A quick one-day visit back to Cincinnati on September 1st. I got a private tour of CR Architecture+Design's new offices downtown, lunch at Sung Korean Bistro on 7th, private tour of the new Neon's on Main Street, a quick hello to the Gateway Quarter's new retail specialist, a little chill time at Coffee Emporium with the Taking the Stage kids, a walk through OTR for photos, cocktail hour at Soapbox world headquarters, then drinks at Lavomatic to end the night.

 

1. Looking out from the courtyard at what will soon be The Famous Neon's Unplugged...Become a fan of Neon's on Facebook!

 

2. The enormous outdoor bar at Neon's.

 

3. Bocci Ball courts will soon be here with grills and live acoustic music.

 

4. The first floor bar that has been stripped.

 

5. Looking back out into the courtyard.

 

6. A couple Segway cops were going past and decided to have a look for themselves.

 

7. The second floor bar...just down the hall from the famous cigar room.

 

8. Looking out from the men's bathroom on the second floor.  The historic School of Creative & Performing Arts dominates the scene.

 

9. Entrance to the courtyard area from the street. One giant piece of flair.

 

10. And the exterior of The Famous Neon's Unplugged.

 

11. Courtyard Cafe on Main Street

 

12. NW corner of 12th & Vine streets.

 

13. Metronation in between 12th and 13th streets on Vine in historic Over-the-Rhine.

 

14. Looking northeast along Vine Street towards Trideca Lofts and more shopping.

 

15. Venice on Vine at the NW corner of 13th & Vine streets.

 

16. Trinity Flats is the latest infill project and is going up across the street from the 14/V condo building.

 

17. Detail of Trinity Flats at street level.

 

18. The legendary Suder's Art Store on Vine Street just north of 13th.

 

19. Looking southwest down Vine Street

 

20. A Lucky Step in between 12th and 13th streets on Vine in historic Over-the-Rhine.

 

21. The man, the legend, Jim Tarbell welcomes you to the neighborhood he always fought for (Over-the-Rhine) with his signature look.

 

22. The Gateway Condo building at Central Parkway and Vine streets complete with flower pots and bike racks.

 

23. The Art Academy of Cincinnati located at 12th and Jackson streets.

 

24. New courtyard area for a newly refurbished residential building on 12th Street.

 

25. New mural near 13th & Race streets.

 

26. Restored brick alley behind the new City Home townhouse development (left).

 

27. Lot being prepped for future development at 15th & Pleasant streets.

 

28. Two beautiful Italianate structures in foreground, City Home midground, Carew Tower background.

 

29.

 

30. Detail of the new City Home townhomes being marketed towards families sending their children to the new K-12 School of Creative & Performing Arts just a couple blocks away.

 

31. Another lot being prepped for development with one of Cincinnati's best photographers and transportation historians - Jake Mecklenborg.

 

32. Lackman Lofts in the background with some great opportunities in the foreground on 13th Street.

 

33. At Soapbox world headquarters for a cocktail hour before I head across the street for some wine with a couple friends at Lavomatic Cafe.

 

34.

 

35. Soapbox's new digs inside the Gateway Condominium building are pretty sweet.

 

36. You get some great views like this from the large patio. Park+Vine (a "green" general store) seen here.

 

37. Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati (off-broadway) right over here.

All that time in OTR and you're not swiss cheese? ;) Can't wait to see this area after some more renovations are finished.

LOVED IT.  I was waiting for this thread, and it was definitely worth the wait.  OTR looks so great.  Thanks for the photos, Randy.

Great thread of tremendous change! I can't wait to see how Trinity Flats comes out.

 

I hate that Tarbell has a mural though.

Thanks for the compliments so far.  There is a lot happening in the neighborhood and you could just about go down there on a weekly basis and redo this kind of a photo collection.  Something else that stuck out when I was going through these photographs, and when I was walking around, was the number of luxury/high-end vehicles hanging around.

OTR is starting to really come around.

Hey, quick question - what's going to happen to the old SCPA?  Otherwise great pictures!

Great pics

 

Is the Ensemble Theatre renovation and expansion on hold or off the table?  I figured with the recession that it would be on hold, but I heard some "rumors" that the renovation might be done. 

Is the Ensemble Theatre renovation and expansion on hold or off the table? I figured with the recession that it would be on hold, but I heard some "rumors" that the renovation might be done.

 

It's ongoing, based on my recent walk-bys of the place.

 

Good photos Randy, I love the energy that is sustaining in OTR.

Love the brick ally. I wish they would rip up all the asphalt in the allies in OTR and Downtown. I would like to see them possibly add some lighting treatments and some trees. It would be cool to see them make the smaller allies pedestrian only by putting either a line of street trees or street lamps down the center.

There are still a few allies in OTR that feature Belgian wood blocks.

