Cincinnati Take Note: Indianapolis’ Local Media Boosts City’s National Image

Indianapolis and Cincinnati are two cities in the heart of the Midwest, a particularly hard hit region in today’s recession plagued economy.  And yet, each region is seeing unprecedented investment in their respective downtowns, each among the largest in the nation and each bucking national trends.  As construction comes to a standstill across much of the nation, Indianapolis is seeing $3.3 billion worth of construction projects while Cincinnati is seeing $2.8 billion worth (something to note: Indianapolis defines their downtown in much broader terms than Cincinnati, offsetting a direct comparison). 

This spending comes at a time when interest rates and construction costs are at historic lows, something that will position each city well when economic vigor returns to the rest of the nation.  With such positive news emerging out of these cities downtown’s, each region has a lot to be boastful of and much to look forward to, a sentiment typically reflected in the local media’s coverage of such progress.  And yet each city takes a divergent path on this front, as The Indy Star sings the Indianapolis’ praise and prospects for accumulating $3.3 billion in investment.  Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Enquirer has largely ignored it’s city’s downtown investment figures, and continues to seem uninterested in telling the true tale of the renaissance downtown Cincinnati is seeing.          

A recent front page article in the Indy Star proclaimed: “Building Boom Sets Indianapolis’ Downtown Apart.”  From there, the positivity ensues, featuring one bullish, pro Indianapolis figure and quote after another.   Perhaps the best summarization of the article’s tone is the following statement, from Terry Sweeney, vice president of real estate development for Indianapolis Downtown Inc.,: “We have the foundation of a safe, clean downtown that has over the years built a well-rounded product that has created a desire from people to live, work and play.” 

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Enquirer has yet to report on downtown Cincinnati’s amazing and unprecedented investment figures, but seems more interested in publishing negative hit pieces on the Cincinnati Streetcar or complaining about downtown parking rules and regulations.  While this difference in each city’s downtown media coverage is troubling (for Cincinnati anyway), it ultimately gets to a bigger issue regarding positive local media coverage and how that reflects a city’s national image and brand.

Since moving to Indianapolis over a year ago, I have been struck by the amount of positivity and general ‘feel-good’ sentiment coming out of the local media.  At times, it almost feels as if Indianapolis can do no wrong, that the city is the new Midwestern star, and that its future has never looked better or brighter.  On the national stage, Indianapolis has an overall positive image as well, heralded as the “Amateur sports capital of the world” and noted for its high growth rate, clean and vibrant downtown, and family friendly atmosphere.  A similar story can be told for numerous southern cities as well, places with high positive local media coverage, high self-esteem, and a positive national image.  Randy A. Simes, Owner & Managing Editor of UrbanCincy has noticed this trend since moving to Atlanta, Georgia over a year ago, as he notes: “In the south, most cities experience generally positive local media coverage and have generally positive public perceptions within their region and nationwide.”

Meanwhile, Cincinnati and other older, established cities such as Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Buffalo tend to take an opposite approach, as their local media’s often spew negativity and fear about their respective urban centers to local residents.  Ultimately, this sentiment reverberates across the nation and becomes these cities brands on a national scale.  As Randy Simes points out: “The ability for local media to impact public perception is quite profound, and it can be seen first-hand in the difference between Cincinnati and Indianapolis where they have experienced relatively similar success, but have quite different public perceptions.”           

It’s time the Cincinnati media take note, learn from Indianapolis, and start being more positive about urban Cincinnati and the state of downtown.  This task shouldn’t be too difficult – simply tell the truth and the city’s historical, cultural, architectural, natural, and physical assets will practically speak for themselves.  On top of that, the $2.8 billion being invested in downtown now is paving the way for a more prosperous, exciting Queen City.  This is the image that should be conveyed by local Cincinnati media (as it is the truth!), something that would undoubtedly result in higher citizen self-esteem and a stronger national image and brand for years to come.

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Cincinnati’s Moerlein Lager House Urban Design Crit.

