The downtown Cincinnati thread.

[Kahns Krazy]

Instead of continuing to hijack another thread, I thought I'd make a thread to talk about what's going on downtown. General comments, new restaurants or stores, things that are changing, closing, etc.

I'm downtown a lot, and will be working downtown daily within the next year. It's come a long way since me and Garvin and Benwar used to meet Snipe at that sh***y Fifth and Vine bar to watch away games.

To keep the conversation from going south, I'm asking that everyone stay away from the streetcar issue. It's been played out extensively, and I don't think many people's opions are going to change on it.

There's a lot continuing to go on downtown, from the ongoing development at the Banks, a new park on the way, a Casino at the Broadway Commons site, and some real progress in the OTR/Quarter district area.

[Kahns Krazy]

On the downside (or maybe not, depending on your perspective) I think Cadillac Ranch's days are probably numbered, and maybe with a number that you could count to on your fingers. If you have a gift certificate there, you might want to use it very soon.

[drudy23]

That Fifth and Vine bar had some great onion rings.

[Porkopolis]

For anyone who has never been Arnold's is a must visit. Sit in the courtyard if given the choice. I think the place will become more popular with its regular appearances on Harry's Law.

[bobbiemcgee]

When I worked on that corner it was the hotel bar? and the Stadium Club. Had coffee with Sparky Anderson every morning, when the Reds were in town, at that hole in the wall coffee shop. yeah, it's been a while.

[bobbiemcgee]

For anyone who has never been Arnold's is a must visit. Sit in the courtyard if given the choice. I think the place will become more popular with its regular appearances on Harry's Law.

My bro-in-law has played in a band there for years.

[Juice]

For anyone who has never been Arnold's is a must visit. Sit in the courtyard if given the choice. I think the place will become more popular with its regular appearances on Harry's Law.

I was told by someone at work that they either switched up their menu or got a new chef, or maybe both. I guess the food is much better.

[Kahns Krazy]

For anyone who has never been Arnold's is a must visit. Sit in the courtyard if given the choice. I think the place will become more popular with its regular appearances on Harry's Law.

Arnolds is a great spot. Now that they have a winter roof for the courtyard, it's a year-round option. Good fun spot that is a part of Cincinnati history. They also keep the taps rotating so there's decent beers on tap.

[chico]

Arnolds is a great spot. Now that they have a winter roof for the courtyard, it's a year-round option. Good fun spot that is a part of Cincinnati history. They also keep the taps rotating so there's decent beers on tap.

I'll have to check it out again. Used to go there a lot when Tarbell used to own it - loved the live music in the courtyard and they always had Moerlein on tap.

First date for my wife and I some 20 years ago, so definitely fond memories of the place. Also still have my Broadway Commons t-shirt she bought me when the stadium debate was going on (not to hijack the thread, but the single biggest blunder in the past 20 years was not putting the stadium there - worse than the Bengals in my opinion because of what the stadium would have done for Over the Rhine).

[MuskieCinci]

Is Arnold's the really old place on I think 8th Street? I went there during the warmer months, I could only last for an hour in there without air conditioning. That place was an oven.

[XUFan09]

Agreed, Arnold's is fantastic. Great staff working there too.

[XUFan09]

Blue Wisp just a couple blocks from Arnold's is also a cool jazz club.

[nkymuskie]

Random but did they restart construction on the casino? I thought I saw some equipment moving around down there again. I could be wrong though. I haven't really followed it, but would love to see that casino opened

[Kahns Krazy]

Is Arnold's the really old place on I think 8th Street? I went there during the warmer months, I could only last for an hour in there without air conditioning. That place was an oven.

Really hot nights are not my favorite at Arnolds, though it does give you an interesting sample of what it must have been like in Cincinnati 100 years ago. Spring and fall, when the roof is off of the courtyard, are my favorite times.


Random but did they restart construction on the casino? I thought I saw some equipment moving around down there again. I could be wrong though. I haven't really followed it, but would love to see that casino opened

I think the construction was only stopped for a few weeks. They have been working pretty steadily on the site.

[xu drew]

Drive by The Banks every day on my way in and out of work. Progress has been slow, but steady. It's good to see some actual life. If you've not been to The Holy Grail, I would recommend it....especially if you can reserve one of their tap tables.

I'm not sold on some of the other businesses that will be opening down the road, like the Toby Keith bar and Johnny Rockets. The Moerlein Lagerhouse, however, can't open soon enough.

[Kahns Krazy]

I will never go in Toby Keith's bar, but I believe that there are hordes of people who will, so I am for it. A good mix of options would be great.

The banks needs at least one medium upscale place, I believe. Like a Palamino's.

[drudy23]

The Moerlein Lagerhouse, however, can't open soon enough.

I agree...but that place looks HUGE...almost too big.

[Juice]

Random but did they restart construction on the casino? I thought I saw some equipment moving around down there again. I could be wrong though. I haven't really followed it, but would love to see that casino opened

They have been working at the site for a few weeks. Beams and what not are starting to go up.

[xu95]

I am downtown five days a week and Toby's bar can't open up quick enough. I have been to enough of his other bars to know the food will be awesome and the beer will be cold (what else do you need). I will definitely be visiting the LagerHouse as well.

Johnny Rockets can eat a bag of dicks.

xu95

[Porkopolis]

Johnny Rockets can eat a bag of dicks.

Of those two I've only ever eaten Johnny Rockets, but I've got to say I imagine the taste to be similar.

[nkymuskie]

I am downtown five days a week and Toby's bar can't open up quick enough. I have been to enough of his other bars to know the food will be awesome and the beer will be cold (what else do you need). I will definitely be visiting the LagerHouse as well.


xu95

When are those two scheduled to open?

[Porkopolis]

Mayberry Foodstuffs is closing at the end of October (the restaurant will remain open). I really love the place and buy food there once every couple of weeks when I'm out for a walk. They have some really unique items that you can't get anywhere else locally and I'm sad to see them go.

[Kahns Krazy]

When are those two scheduled to open?

I think the Moerlein house was pushed back to February. Not sure about Moby Keith.

[LutherRackleyRulez]

I think the Moerlein house was pushed back to February. .


Moerlein Lager House to open Feb. 6


The Cincinnati Park Board and Moerlein Lager House announced that the restaurant and brewery in Smale Riverfront Park, adjacent to The Banks, will open its doors on Monday, Feb. 6.

Planners had originally said they were hoping for a fall opening. The reason for the setback wasn’t immediately clear Friday. Record rainfall earlier this year delayed some construction, but in June, planners said that work was still on track.

