Author: Randy A. Simes

Randy is an award-winning urban planner who founded UrbanCincy in May 2007. He grew up on Cincinnati’s west side in Covedale, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s nationally acclaimed School of Planning in June 2009. In addition to maintaining ownership and serving as the managing editor for UrbanCincy, Randy has worked professionally as a planning consultant throughout the United States, Korea and the Middle East. After brief stints in Atlanta and Chicago, he currently lives in the Daechi neighborhood of Seoul’s Gangnam district.

Categories
News

Know Theatre – What’s the Point?!

What’s the Point?! is soon to be at the Know Theatre of Cincinnati. The production originally opened in 2007 in New York City at The Reprise Room and will return there in September. In the mean time, the Know Theatre of Cincinnati will bring the cabaret musical to another city for the first time ever this Summer.

The musical is based on the popular 1950s and 1960s revue styles, which were known for commenting on popular trends and on society in general. Additionally this particular production has been described as “fast-paced” with each member, of the three-person cast, playing a variety of characters.

The Cincinnati premier will take place on Friday, July 18th and will run through Tuesday, August 12th. Shows on Fridays and Saturdays start at 9:30pm, while shows on Mondays and Tuesdays start at 7:30pm. You can get tickets for a mere $15 by calling 513.300.5669 (KNOW) or by stopping by the box office located at 1120 Jackson Street (GoogleMap).

Categories
News

Political spotlight on Cincy next week

Next week will be a big week for Cincinnati as the political spotlight will be shining directly upon our city. It all starts with the 99th annual NAACP convention being held at the Duke Energy Center. The convention is expected to bring an estimated 9,000 delegates and two VERY important special guests.

The two presumptive presidential nominees, Sen. John McCain (R) and Sen. Barack Obama (D), are both scheduled to address the NAACP delegates this coming week. Local NBC affiliate WLWT-TV, Channel 5, has announced that they will cut in to normal programming to broadcast both speeches live. This then allows the speeches to be shown on the giant LED board over Fountain Square – expect big crowds.

McCain and Obama – from http://randallps129.blogspot.com/

The real issue here is not all of the coverage Cincinnati will get, the political attention, or big crowds that will fill hotels and spend big money. The thing that should be most noted is how it all came to be…Mayor Mallory, and other key leaders, worked aggressively to lure the NAACP convention to Cincinnati over the convention heavyweight Las Vegas.

In addition to that the City has worked very hard at giving Downtown a “spit-shine” to ensure a good impression on the 9,000 delegates. This 1-million dollar effort included things like repairing damaged sidewalks, curbs, street corners, painting light poles and other small projects.

Speech Schedule:
Sen. Barack Obama (D) — Monday, July 14th at 8pm
Sen. John McCain (R) — Wednesday, July 16th sometime between 9:30am and 12:30pm

Categories
News

Bring VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown to Cincinnati

Some local, regional, and state leaders have worked to extend an invitation to VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown to come to Cincinnati’s Fountain Square. This is in light of the very popular new song/video, “It’s Not My Time,” from 3 Doors Down – which was filmed in Cincinnati. The video is shot entirely in Cincinnati and covers prominent city landmarks in Over-the-Rhine, Downtown, Mt. Auburn and Lower Price Hill.

So how can you help bring the countdown to Cincinnati? The easiest way is to go to VH1’s website and vote for the 3 Doors Down video. It is really quick/easy, and we need to get to work as the video is currently at the #14 spot on the countdown. Pass on this information to as many people as you know so that we can bring the countdown to Fountain Square.

This effort would generate six hours of national publicity in roughly 90 million homes. The show is a two-hour program that airs three times during the week – beginning from 9-11am Saturdays – and features a dozen mini-remotes during which host Alison Becker touts the different venues from the assigned location of the week (insert Cincinnati). Alison would be able to tape from Fountain Square, Government Square, the Freedom Center, restaurants and nightclubs in/around Downtown, plus some views overlooking the city.

WATCH “IT’S NOT MY TIME” HERE
Categories
News

UrbanCincy readers are excited about streetcars

The June poll results are in…and it was a clear/decisive victory for streetcars (YouTube video about modern streetcars). The question was, “what are you most excited about over the next few years?” And phase 1 of the proposed streetcar system (141 votes) nearly tripled the amount of votes casted for the second place finisher (The Banks phase 1a – 53 votes), and tallied one more vote than the other four options combine.

I voted for the streetcar option for a pretty simple reason. It is something that helps make many of those other options (i.e. The Banks, OTR progress) more feasible and helps to spur more good things to come (i.e. future Queen City Squares). It’s like the gift that keeps on giving.

So, why did the other 279 voters vote the way they did, and most importantly, what are you going to do to help make them happen?

Image from Dewi’s Trains, Trams & Trolleys

Categories
News

Is gentrification inevitable in OTR?

So, is it? I tend to think that it is inevitable, but it does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. The word often comes with very negative connotations, especially when you throw race into the equation. This is exactly the issue in Over-the-Rhine, and it is also not a new one (see Buddy Gray).

Gentrification, by definition, is the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. The key here is that gentrification often displaces poorer residents. An influx, of middle-class or affluent people, alone isn’t a bad thing. It is what usually comes with it that is bad – the displacement of poorer residents.

NW View over OTR by Randy Simes

So far gentrification has been taking place in/around the Gateway Quarter, but displacement hasn’t really occurred. Many of the buildings were vacant and there has been an effort, by 3CDC, to keep units at affordable levels. Some of the units have even been arranged to only accommodate individuals within certain income ranges.

As more and more new condos pop up and more new businesses arrive, the question seems only logical. How are we going to deal with the issue of gentrification in our city’s most infamous neighborhood? It is something that will take work and courage from our leaders, and dedication from the developers to do what is right.

The gentrification of OTR doesn’t have to be the divisive/negative aspect that it often is elsewhere. We know what we can do (inclusionary zoning techniques), and we know what we should do. The question really is whether the OTR power brokers will ultimately do the right thing and not displace those current residents just so they can fatten their wallets.