Tag: uptown

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Development News Transportation

Cincinnati officials select Vine Street route for uptown streetcar connection

City officials have announced that Vine Street has been chosen as the path for the Cincinnati Streetcar to reach the uptown area. The decision comes after a comprehensive study was conducted to determine which route would best connect downtown with uptown, while also best managing the steep hillsides there.

“Our direction from city council has always been to ‘connect the dots,’ but to do so in a way that was fiscally responsible,” stated Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney in a prepared release. “The Vine Street route accomplishes that.”

The Vine Street route is estimated to cost $20 million less in capital costs, offer $250,000 in savings annually in operations, pose fewer engineering challenges, and also offer greater options for future expansions than the West Clifton Avenue alternative. According to City officials, Vine Street and West Clifton Avenue stakeholders have been meeting to discuss the alternatives for months, and that the group had been informed of the final decision yesterday.

One of the primary objectives of the study was to determine how to best navigate the steep hillside leading to and from the uptown area. In this case, Vine Street’s maximum 6.7 percent grade scored much better than West Clifton Avenue’s maximum 8.9 percent grade. The project team said that while United Streetcar/Oregon Iron Works, Siemens, Inekon, Kinkisharyo, and Bombardier all could build modern streetcars to handle such grades, the preference was for engineering simplicity.

In addition to the engineering aspects, many streetcar supporters believe the selected route to get uptown will present greater opportunities long-term.

“The Vine Street route will offer the fastest service between Cincinnati’s two largest employment centers,” said Brad Thomas, Founder, CincyStreetcar.com. “The route also presents the greatest opportunity for future expansions including extensions west to Clifton Heights, north to Avondale and Corryville, or east to Walnut Hills.”

To date, the city has secured $114.5 million out of the total $128 million to build the entire first phase running from Cincinnati’s central riverfront to its uptown neighborhoods. The modern streetcar system will be the first of its kind in the Midwest and one of only three like systems in the United States. The first construction is expected to begin fall 2010 with the first passengers riding in early 2013.

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Arts & Entertainment News Transportation

Metro to modify route, increase frequencies on Route 1

Metro officials have announced that route changes will be made to Route 1 in October. Officials state that the changes are intended to better serve local residents and visitors to the Queen City looking to take advantage of the large number of cultural institutions along the route.

The modified service will connect more than 40 cultural institutions throughout Cincinnati’s center city neighborhoods. Changes will include new 30-foot hybrid buses funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act that will operate with greater frequency. As a result, riders will benefit from 30 minute bus intervals operating seven days a week.

The new route will also undergo a light-hearted name modification as it is transformed into “Route 1: The One for Fun.”

“The One for Fun will connect the dots of fun in Cincinnati,” said Dave Etienne, Metro’s Marketing Director in a prepared release. “On the Rt. 1, it’s just ten minutes from downtown to Museum Center or from downtown to the Art Museum or Krohn Conservatory. It will be a convenient way to travel to dozens of Cincinnati’s treasures.”

Metro officials will be hosting an open house on Wednesday, September 8 from 3pm to 6pm at the transit agency’s headquarters (12th floor) in downtown Cincinnati. At the open house, current and future riders will have a chance to get an up close look at the forthcoming changes.

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Business Development News

Community partners celebrate kickoff of Corryville Neighborhood Enhancement Program

City officials and neighborhood leaders gathered at the Corryville Recreation Center this morning to celebrate the kickoff of the Corryville Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP).

At the announcement Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory was joined by University of Cincinnati President Gregory Williams, City Manager Milton Dohoney, and the many organizations working together during the 90-day blitz.

The concentrated neighborhood improvement effort focuses on removing blight, thus reducing quality of life crimes, and improving the neighborhood. To date, the acclaimed program has been implemented in seven neighborhoods including Price Hill, Avondale, Westwood, Evanston, College Hill, Clifton Heights/University Heights/Fairview Heights (CUF), and Mt. Washington.

