Holy Grail (First Restaurant/Bar at The Banks) set to open 3/17

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by Spazzrico

I just read about Gov. K. potentially derailing funds for the streetcar line. That could have an impact on the Banks unfortunately. One way to make sure it stays profitable is to give people extra ways to get there without incurring parking expenses. I know that the streetcar line is controversial to many, but I can't see any way that its presence would be a detriment to the Banks (or the Reds).

The streetcar is a population circulator -- not a traditional form of mass transit. You'd still have to drive downtown and park somewhere along the streetcar line for it to be of any use to you. And, looking honestly at the line it runs on, unless you want to park in Clifton and take a 30 minute trolley ride downtown, any other place you'd park along the line would probably be within walking distance of the ballpark anyway.

If the issue was about getting people who live downtown to the Banks, maybe there would be a benefit to having the streetcar -- but there aren't enough middle class (read: consumers) residents living downtown to make a streetcar worthwhile.

[Spazzrico]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

The streetcar is a population circulator -- not a traditional form of mass transit. You'd still have to drive downtown and park somewhere along the streetcar line for it to be of any use to you. And, looking honestly at the line it runs on, unless you want to park in Clifton and take a 30 minute trolley ride downtown, any other place you'd park along the line would probably be within walking distance of the ballpark anyway.

If the issue was about getting people who live downtown to the Banks, maybe there would be a benefit to having the streetcar -- but there aren't enough middle class (read: consumers) residents living downtown to make a streetcar worthwhile.

But there is a large population of students in the UC area....who might like these places to eat/drink, and as a means of going to see a game. Not sure to what extent they'll use it to get downtown. I know I would have. Also thinking long term, if development does actually spring up around the line more of a critical mass could be in the works. Just a thought.

[paintmered]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

The Banks project has been an utter disaster since day 1. Every step of the way the county or city has managed to screw it up. For years you heard that "X,Y, and Z" were going in only never to see it happen. I realize that its just a matter of time before the Holy Grail opens up but it has been my stance since day 1, I won't believe anything at the Banks until the doors are opened.

It's been a frustrating process, sure. But this is how long plans of this scale take. Shoot, the new Great American Tower was originally conceived over twenty years before they broke ground. Most plans simply don't get the publicity that The Banks received. Most don't sit on vacant prime real estate either.

I'm looking forward to spending some time there before and after a Reds game this season.

[Sea Ray]

Originally Posted by paintmered

It's been a frustrating process, sure. But this is how long plans of this scale take. Shoot, the new Great American Tower was originally conceived over twenty years before they broke ground. Most plans simply don't get the publicity that The Banks received. Most don't sit on vacant prime real estate either.

I'm looking forward to spending some time there before and after a Reds game this season.

Don't make it sound like most stuff takes this long. Northern Kentucky built the Aquarium and the Hofbrauhaus because Cincinnati moved too slowly. It is a problem politically in Cincinnati but having said that I don't dwell on it either. It is what it is and I'm thrilled that something is finally getting done. My expectations are just a little different. I originally hoped for a place where I could take dates but now I'm hoping for a place where my daughter might go on dates...

[bucksfan2]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

The streetcar is a population circulator -- not a traditional form of mass transit. You'd still have to drive downtown and park somewhere along the streetcar line for it to be of any use to you. And, looking honestly at the line it runs on, unless you want to park in Clifton and take a 30 minute trolley ride downtown, any other place you'd park along the line would probably be within walking distance of the ballpark anyway.

If the issue was about getting people who live downtown to the Banks, maybe there would be a benefit to having the streetcar -- but there aren't enough middle class (read: consumers) residents living downtown to make a streetcar worthwhile.

The problem with mass transit is its very expensive to start. The city missed the boat by shutting down its subway project decades ago.

I would love to see mass transit make it in Cincinnati. I think the original plan is just the ground work that needs to be laid. In today's environment you can't go in with a massive project, you need to get the ball rolling and then expand. I think it would be great to have a street car connect OTR-Fountain Square-Riverfront Area-Casino-Mt Adams-Clifton-Newport-Covington. To start it may be a people mover but you need that start. Then the expansion would be nice to see it go out 74, Madison Rd, 71, 71 etc. But you can't have that if you don't have anything to connect it to.

As for the political impact its very dicey. I see a lot of validity in stopping the funding of the project. Its not just the money that will be received but also the money that the state and local governments will have to pay. With the state of today's local economy its a dicey proposition.

[Reds Freak]

Now some are saying the Governor may not be able to pull state support for the streetcar legally...

http://allaboardohio.org/2011/03/10/...-road-project/

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

I think it would be great to have a street car connect OTR-Fountain Square-Riverfront Area-Casino-Mt Adams-Clifton-Newport-Covington. To start it may be a people mover but you need that start. Then the expansion would be nice to see it go out 74, Madison Rd, 71, 71 etc. But you can't have that if you don't have anything to connect it to.

That kind of system would be awesome (though problematic given the grading up Mt. Adams), but that's not at all what the Streetcar is proposing.

[Reds Freak]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

That kind of system would be awesome (though problematic given the grading up Mt. Adams), but that's not at all what the Streetcar is proposing.

I believe Newport and Covington both have expressed interest in connecting to the streetcar system in the future. I would love if they would bring back the inclines up to Mt. Adams...

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

That kind of system would be awesome (though problematic given the grading up Mt. Adams), but that's not at all what the Streetcar is proposing.

Bring back the incline

[Sea Ray]

Originally Posted by Reds Freak

I would love if they would bring back the inclines up to Mt. Adams...

The incline would be great but there's no way such a thing would be approved to go over an interstate highway so they'll have to come with another way to connect Mt Adams with downtown

[top6]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

The incline would be great but there's no way such a thing would be approved to go over an interstate highway so they'll have to come with another way to connect Mt Adams with downtown

That of course touches of the major problem with trying to make downtown Cincinnati a cool destination: they cleverly built interstates in between all the best neighborhoods.

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

The incline would be great but there's no way such a thing would be approved to go over an interstate highway so they'll have to come with another way to connect Mt Adams with downtown

Monorail. Monorail. Monorail. Monorail.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Chip R

Monorail. Monorail. Monorail. Monorail.

YouTube - The Simpsons Monorail song (High Quality)

[Spazzrico]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Bring back the incline

I have a similar photo from aslightly different angle hanging on my wall at home. I love it. I keep it up in memory of one of my hometowns and my g'ma whose wall it hung on before I inherited it.

[paintmered]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

Don't make it sound like most stuff takes this long. Northern Kentucky built the Aquarium and the Hofbrauhaus because Cincinnati moved too slowly. It is a problem politically in Cincinnati but having said that I don't dwell on it either. It is what it is and I'm thrilled that something is finally getting done. My expectations are just a little different. I originally hoped for a place where I could take dates but now I'm hoping for a place where my daughter might go on dates...

Newport on the Levee was a project much smaller than The Banks. If you want a NKy comparison to The Banks, look into Ovation and all the problems they're having with getting it off the ground.

If anything, Cincinnati was in the wrong by misleading people that they'd get this done ten years sooner. Maybe they were guilty of deluding themselves into that line of thought too?