Mahogany's at the Banks (Cincinnati, Hamilton: apartment, live, club)

[unusualfire]

It's approved 6-3. Hopefully this is a successful venture. Good to see momentum still going for the Banks.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by unusualfire

It's approved 6-3. Hopefully this is a successful venture. Good to see momentum still going for the Banks.

Well, the city's shenanigans notwithstanding, I will support them by patronage and if it's good I will go back.

[kjbrill]

Well it still stinks relative to what others have been given to start a private business in the City. Wouldn't you like a quarter of a million dollars of public money to start a business? I just do not see any justification to this whatever. Any business desiring to locate in the Banks or its next phase should be asking for the same deal. And the ones already there should refuse to pay their taxes until the Ciity gives them the same sweetheart deal. What in the world is going on here?

[Sarah Perry]

I get the fact that it's not a scientific poll, but the opinion box on cincinnati.com which asks if council should have approved this financing deal registers a total of 633 votes right now: 67 yes, 566 no. I don't think much further comment is necessary--not that citizens' opinions matter anyway.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by John Blatchford

I'm glad to see both parties (the owners and the city) taking on some risk in investing in what could be a great project for The Banks. I think this will be a great success story and is a great move by the city.

What risk are the owners taking on? Far as I can tell they cannot even pay the bills for their current establishment in Hamilton. So where is the risk? The City is simply planking down money for a business which does not deserve it, no proven record of success. Every other business at the Banks should be screeming to high heaven and demanding a rebate.

[unusualfire]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

I get the fact that it's not a scientific poll, but the opinion box on cincinnati.com which asks if council should have approved this financing deal registers a total of 633 votes right now: 67 yes, 566 no. I don't think much further comment is necessary--not that citizens' opinions matter anyway.

I guarantee you 85% of those that voted did not live in the city limits.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by unusualfire

I guarantee you 85% of those that voted did not live in the city limits.

Not sure exactly how you "guarantee" that without seeing the actual data of who voted and where they live. But you're probably correct. Of more note vis a vis skewed results is that people who're unhappy about something tend to be more motivated to express themselves.

All that said, the disconnect between council's vote and public opinion is pretty disconcerting.

[abr7rmj]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

I get the fact that it's not a scientific poll, but the opinion box on cincinnati.com which asks if council should have approved this financing deal registers a total of 633 votes right now: 67 yes, 566 no. I don't think much further comment is necessary--not that citizens' opinions matter anyway.

Citizens' opinions certainly do matter - at the ballot box, not unscientific Internet polls that tend to stoke the fire of the hot-button issue of the day and are open to anybody from Cincinnati to Bombay.

It's pretty clear after the most recent Council election that the electorate placed the candidates in office that most closely hold its views. Using the streetcar as an example, had city residents really opposed the project to the extent that Cincinnati.com polls repeatedly showed, the issue would have been bludgeoned at the ballot and the overwhelmingly pro-streetcar majority that was elected would not have been.

There were plenty of alternatives, and there were plenty of anti-streetcar councilmembers that were given the boot. The fact that this Council is comprised of its current members is no accident. And it clearly shows that a lot of the opposition for initiatives supported by Cincinnati City Council is from people who don't actually live in the city. So, citizens' opinions DO matter.

[restorationconsultant]

I have to question the priorities of the council ? A million bucks put into my neighborhood would take about 15-20 homes, completely stablizize them and paint them. It would create "real jobs' and at the end of the day raise property values and the city's property tax base would go up and we could attract people back to our neighborhood.

Oh well I guess our neighborhood will just have to do it by ourselves.
Victorian Antiquities and Design: Knox Hill Neighborhood Association to restore the C. Winkler House

Heaven Forbid the city would spend money somewhere OTHER than the Banks and OTR!

[abr7rmj]

Originally Posted by restorationconsultant

I have to question the priorities of the council ? A million bucks put into my neighborhood would take about 15-20 homes, completely stablizize them and paint them. It would create "real jobs' and at the end of the day raise property values and the city's property tax base would go up and we could attract people back to our neighborhood.

Oh well I guess our neighborhood will just have to do it by ourselves.
Victorian Antiquities and Design: Knox Hill Neighborhood Association to restore the C. Winkler House

Heaven Forbid the city would spend money somewhere OTHER than the Banks and OTR!

Interesting work on the Winkler house and the neighborhood. That's great and we need more people dedicated to this type of restoration and preservation.

I'll be honest and admit that I don't know much about that area. How close are you to Northside? Can any spinoff development from NS spill into your neighborhood?