Side note: I know I have been writing about Cincinnati a lot in recent posts, so after this I will try to branch out to other cities again.  But for now, bare with me through yet another Cincinnati-related post.  I just can’t help it though, that city has so much going on right now (and I haven’t even written about the Streetcar’s recent $25 million urban circulator grant win.)

Early yesterday morning, the City of Cincinnati, Twitter, Facebook, and the general Cincinnati blogosphere was all a Google buzz regarding details that emerged about the Moerlein Lager House, a large and local restaurant and microbrewery that will be built in Cincinnati’s beautiful Riverfront Park next to Great American Ballpark.   For those unfamiliar with the project, the Lager House will begin construction in Fall 2010 with an anticipated completion date of August 2011.  The structure will be built in conjunction with phase 1 of the new $120 million Cincinnati Central Riverfront Park as well as phase 1 of the Banks development, a separate project immediately north of the site.  Certainly, the Lager House brings with it an excitement to the City as it celebrates the proud brewing tradition of Cincinnati, is the first retail tenant announced for the riverfront, and will bring 200 jobs.  So woohoo all around, right?  Well, in true urbanOut style, I must insert my opinion on the building’s general design, its relationship to its surrounding built environment, and point out the good and bad of its urban design.    

Let’s start out with the structure’s siting, seen in the image below.  From an urban design standpoint, I like the way the Lager House is situated, as it directly abuts both Mehring Way’s and Main Street’s sidewalks in an urban fashion.  Another great feature is the significant amount of outdoor seating facing the park on the west and along Main Street to the north.  These outdoor spaces provide different experiences, one facing a serene and green riverfront park and the other facing and seemingly interacting with the energy around the ballpark on Main Street.  My one complaint is that the structure does not seem to properly articulate itself at the intersection of Mehring Way and Main Street.  Here, a significant architectural element should be integrated into the building’s design to highlight the road intersection as well as further distinguish the structure from its surrounding environment. 

Ok, moving on to the elevations.  First, the park side elevations, seen in the 2 images below, showcase outdoor spaces surrounding the Lager House that will directly and positively interact with the park space.  This will create a great ambiance and feel to both the urban park as well as the restaurant/microbrewery, all the while providing an experience unique to the region.  I also like the materials used for the structure, as they appear earthy and appropriate for a park setting while still fitting in contextually with the ballpark and the Banks nearby.  Plus, the excessive use of glass seems fitting, allowing for visual and literal connections to the surrounding park space. 

Finally, I want to comment on the Main Street side elevations, seen in the 2 images below.  While I am a fan of the large outdoor space that sits north of the structure and abuts Main Street, I have problems with a few things here.  First, the outdoor space is physically separated from the street by a descending street wall.  While I am aware the street slopes down towards the river and such a wall might be unavoidable, I think the outdoor seating could have been designed in such a way to maximize interaction with the street itself.  Second, the actual structure turns its back to Main Street, and offers little to no interaction with its surroundings on this side of the building.  Also, it appears this side of the building is where lager House loading/unloading activities will take place; something that is unfortunate given that the Main Street section of the Banks development will feature retail, outdoor dining options, and other entertainment features.  The Lager House could contribute to that atmosphere in an absolute and articulated way, but judging by these renderings, it will not.          

In the end, I am very excited about the Moerlein Lager House as I think it offers a new and unique entertainment and dining option for Cincinnati’s riverfront that compliments the ballpark as well as the Banks development.  Plus,as I mentioned above, the structure interacts beautifully with the Riverfront Park, the materials and use of glass seems appropriate, and the amount of outdoor seating is significant and exciting.  While the urban design along Main Street is a letdown, I still think the building has an overall successful design.  With proper implementation, the building will act as a southern end anchor to the Banks development and ensure the success of Cincinnati’s ongoing dramatic riverfront transformation.

Cincinnati Equinox Pride Parade & Festival This Weekend

Check out my latest guest post at UrbanCincy by clicking the link below.  This article is about the Cincinnati Equinox Pride Parade this weekend.  This year’s event is particularly important as it marks the event’s return to downtown Cincinnati. 

