Info about The Banks and surrounding area, please (Columbus, Cleveland: real estate, city hall)

[Traveler87]

Originally Posted by abr7rmj

I have no idea why they chose the shades of brick that they did at The Banks. Cincinnati is a dark brick kind of town, and that's obvious to anyone who is in downtown or OTR for more than 30 seconds. I have no idea how those lighter shades made it off the drawing board.

Yeah, like I said, I hope the second phase exceeds expectations to make up for what they did with the brick and materials they used in the first phase.

[Bhiggins]

Wonder what Newport will do to make a comeback with new developments when our side of the river is done... as I like to say... attacking Newport.

[abr7rmj]

Originally Posted by Bhiggins

Wonder what Newport will do to make a comeback with new developments when our side of the river is done... as I like to say... attacking Newport.

Both sides of the river can complement each other. There's no doubt Newport thrives in the summer when the Reds are playing. And Cincinnati gets plenty of aquarium visitors in its restaurants and bars.

Both sides will be successful if they complement rather than compete with each other.

But Newport losing the Southgate House really takes its coolness factor down a notch. What a horrible turn of events there.

[Matthew Hall]

Developing the land where they knocked down the public housing west of the levee and east of the Licking River seems the most unique and appealing land in the entire metro even if they can't get the financing for high-rises. A combination of 5 to 7 story buildings as those along the river in bellevue with some riverfront restaurants accessible from the levee path and spaces for local shops on the side facing the east toward the aquarium, like drycleaners, pharmacy, sandwich shops, etc. would have an unique view and walkability few other places could match. Even high-end rental could make such a project very profitable, if they can get the land for a price that allows them to maximize the long term value and tax income from it instead of just getting as much as as they can at the moment without any thought for the future of the riverfront or Newport. Maybe the people who've worked on the Banks can work their magic across the river when its done.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by abr7rmj

I have no idea why they chose the shades of brick that they did at The Banks. Cincinnati is a dark brick kind of town, and that's obvious to anyone who is in downtown or OTR for more than 30 seconds. I have no idea how those lighter shades made it off the drawing board.

Do you think they may have chosen it to be distinctive and indicate we are the new kids in town? How can anyone equate light color with inferior? To me dark brick can cover up a whole lot of shortcomings, including porosity (passes water through), non-uniformity, etc. So they are light color in a dark color town, maybe they planned it that way on purpose.

[abr7rmj]

Originally Posted by kjbrill

Do you think they may have chosen it to be distinctive and indicate we are the new kids in town? How can anyone equate light color with inferior? To me dark brick can cover up a whole lot of shortcomings, including porosity (passes water through), non-uniformity, etc. So they are light color in a dark color town, maybe they planned it that way on purpose.

The light brick trend on the riverfront goes all the way back to GABP, which is comprised entirely of light brick and exposed steel. I'm sure The Banks designers wanted to complement that. But is just looks off kilter - like a college dorm.

Remember this conceptual drawing of The Banks:

Redirect Notice

That being said, I was down there today and noticed the Moerlein Lager Haus almost looks like it's ready to go. It's a gorgeous building and really complements the ballpark and riverfront well.

[motorman]

Originally Posted by abr7rmj

The light brick trend on the riverfront goes all the way back to GABP, which is comprised entirely of light brick and exposed steel. I'm sure The Banks designers wanted to complement that. But is just looks off kilter - like a college dorm.

Remember this conceptual drawing of The Banks:

Redirect Notice

That being said, I was down there today and noticed the Moerlein Lager Haus almost looks like it's ready to go. It's a gorgeous building and really complements the ballpark and riverfront well.

Yes, I remember when those conceptual drawings first appeared in The Enquirer. (They were front-page news--and they deserved to be.) Even though I recognized back then that those drawings were no more than renderings of what might be, I was still hoping to see them become reality. Today, the reality of The Banks is real, but sadly to say, it isn't the reality of that original presentation. Needless to say, our downtown didn't gain three new office towers (as depicted in the drawings), but one--and I can't say that the Great American Tower does much for me. It's a squat 665-ft. structure that could have been a magnificent 950-ft structure (and Ohio's tallest skyscraper). And that "tiara" gets old pretty quick when you realize that it's just a fake cap rather than a glass enclosed atrium.

The reality of The Banks (although not a total disaster) is...how should one say..."uninspiring." Generic and cheap residential and retail buildings jammed between two overbearing sports palaces, and centered by an embarrassing museum to political correctness. (Wow, I can't wait to see what Stage Two development brings us!) Those original drawings presented several charming streetscapes that blended traditional and contemporary architecture. Not quite Prague On The Ohio, but something where our city's past would be mysteriously still present. None of that magic down there on the riverfront today, folks--just unadulterated utilitarian purpose fulfilled. Yes, I'm well aware that places like Prague, Budapest, and Vienna just don't "happen," but instead evolve over centuries. But Cincinnati had a rare chance to blend its unique 19th/20th century architecture with that of the 21st century down there on The Ohio. Maybe what's there right now is okay--I don't really know... All I know is that I'm somehow disappointed.

[CinciFan]

Originally Posted by motorman

It's a squat 665-ft. structure that could have been a magnificent 950-ft structure (and Ohio's tallest skyscraper)

I agree with most of your post motorman, but I'm glad we didn't get a 950-footer. I'd love to see one someday, but not without a supporting skyline. I would hate to see our skyline go the route of Cleveland and have one huge tower all by itself.

[motorman]

Originally Posted by CinciFan

I agree with most of your post motorman, but I'm glad we didn't get a 950-footer. I'd love to see one someday, but not without a supporting skyline. I would hate to see our skyline go the route of Cleveland and have one huge tower all by itself.

Yeah, CinciFan, a lone 950-ft. pinnacle poking up there on East 4th St. would certainly have proven to be an awkward addition to our downtown skyline--but it would have also been TWO WHOLE FEET taller than Cleveland's Key Tower! (bragging rights, you know...) The Great American Tower's the one that slipped right through our little fingers; just what kind of sleeping-pills were its architects on when they spread the building out rather than sending it skyward? (only Carl Lindner and John F. Barrett know for sure--but, for various reasons, neither one of them will ever tell us why)

[kjbrill]

I am getting more accustomed to the looks of the Great American Tower. The tiara on top gives it an interesting appearance, certainly not cookie-cutter. If it would have been glass enclosed to form an atrium a good deal of additional expense would have been involved, and to actually grow something air handling systems to provide heat in the winter and circulation year round to prevent moisture from dripping off the enclosure constantly, much as you encounter in a greenhouse. Because of its unique appearance it is a standout to the skyline and I believe with time will be regarded well. For those who complain how bland many things are in Cincinnati, to me it is a refreshing departure.

Frankly I find both Great American Tower and the Banks to be a lot more visually pleasant than the warehouse box structure called the Freedom Center.