow this fear that apartments still bring in crime, lower incomed individuals, blah blah that is opposed by some.
May 23, 200817 yr The IRS remains an economic engine for Covington. I also hear from an inside source that they keep the cake-makers of Greater Cincinnati in business.
May 23, 200817 yr ^I heard from someone who used to work security there that "they're all so big two of 'em can't pass in the halls". And that they show up in their pajamas for work.
May 23, 200817 yr There are also a high number of people in the motorized seats that cause the building to shake a bit as they move around. My source is my brother.
May 24, 200817 yr The IRS remains an economic engine for Covington. You mean, just because it employs people within the city? I've always questioned the IRS' value in its current position, because it uses up so much prime real estate that could be used for other businesses or residences and doesn't attract visitors to the area the way stores, for example, would. I'm not opposed to having the IRS in Covington, I just wish they either had a smaller footprint in their current location or were located in the southern, less dense portion of the city.
July 4, 200816 yr Restaurants, trails, gateways part of Devou Park face-lift http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/07/07/story5.html Proposed improvements for Devou Park: Improved access throughout the park. Entrances from Lewisburg, Ludlow, Park Hills, Fort Wright and Botany Hills will include new landscape and gateways. The city will add signage to better connect the park's landmarks. Parking will be added strategic to park attractions, and roads will be expanded and improved in heavily trafficked locations. Three shelters will be added. In the Sleepy Hollow west acreage, two streams will be restored, several miles of equestrian and mountain bike trails added and an interpretive area assembled around the park's two Civil War batteries. The golf course clubhouse and pool will be replaced, and a café with outdoor dining will be added. A fishing dock and pathway will be built at Prisoners Lake. Parking, concessions and a restroom will be built near the concert bowl. At Overlook Point, a civic meeting center will be built along with a Vineyard Inn & Restaurant. A tram is planned to connect MainStrasse's Goebel Park to Drees Pavilion over Interstate 75, simulating the inclines of Cincinnati's history.
July 7, 200816 yr ^ Wow. Those are some solid upgrades. Devou is a wonderful park, but it definitely needs to be refreshed. That tram will be a great addition. I've been to several weddings at Drees Pavilion that then spill over to bars afterwards, and having a tram to Mainstrasse would make that process safer while ensuring that dollars flow into Mainstrasse bars.
July 8, 200816 yr Why is the Devou Park view looking from the Newport side? ;) HA Groovy. What I want them (not the Homebuilder's Association, obviously... just a generic "them") to do is to not close the park at dusk, so that we may stick around longer for taking night photos! I am sick and tired of getting escorted out of Devou Park because I just want to take photos. Not implying anything but...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tearoom_(disambiguation)
July 10, 200816 yr Florence getting more shops http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080710/BIZ01/807100309/1076/NEWS
July 10, 200816 yr That development is the dumbest thing ever. They can't fill the retail in the adjacent lot, so the answer is to build even more? How long do the Mediaplay, OfficeMax, and "jewelry/costume/furniture/shoe/"flavor of the week" store have to sit empty?
July 12, 200816 yr That development is the dumbest thing ever. They can't fill the retail in the adjacent lot, so the answer is to build even more? How long do the Mediaplay, OfficeMax, and "jewelry/costume/furniture/shoe/"flavor of the week" store have to sit empty? In America, a long time. Discard the 'old' and build something new. Rinse and repeat.
August 21, 200816 yr Historic Burlington to get new signs Boone County to unveil new signs in Downtown Burlington on August 26th By Blair G. Schroeder, Boone County Public Information Officer, August 19, 2008 BOONE COUNTY, KY — On Tuesday, August 26th at 12:00 Noon, the County will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate the new Information Kiosk, Wayfinding Signs, Historic Plaques, and new Street Signs in downtown Burlington. The County, with the assistance of a grant from the Federal Preserve America program, has been working with local property owners to identify 20 historic buildings in the downtown Burlington district. Markers will be placed in the front of these buildings with a brief history of each building on a self-guided walking tour.
October 6, 200816 yr A general catch-all thread... Old gas station will soon move on Building to be welcome center By Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer, October 6, 2008 NEWPORT - A vacant building used as a gas station in the 1920s will get life next spring as a welcome center in Newport. More than a year after getting approved for a $272,000 grant for the project, the city is almost ready to move the former Raymond Motors building from Fifth and York streets to another location.
October 7, 200816 yr I've been wondering when they were going to move this. It's a neat building. I thought they were moving it to the corner of 10th and Saratoga, though, not Monmouth Street. Still, it's another surface lot gone on Monmouth, which will be nice.
