I think this is great news.  I have a degree in Environmental Policy and am a hippie at heart.  It is neat to see big companies starting to buy into alternative energy means.  Also I'm floored that its happening in Cincinnati.  Hopefully this will further the image of us having a green, forward thinking, sustainable city.

I find it amusing that whatever process was needed to make that gross artificial fat is similar enough to the process that makes biodiesel.  What the hell were they trying to feed us?

 

Yeah. I don't know what to take away from this other than it seems "messed up". One the one hand, we're turning chemicals into "food" and feeding it to humans (olestra, artificial sweeteners). On the other hand, we're turning real food into fuel that we burn in our cars (ethanol, biodiesel).

Pure Romance opens new HQ in Downtown Cincy.

 

http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/cincinnati/pure-romance-opens-new-headquarters-with-ribboncutting-ceremony/24491584?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=wlwt5

I just heard that Krause's is closing at Findlay Market.  I loved that place.  Anyone know what happened?

What did they sell?

Meats, cheeses, that sort of thing.  They had a rare roast beef that was fantastic.

 

http://www.findlaymarket.org/merchants/krauses

 

I imagine that it's just economics.  Everything closes eventually.  Just wondered if they were perhaps moving instead of actually closing.

Apparently Krause's was technically not a "part of" Findlay Market. They rented from a private landlord who decided not to renew their lease. No idea what the landlord has in mind for that space, if anything.

Cincy gets a mention as having an 83% increase in institutional buyer activity.  My guess is the institutional activity in Cincinnati and the entire Midwest was pretty low to begin with, does anyone know?

 

The Smart Money Quietly Abandons The Housing Market

DateThursday, February 27, 2014 at 2:12AM

 

 

In real estate, national averages paper over the gritty details on the ground and are a crummy, often contradictory indicator as to what is happening in specific metro areas. When a new trend starts or when a reversal takes place in some locations, it’s watered down by data from other unaffected locations to form the overall averages. But even with this caveat, a national average suddenly sounded an alarm for the housing market: the smart money has started to bail out.

 

The smart money entered the housing market gingerly in 2011 then piled in helter-skelter over the next two years, gobbling up vacant single-family homes out of foreclosure. The forays were funded by Wall Street, awash in the Fed’s crazy-money. The smart-money operators trained their guns on specific markets, such as Phoenix and Las Vegas, and bought homes by the thousands that they tried to rent out. Then they spread their campaigns to other cities.

 

http://www.testosteronepit.com/home/2014/2/27/the-smart-money-quietly-abandons-the-housing-market.html?source=Patrick.net

Reser (bike shop) is closing its OTR store. That really sucks. Hopefully they'll be replaced shortly.

 

I wonder what the problem was. Anyone know if business was slow?

Thought some folks here might find this interesting:

 

Chiquita to merge with Irish produce company

 

Charlotte-based Chiquita Brands International said Monday that it plans to merge with Irish fruit company Fyffes, costing Charlotte a corporate headquarters and raising questions about the company’s multi-million dollar incentives package for moving its headquarters from Cincinnati.

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/03/10/4755019/chiquita-to-merge-with-irish-produce.html#.Ux4jWYWQM1I

 

^Based in Dublin? OUCH!!! With the south way of thinking, they still think it's an awesome deal even though it will now pay less taxes to Charlotte and NC.

Toyota plans $1M Greater Cincinnati expansion

Andy Brownfield Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc. is embarking on a $1 million expansion at its Erlanger, Ky. technical center.

 

The commercial alteration is being handled by Triversity Construction Co.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/03/12/toyota-plans-1m-greater-cincinnati-expansion.html

Man, I really wish they would have taken the 309 Vine St. building, I really want that development to happen sooner than later.  But, I really hope they stay downtown regardless of the specific location. 

 

Here's the latest on Cincinnati Bell's office space search, including where it's not going

Tom DemeropolisReporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

Cincinnati Bell Inc. has narrowed its search for a huge block of office space.

 

CEO Ted Torbeck sat down Monday morning with the editorial board at the Business Courier. Part of the discussion focused on Cincinnati Bell’s (NYSE: CBB) potential office move, a story the Business Courier broke at the end of February.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/03/18/heres-the-latest-on-cincinnati-bells-office-space.html

Some actual numbers that show how Cincinnati's economy is improving.

