Tag: opinion

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Development News Politics Transportation

What is a boondoggle?

I’m sure you’ve heard this term thrown out there before. It seems as though any time a project is proposed, that a certain constituency doesn’t like, they simply throw out the descriptive word “boondoggle” of said project and poof – it must be true.

After all, the stadiums were boondoggles. So was the convention center expansion, the 2002 Metro Moves plan, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Fountain Square renovation and now of course so is the proposed Cincinnati Streetcar.

Fountain Square in 2008 (post renovation)

Technically speaking a boondoggle is “an unnecessary or wasteful project or activity.” More informally speaking, Wikipedia cites that the term first made its appearance in the 1930’s during the projects of the New Deal. A New York Times report, at the time, reported that over $3 million was spent on teaching the jobless how to make boon doggles.

What I wonder is whether the term has lost its value? Can we apply this term and rallying cry to projects preemptively? If so, how does it differ from someone else’s opinion that the project may be a roaring success?

While in some instances the proclamation of a particular project being a boondoggle may have been valid, there are just as many opposite examples. One of the most recent examples is the renovation of Fountain Square*.

Many of the opponents, to the project, saw it as being destined to failure. That the new design would be worse than the previous one, that the new management would be damaging to activity on the Square and that the private investments wouldn’t occur around the Square. These opponents have been wrong on all accounts, but are still claiming every new idea to be a boondoggle without any real accountability.

In the case of the Cincinnati Streetcar, opponents use boondoggle in combination with “trolley” and/or “choo choo train” in virtually everything they write on the topic. Words are a powerful thing and language is often manipulated to advance one’s interests on an issue. This is fine, but the distinction should be made…and the problem is that these techniques/strategies come at the expense of the center city, Cincinnati politicians, local government and the mentalities of all Cincinnatians.

Just because someone somewhere cites that a project is one of those dreaded boondoggles does not make it so. Do some research and learn about the topic on your own free of bias, then make up your own opinion. The Cincinnati Streetcar has had several studies done on it…and the results are in. Economics, the environment, transportation and livability issues are all on the project’s side. Don’t take my word for it though…read for yourself and make up your own mind.

Economic Analysis
UC Economic Study (confirming previous study’s findings)
Feasibility Study
Climate Protection Action Plan
Growth & Opportunities (GO) Report for Cincinnati

All of these studies find the streetcar project to be a positive project for the city/region in regards to their specific interests. The studies are all specific to the Cincinnati region. All documents are in PDF form.

*NOTE: Fountain Square has seen the recent activity of the following businesses that have cited the renovation of Fountain Square as being instrumental to their operations…Chipotle, Potbelly, McCormick & Schmick’s, Boi Na Braza, Via Vite, Tazza Mia, Ingredients, Joseph A. Bank, Graeter’s, Morton’s the Steakhouse, 5/3 Banking Center, Jones the Florist, Cadillac Ranch, Oceanaire, Bootsy’s and Nada…just to name a few.

Categories
News Politics

Couple random thoughts

1) According to recent Census data and analysis, Cincinnati has seen a 4% growth in its number of YPs living in the metropolitan area.

This 4% growth is slightly lower than the overall population growth rate (5.4%) for the metropolitan region but is better than other Midwestern cities like Columbus (3%), Indianapolis (3%), Louisville(2%), St. Louis (1%) and Cleveland (-1%).

This is tremendous news for a couple of reasons. The first is that if cities can’t attract and retain talented young people then they are destined for failure. Bold actions need to continually be made to position Cincinnati in a way that it can continue to attract and better retain these individuals, but it is certainly encouraging to hear that we’re heading in the right direction and growing one of the most important demographic groups out there.

2) The relationship between the local chapter of the NAACP and the local attorney, Chris Finney, most known for his controversial stances on issues as they relate to the GLBT community will continue indefinitely and at the discretion of Christopher Smitherman.

This is not all that surprising as the relationship has proven to be somewhat fruitful politically for Cincinnati NAACP President Christopher Smitherman. I do feel that this is just that – a politically motivated move. It further frustrates me because I feel that it is these types of issues that distract people and confuse them about the purpose of the NAACP.

The local NAACP should be listening to its constituents and fighting for things like equal access to education, healthcare and so on. Many of Cincinnati’s lowest income neighborhoods also face extreme impacts of environmental impact inequalities. These foundational problems though have seemed to be forgotten amongst the recent political forays (red light cameras, streetcar, no confidence vote in Mayor Mallory, Finney) of the Smitherman led Cincinnati NAACP Chapter.

Furthermore, I find it somewhat disgraceful that one group fighting for the rights of a minority population would work so closely with someone like Finney who has been so outspoken when it comes to the rights and equality issues of another minority population.

Categories
Business Development News

Does casino fit for prominent Broadway Commons site?

It was announced last week that there is yet another movement to legalize casino gaming in Ohio. The difference with this proposal is its scope. Instead of a single casino for the entire state, casinos would instead be placed in each of the state’s largest cities (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo).

The intent is to reach a larger market and have broader voter appeal come November. In Cincinnati the proposal has already picked up some high-profile support in Mayor Mark Mallory, City Councilman Jeff Berding and former Mayor Charlie Luken.

The site for the proposed casino is the pipe-dream location that is Broadway Commons (GoogleMap). The site is located in the Pendleton sub-neighborhood of historic Over-the-Rhine. Its close proximity to Downtown, the convention center, several museums, gobs of hotel rooms and major tourism draws like the Reds and Bengals have long made the site a prime spot for redevelopment speculation (streetcar connectivity).