The impacts have been profound as the program has helped reduce blight by an average of 15 percent through thousands of building inspections. Officials attribute much of the program’s success to the group of program partners that work to identify and cool down crime hot spots; clean up streets, sidewalks, and vacant lots; beautify landscapes, streetscapes, and the public right-of-way; and engage residents in a way that keeps them motivated after the first 90 days.

The Corryville program was made possible in large part thanks to a $5,000 donation from U.S. Bank that leveraged an additional $8,000 in corporate and community investment. City officials state that the funds will be used for materials and supplies that will help to improve the cleanliness, beauty, safety, and quality of the Corryville neighborhood.

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Development News

Ground broken on $1.2M sustainable learning facility in Avondale

Construction work has begun on the Civic Garden Center’s $1.2 million Green Learning Station at 2175 Reading Road in Avondale. The facility is the first of its kind in the Cincinnati region, and is described as an interactive, state-of-the-art learning laboratory for applying sustainable practices into gardens and the systems that support them.

“The Green Learning Station will be a field trip destination for people of all ages, open to the public for tours, workshops and classes related to green living in the city,” said Ryan Mooney-Bullock, Program Manager.

“Classes who visit the Green Learning Station will be challenged to conduct experiments and solve problems as they learn about urban environmental problems. Back in their schools, students will assess some aspect of their school’s environmental impact and develop a plan to make it more sustainable, whether by starting a compost system, a vegetable garden or capturing rainwater.”

Situated on a former SOHIO gas station, the project will include a variety of green features like pervious paving, rainwater harvesting units, bioswales, green roof systems, energy efficient utilities, and showcase sustainable gardens.

“The Board of the Civic Garden Center identified the need for the Green Learning Station more than two years ago,” explained Betsy Townsend, a volunteer and chair of the Green Learning Station committee for the Civic Garden Center. “Since then we have been diligently working to bring the project to fruition. The start of construction has been made possible by countless volunteer hours and generous gifts from local foundations, individuals and corporations.”

The Green Learning Station was designed by SFA Architects and Martin Koepke Design, and is expected to achieve LEED-Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Cincinnati-based HGC Construction is expected to complete work on the Green Learning Station in spring 2011.

Once complete, home builders, developers, and public officials will be able to use the Green Learning Station as a demonstration site on how to incorporate green technology into residences, businesses, and public spaces.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Cincinnati joining other global cities with interactive public piano exhibit

Cincinnati has joined a collection of international cities hosting a traveling public art and performance spectacle that is called Play Me, I’m Yours.  The Cincinnati exhibit will place 42 pianos in public spaces, across the Cincinnati region, that will be there for residents to play, listen to, and interact with.

Originally started in 2008 by Luke Jerram, Play Me, I’m Yours has entertained and fascinated those in London, New York, and Barcelona so far in 2010.  The timing of the pianos arrival coincides with the anniversaries of three local public radio stations – 90.9FM WGUC, 91.7FM WVXU, and 88.5FM WMUB.  Most of the pianos will be available from August 9 to 27, with a select few staying a bit longer.

The public interactive exhibit will offer Cincinnatians a chance to get out and explore the city, and create their own art by playing music or interacting with those that are.  According to British artist Luke Jerram the exhibit is as much about communities coming together as it is about music.

Many of the pianos were designed by local youth through ArtWorks’ summer jobs program.  Following the exhibit the pianos will be donated to local art centers to further enhance the arts for children locally for years to come.

Aside from having pianos set up in public spaces, Cincinnatians will be able to utilize the Play Me, I’m Yours homepage to share with each other, and the world, what is happening here by uploading pictures and videos.  And beyond the spontaneous performance at the pianos, up to three special performances may be organized per piano each day through the exhibit’s website.

A total of 18 of the 42 pianos installed throughout the region are located within Cincinnati’s center city at locations such as Cincinnati Museum Center, Findlay Market, Fountain Square, and Great American Ball Park. Some of those, like the Sawyer Point piano, will be available all day, every day, while others, like the one at the Cincinnati Zoo, will only be available during business hours.  A list of of all the pianos, their locations and details can be downloaded online.

Play Me, I’m Yours officially runs for three weeks starting with a kick-off celebration on Fountain Square from 11am-1pm on Monday, August 9 where two of the pianos will be located.