 

http://www.pittsburghtoday.org/view_economy_job_growth_view1.html

 

Boo on the non-downtown sites, but at least they are not in far flung suburban locations.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Catholic Health Partners considers two sites for new HQ

Barrett J. Brunsman and Tom Demeropolis Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Catholic Health Partners, the largest health system in Ohio, has narrowed its choices for a new headquarters location to the former U.S. Playing Card site in Norwood and the former Showcase Cinemas site in the Bond Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati.

 

“We are still in discussions to determine which property would best serve our needs,” CHP spokeswoman Liz Vogel said.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/03/21/exclusive-catholic-health-partners-considers-two.html

^ I really hope they choose the Bond Hill site.  Cincinnati could stand to gain so much income tax from this, and an employer that large might just spur some further investment in the neighborhood.

I know Corinthian's sign says outparcels available, but I guess I was thinking something smaller than a company HQ.

I'm starting to wonder if Conrinthian is ever going to build their new church.  That lot has been sitting there at least 4-5 years now.  I'm kinda guessing there wouldn't be room for this and their planned church though, because 350,000sq ft is pretty big, especially including parking for up to 1000 people.  Hoping it does end up there though, just so something can finally get going there.

I'd rather have a tax-paying corporation in Bond Hill than a church. When the lot is as valuable as it is, with excellent frontage to OH 562 and feeder roads...

I think Corinthian has to move when the MLK interchange gets built.  I'm pretty sure conceptual plans are posted in their lobby.  They probably land-banked for the future, and figured they could offset some costs by having a tenant.

New restaurant for the 580: http://nextstl.com/2014/04/pi-announces-expansion-cincinnati/

 

I think it's great to see the arrival of a business from a fellow river city. I wonder if encouraging this (say by agreements between chambers of commerce to encourage intra-regional expansion) could help facilitate regional cohesion and branding.

 

It happens somewhat naturally, on its own, e.g. Tom + Chee first expanding to Louisville, but something official and publicized might be helpful. Why aren't there any Cincinnati chili parlors in St. Louis?

 

These musings are partly inspired by arenn's recent Urbanophile blog post about river cities. I recommend reading it and the comment section in their entirety. It's about the general inability of cities like Pitt, Cincy, L'ville, and STL to spin their wealth of assets into economic success.

Dewey's is in St Louis or maybe a suburb.

Cincinnati’s industrial vacancy drops to lowest level in 7 years

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

The industrial vacancy rate for Greater Cincinnati reached its lowest point in seven years.

 

The latest report from Cassidy Turley Commercial Real Estate Services shows the local industrial vacancy rate fell to 5.8 percent in the first quarter of 2014, down from 6.2 percent at the end of 2013. This marks the first time vacancy has dropped below 6 percent in seven years.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/04/21/cincinnati-s-industrial-vacancy-drops-to-lowest.html

Toyota closing NKY headquarters; 1,600 jobs lost

 

Toyota is closing its Erlanger headquarters and moving almost 1,600 jobs out of Northern Kentucky as part of a nationwide consolidation of the company's operations.

 

Company officials gathered employees at its Erlanger offices Monday afternoon to tell them the news. All workers there will be offered jobs either at Toyota's new headquarters in Plano, Texas, or at an expanded technical center in Michigan.

 

A few hundred engineers also may move to the company's manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky., where more than 7,000 people now work.

 

Cont

^From dallasnews.com: Toyota's Plano move to bring 4,000 jobs from California, New York and Kentucky

Ouch, GE giveth and Toyota taketh away.

 

Toyota: Kentucky was never an option for new headquarters

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

When Toyota started having conversations about combining its North American headquarters to one location, the prospect of Kentucky landing an additional 2,000 jobs was never on the table.

 

Toyota started actively looking at consolidating its North American headquarters into one location a few months ago, said Mike Goss, vice president of communication for Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. The company announced Monday it will move its three current headquarters locations to Plano, Texas.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/04/28/toyota-kentucky-was-never-an-option-for-new.html

On the bright side, the GE jobs are better in several ways:

• higher wages (good for tax revenue, but not for lower-education/skill workers who need jobs)
  
• urban location (assuming not-Mason)
  
• multifaceted company that won't suffer if driving continues to take big hits.
  