The $4 million, two-story restaurant will feature a 6,500-square-foot microbrewery, two outdoor beer gardens, a hops garden and room for more than 1,100 diners and drinkers.

The lager house is a joint venture between Christian Moerlein Brewing Co., which is focusing on the beer and microbrewery, and the Cunningham Restaurant Group, which will oversee the restaurant side of the operation. Based in Avon, Ind. the Cunningham Group operates Stone Creek Dining Co. restaurants in Montgomery and West Chester Township.

Prior to the public opening, the lager house will host a gala to benefit Cincinnati Parks’ “Explore Nature” program. That will take place on Saturday, Feb. 4.

When the lager house opens, hours will be 11 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday, with extended closings as late as 2:30 a.m. for special events.

More details about the gala and the lager house will be released in the coming weeks.






http://cincinnati.com/blogs/newintown/2011/09/16/moerlein-lager-house-to-open-feb-6/





http://www.moerleinlagerhouse.com/

[xu95]

it was supposed to open this summer, so at this point who the heck knows.

xu95

[Kahns Krazy]

it was supposed to open this summer, so at this point who the heck knows.

xu95

I would be surprised to see it pushed back beyond the current early February opening date. I read in one of the releases that they could open in December, but are intentionally staying away from a holiday season opening for staffing reasons.

Porko- Where is Mayberry?

[Mack Attack]

I would be surprised to see it pushed back beyond the current early February opening date. I read in one of the releases that they could open in December, but are intentionally staying away from a holiday season opening for staffing reasons.

Porko- Where is Mayberry?

Thats the reason I heard. Another issue with pushing the date back was becasue they needed to get in the building several weeks in advance to start the brewing process becasue it's all on site.

[xu95]

Thats the reason I heard. Another issue with pushing the date back was becasue they needed to get in the building several weeks in advance to start the brewing process becasue it's all on site.

That right there is enough reason to go.

[Porkopolis]

Porko- Where is Mayberry?

The grocery store the owner is closing is at 203 E 7th Street. The location is not one you will accidentally stumble across and I think that is the big problem. The restaurant on Vine is going to remain open, as is his place in Walnut Hills (The Skinny Pig).

[THRILLHOUSE]

The grocery store the owner is closing is at 203 E 7th Street. The location is not one you will accidentally stumble across and I think that is the big problem. The restaurant on Vine is going to remain open, as is his place in Walnut Hills (The Skinny Pig).


He (Josh Campbell) also owns World Food Bar at Findlay Market. I was disappointed to hear the grocery was closing.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

I saw this article (buried) on the Enquirer's website yesterday. Very good to see and it looks like there is much more good news to come.

"Study: The Banks having a $92M impact"

http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20120522/BIZ/305220041/Study-Banks-having-92M-impact?odyssey=nav|head


• 1,878 construction jobs created so far.

Those workers earned $75.6 million, on which employers paid city tax. Contractors paid sales tax on materials used during construction and spent money at local restaurants and retail stores. Developers Carter, the Dawson Co. and USAA Real Estate Co. also paid real estate taxes.

• Residents in each of 300 new apartments.

With an annual median income of $91,000, they spend a combined $22 million each year, including $1.2 million dining out.

• Annual sales and tax projected to be paid by restaurateurs.

They include The Holy Grail, Johnny Rockets, Moerlein Lager House, Orange Leaf and Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar, all open now, as well as the six restaurants expected to open by early 2013. Crave will hold the next grand opening June 11.

• Additional revenue from 1,825 new parking spaces in The Banks garages.

It goes on to say:


City and county investments since 2007 include the construction of a new street grid, additions to the city’s central parking garage and the $30 million Smale Riverfront Park. Those investments have been matched by $85 million in contributions by The Banks developers and the $10 million Moerlein development by private investors.

The economic impact will jump to $276 million annually once a 230,000-square-foot office building, 27,000 square feet of residences and hotel with 170-250 rooms are built. Developers will have invested more than $162 million on the first phase of construction, and required 3,600 construction jobs.

The Banks also will have fueled creation of 2,400 ongoing jobs, with its tenants directly employing nearly 1,400 people.

By 2019 or 2020, The Banks is planned to include another 1,200 residential units and 500,000 additional square feet of retail and restaurants, offices and hotels, contributing $335 million annually to the local economy. A groundbreaking for phase two hasn’t yet been set.

[xudash]

What, if anything, is going on with the old Holiday Inn building downtown (across from the Cincinnatian (sp))?

[Kahns Krazy]

What, if anything, is going on with the old Holiday Inn building downtown (across from the Cincinnatian (sp))?

Are you referring to the Terrace Plaza hotel? I think the Holiday Inn downtown is on W 8th.

A New York group of investors bought it in 2010, I think it's still sitting as a "development opportunity".

[xudash]

Are you referring to the Terrace Plaza hotel? I think the Holiday Inn downtown is on W 8th.

A New York group of investors bought it in 2010, I think it's still sitting as a "development opportunity".

You're right; I stand corrected.

A big building at a key location that once had the Gourmet Room on top of it.

Didn't they want to convert it to condos before the bubble burst?

[danaandvictory]

Hopefully they nuke that dump from space, it's a complete eyesore. I'd accept pretty much anything else on the site, up to and including a 100-foot tall statue of Snipe eating a hot dog.

[boozehound]

Hopefully they nuke that dump from space, it's a complete eyesore. I'd accept pretty much anything else on the site, up to and including a 100-foot tall statue of Snipe eating a hot dog.

Is that an actual functional hotel still, or is it abandoned?

[Juice]

Hopefully they nuke that dump from space, it's a complete eyesore. I'd accept pretty much anything else on the site, up to and including a 100-foot tall statue of Snipe eating a hot dog.

I would assume it would have to be kosher because of Snipe's love for God's chosen people

[Kahns Krazy]

Is that an actual functional hotel still, or is it abandoned?

Is is currently not open. It was a hotel as recently as 2008 I believe. There was a good story on it I think in Cincinnati magazine.

[xudash]

Is that an actual functional hotel still, or is it abandoned?

I was in Cincinnati 3 years ago, staying across the street, and the place looked completely closed up to me then. It's logical that it would be shut down. Alternative use for a large, outdated hotel, awaiting perceived condo development would appear to be limited.

[blobfan]

[QUOTE=JimmyTwoTimes37;348289]I saw this article (buried) on the Enquirer's website yesterday. Very good to see and it looks like there is much more good news to come.

