After 3,700+ online votes, the public poll (survey results) determined that the project name would not change.

I’m not complaining because I didn’t see a need to change the name of the project.  This was clearly just a way to stir up some excitement around the project.  This stunt reeks of a PR campaign.  Someone decided that “the public” needed to feel involved and engaged in this long construction process. 

Did anyone out there vote in this?  

I wonder what the write-in names would have been.

$2.2 million in contracts were approved for electrical work, framing, utilities, hoisting and underground plumbing for the parking garage, and street grid construction.  

Also, there will be a job fair in East Walnut Hills for construction companies and trade unions.

Nothing sexy, but its nice to know that progress is being made.

1. Homeless – The new development would receive new police patrols and keep the homeless away from the new urban crown jewel.
2. Working poor?  I don’t believe there has been resolution of whether there will be Section 8 housing in the hundreds of apartment units planned for The Banks Project.

Poverty is a part of our city and I sincerely hope that all demographics of our great city will be included in the new heart of the city.

Blog Action Day is intended to create a common theme for bloggers, podcasters, and videocasters on a specific day.  Click below for more information.

Say “Goodbye” to the newest downtown condos and say “Hello” to the newest downtown hotel.  Today’s meeting with John Deatrick brought a welcome bit of news to my day.

Assuming Cincinnati keeps pace with the national economy, another condo building could have started The Banks off with a potential black eye.  The deteriorating housing market could have left the newest condo building in Cincinnati vacant and a source of ire instead of a source of pride.

I welcome this move with open arms.  A hotel was in the initial plans for The Banks and there may still be another hotel.

My initial concern was that this was could eliminate a significant amount of the residential units in The Banks.  I was re-assured to read this article in the Enquirer and learn that this would cut only 60 condo units.  The hotel could only reduce residential units 15% from roughly 400 apartments and condos to about 360.

I’m glad to see The Banks Project is a work in progress and the initial plan is open to re-interpretation as it develops.

There isn’t colossal ironwork or a gaggle of monstrous yellow construction machines, but things are indeed happening at The Banks project site. Really.

John Deatrick

I told him to have faith and that things are in deed happening. And they are.  John Deatrick (Project Executive for the Banks Project) reports that the site is being prepped for utilities and the 2 story parking garage. It isn’t spectacular to look at, but a necessary step in setting the foundation for the development.

Construction is progressing and I’m hoping that his son will be the one taking place in Grand Opening ceremonies. In fact, I owe someone a beer if this project isn’t complete by the time his son gets his drivers license.

The keen, green eyes over at The Banks Blog just put us all

on notice that the Carter and The Dawson Co. have registered an address associated with The Banks with the U.S. Green Building Council.  Check out the blog post for a solid definition of exactly what this registration means.

For more info on green living practices in Cincinnati, check out Live Green Cincinnati.

Chotchkie’s from Office Space

The Banks is going to be the de facto pre-game spot for the Cincinnati Bengals.  Paul Brown Stadium will be on the East by 3 blocks of new development thanks to this project.  I want another Chotchkies or TGISaturdays about as much as I want to hear Chad Johnson’s thoughts on the economy.

I’m really hoping that Willie’s or another local establishment gets this premier placement and the manditory pieces of flair are kept out of The Banks.

I’ve taken a rendering from Cincinnati Port Authority website and worked some mojo on it to tie it into Google Earth. Google Earth provides an interactive user experience to see the world from virtually any perspective. You’ll need to have Google Earth installed to add this custom Image Overlay of downtown Cincinnati.

Here is the actual .kmz Image Overlay file to download and load into Google Earth.

Click here for help opening and viewing The Banks Project image overlay.

Enjoy!

A project doesn’t have to share the same blueprints to benefit from Robert Moses.  His incredible breadth of work included great successes as well as failures.  Both of these provide useful lessons for modern urban planning.  Study New York City and you are studying the work of Robert Moses.

I’m not going to eulogize the man, but I certainly respect a man who was able to accomplish as much as he was during his lifetime. I trust that his hometown paper was able to encapsulate his positive and negative impact on the city. In 1981, the New York Times wrote in Moses’ 5,000+ word obituary that he “…played a larger role in shaping the physical environment of New York State than any other figure in the 20th century.”

Is there a person in Cincinnati who will have as singular an impact on the Queen City as Moses did in the Big Apple?  Not as far as I can tell, but our story is just getting started.

Hi-resolution images area available for Block 16, Block 26, and Freedom Way.  Are these going to be a glimpse of the final look and feel for The Banks?

Only time will tell.