Tag: west end

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Arts & Entertainment News

CPA to host event showcasing architectural gems of the Westside this Saturday

Cincinnati proudly boasts fantastic architectural gems. Downtown landmarks like Carew Tower, the Roebling Suspension Bridge, Music Hall, and Union Terminal help to establish a unique sense of place. Uptown, features at the Zoo, University of Cincinnati, and Christ Hospital demonstrate a range in architectural styles found here.

But while Cincinnati’s iconic landmarks leave a lasting impressing on residents and visitors alike, it is often the smaller, lesser-known architectural features that make this city a fantastic place to live.

On Saturday, January 29 at 10am, Cincinnati Preservation Association (CPA) will present Little Known Jewels of the West Side, an overview of hidden historic treasures of Cincinnati’s West Side neighborhoods. The event will be led by UC alumnus Dave Zelman, AIA, a registered architect in the hospitality studio of FRCH Design.

Saturday’s event will be held at the Hauck House located at 812 Dayton Street in the West End neighborhood. This beautiful Italianate stone townhouse on “Millionaire’s Row” was CPA’s original headquarters.

Reservations are required due to limited space. Contact CPA by calling (513) 721-4506 or emailing info@cincinnatipreservation.org. Admission is just $5 thanks to the support from Comey & Shepherd Realtors, City Office which is sponsoring CPA’s Winter Programs series at the Hauck House.

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Business News

Brush Factory reflects on success, prepares for future

To say the past year has been an exciting one for the Brush Factory would be an understatement. Founders Hayes Shanesy and Rosie Kovacs reopened the doors to a historic building in the West End’s Brighton district which now serves as their working studio.

The headquarters in Brighton opened in 2009, and in talking with Rosie Kovacs and Hayes Shanesy it is clear that they have a passion for maintaining the historic building, and perfecting the tradition of handmade goods such as the clothes they sell in their store in Oakley. The store opened last fall and they also have a web presence with their online store. People are also starting to pay attention as the Brush Factory earned the award for Best Tailor Made pants in the region from Cincinnati Magazine.

“The collection of Brush Factory goods are designed, prototyped, engineered and produced in house,” Kovacs stated. “This level of control yields limited quantities, but also creates a collection of objects durable enough to last a lifetime.” In addition to the clothing that Kovacs is responsible for along with recent DAAP graduate Chelsea Cutrell, Hayes Shanesy and his father work upstairs in the Brighton studio designing and building furniture.

The folks at The Brush Factory also want to share their experiences with the world, so they offer classes to help people learn to sew or perfect their practice depending on current skill level. The first class, Vorkus I (deriving from the Bauhaus studies in Germany), is a series of three sessions and features basic sewing skills, getting to know your machine, and pants alterations among other things. Vorkus II is a more advanced series which gets into the design phase based off images that participants bring along. Both require participants to bring their own machine and scissors. 

“The classes offer a unique and meaningful way for people to be introduced to The Brush Factory” said Shanesy. “We also believe that that the more interest people have in making things themselves the more they will appreciate the things around them.  Once you know how something is made whether it be a dress or table you begin to appreciate the object in a new light.”

Without a doubt, one of the best parts about doing work for UrbanCincy is finding businesses and people in Cincinnati that I might have otherwise not known about. One such case is the work being done by the folks at The Brush Factory. Part design, part manufacturing, part retail, and part school this is one of the more intriguing businesses I have come across in my time.

Brush Factory video produced by Rachel Schwarz.

Categories
Business Development News Politics Transportation

Free interactive workshop at Union Terminal to gather public input on transportation investments

Ohio officials kicked off the first of eight state-wide public workshops yesterday in Columbus. The interactive workshops are structured to get resident input on public policy surrounding transportation investment.

The second of eight meetings will be held in Cincinnati today at Losantiville Cafe inside the famous Union Terminal building. At today’s free event guests will be treated to presentations by Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls and John Deatrick who will discuss the economic development impact of The Banks development for which he is overseeing.

Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) organizers say that part of the focus will be on how to better create jobs through transportation investments. Officials say that the discussions are part of ODOT’s Go OHIO Transportation Futures Plan which is examining how the state invests in all modes of travel and shipping including highway, air, rail, transit, water, pedestrian and bicycle. From there officials hope to better align those various modes of transportation investments with job creation, economic development and overall quality of life.

“Transportation has always been a driver of jobs and economic development for Ohioans,” described ODOT director Jolene M. Molitoris.

The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that approximately eight percent of Ohio’s private sector jobs was linked to the manufacture of exported goods in 2008, with approximately $45.6 billion in total export value during the same time according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

ODOT officials believe that the state’s seventh highest ranking nationally for value of goods exported to international markets, the nation’s fourth largest interstate highway system, the fourth most tonnage of goods moved through its waterways, and the third most active freight rail mileage in the nation speak highly to the ability to leverage transportation investments into economic development.

“The timing for this effort couldn’t be better with a report out of Washington showing that infrastructure investments can and will raise economic growth and productivity,” said Molitoris.  “Low construction costs mean we can do more than ever before with our resources and at the same time create more good-paying Ohio jobs.”

The free event at Cincinnati Union Terminal (map) will take place from 6pm to 8pm with registration at 5:30pm. Reservations are not required, but those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP by emailing go.ohio@dot.state.oh.us.

Categories
Business Development News

Google updates aerial imagery of Cincinnati region

Google has updated its aerial imagery for several major cities throughout the United States including Portland, Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati.  The new imagery appears to have been taken over the summer.  Observers in the nation’s capital have been able to narrow it down to as precise as Sunday, August 29 between 1:00pm and 1:35pm.

Like many other cities around the country, the new aerial imagery for Cincinnati illustrates much of what has changed over recent years.  New construction projects are visibly taking place while others have been completed or are nearing completion in their aerials.  In addition to capturing the changing urban landscape in Cincinnati, the new imagery is also much crisper than previous versions.

Below is a sampling of 20 sites around the city that illustrate the aforementioned changes.  Enjoy!

Categories
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.