Chatter about Westwood seceding from Cincinnati (Wilson: sales, foreclose, transfer)

[aquila]

The problem is clear: miscommunication. I'm saying one thing, but you guys are reading something different.

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

You just did it again! lol

Think about this for a second ...

You agreed upthread that FSW isn't the most attractive high-rise known to man, correct? (your post on 06-23-2009 05:25 PM)

Ummmm, nooooooo.....I said no such thing.

First, I was talking about an early proposal for QCS. I stated that that design (the early one for QCS) rivaled what was planned for FSW in scope. I didn't say it rivaled FSW in design.

Second, I indicated that the city balked at the proposed designs submitted by developers (back in the 80s and early 90s) for FSW. How could I possibly say FSW isn't the most attractive high-rise when there isn't even a high-rise there? Think about what you're saying, CR.

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

In this post you state that the potential to build FSW was wasted, correct?

No. To rephrase what I meant, I'm saying that the piece of real estate upon which Macy's and Tiffany's now sits was touted thoughout the 80s and early 90s as being one of the single most valuable prime pieces of urban real estate in the midwest. If that is the case, then the potential for what could have been built there was not realized. It could have been so much more than what it turned out to be. So in other words, the potential for that site was squandered....it was wasted. The city plopped a department store on that site, when it should have done something better with it.

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

So, it must be the ability to build a new skycraper then, correct?

Well, they are. That's the point jlrosen (I believe) and I are trying to make.

I think this is where we are misfiring at one another. Are you talking about a tower being constructed above Macy's....or are you simply referring to a "new tallest"? If you're talking about Macy's, then I can only say I have extreme doubts that anything will be built there. If you're talking about a new tallest, I'm already quite aware of what is being built at QCS. And I already stated I do not disagree with what jlrosen said about QCS.

Can we move on now? It really doesn't matter how much we go back and forth on this. The point is, I think they wasted the potential for what could have been done with FSW.

[restorationconsultant]

To get back to the ACTUALl topic of Westwood,

We had some friends down from Indianapolis this weekend and we took them over to Westwood. They own a small 1970's 3 bedroom house on the northside of Indy and they paid over 350K for it.They were blown away by how affordable Westwood was. We looked at a huge house on the market for 179,9 and everyone agreed the same house in Indianapolis in Meridian Kessler would be 800K easy! We also agreed that all it would take to turn Westwood around would be a cleanup of the lower end of Harrison Avenue and some of the side streets which have incredible houses on them but alot of them are illegally converted to multi family.

That is something the City of Cincinnati does not want to address for whatever reason and in my opinion one of the best reasons for Westwood to go independent. Getting those illegally converted properties back to single family would result in a major turnaround of the area. Why pay Cincinnati taxes if thry do not get the services?

[aquila]

Fine - whatever. If you want to be right, then be right. I'll drop it. If you guys are content on seeing Cincinnati divided up into even smaller bits, have at it. I frankly couldn't care less anymore. Everything I say about my hometown is wrong anyway, so I'm just wasting my breath contributing anything to these forums.

And FWIW, I tried indicating we were getting this thread off-topic a while back.

[Hartwell Girl]

Aquila, I understand where you are coming from but you also need to understand the frustrations of those of us who actually live in the City right now. You have neighborhoods who are tired of being ignored. If it wasnt for neighborhood councils and overloaded neighborhood volunteers, we wouldnt have anyone fighting for our neighborhoods. People are scratching their heads trying to figure out what to do about empty properties, blighted properties, trash on our streets, safety, and now how most recent cuts are going to hurt our neighborhoods. You call the City and you wait and sometimes, nothing ever gets done...so you get your neighbors together and deal with it yourself. I understand that without a Westwood tax base, the City budget will need to be slashed even more, but what do you expect neighborhoods to do..just wait patiently while our neighborhoods get deeper into problems (that take 10 times longer to get out). I used to try to remember that we were one of many neighborhoods and we needed to be patient, but if you sit back and wait all that will happen is your neighborhood will be over looked over and over again. I know this from first hand experience, that is why I get involved, question things and try to be a voice for the neighborhood so the City doesnt forget about us. And I applaud anyone who does the same.
We dont all have to agree that it is the best solution, BUT what else is there to change the direction things have been going for our neighborhoods? We put everything we have into our home, you want us to just sit back and let the City decide which direction they are going to allow our neighborhoods to go? How about you hand your bank account over to them, see how that works for you...because that is exactly how I feel about people not being involved in the postive changes in a neighborhood, just throw your money away. Sorry, I cant do that.