"Study: The Banks having a $92M impact"

http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20120522/BIZ/305220041/Study-Banks-having-92M-impact?odyssey=nav|head

...QUOTE]

I'd love to know how people come up with these studies and how they prevent cross-counting the economic impact. How do we know none of the people counted as new residents didn't live elsewhere downtown or in the city? Maybe their economic impact was simply transferred? The sports teams count their impact, the banks, the arts, conventions, so if everyone is counting economic impact, how can we be sure they aren't claiming some of the same spend? It's just so easy to manipulate these numbers that I don't trust them.

Please note, this is a comment on economic impact studies, not The Banks. I'm excited about the activity there and am looking forward to visiting the new park during my lunch breaks.

[Kahns Krazy]

I bet if they used all of the best estimates and math available, and it came out to exactly $100 million even, they would change something to make it a less round number.

[PM Thor]

How long had The Banks been in development? Council and county were arguing back and forth for what seemed to be at least ten years, does that sound about right?

It's great to see all the development taking off, but it sure did take them a long time (or did it? Anybody know when The Banks were first proposed?)

I HATE dayton.

[Kahns Krazy]

I think it took longer than that, and even if the current plan is well executed, it won't be complete until 2019.

So far (with the exception of the Mahogany's debacle), it really seems to have been very well done. I'll take well done slower development over slapped together development any time on such a critical piece of property. I walked through the new park on Saturday, it's amazingly well done and a real landmark for downtown. When it's finished, it should be outstanding.

There's also a real chance that the delays will ultimately make it more successful. Had the initial phase of the banks opened in 2007, we probably would have seen the initial round of tenants bankrupted already. The slower pace of development will hopefully mean that the businesses that are there have a more realistic business model. Maybe not though. I'm not giving the City any credit here for dodging a bullet. They may have just lucked into a happy accident.

[XU-PA]

Been gone since 2004, have been back to town a handful of time and everytime I manage to get down to the river, and I'm continually amazed at how cool it is, and how it keeps on changing for the better.

It all goes back to the change in Ft Washington Way. It was always a blockade between town and the riverfront, and limited access to the river. ever since that massive reconstruction plan there has been a boom of construction, certainly in the billions of dollars when you figure construction cost and economic impact for the area.
My last trip I got to spend time at a bar right in the shadow of GABP, on a night when there was no game, it was football season and the only thing going on was the channel 12 bengals night in the bar, It was packed, the area was alive. I noticed that more restaurants were about to open, and there were more projects just getting started down there.
It's truly an amazing development, when you think back to the 60's before old riverfront stadium and the floorwall was built, what a mess that place was.
I am constantly amazed by the number of people I hear from who will still not go enjoy downtown, I gues the unfounded fear of crime still hangs over the area like a cloud.
Kudos to those in charge, the decades have been very kind to the Queen City!

[blobfan]

How long had The Banks been in development? Council and county were arguing back and forth for what seemed to be at least ten years, does that sound about right?

It's great to see all the development taking off, but it sure did take them a long time (or did it? Anybody know when The Banks were first proposed?)

I HATE dayton.

More than 10 years. I remember when Qualls was appointed to counsel she tried to put the brakes on saying the current plan was nothing like the one originally developed when she was on counsel the first time. So discussions were underway in 1999 (the year she left) or earlier.

I still crack up whenever she says something nice about progress at The Banks. I never did see her apologize for trying to go back to the drawing board in 2007-2008.

[Kahns Krazy]

I find this fascinating. An out of town perspective on what is happening downtown. I don't like to quote whole articles like this, but it seems often times, NYT articles are hard to find after a while, and I think this is worthy of including in this thread:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/realestate/commercial/cincinnati-comes-back-to-its-ohio-river-shoreline.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all



By KEITH SCHNEIDER

Published: June 5, 2012

CINCINNATI — The shoreline of this Ohio River city, which in the 19th century hummed with 30 steamboat visits a day but faded in the 20th as pollution and industrial disinvestment pushed people and businesses inland, is emerging again as a hub of civic and economic vitality.

Last year the Great American Insurance Group opened a $322 million, 800,000-square-foot office tower close to the river that now dominates the city’s skyline. Two blocks in front of the 41-story building, the city and Hamilton County are constructing a $120 million riverfront park. It steps up from the shoreline in tiers of grass and stone to meet the Banks, a $600 million, 18-acre mixed-use retail, residential and entertainment development.

And Rock Gaming is building a $400 million, 354,000-square-foot casino downtown that is scheduled to open early next year. A 2.6-mile streetcar line, under construction at a cost of $112 million, will link the new park and the Banks to the city’s business center and the historical Over-the-Rhine residential and entertainment district.

“We’re seeing a new Cincinnati coming from all of this,” said Mayor Mark Mallory, a three-term Democrat elected in 2006. “We have a new set of activities, new places to live, new places to work. We are investing in things that grow a city.”

Cincinnati’s economy and its capacity to attract new residents and jobs reflects several converging market trends. The public University of Cincinnati has significantly rebuilt its campus in recent years, attracting more students and national attention, and serving as the foundation of an expanding medical research and health services industry. A growing number of independent marketing and branding companies, many focused on online markets, are developing with the help of and through various collaborations and partnerships with Procter & Gamble, the city’s consumer products mainstay. And upriver from Cincinnati, the energy industry is investing billions to develop deep shale gas and shale oil reserves. The aim is to revive the state’s steel industry, generate a new petrochemical sector, create thousands of jobs and strengthen urban economies from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati.

That is no small goal for a river city founded as a western frontier outpost in 1788. By 1950, Cincinnati had grown into an industrial powerhouse of nearly 504,000 residents. But since 1960, as the metropolitan region expanded to more than two million people and globalization drained manufacturing jobs, Cincinnati has been losing an average of 4,000 residents annually. The median household income is well below the state and national average.

Still, with 80,000 downtown jobs, Cincinnati’s business core is thriving. And with nearly 300,000 residents, 10,000 of them living downtown and now on the waterfront, it remains the third-largest city along the six-state, 981-mile Ohio River, behind Louisville and Pittsburgh. Like its bigger neighbors, and several smaller river cities — including Marietta, Ohio; Owensboro, Ky.; and Evansville, Ind. — Cincinnati is experiencing a strong revival in urban core business and residential growth, much of it prompted by development along a scenic river that state and federal water quality data show is cleaner and more ecologically vital.

On a bright blue afternoon, just the sort of day that prompted Alexis de Tocqueville in 1831 to describe this part of the Ohio River as “one of the most magnificent valleys in which man has made his stay, ” the full sweep of Cincinnati’s new development, clearly designed as the city’s gateway, comes into full view.

