Tag: planning

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This Week In Soapbox 7/14

This Week In Soapbox (TWIS) you can read about a new Cuban restaurant in Covington’s Wedding District, the newly forming medical corridor along I-74, Cincinnati housing market trends, a new pro shop for Disc Golf enthusiasts at Mt. Airy Forest, major renovations at Krohn Conservatory, and how the American Can Factory took center stage for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

If you’re interested in staying in touch with some of the latest development news in Cincinnati please check out this week’s stories and sign up for the weekly E-Zine sent out by Soapbox Cincinnati. Also be sure to become a fan of Soapbox on Facebook!

TWIS 7/14:

  • Cuban restaurant opens in Covington’s Wedding District – full article
  • Medical corridor forming along Interstate 74 – full article
  • Krohn Conservatory to undergo major renovations – full article
  • Nati Disc Golf debuts pro shop at Mt. Airy course – full article
  • Cincinnati housing market showing signs of recovery – full article
  • Vice President Joe Biden highlights importance of stimulus with American Can Factory rehab project – full article
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News Politics

UPDATE: White House meeting on the state of urban America

As was posted earlier today, President Obama addressed a meeting at the White House today that discussed the problems and opportunities of urban America. There has been a good amount of press coverage on the national scene, but unfortunately our local newspaper came up short. The Enquirer did, however dedicate staff time to developing a Harry Potter quiz for readers to take. I wish I were kidding…

See here for a comment from the White House, including some of the President’s remarks.

Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson

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News

"I’ll believe it when I see it…"

Construction at The Banks, Queen City Square and Central Riverfront Park all making significant progress
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News

White House Office of Urban Affairs holds conference today

According to this article in the Washington Post, the White House is hosting a day long conference today about the future of American urban policy. Heads of relevant departments and agencies will attend, and the President is expected to give remarks as well.

In February, President Obama created the Office of Urban Affairs (OUA), and selected Adolfo Carrión Jr. (bio) to direct it. According to this article, the Director intends to “bring agencies together to change urban growth patterns and foster opportunity, reduce sprawl, and jump-start the economy.”

Adolfo Carrión Jr. – photo from Ezra Klein

The executive order that established the OUA states that the Office will “take a coordinated and comprehensive approach to developing and implementing an effective strategy concerning urban America”

The event today will serve as a semi-official start to the OUA, and will be the basis for a several-month long tour of urban America. Officials will visit cities across the nation in an effort to better understand the needs of our metropolitan areas.

OUA’s mission does not come without some opposition. Some worry that reexamining our current public policy creates a dangerous precedent of federal meddling in local affairs. Director Carrión seems to think just the opposite will occur. From yesterday’s Washington Post:

“For too long government has operated from the top down,” said Carrión. “We’ve always heard why does the national government send down these unfunded mandates, under funded mandates, mandates that are not necessarily universally applicable. The bottom-up approach speaks to the need for this to be flexible.”

Although no official site yet exists for the OUA, the articles, executive order, and this page on the White House website seems to indicate that the office wants to work with local municipalities to help provide the support they need to carry out what works best for them. In general, it appears that the President’s agenda will focus on bolstering the strength of cities as economic, social and cultural incubators, while also working to promote sensible growth and regional efficiency.

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"Transportation Freedom" in our nation’s capital

We are beginning the fight for passenger rail and, in a larger sense, a diversified transit system that promotes freedom of choice here in Cincinnati. In the nation’s capital they are celebrating the fact that they have a truly diversified transit system that offers consumer choice.

Washington D.C. currently boasts the first and largest bike sharing program in the United States, bike lanes and parking facilities, the Washington Metro, an expansive city bus system, sidewalk and trail connectivity, and is currently working on introducing modern streetcars to the city.

In this video Washington D.C. Department of Transportation director, Gabe Klein, talks about the city’s diversified transit options and emphasizes the importance of such a system for American cities.