I am not all that familiar with Cincy, but what gives with Bocce courts at the beer gardens? I know that the one right byUC campus has them too. Just wondering. Cincy is not know for Italians.

what gives with Bocce courts at the beer gardens

I guess I should be the one to answer that.  Despite being one of the oldest games known to man and easiest to both pick up and play while drinking, Bocce is one of the games that was a staple at the original Neon's.  Ours is a celebration, not of German history, but Over the Rhine history and we are attempting to bring back some, not all, of the original character of the space.  Neon's is a part of that rich OTR bar history and although recent, historically significant none the less.

 

The reason Bocce was there to begin with is that 1) it is different than what most bars are even able to offer due to space requirements 2) it is lawn bowling and an interactive piece in a garden which the outdoor space at Neon's was designed to be. 3)and most important, it gives people a reason to show up Mon-Thurs for leagues and who knows, perhaps have a drink or two.

Well done.

Cincinnati has a lot of momentum going right now, between OTR, The Banks, and QCS II.  Not to mention the semi-recently completed Fountain Square.  Any particular reason all this great stuff is happening now, in a recession no less? 

Neon's reopening.  I must say the pix bring back fuzzy memories from the early/mid 90's!  That huge bar and the courtyard...

I spent some time in OTR in 2001-02 and I love to see money going back into this great urban neighborhood.

Something else that stuck out when I was going through these photographs, and when I was walking around, was the number of luxury/high-end vehicles hanging around.

 

Yeah, especially the ones parked in front of fire hydrants (see #19).

 

Great photos.

what gives with Bocce courts at the beer gardens

I guess I should be the one to answer that.  Despite being one of the oldest games known to man and easiest to both pick up and play while drinking, Bocce is one of the games that was a staple at the original Neon's.  Ours is a celebration, not of German history, but Over the Rhine history and we are attempting to bring back some, not all, of the original character of the space.  Neon's is a part of that rich OTR bar history and although recent, historically significant none the less.

 

The reason Bocce was there to begin with is that 1) it is different than what most bars are even able to offer due to space requirements 2) it is lawn bowling and an interactive piece in a garden which the outdoor space at Neon's was designed to be. 3)and most important, it gives people a reason to show up Mon-Thurs for leagues and who knows, perhaps have a drink or two.

 

Thanks. I was just wondering because the outdoor courtyard/ pavilion is obviously a German influence but the Bocce courts threw me for a loop. Don't get me wrong I think the combination is pure genius like chocolate and peanut butter together. I am from Youngstown and a lot of older clubs/bars  have bocce courts but they are usually in the basement or separated from the main bar/dining  area.

 

Although I think that the most obvious reason to play is that a Bocce ball is the perfect counter weight to a full beer.

I am in love with this thread.  It's really interesting watching OTR progress while not living in Cincinnati.  I've heard many people talk about how slow it's going, but for me the changes are dramatic every time I go there.  I can't get over all the murals.  It really adds vitality to the street scenes.  And the pocket parks are one of my favorite OTR features.  Gorgeous.

 

Cincinnati has a lot of momentum going right now, between OTR, The Banks, and QCS II. Not to mention the semi-recently completed Fountain Square. Any particular reason all this great stuff is happening now, in a recession no less?

 

My impression is that Cincinnati's conservative nature puts projects in the "collect money" stage for many years and the puts off the "pounce" until a recession when things are cheaper.  It seems to be a frustrating, but effective strategy (subway-aside).

 

 

I would like to see them possibly add some lighting treatments and some trees. It would be cool to see them make the smaller allies pedestrian only by putting either a line of street trees or street lamps down the center.

 

The new streetscaping you see in these pictures will have new street trees put in this November.

The more I see of OTR, the more I realize there's nothing else like this in the Midwest. This looks more like something in Brooklyn moved next to an Appalachian foothill. Serious potential, no doubt about it.

 

OTR is pretty incredible.  You should come visit Cincinnati for a full-blown tour.  I'm sure I could arrange tours through many of the buildings throughout the neighborhood.  Just let me know if you're interested.

^ I am definitely interested in a tour.  I just have to find the time to come out.  When I figure out when I can get out there, I will let you know.

The more I see of OTR, the more I realize there's nothing else like this in the Midwest. This looks more like something in Brooklyn moved next to an Appalachian foothill. Serious potential, no doubt about it.

 

That is a great description!  Looking good OTR.

Bricklicious !!!     

Great thread, loving the new OTR.  I'm unfamiliar with the Neon's bar....is it in the OTR or in Kenton County, KY? 

Dammit, why did you have to bring this thread back with all the sunshine and greenery?!?!?!? AHHGG!

I'm unfamiliar with the Neon's bar....is it in the OTR or in Kenton County, KY?

NEONS is in OTR on 12th Street. The entry way to our courtyard was brought in from the Kenton County Infirmary. That piece, along with several others inside of the courtyard, was purchased from the wooden nickle by Terry Carter. They are massive pieces.  The inside of it says Rosedale Manor.

Something else that stuck out when I was going through these photographs, and when I was walking around, was the number of luxury/high-end vehicles hanging around.

That's a good sign.  The more people get to know THIS OTR, the quicker they will forget "our parents' Over-the-Rhine"

 

Also, what's up with Tarbell?  Why don't some people like him?  Not familiar with him aside from Wikipedia which is pretty sparse.