Construction workers laid stone walkways and sod in the shoreline park. Alongside, on the upriver end of an 18-acre expanse of grass, walkways, new streets and pocket parks are the first two buildings of the Banks, which opened last year. The sleek six-story brick-and-glass buildings, which cost a total of $82 million, have ground-floor restaurant and retail space and 300 rental apartments above.

The $78 million second phase of the Banks, which is being developed by Carter, is set to start construction late next year. It will include one more mixed-use building of a similar size.

Piece by piece, a new neighborhood is taking shape. It combines an old riverfront economic concept based on housing, entertainment, travel and tourism with a newer focus on the value of professional sports.

Located between the two phases of the Banks is the $110 million, 158,000-square-foot National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which opened in 2004 and was visited in February by Michelle Obama. Flanking the entire development, to the east and west, are Cincinnati’s professional sports stadiums — the Cincinnati Bengals’ $455 million Paul Brown football stadium, which opened in 2000, and the $337 million Great American Ballpark for the Cincinnati Reds, which opened in 2003.

The construction of the Banks and the 45-acre shoreline park comes after more than a decade of significant infrastructure investment along Cincinnati’s riverfront, much of it financed by a half-cent sales tax approved by the city and Hamilton County voters in 1997. Revenue from the tax supported a $322 million highway modernization that narrowed the Fort Washington Way expressway between the river and the central business district. Engineers shortened the overpasses over the sunken freeway, making it much easier for pedestrians to reach the river from downtown.

The tax also supported the new football and baseball stadiums and the construction of a $120 million, 5,500-space underground parking garage that is designed to withstand the river’s periodic flooding. It serves as the out-of-the-floodplain dry pedestal on which all of the new construction is perched.

“There was some pretty sophisticated engineering, and a lot of new structural work that had to happen in a known floodplain before we could do anything with that part of the city,” said Michael Moore, Cincinnati’s director of transportation and engineering. “These are the sort of changes that take a city a generation to plan and complete.”

Laura Swadel, a vice president at Carter, explained in an interview that putting so many “built assets” together along an impressive river is proving to be very attractive to businesses and residents. She said that the development’s retail space was 92 percent leased and that there was a 66-person waiting list for the one- and two-bedroom market-rate apartments, which rent for $1,600 to $1,700 a month.

When fully built out, which will take most of this decade, the Banks will consist of an additional 1.5 million square feet, including more than 1,200 residential units and 500,000 square feet of retail office and hotel space. The cost of construction, she said, is estimated at $600 million.

The Ohio has long been a source of water, resources and transport for 20th-century industrialization. But that industrialization also brought pollution, and when the manufacturing sector started to wither, the river valley’s population shrank and became poorer.

Those decades of decay are giving way to a new era of dynamism in the Ohio River’s big cities. Unemployment in March in Cincinnati was 7.6 percent, lower than the national average.

On April 5, the Cincinnati Reds’ opening day, the city and the Banks held a block party that attracted a crowd estimated by city officials at 140,000 fans, many of them clad in the team’s signature red and white jerseys, caps and jackets. People crowded the new streets outside the Great American Ballpark and stood shoulder to shoulder in the district’s new bars and restaurants.

[GoMuskies]

Louisville is obviously not actually bigger than Cincinnati. They just did the city/county merger thing to make it look that way. Small quibble.

[wkrq59]

Cross County Highway, Cincinnati Stingers, US Bank Arena, aka the Crown, nee Riverfront Coliseum, Riverfront Stadium, Riverfront Stadium access roads and sewers (still not paid for) Bob Bedinghaus, Paul Brown Stadium, The wedge, Great American Ball Park, the Banks,????? Slots at Race tacks, too small, too narrow, too expensive, and that's for I-75, ---Instead, what we have had in both city and county is nothing moves or works until the proper palms are greased, be they Republican or Democrat, roads have to be moved because somebody built a development right in the way and jacked the price of the property ...Oh hell, there's so much over the last half century I can't continue. :D

[Kahns Krazy]

Cross County Highway, Cincinnati Stingers, US Bank Arena, aka the Crown, nee Riverfront Coliseum, Riverfront Stadium, Riverfront Stadium access roads and sewers (still not paid for) Bob Bedinghaus, Paul Brown Stadium, The wedge, Great American Ball Park, the Banks,????? Slots at Race tacks, too small, too narrow, too expensive, and that's for I-75, ---Instead, what we have had in both city and county is nothing moves or works until the proper palms are greased, be they Republican or Democrat, roads have to be moved because somebody built a development right in the way and jacked the price of the property ...Oh hell, there's so much over the last half century I can't continue. :D

Classic old Cincinnati curmudgeon response to the current extremely positive developments downtown. Did you really bring up the Stingers? Only in Cincinnati would someone dwell on a failure from 35 years ago instead of discussing the 20 years of succcess that the Cyclones have enjoyed, the last 10+ of them downtown.

I will never understand why this city seems to enjoy failure so much that a significant portion of the population actually actively works to promote failure.

[Snipe]

I have been down to some Reds games this year, and I went to the dedication of the new park. I also recently took my wife to lunch down there. I have to say I like the feel and what they have done.

To be critical, I thought the apartment building could have been more distinctive, and they might have been able to do more with the balconies. I have yet to see anyone out on the balcony and they say they are full. The balconies don't look all that big or inviting either, and maybe that is the problem.

I don't know what I would have done. Maybe make the buildings look older or more classical, or maybe go the other way and make them more modern or have a distinctive feature. Some of them strike me as kind of bland. Nice location though.

What about the $50 million dollar transit center (http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/region_central_cincinnati/downtown/city-county-leaders-weigh-in-on-cincinnati's-unused-transit-center)? The massive transit center is 8 football fields long and cost close to $50 million. Is that ever going to be put into productive use? Do they want to use it?

One of the nice things about the Banks is the favorable demographics. If I lived there with my family I could give my kids some money and tell them to go to the ball game, or let them go play in the park, where they could ride their bikes or play tennis, roller blade or what have you. Lots of options. That would be really cool. I never thought that living down there would be child friendly, but I think it is. Mainly because it seems safe and clean, well lit and well traveled by responsible citizens.

Does that all change if they start using the transit center? Right now it is a high rent district, with probably some of the highest rents in the City. I would think that Condos down there will fetch a good sum. What happens when it becomes the main hub of transit and you get a huge population of bus people? Will the people that want to buy Condos down there actually want the transit center to open? They don't seem like the kind of population that is going to use buses. If I purchased down there I might be weary of the transit center.