October 8, 200816 yr Newport Crime Shrinks FBI report shows drop in major categories NEWPORT - Most major crimes in Newport have declined the past two years, FBI crime statistics show. Newport Police Chief Robbie Hall attributes the change to more concentrated patrols and the hard work of the city's police officers. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081008/NEWS0103/810080404/1167/NEWS Rape 2006... 26 2007... 16 2008 ...10 Robbery 2006... 72 2007... 52 2008 ...32 Aggravated assault 2006... 31 2007 ...21 2008... 27 Simple assault 2006...668 2007...667 2008...345 Larceny 2006 ...1,020 2007... 837 2008... 687 Theft from motor vehicle 2006...233 2007...167 2008...126 Drug violations 2006...359 2007...254 2008...252 ------------------------------- This is nice news and all ... but it's really amusing how the article totally fails to mention the demolition of those housing projects. That probably had an impact.
October 16, 200816 yr Florence focuses its growth vision Council approves city-center plan By Amanda Van Benschoten, Cincinnati Enquirer, October 16, 2008 FLORENCE - A new plan aims to create a strong city core by connecting business, residential and recreational development. City Council approved the Central Florence Strategic Plan on Tuesday by a vote of 5-1. "It establishes a vision to create a vibrant, interconnected city center," said council member Betsy Conrad, chair of the city's Planning and Zoning Committee. The Central Florence Strategic Plan replaces the 22-year-old Parkway Corridor Study, which covered 546 acres east of Interstate 75.
October 16, 200816 yr I am in Florence almost daily these days and I have to say I don't like it very much. People really want to walk; you see people doing it all the time. The thing is, climbing over auto-oriented landscaping, chugging through ditches and trekking across colossal parking lots makes pedestrians look like they have no dignity -- even though they are actually very dignified because they walk anyway. One thing I've noticed about the area is that it is full of angled parking. In a lot, angle parking requires 30% more area than straight parking, making lots even more unnecessarily huge. Well, angle parking is 2% easier, so I guess it's a fair trade-off. <---sarcasm.
October 16, 200816 yr I am in Florence almost daily these days and I have to say I don't like it very much. People really want to walk; you see people doing it all the time. The thing is, climbing over auto-oriented landscaping, chugging through ditches and trekking across colossal parking lots makes pedestrians look like they have no dignity -- even though they are actually very dignified because they walk anyway. One thing I've noticed about the area is that it is full of angled parking. In a lot, angle parking requires 30% more area than straight parking, making lots even more unnecessarily huge. Well, angle parking is 2% easier, so I guess it's a fair trade-off. <---sarcasm. Man, you hit the nail on the head! lol ... I see it a lot too. It's like people are risking their lives to live there. They want to walk, with friends or with their iPods, but trucks and cars are whizzing by them at 50 mph. These people think they're on some kind of nature trail or something. I LOVE seeing the runners go back and forth from one end of the strip mall to the other! I saw two Asians trying to cross Mall Rd. and it looked like they were attempting some kind of maze to win money .... I thought to myself, this is so embarrassing because you know people associate that city with Cincy.
October 20, 200816 yr New life for old building in sight Community center may be sold The former Northern Kentucky Community Center is close to being sold to a development group after a U.S. bankruptcy judge last week cleared the way for the sale of the property. It's unclear what the property at 824 Greenup St. will be used for, but the developer, Keeney Development Co. LLC, has met with Eastside residents to discuss plans. Keeney has created residential and commercial developments in Northern Kentucky. No date has been set to finalize the sale, said attorney Dennis Williams, representing the proposed buyer. The money exchanged at the sale likely will be between $225,000 and $240,000, depending on such issues as interest and creditors' legal fees. The building once housed the Lincoln Grant School, which served the black community in the days of segregation. The 45,000-square-foot complex on 1.25 acres at 824 Greenup St. during the 1980s became a social-service agency, serving the Eastside neighborhood. MORE: http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20081020/NEWS0103/810200338
November 11, 200816 yr Seneca Place seeking Kentucky's first LEED Gold home http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/senecaplace1111.aspx Construction began last week on the next two houses at Seneca Place, which will feature what could be Kentucky’s first LEED Gold certified home. The Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington (CNG) and Phoenix Building Solutions are building the houses along the 500 block of Thomas Street in Covington’s Austinburg neighborhood as part of a 12-unit first phase. A future phase could contain up to 19 homes. Both houses have already sold and, because they were pre-assembled at Phoenix’s Brookville, Ohio factory, both homes were erected in just one day. "The prices are affordable for high-quality new construction, and we also have subsidies from the City of Covington to make the homes even more affordable to lower-income buyers," says Rachel Hastings, director of housing and neighborhood initiatives for CNG. "The home that we are hoping to achieve LEED-Gold certification on sells for $190,000 – other LEED-Gold homes in Greater Cincinnati often sell for way upward of $500,000." To achieve LEED Gold certification, the builders have incorporated Forest Stewardship Council certified finger-jointed lumber, no-VOC paints, Mohawk GreenWorks carpeting, and other materials acquired from within a 500-mile radius. "We're also doing radon resistant construction, and we've really ramped up indoor air quality/circulation - for example, the venting system for the house is a ‘smart’ system, meaning that the house’s vents communicate with one another and will turn on if there is extra moisture in one area," Hastings says. "Also, we are able to get many LEED points due to using Energy Star-rated modular construction, Energy Star appliances and high-efficiency mechanicals, and reducing construction waste." Hastings says that she’s confident that the house will achieve certification. "LEED for Homes is still a relatively new program, and I think many builders are still learning about the program and how it works," she says. "The Center for Great Neighborhoods aims to stay on the cutting edge of building science and technology."