 

Obviously, having both Toyota and GE would be best. But the GE jobs lessen the blow a little, being that the location decisions came in quick succession. Certainly this isn't much consolation for the people losing their jobs or unhappily moving to Texas.

Toyota sends people from Japan to simply observe the departments here.  Having just one location actually makes a lot of sense for that reason -- especially one with non-stops from Japan. 

 

But this is also Toyota's excuse to purge departments.  Only the hardcore robots will make the move to the suburban wasteland of Plano, Texas.  Watch these fools buy houses as soon as they move to Dallas, then get laid off. 

 

I'm just stunned that a place as horrible as Plano, TX is attracting 4,000 professional jobs. 

Toyota closing NKY headquarters; 1,600 jobs lost

 

Toyota is closing its Erlanger headquarters and moving almost 1,600 jobs out of Northern Kentucky as part of a nationwide consolidation of the company's operations.

 

Company officials gathered employees at its Erlanger offices Monday afternoon to tell them the news. All workers there will be offered jobs either at Toyota's new headquarters in Plano, Texas, or at an expanded technical center in Michigan.

 

A few hundred engineers also may move to the company's manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky., where more than 7,000 people now work.

 

Cont

 

In addition to the 1,600 Toyota jobs, there are probably hundreds of other jobs that will be lost at places like fast food restaurants, retail stores, etc. That number will be even higher if many employees move out of the region to chase those jobs.

 

How many of those employees live in Ohio, and what will be the impact on traffic on the Brent Spence Bridge when those people aren't crossing the bridge twice each day?

Anyone know if this includes the Toyota Boshoku office on the other side of 275 from the Toyota HQ?  That almost seems like it's run as a separate entity, so it may or may not.

There is also a Toyota operating in Blue Ash.

As others have mentioned, I wonder how many will actually relocate to Texas? I am sure some will but I cannot imagine that all will want to. It will be two years before they leave, so I am hoping there are other jobs these people can go to.

 

I have asked repeatedly about Toyota Boshoku and Toyota Tsusho and have been told that they are separate companies. That's true, but they basically support TEMA. I hope they do not leave but I will not be surprised if they do.

 

Here’s why AtriCure plans to move its HQ and 200 jobs to Mason

Barrett J. Brunsman Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier 

 

 

AtriCure, the medical device maker based in West Chester, announced today that it plans to relocate its company headquarters and about 200 workers to Mason.

 

Groundbreaking is expected later this year on a two-story building that will encompass 85,000 square feet on a 10.5-acre campus in the OakPark District planned at Western Row and Innovation Way. It’s near Interstate 71 in Warren County.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/04/29/here-s-why-atricure-plans-to-move-its-hq-and-200.html

Toyota sends people from Japan to simply observe the departments here.  Having just one location actually makes a lot of sense for that reason -- especially one with non-stops from Japan. 

 

But this is also Toyota's excuse to purge departments.  Only the hardcore robots will make the move to the suburban wasteland of Plano, Texas.  Watch these fools buy houses as soon as they move to Dallas, then get laid off. 

 

I'm just stunned that a place as horrible as Plano, TX is attracting 4,000 professional jobs.

 

Most major corporations travel to their locations to observe departments.  This is no different, plus they have offered jobs to everyone and many will seize the opportunity and take them.  They are not robots.  They may choose to leave eventually after being there a while, but they will not be laid off, and they will not be fools for buying a house.

 

Can a suburban city itself ever become Urban?  Does a population of more than 270,000 qualify?  I've spent a lot of time in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and you couldn't tell when one city stopped and another began.  Plano is only 18 miles from Dallas.

 

Do you really think its a horrible place?  It sounds good to me!

 

Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The city is home to many corporate headquarters: Alliance Data, Cinemark Theatres, Dell Services, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Ericsson, Frito-Lay, HP Enterprise Services, Huawei, J. C. Penney, Pizza Hut, Rent-A-Center, Traxxas, and Siemens PLM Software.

 

In 2005, 2006, and 2011, Plano was designated the best place to live in the Western United States by CNN Money magazine. In 2006, Plano was selected as the 11th best place to live in the United States by CNN Money magazine.  It was also selected as the safest city in America in 2010 and 2011 by Forbes.  Plano schools consistently score among the highest in the nation.  It has been rated as the wealthiest city in the United States by CNN Money,  and the United States Census Bureau declared Plano the wealthiest city of 2008 by comparing the median household income for all U.S. cities whose populations were greater than 250,000.  In 2008, Forbes.com selected Plano, University Park, and Highland Park as the three "Top Suburbs To Live Well" of Dallas.