And what about capping Ft. Washington Way and making that a tunnel. I have heard the plans before, and I know they built it to be capped. I think that is going to be a good move when it is done, and make the whole neighborhood more inviting. If you are going to have more open green space, you just need to aggressively make sure that bums aren’t sleeping in it. Otherwise you would be better with the highway barrier.

I think the development is exciting. I hope they put the caps over the highway and make it a tunnel. They can build up to four story buildings on those caps or just have green space. A mix would be nice, they could have buildings on both ends of the cap panels and green space in between.

I am also excited to see the park and bike path completed. I think it is all coming together nicely.

Don’t know what to do about the Slave Museum. It gets a little over 300 people a day, and it was supposed to get around 900. It has some prime real estate. Maybe if Damon Lynch wasn’t in charge it would do better. I don’t want to give another dime to that man. The man agitated a racial riot in Cincinnati, and now he heads a museum that has to fund raise and engage the public. Who thought that Lynch was a good idea? Maybe for a blacks-only museum, but if you want to reach out to the whole population and make money, I can’t see how that is supposed to work.

[Kahns Krazy]

Didn't the Freedom Center merge with the Museum Center? I'm hoping that they will start running some rotating exhibits through the current Freedom Center building to make it more of a draw.

[UCGRAD4X]

I will never understand why this city seems to enjoy failure so much that a significant portion of the population actually actively works to promote failure.
I think it comes from having the Bengals as a pro sports franchise for so many in-glorious years.:D

[boozehound]

I never knew that Ft Washington Way was designed in such a way that it could be made into a tunnel. Interesting. That would open even more cool development opportunities near the stadiums and river.

[sweet16]

I never knew that Ft Washington Way was designed in such a way that it could be made into a tunnel. Interesting. That would open even more cool development opportunities near the stadiums and river.

You can thank someone with vision (Carl Lindner) for that one.

[LadyMuskie]

You can thank someone with vision (Carl Lindner) for that one.

Only if you converse with spirits ;)

[Kahns Krazy]

I had an interesting conversation with a bottle of Maestro Dobel tequila last night. Does that count?

[blobfan]

I find this fascinating. An out of town perspective on what is happening downtown. I don't like to quote whole articles like this, but it seems often times, NYT articles are hard to find after a while, and I think this is worthy of including in this thread:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/realestate/commercial/cincinnati-comes-back-to-its-ohio-river-shoreline.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Yeah, it's a rosey picture. And there's a lot in there that can be debated or that doesn't give the whole story. But it's an article in the New York Times. A POSITIVE article. It didn't even mention Jerry Springer or the riots. If it had been run in the Enquirer, I'd be a little peeved about how one-sidedly positive it is, but I don't mind leaving a few things out when sharing with outsiders. It's kind of like when someone asks how the kids are doing, you share how Jimmy is enjoying baseball and Susie is getting As and forget to mention that Jimmy keeps pooping in the bathtub and Susie kisses all the boys on Jimmy's baseball team.

[drudy23]

Classic old Cincinnati curmudgeon response to the current extremely positive developments downtown. Did you really bring up the Stingers? Only in Cincinnati would someone dwell on a failure from 35 years ago instead of discussing the 20 years of succcess that the Cyclones have enjoyed, the last 10+ of them downtown.

I will never understand why this city seems to enjoy failure so much that a significant portion of the population actually actively works to promote failure.

For real...I've worked downtown for the last 10 years and when I started it was cold and dead...it is now constantly alive and upbeat. And that doesn't even include the vibe from The Banks.

The Banks are already pretty cool, and will get much better when the first phase gets done. And then their will be Phase II. It's truly turning into what most people expected.

[LadyMuskie]

I had an interesting conversation with a bottle of Maestro Dobel tequila last night. Does that count?

That sounds good. I don't know if it counts, but it sounds tasty!

[UCGRAD4X]

I had an interesting conversation with a bottle of Maestro Dobel tequila last night. Does that count?

Not terribly interested in your side of the conversation (no offense) but I am curious about the bottle's perspective.

[Kahns Krazy]

Yeah, it's a rosey picture. And there's a lot in there that can be debated or that doesn't give the whole story. But it's an article in the New York Times. A POSITIVE article. It didn't even mention Jerry Springer or the riots. If it had been run in the Enquirer, I'd be a little peeved about how one-sidedly positive it is, but I don't mind leaving a few things out when sharing with outsiders. It's kind of like when someone asks how the kids are doing, you share how Jimmy is enjoying baseball and Susie is getting As and forget to mention that Jimmy keeps pooping in the bathtub and Susie kisses all the boys on Jimmy's baseball team.

Post of the year candidate.


That sounds good. I don't know if it counts, but it sounds tasty!

The Maestro is an interesting tequila. When it was released, they were shooting for a premium above the existing premium tequilas ($75-$100 per bottle vs the $45-55 that Patron, Herradura and Don Julio tend to be around). It's a blend of Repasado and Anejo tequilas that is filtered to produce a clear tequila blend. While it is amazingly smooth, it lacks anything special to make it stand out in the tequila world.

I picked up a 3 bottle case for $70 from DEPs when they were running a club special. I figured for a bottle that was supposed to be $75, I couldn't go wrong at that price. I was right. At less than $25 per bottle, I have a great tequila on the bar.

My conversation went a little like this:

Me: For a supposedly $75 bottle of tequila, I expected more of of you Dobel.
Dobel: Try another drink.
Me: You make a compelling argument.

[paulxu]

Try another drink.

Potential name of first offspring of I'll Have Another.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Last night around 8:30pm in OTR:

1:15 hour wait for A Tavola
1:30 hour wait for Bakersfield
1 Hour wait for Senate

Ended up hanging out at Bakersfield for awhile. The transformation is really amazing down there

[Kahns Krazy]

Last night around 8:30pm in OTR:

1:15 hour wait for A Tavola
1:30 hour wait for Bakersfield
1 Hour wait for Senate

Ended up hanging out at Bakersfield for awhile. The transformation is really amazing down there

I've heard the popular game is "wait list roulette" where you put your name on every list and see who calls first.

Last tima A Tavola told me 45 min to an hour it was actually about 20 minutes. That was fairly early on a Thursday though.

Downtown was hopping Friday everywhere. Sold out game. Walk off squeeze play. It would have been a better atmosphere if the Stingers hadn't screwed it up 35 years ago.