November 12, 200816 yr Alexandria improving park Amphitheater, parking, signs could attract more users By Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer, November 12, 2008 Alexandria Community Park instills pride in many residents but remains unknown to most outside the community. The city continues its efforts to put an amphitheater, more parking and trails in the park to draw a wider audience beyond the fishermen and local pedestrians who now use the park. A park board of five residents meets once a month to maintain and improve the 80-acre park. Grants will be needed for more parking and an amphitheater, something many hope to accomplish in the next two years.
November 12, 200816 yr Union Town Plan advances Consulting, development company hiring OK'd By Amanda Van Benschoten, Cincinnati Enquirer, November 12, 2008 UNION - The Union Town Plan has moved a big step closer toward becoming a reality. City Commission voted unanimously on Monday to hire Columbus consulting and development firm Pizzuti Solutions, which is charged with getting the Union Town Plan off the ground. "It's a way of being proactive and not just sitting back and waiting for developers to come to us," said Mayor Don Kirby.
November 12, 200816 yr They need to attract more than just white people. If I'm not mistaken this is the whitest city in the region.
November 13, 200816 yr Lmao! Alexandria has grown alot within the past 5 years. I was surprised when I saw the huge apartment complex that was just built along the AA.
November 16, 200816 yr ^^It's right next to Florence, and every bit as lame. I still can't get over the water tower there ("Florance Ya'll" LOL)!
November 25, 200816 yr Convention center hits wall Timing, location make expansion difficult By Keith T. Reed, Cincinnati Enquirer, November 23, 2008 COVINGTON - Officials are deciding how much money to request from the Kentucky Legislature to expand the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, which they say is in need of an upgrade. In Kentucky's 2007-08 fiscal year, the agencies that operate the center requested $51 million from the state to buy land and expand the center. The proposal was included in a planning budget before a change in administrations derailed the effort.
November 30, 200816 yr Student union gives campus living room Space engages students, fosters community Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Tanya Bricking Leach Ever since it was nicknamed “the Concrete Jungle,” Northern Kentucky University’s campus lacked a hub. The suburban campus was kind of like the Tin Man with no heart: It had lots of buildings with little warmth. There just weren’t many buildings designed to be places to hang out. As the university grew beyond being just a commuter school (now with an enrollment of about 15,000), students craved a gathering place so much that they voted to increase student fees to pay for it. Today, the 40-year-old campus finally has a living room. NKU’s $37 million Student Union project opened its doors this fall to a 150,000-square-foot building filled with skylights, open spaces and comfortable furniture. It’s home to Starbucks, student affairs offices and even a sushi bar. It has a game room, ballroom and enough extra space that students can come in to check their e-mail at free kiosks or just lounge on a couch and take a catnap. Read full article here: http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/12/01/focus4.html
December 8, 200816 yr Projects near NKU go ahead But some slowing as tenants hesitate to commit By Scott Wartman, Kentucky Enquirer, December 8, 2008 Some developers of planned shopping and residential developments around Northern Kentucky University and its new arena expect to start construction in 2009. The economy has slowed some of the projects, but the 10,000-seat Bank of Kentucky Center and the growth at NKU have kept developers interested in that section of the U.S. 27 corridor. The Highland Heights City Council earlier this year approved several projects, including two retail developments and an apartment complex for 400 students. The Thriftway that sat vacant for several years along U.S. 27 in front of NKU was torn down during the summer to make way for a retail/office development that might include a hotel.
December 15, 200816 yr Bids for garage will be opened Monday But Covington commissioners not sure they will sell By Mike Rutledge, Kentucky Enquirer, December 14, 2008 COVINGTON - An envelope to be opened Monday morning in a fourth-floor City Hall conference room could mean millions of dollars for city government and Northern Kentucky developer Corporex Cos. That envelope will reveal how much Corporex and possibly other firms are willing to pay for the approximately 900-space parking garage beneath the Riverfront Embassy Suites Hotel and two RiverCenter office towers. ...