The question is what is right for such a prime location? Seems like a pretty subjective question, and it is. In the 90’s many people (including myself) thought the site would have been a perfect location for the new Reds ballpark. Other ideas have ranged from urban big-box stores, a mega park, rail transit hub and of course the mixed use urban infill that we would all love to see.

Plans for the once proposed ballpark at Broadway Commons

The problem of course has been market reality. With a slew of new condos and apartments constantly coming on the market in Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, Newport, Covington and the Westend – can we really absorb more residential units, hotels, office and retail space, if so at what cost? Does it jeopardize the future success in OTR, Downtown and The Banks? Will Cincinnati ever push the rail transit agenda and make light rail, streetcars and high-speed rail reality here, if so can we afford to wait that long to redevelop this major site sitting unproductive?

The owners (Chavez Properties), of Broadway Commons, seem to be ready and willing to sell and they are on board with this casino plan. A casino would turn the giant surface lot into a tax productive use, create hundreds of permanent jobs, significantly boost tax revenues for Cincinnati and Hamilton County and potentially create some spinoff investment in the surrounding community.

At the same time the casino would seemingly prey on those with less, create a handful of social problems for a city that already has its fair share, possibly create an island development that encourages its patrons not to leave the confines and potentially insert an out-of-place building and design into one of the nation’s largest and most important historical districts.

Mixed Use redevelopment plan for Broadway Commons that competed with the ballpark proposal – Source

My preference would be for a rail transit hub with mixed use development. Another ideal scenario would be to develop the site as a high-tech business hub that would capitalize off of the proximity to both Downtown and Uptown with its hospitals and universities. At the same time I do realize the need to develop this site into something productive. So I’m decidedly undecided on the issue. Can anyone sway me one way or another?

If you’re in favor of this proposal feel free to sign the online petition.
Categories
News

Uptown Commons update and breakdown

Towne Properties has released more details and more renderings for their Uptown Commons project on the southern edge of the University of Cincinnati located in between Calhoun and McMillan streets. The renderings themselves are high-quality, but I’m going to take this chance to share some of my thoughts and concerns on this developing project plan.


Office building located at Vine, Calhoun, and McMillan streets looking west

The design for the office building is solid and I think will work well for this site both aesthetically and functionally. The scale of the building seems right and I really appreciate the use of glass to give it a more contemporary feel in the contemporary feeling Uptown area.

The park space seen in the above image seems to illustrate the incorporation for any future streetcar that might run up Vine and cut over to run west along Calhoun. This is a forward-thinking approach that will pay off big time for both the community and Towne Properties when the streetcar system is built.

Office building looking west from Old St. George church

On the site plan this area behind the office building is labeled as a plaza. From this view though it just has me confused what it would ever be used for especially with the apparent wall along Calhoun Street. There is the potential for a highly used plaza here with the new office building and other nearby commercial uses, but the spot will surely have to be better thought out than what this rendering indicates for it to really work.

Overall view of project site

If a new traffic signal is installed at Ohio Avenue per this plan, then the traffic signal at Scioto should be removed. Ohio and Calhoun is often congested and could probably use the signal for improved vehicular and pedestrian safety. Scioto and Calhoun doesn’t really need the signal as the southern portion of Scioto is rarely used due to its steep incline and the northern portion isn’t really used at all as service to the university is now routed through Dennis Street adjacent to Panera Bread.

The whole project could use more residential units if you ask me. Office space and the hotel will be great additions to this area of Uptown and will help to diversify the mixture of uses, and also spur more activity during non peak school times. McMillan Street also seems to get ignored to a certain extent. The previous idea of townhouses here seemed to work well, but probably not any more with this terrible housing market.

Renderings provided by Cole + Russel Architects

Categories
News

A long way to go…

Special thanks to CityKin and Somewhere Over-the-Rhine for drawing my attention to this great video from Streetfilms (see below). The video is great but it really depresses me for a couple of reasons.

1) Articulated buses, light rail, monorail, streetcars, and real-time arrival – boy are we faaaaaaaar behind Seattle and other like cities on the transit front. We have a bus system and nothing else, and our bus system lacks real-time arrival and articulated buses for increased capacity on highly used routes.

2) Whole Foods Market – we have some convenience stores, a farmer’s market with limited hours, and a deli on steroids. At the same time Seattle is rolling out a brand new Whole Foods Market in what was previously considered an iffy area (Over-the-Rhine anyone?).

3) Amazon.com – the new economy is going to be shaped by companies of innovation. The United States doesn’t produce material goods anymore, we produce innovation and creativity. This innovation and creativity is best facilitated in cities, and the cities that are winning out are the ones who can attract the talent and jobs for these industries. Seattle has technology, information, and the internet…Cincinnati has bananas, clothes, and household items. You tell me who wins out in this new economy?

I’m more optimistic about Cincinnati than just about anyone, but I do see the need for us to make bold and dramatic changes in the way we operate. We are waaaaaaay behind these other cities when it comes to positioning our city/region for the new economy. We not only need to catch up, but we have to get ahead.

I wish I were smart enough to know how to address some of these issues, because I would weigh in with my solutions if I had them. I do know they need to be answered. Part of that solution is transit. Seattle gets it, so does Portland, San Francisco, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, D.C. New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, San Diego, Philadelphia, and Boston.

So how and when are we going to step it up and take action? It needs to be soon, and it needs to be swift. I fear that if Cincinnati misses out on this economic shift, as we have in the past, then we may be writing our future for the worse.