[blobfan]

For real...I've worked downtown for the last 10 years and when I started it was cold and dead...it is now constantly alive and upbeat. And that doesn't even include the vibe from The Banks.

The Banks are already pretty cool, and will get much better when the first phase gets done. And then their will be Phase II. It's truly turning into what most people expected.

Hmmm. I've been working downtown for 10 years and remember it being cold and dead, but now I see life. With so many posters on here being accused of having multiple user names, I'm wondering if you are me!!
:eek:

[Kahns Krazy]

With everything going on downtown, has Party in the Park outlived its usefuleness? I haven't been in years. Does anyone here go? I was on the river last night, and it was a beautiful night. The Reds were playing the Indians. Everything about it would have made for a packed Party in the Park about 10 years ago, but the crowd looked fairly small. Is this weekly downtown happy hour that isn't really downtown still necessary?

[boozehound]

I went to Moerlein House for the first time (which took me far too long to do!) last weekend. That place is great. Good beer on tap, great food, nice atmosphere. We had a larger group so we booked a party room. The room we were in had all glass walls and overlooked the river the back of GABP. Great experience. If anybody hasn't been done there yet it is definitely worth checking out.

On a related note: Has anybody been to Crave? That is probably next on my list of places to try at the banks. Ruth's Chris is going to be great as well. Lots of cool stuff happening at the banks.

[Kahns Krazy]

I'm never rooting against a downtown event, but I have a fear that this Choir Games thing is going to be a dud. It is admittedly not my thing. Hopefully it is a bunch of people's thing.

Is anyone here going?

[coasterville95]

Actually yes, and I get to go to US Bank Arena more because of it, yeah me.

It's a great honor for the city to have the event. However, even I have my doubts as to our preparedness. If the world shows up and has a great time, that will do wonders for our image. If only a handful show up and perform to half full arenas and theaters, and the event pretty much gets ignored. That's a problem.

A lot has been invested in this. Less than a month away, why do I feel like I should be feeling more of a buzz.

At the very least I hope the venues, metro, downtown hotels and restaurants, the tourist attractions and our citizens go out of their way to make this work. The payoff to hosting a successful international event is huge. This is our cities test. Will we make the grade.


---
I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?ekyoim

[LadyMuskie]

I misunderstood what The Choir Games are. I thought it was going to be choirs like our May Festival Choir or even like the Harlem Boys Choir, but it's really more school choirs than anything else (which makes the half time show at the SLU game this year make more sense because it was Loveland H.S. -I think- performing and it was what you'd expect to see from a bunch of high schoolers, i.e., not so impressive). So, you pay a ton of money (because the tickets are kind of pricey), don't know what venue you're going to, just to see a choir made up of teenagers/young adults who aren't really doing this "professionally". I enjoy music and Glee, but the chances of seeing amazing quality worth the price of admission seem slim. I could attend any of the local high schools' concerts throughout the year and see the same kind of thing.

I would, however, love to see Idina Menzel at the closing ceremonies.

ETA: I hope it does well, but it's just not the kind of thing I'm willing to spend money on. If the article in the paper a couple of weeks ago is any indication, a lot of work remains here and across the world getting the choirs here. I hope it goes well!

[Porkopolis]

So, you pay a ton of money (because the tickets are kind of pricey), don't know what venue you're going to, just to see a choir made up of teenagers/young adults who aren't really doing this "professionally".

There are certainly a lot of less than spectacular groups involved but there are tons of world class ensembles as well. If you want to be sure to only see first-rate groups, get tickets to a "Champions Concert." Those are where you will find the established top tier groups.

http://ev9.evenue.net/evenue/linkID=cinarts-wcg/core/schedule2012_03.pdf

[MADXSTER]

Lady, that is not completely correct. There are about 4/5 tiers (level of talent). The top tier should be very very impressive.

I agree that there is not much pizazz. I think the city is missing the boat in promoting this/ or maybe the hotels are already booked and they really don't need to spend to much extra money.

[LadyMuskie]

Aren't the Champions Concerts already sold out? And aren't there only 2 of those?

I'm not saying it won't be nice. But, again, it isn't something I'm willing to spend my money on when you can't be sure where your venue will be or who you'll be seeing.

[94GRAD]

Rumor has it a lot of the competitors will be staying on Campus for the games

[Porkopolis]

Aren't the Champions Concerts already sold out? And aren't there only 2 of those?

I'm not saying it won't be nice. But, again, it isn't something I'm willing to spend my money on when you can't be sure where your venue will be or who you'll be seeing.

I mistyped a little bit. Yes, the Champions Concerts are likely sold out. What I meant to say was to attend events labeled "Champions Competition" to see the top choirs.

[coasterville95]

I don't know if the World Choir Games are profitable, but it sounds like all the paid ticketed events are selling out of coming very close. The free events are also filling up and turning away people.

Side effects of local restaurants, including the temporary food truck area at 5th and walnut mean extra secondary cash pouring in.

And, it's helping Xavier University, as some of the choirs are staying in our dorms. IF XU is charging them a rent at a rate they turn a profit, that's good for the school,

I just got back from watching some amazing choirs from today's Champion's Concert at the Aronoff.

[wkrq59]

Kahns, yes, I'm old and cranky and something of a cynic as far as downtown Cincinnati is concerned. Please don't ever quote the success of the Cyclones to me or anyone else. They were a financial success at the Gardens before some would be up-and-comers took over and ran them into red ink. They folded when the International League went under, there has never been an attendance figure they have not lied about and over-inflated. They have been a haven for has beens and wannabees of hockey and the championships they've won have been ignored by the city for the most part. No parades or public banquets. The only reason they exist was they were bought and financed by the people who own U.S. Bank Arena, nee the Crown, nee Riverfront Mausoleum as a tax loss.
Oh, and Jim Tarbell's wonderful Arnolds??? Great for Harry's Law, which BTW, Hasn't that show been cancelled????
The only memory I have of Arnolds is of a rather elderly lady with a gravely voice that could crack glass screaming at the top of her lungs "Draw One," when a former newspaper sports editor would walk in the joint and pick up his draft at the end of the long bar before she got the protracted Draw One out of her mouth. The food was over priced and the service was suspect in many ways. But the beer was cold--in wintertime-- or so I'm told. And the coffee tasted like lukewarm panther urine.:eek::confused::mad:

[UCGRAD4X]

I know this is a 'downtown' thread, but as far as the Choir Games go, not all of the venues are downtown, pricey or pedestrian.