 

So...Plano is great because:

A. It has over 270,000 people

B. There are a lot of HQs there, and...

C. It made "top" lists in magazines a few years ago.

Count me in, I'm sold!!!

 

While Northern Ky and (to an extent) Cincinnati will take a blow, try convincing California's employees of that amazing QOL in good ol' Plano.

So...Plano is great because:

A. It has over 270,000 people

B. There are a lot of HQs there, and...

C. It made "top" lists in magazines a few years ago.

Count me in, I'm sold!!!

 

While Northern Ky and (to an extent) Cincinnati will take a blow, try convincing California's employees of that amazing QOL in good ol' Plano.

 

Well, I never said it was great because it has over 270,000 people, I only said that it was more than a small suburb, it was a city in itself.

 

I don't know if having many corporate HQ or being on a lot of lists makes it great, but it sounds like a nice place to work and live. 

 

I would suspect that some of California's employees might enjoy the change.

 

 

 

Plano has a quaint & walkable downtown and a light rail line to Dallas w/ something resembling TOD. It's not paradise, but it's far from being sprawl hell.

I've been to Plano a few times. It is basically the suburban Mecca. It's 270,000 people living in a cookie cutter suburban landscape. Think Mason times 10. All of the corporate leadership that would typically want to place their HQ's in suburban office complexes likely foam at the mouth at the thought of being in Plano.

 

Huge corporations are very resistant to change. Even as we see a shift back toward urbanism and the fact that young professionals do not want to live in suburban sprawl, the corporations that currently flock to suburban campuses aren’t going to change very fast, and people are still going to take the jobs there even if they don’t like the location. It will be awhile (perhaps a generation) before the young people that can’t stand suburbs work their way up the ladder to a corporate leadership level and actually have a say in things like this.

Funny how the cities that make these "Best Quality of Life" lists are boring places that are "safe" and have "good schools", etc. Why do so many people move to places like New York City is their QOL is so bad?

 

"Those lists of most liveable cities…why don’t any of the vibrant big cities of the world ever make the list? Because the lists don’t take into account many important reasons why people choose to live in a certain place." --Financial Times

 

(See also: Another dumb-a$$ list/Ranking of cities)

Didn't West Chester just lose another company last week to Blue Ash?

 

 

 

Edit:

 

Yep

 

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/advancepierre-to-move-hqs-to-blue-ash-upgrades-als/nfjwy/

Didn't West Chester just lose another company last week to Blue Ash?

 

 

 

Edit:

 

Yep

 

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/advancepierre-to-move-hqs-to-blue-ash-upgrades-als/nfjwy/

 

I'm sure these places are throwing big incentives around to poach them from nearby municipalities. Any extra incentives given amount to a net-negative for the region.

I'm sure West Chester stated first since that had nothing to start with. Now places like Blue Ash are fighting back.

Doesn't really matter who started it. The point is we should be competing w/ other metros, not ourselves.

It's just interesting to see companies moving out of a township and into a city for a change. It goes to show that if the city offers that these companies want, they will locate there... whether it's to be closer to their workforce, an airport, parks, transit, or other amenities.

Toyota plans $1M Greater Cincinnati expansion

Andy Brownfield Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc. is embarking on a $1 million expansion at its Erlanger, Ky. technical center.

 

The commercial alteration is being handled by Triversity Construction Co.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/03/12/toyota-plans-1m-greater-cincinnati-expansion.html

 

So I guess this isn't happening...

Apparently not. Very disappointed with the way Toyota treated its employees and government officials in this matter.

eBay set to bring 300 jobs to Greater Cincinnati

 

EBay Enterprise, an eBay Inc. company, will expand its operations in Boone County to create 300 new full-time jobs and invest nearly $52 million.

The expansion will include a 630,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Walton, bringing the company’s total distribution space in the Bluegrass State to 1.4 million square feet.

Cincinnati Bell to move 600 jobs from Norwood to the Atrium Complex Downtown

Cincinnati Bell to move 600 jobs from Norwood to the Atrium Complex Downtown

 

Article to reference? CB just moves those jobs back and forth between DT and Norwood.