December 27, 200816 yr Fitness mecca emerges By Scott Wartman • [email protected] • December 27, 2008 NEWPORT - The shops along Monmouth Street in Newport have taken on a more healthy attitude with more businesses focused on exercise and fitness. Several entrepreneurs hope that the Pilates, yoga and exercise studios in the shopping district can make it a draw for people wanting to get into shape. http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20081227/NEWS0103/812270345/
December 27, 200816 yr ^ It's taken me awhile, but I've really warmed to Monmouth these days. For those of you who hate on NOTL, try walking south on Monmouth (wish you could drive south on it....). It's a very eclectic mix of old time shops, ethnic restaurants etc.....oh, and the brass @ss! What's not to like? I also think that Monmouth, ultimately, is what will drive the Newport economy. NOTL isn't going anywhere, but it's more of an attraction people tend to visit. A healthy business district attracts homeowners who are looking to put down roots.
December 27, 200816 yr It's a very eclectic mix of old time shops, ethnic restaurants etc Monmouth could really use a good chinese or indian restaurant, assuming that there isn't one already
January 8, 200916 yr Mall Road project may not be ready for stimulus package By Justin B. Duke, Kentucky Enquirer, January 7, 2009 Florence may be stuck with what Mayor Diane Whalen called a "classic chicken and egg" situation. If President-elect Obama enacts an economic stimulus package funding "shovel-ready" projects, the Mall Road reconstruction project may not be ready enough to be included. Right now, the engineering and planning needed for any road project hasn't been done, and city leaders aren't sure if Florence should go ahead and pay for it to be done.
January 8, 200916 yr So what if it backs up? A reminder that you're in the exurbs. And new stores in the area will not create jobs, they will just take them from other areas.
January 24, 200916 yr Malls Losing Customers, Businesses Thanks To Recession 200,000 Stores Expected To Close In 2009 WLWT-TV, January 22, 2009 CINCINNATI -- People who have been shopping at area malls are getting a first-hand look at the effects the recession is having on local business. Reports show that 200,000 stores are expected to close nationwide this year. News 5 talked with local mall workers to see how the economy is hurting them.
January 24, 200916 yr Malls Losing Customers, Businesses Thanks To Recession 200,000 Stores Expected To Close In 2009 WLWT-TV, January 22, 2009 “Less parents, less business,” Lawson said. "We've had a jewelry store close, a golf store close.” The golf store was a seasonal store open only in December. "Oh no, the Halloween store closed!" Since Christmas, three jewelry stores, the KB Toys, a sports store that may also have been seasonal and a beads store have closed. But anyway, major duh on a mall being slower in late January than in November.
January 27, 200916 yr Historic Covington townhomes see new light http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/herriman0127.aspx Two renovated townhomes have hit the market in Covington's Licking Riverside Historic District, and the Huff Realty sales team plans to show them off to realtors and qualified buyers during a champagne lunch tomorrow from 11 AM to 2 PM. Covington real estate developer and philanthropist David Herriman has restored the twin three-story units at 223-225 E 2nd Street, now being offered for $565,000-$575,000. The Federal style buildings, constructed in the 1850s, were one of the few properties in the district that had not been renovated. "Each one had three really tacky one-bedroom apartments that had been cobbled out of the property," Herriman says. "Then there was a kind of a 1950s frame addition in the back that we took out. And a dilapidated single-car garage." Herriman purchased the buildings in February 2008 and began the process of getting approvals from the city for the proper exterior colors, replacement windows, and other building elements. Because he had experience developing such properties as Riverside Terrace, the Arthur Historic Apartments, rowhouses on 3rd Street and scattered-site infill, the process went smoothly. "They're pretty particular, which I appreciate," Herriman says. "But Covington has always been very helpful." Designer and contractor Jerry Ewers of Spaces handled the restoration, which topped $1 million including acquisition costs. Completely gutted and rebuilt, each unit features oak flooring, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a huge master suite and bath, and lots of closet space. Homeowners will also have access to one garage and one off-street parking space from the adjacent alley, and a private patio that functions as a kind of urban courtyard. "These would be perfect for a young executive, a young couple, or even empty nesters," Herriman says.
February 7, 200916 yr Time to split off! Covington gets gradual makeover Photos are proof that city's evolving from dowdy to dignified By Mike Rutledge, Cincinnati Enquirer, February 7, 2009 COVINGTON - Developments often crawl to completion. That may be why people fail to notice major upgrades to buildings that surround them; the changes are just so gradual. That's one reason employees in Covington's Economic Development department have begun hanging photographs that make up a "Covington Wall of Fame" in City Hall's fourth-floor corridor - to recognize many building restorations that have been made in the past few years.
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