I went to Joseph Beth in Rookwood and saw some wonderful work from a children's group from Columbia and adult group from China that was amazing (the HS group from Bristol Connecticut was less so but a cappella is difficult in such a venue). It was warm (where wasn't it?) and few seats (it's a bookstore - duh!) but well worthwhile.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Cincinnati is doing a great job hosting the World Choir games thus far from what I hear. People are raving about the hospitality and the city. Hearing Businesses all over downtown are seeing a ridiculous amount of foot traffic.

Here's the official Youtube page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/2012WorldChoirGames?feature=watch

Here's the opening ceremony video from US Bank:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efN_UGIJcJw&list=UU-VPH7SUISy7Qvq_qvwjtww&index=6&feature=plcp

GMA at Fountain Square today(Not my pictures):

http://instagram.com/p/M28oBjLVeX/
http://instagram.com/p/M28oBjLVeX

https://p.twimg.com/AxXKJA5CQAEUqkB.jpg


Here are pictures for the new Washington Park (If you have facebook..Again not my pictures):
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.469937069701833.120971.166762870019256&type=3&l=22cc2a6a10

Also there were some great photos for the redevelopment on Vine Street from the Enqurier.

Here's a 2002 article on how bad Vine Street was:
http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/04/19/loc_bronson_vine_street.html

And look at it now:
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=AB&Dato=20120706&Kategori=NEWS06&Lopenr=207060801&Ref=PH

[Kahns Krazy]

I'm never rooting against a downtown event, but I have a fear that this Choir Games thing is going to be a dud. It is admittedly not my thing. Hopefully it is a bunch of people's thing.

Is anyone here going?

It looks like my fear was unfounded. The Choir games are reportedly exceeding ticket sale goals, any many events and venues have sold out. I have heard nothing but positive feedback.

Friday evening, I went to Bakersfield before taking a "Queen City is Haunted" tour. We parked in the new garage under Washington Park. As everyone knows, I tend to be a downtown optimist, but the park freaking blew me away. Reminded me of a Cincinnati version of a mini-Boston Commons. This is a destination worth going to see.

There was a choir doing a mini performance at one corner of the park. Choirs still aren't my thing, but it was neat to see. Whoever is running that thing is doing a great job of getting the perfomances out to where the people are. I hear that the public free performaces (there was one in Mainstrasse yesterday) are well attended and getting good reviews.

From my perspective, the Choir Games are exceeding expectations.

On a side note, if you haven't done any of the American Legacy Tours, do not start with the "Haunted" tour. The Underground tour is awesome, and you get to see some real historical locations. The haunted tour was a relative let down. I strongly recommend the Underground tour.

Bakersfield continues to be my favorite spot. Friday at 5:15 they told us an hour to an hour and fifteen minute wait. We went next door for a drink, and they called us in about 40 minutes. They've added a carne asada taco to the menu, which is very good, as are the rest of the tacos. The fish taco I had friday was the best one I've had there. Not sure if they changed anything or if I just got lucky. The short rib taco is outstanding, as is their guacamole.

Here's a crappy pic I snapped of Washington Park at sunset, with Music Hall on the left.

http://www.xavierhoops.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=529

[coasterville95]

It sounds like the only ones hurting from the Choir Games is the "Cincinnati Market Garden" where they transformed the parking lot on 5th and Race into an open air market of sorts of food and merchandise vendors.

When I first saw the headline they were hurting, I thought "Well, I was down there on Saturday and the thought of eating outside in 104F+ heat was not apealing" Now, according to one story I heard, the food vendors were unaware that the event was feeding all the choirs inside Duke Energy Center. If that food is free, or at low prices, I can see how the Market Garden may not get a look. I hear the bars and restaurants in town are doing real well.

Recall just a year or so ago, when they allowed the food vendors on Fountain Square, until somebody decided they were a nuisance, then they got rid of them until the city wanted them back. I still think if the temps were say, in the 80's rather than the 100's, they may have gotten a strong lunch trade from businessspeople looking for something different than the usual haunts.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Some parade pics from yesterday:

http://cmsimg.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=AB&Date=20120710&Category=ENT13&ArtNo=207100804&Ref=PH&Item=21&Maxw=620&Maxh=465&q=60

http://cmsimg.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=AB&Date=20120710&Category=ENT13&ArtNo=207100804&Ref=PH&Item=23&Maxw=620&Maxh=465&q=60

http://cmsimg.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=AB&Date=20120710&Category=ENT13&ArtNo=207100804&Ref=PH&Item=28&Maxw=620&Maxh=465&q=60

[danaandvictory]

I shared the skepticism voiced by Kahn's about the Choir Games, I don't really have any interest in it myself, but the sheer number of people downtown over the past week has been pretty amazing. Looks to be a very diverse group as well, in terms of people from the city, the suburbs, out of town and out of country. I don't know what the numbers look like, but I suspect this event will end up being a success for the city both in terms of bringing in business and perception.

[blobfan]

As to whether or not it's been a good thing, I'll withhold comment until the numbers come in. I've heard a few things that make me wonder. I hope they tell us the actual cost, not just estimated economic impact.

As to the games themselves, I love seeing the singers in their outfits wandering around downtown. I'm disappointed that I've been too busy to make any of the public performances but I'm glad they are going well. This type of trip is often a once in a lifetime experience.

[X-band '01]

Some parade pics from yesterday:

http://cmsimg.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=AB&Date=20120710&Category=ENT13&ArtNo=207100804&Ref=PH&Item=21&Maxw=620&Maxh=465&q=60

http://cmsimg.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=AB&Date=20120710&Category=ENT13&ArtNo=207100804&Ref=PH&Item=23&Maxw=620&Maxh=465&q=60

http://cmsimg.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=AB&Date=20120710&Category=ENT13&ArtNo=207100804&Ref=PH&Item=28&Maxw=620&Maxh=465&q=60

That's a lot more appealing than Tea Party and Flea Party rallies.

[PM Thor]

I don't care if the economic impact isn't as good as what people hope for with the World Choir Games. It's been nothing but great for Cincinnati, just based on international exposure alone.

I've been downtown a couple of nights during the events, and seeing how welcoming and inviting everyone has been has shown me how proud I am of this town (sometimes)

I HATE dayton.

[sirthought]

Recall just a year or so ago, when they allowed the food vendors on Fountain Square, until somebody decided they were a nuisance, then they got rid of them until the city wanted them back. I still think if the temps were say, in the 80's rather than the 100's, they may have gotten a strong lunch trade from businessspeople looking for something different than the usual haunts.