[aquila]

HartwellGirl, I understand what you're saying and I'm sorry you guys go through what you do. I truly don't have the answers. I wish I did, but I just don't. I don't even have answers for things that take place in my neighborhood here in West Chester, and I don't think they care about us anyway since we are the poorest part of the township. My opinions about Cincinnati matter even less since I'm pretty much wrong about everything in my life anyhow, and it really isn't my business anyway since I don't live in Hamilton County. But it does seem to me that further division which would only shrink the city isn't an answer.

[wilson1010]

I think the City services work fine. From OTR, I call the City's one number 591-6000, make my complaint, ask for a call back upon completion and it happens. Sometimes by the end of day. Whether it's overtime parking, an abandoned car or a streetlight burned out, I find the response fast, efficient, and courteous. And, I call a lot.

But, if you want the City to come out to some downtrodden neighborhood and turn it into Hyde Park with public improvements, you have a long wait.

[Hartwell Girl]

Originally Posted by aquila

HartwellGirl, I understand what you're saying and I'm sorry you guys go through what you do. I truly don't have the answers. I wish I did, but I just don't. I don't even have answers for things that take place in my neighborhood here in West Chester, and I don't think they care about us anyway since we are the poorest part of the township. My opinions about Cincinnati matter even less since I'm pretty much wrong about everything in my life anyhow, and it really isn't my business anyway since I don't live in Hamilton County. But it does seem to me that further division which would only shrink the city isn't an answer.

Well I dont dismiss your opinion because you dont live in the City or in Hamilton County for that matter, I just agree to disagree with you at times and that is OK. I would rather debate with you than some trolls on here who think they know all but really dont know anything at all. You lived in CIncy at one point, and I lived in W. CHester at one point....eventually we might start thinking alike.

[Hartwell Girl]

Originally Posted by wilson1010

I think the City services work fine. From OTR, I call the City's one number 591-6000, make my complaint, ask for a call back upon completion and it happens. Sometimes by the end of day. Whether it's overtime parking, an abandoned car or a streetlight burned out, I find the response fast, efficient, and courteous. And, I call a lot.

But, if you want the City to come out to some downtrodden neighborhood and turn it into Hyde Park with public improvements, you have a long wait.

I call department heads...I dont waste my time with customer service lines..

And not everyone wants to be a Hyde Park....and not everyone wants to hear Wilsons opinion....

[wilson1010]

Originally Posted by Hartwell Girl

I call department heads...I dont waste my time with customer service lines..

Well, then, there's your problem, "department heads" don't pick up the trash or write a ticket or fix a light. But, I bet those "department heads" are just overjoyed to hear from you.

"Hey Bill, you wanna talk with that nice lady from Horkwell? She says there's another abandoned car in front of her trailer with some rats jumpin' off of it. . . . . Naw, just tell her to move it herself."

[Hartwell Girl]

Originally Posted by wilson1010

Well, then, there's your problem, "department heads" don't pick up the trash or write a ticket or fix a light. But, I bet those "department heads" are just overjoyed to hear from you.

"Hey Bill, you wanna talk with that nice lady from Horkwell? She says there's another abandoned car in front of her trailer with some rats jumpin' off of it. . . . . Naw, just tell her to move it herself."

whatever..