It was a couple members of city council who thought that having a big food tent on the square with Skyline branding printed on it was unfair and not healthy for developing other vendors. It put the square's management in a bind, since skyline had just spent a boatload of money to not only have the thing printed, but all for the rights to put it there. Those "sponsorship" dollars were helping to pay salaries for people who run the programming.

Now, they have the food trucks out there and there are different ones rotating. But I have to say, I bet there is a lot less food sold than when Skyline, Tom + Chee, and a couple other vendors were actually on the square. I think the trucks are usually way overpriced for their quality, but it's nice to have something if you want it.

Should be interesting to see what develops now at Washington Park.


The Market Garden was a dumb idea for World Choir Games, but the heat has magnified it. Otherwise, the whole event has been a success. I do think people don't realize just how busy downtown is, though, on most nights in the summer over the past five years. I guess I see it more since I'm down there so much.

[XUOFM]

A great article (http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120711/NEWS/307110119/Program-allows-property-s-tenants-build-up-equity?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News) about low income housing in OTR.

The Franciscans at Liberty and Vine have invested heavily in this area, which have helped to make these options available for the people who are currently living in the apartments.

[blobfan]

A great article (http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120711/NEWS/307110119/Program-allows-property-s-tenants-build-up-equity?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News) about low income housing in OTR.

The Franciscans at Liberty and Vine have invested heavily in this area, which have helped to make these options available for the people who are currently living in the apartments.

That is great. It goes to show that empowering people to help themselves works. I'd rather see my tax dollars spent on attempts like this, even if they fail, than on other expenditures that I won't mention for fear of derailing a positive thread.

[drudy23]

This weekend is going to be extra crazy....the Choir Games, Reds game, and a Music Fesival down by Sawyer Point.

[Kahns Krazy]

I put a link up to Cornerstone after an article ran last year I believe. I have toured that development, and it is really amazing. There are hard working people that happen to be poor, and when you give them the right opportunity to have some ownership, it works for the poor just like it works for everyone else.

The grounds of these apartments are impeccable, and the people are friendly. This success story can be repeated, and needs to be.

Here's my previous post that generated 0 replies. I'm hoping to at least match that total here.



I went to the OTR Brewery District meeting last night, and was impressed. These guys have a very solid plan backed by experts in urban planning, architecture and development.

They also have their long term vision broken down into manageable steps, and broken down by projects that they can and plan to accomplish themselves, projects that they will complete in cooperation with others, and projects that they need other entities to complete in conjunction with the long term vision (e.g. redesiging Liberty street completed by the city).

It was a standing room only crowd of probably about 100 people in the new (old) Christian Moerlein brewery. It's hard to watch the presentation and not get excited about what that area can become.

I also got a tour of the Cornerstone rental area. If you haven't heard of this program, you're not alone. I was stunned. Cornerstone has remodeled several buildings just north of the St. Francis church at Liberty and Vine. They have created a renter equity program that gives residents an incentive for a long term commitment, prompt rent payment, and community involvement and upkeep. In a neighborhood where busted out windows are common, this block defies all of that. It's a garden oasis in the middle of a crime zone. As I walked around, I was greeted by residents who were pround of their homes and their community. I think this is going to be a model for how to help people truly climb out of poverty.

More about OTRBD:

http://www.otrbrewerydistrict.org/

More about Cornerstone:

http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20110915/BIZ01/109160346/A-new-rental-community-model-OTR

[blueblob06]

This weekend is going to be extra crazy....the Choir Games, Reds game, and a Music Fesival down by Sawyer Point.

Agreed...was just downtown for lunch and fountain square is already filling up with people. I imagine a lot of people will be arriving to downtown from St. Louis in the next few hours as well, adding to the masses heading down after work and before first pitch.

[xudash]

I put a link up to Cornerstone after an article ran last year I believe. I have toured that development, and it is really amazing. There are hard working people that happen to be poor, and when you give them the right opportunity to have some ownership, it works for the poor just like it works for everyone else.

The grounds of these apartments are impeccable, and the people are friendly. This success story can be repeated, and needs to be.

Here's my previous post that generated 0 replies. I'm hoping to at least match that total here.

Thanks for reposting all this. That is very encouraging news all the way around - for the city, for that area, and for the people impacted in such a positive way. I'm looking forward to getting back to Cincinnati and taking all these changes in.

[XUOFM]

I put a link up to Cornerstone after an article ran last year I believe. I have toured that development, and it is really amazing. There are hard working people that happen to be poor, and when you give them the right opportunity to have some ownership, it works for the poor just like it works for everyone else.

The grounds of these apartments are impeccable, and the people are friendly. This success story can be repeated, and needs to be.

Here's my previous post that generated 0 replies. I'm hoping to at least match that total here.

Good stuff, Kahns. I don't remember reading your original message and appreciate you re-posting it. I have walked by the site of St. Anthony Village but actually through the complex. I would love to be able to see what is in these.

I am really happy that this is able to happen and hope more of these can pop up.

Anyways, I'm glad the word is getting out to more and more people!

[Porkopolis]

Went down to Bunbury for a bit this afternoon and we're heading back for O.A.R, Ra Ra Riot or Chappo (haven't decided yet), Airborne Toxic Event, Foxy Shazam and Jane's Addiction. We got 1/2 price three day passes when the festival was announced so we'll be back all weekend. The festival seems very well run but I hope the crowd gets bigger this evening. They've done a very good job of showcasing local bands.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

"Cincinnati's light is shining; Leaders look to next act"


The events discussed included: Cincinnati’s 225th birthday, a World Choir Games-sanctioned Games of the Americas – starring choirs from the tip of North America to the toes of South America – and a new Tall Stacks Music, Arts & Heritage Festival, all in 2013; Baseball’s 2015 All-Star Game, and the University of Cincinnati’s bicentennial in 2019.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120714/ENT13/307140079&Ref=AR

[paulxu]

....and the bearpussies losing to the Muskies at some neutral site because they are afraid to play us at home.

(you can run, but you can not hide)

[Cincypunk.org]

Went down to Bunbury for a bit this afternoon and we're heading back for O.A.R, Ra Ra Riot or Chappo (haven't decided yet), Airborne Toxic Event, Foxy Shazam and Jane's Addiction. We got 1/2 price three day passes when the festival was announced so we'll be back all weekend. The festival seems very well run but I hope the crowd gets bigger this evening. They've done a very good job of showcasing local bands.

Went down to Bunbury on Saturday. It was very well attended and the organization was top notch for a first year festival. A great showcase of the city!