Cincinnati Equinox Pride Parade This Weekend

Cincinnati Takes an Important Step in the Great Streetcar Debate

Yesterday, Monday May 10^th, the Cincinnati City Council voted 6-2 to approve $64 million in bonds for the streetcar project, moving the plan very close to reality.  Because all City council members serve on the finance panel, the bonds measure is all but guaranteed to pass by the same margin when it goes before the full council this Wednesday.  Ultimately, this is a very important step in the ever-lasting streetcar debate as this sends a strong message to the federal government of a firm local commitment to the project, something top Washington officials say is important to receiving federal grants in the future.  And with $50 million more needed to fund the $128 million project, such sources of funding is key to the streetcar becoming reality in Cincinnati.

The streetcar has long been a pet project of mine, as I am a strong supporter and advocate of the idea and have been since day one.  Back in late 2009, I ran numerous pieces against Issue 9, a ridiculous anti-rail referendum put forth on the ballot last November.  Thankfully, the Issue failed in a dramatic fashion, and in doing so sent a clear message to City Council that the residents of Cincinnati support progressive transportation options like the streetcar.

So why are the people of Cincinnati and myself so gung-ho about the streetcar?  Here are a few reason why:

• The streetcar will give Cincinnati a competitive edge in the Midwest.  No other city in the region is currently implementing this type of progressive rail transportation and Cincinnati has the chance to be the first and in doing so, redefine itself a place that takes urbanism seriously. 
• The only way to truly revitalize Over-the-Rhine in a proper, contextually sensitive manner is through mass transportation (ala  the streetcar).  The neighborhood was developed before the car and thus has an incredible pedestrian scale and environment.  Essentially, there is no room for a car culture in OTR and  unless major transportation improvements serve the neighborhood, the only way to encourage investment is by providing ridiculous parking requirements and demolishing numerous buildings to make room for all the cars.  If the streetcar is built, parking requirements for new developments will be lessened and the neighborhood can revitalize in a true urban manner.     
• Building a streetcar line that connects downtown and uptown is a giant first step towards a regional mass transit system.  The City has to start somewhere and connecting the region’s two largest employment centers is the perfect place to do so.  If the streetcar proves to be successful and a link to Ohio’s 3C Corridor is created, expect future rail expansions to happen in the region, both light and heavy. 

As it stands today, the City has done all it can to make the streetcar a reality.  Now, we are forced to sit and wait to see if the federal government will kick in the additional funding in their next round of stimulus monies.  Based on what local experts and inside sources are saying, the City’s federal grant application is a ‘top contender’ to receive support, with some people going as far as assuring the money is all-but-guaranteed.  As a Cincinnati lover and a true advocate, I truly hope this is true because the City deserves a world-class transportation system and this is the first step in achieving such a goal.  Make in happen Cincinnati!

By the way, for a complete, in-depth analysis and discussion about the Cincinnati Streetcar, check out the CincyStreetcar Blog, a site also featured on my blogroll to the right.  The site is known for numerous photoshopped images of a streetcar running through Cincinnati streets, a great feature that allows people to see exactly what it would be like to have this type of transit in the Queen City.

Cincinnati Is So European

Well, the city can look European anyways.  In so many ways and from so many views, Cincinnati can easily be mistaken for a 19th Century European city, perfectly preserved, perfectly provincial, perfectly unique.  The neighborhoods of Over-the-Rhine, the West End, Mt. Auburn, Camp Washington, Mt. Adams, and other center city neighborhoods are the places I am talking about here.   

The interesting thing about Cincinnati is it’s development history.  The city was America’s first boomtown, developing in the early 1800’s and becoming a major economic powerhouse by the mid 1850’s.  While cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Detroit were still small settlements, Cincinnati was prospering, populating, and densifying.  Because the city was founded in a basin surrounded by hills, development had nowhere to go.  Therefore, the City densified at an amazing rate, becoming the most densely populated city in the United States outside of Manhattan. 

As time went on and technology improved, Cincinnatian’s built inclines and figured out how to develop past the surrounding hillsides.  As this happened, the population began spreading out across the region and the center city de-populated, leaving behind an amazing collection of 19th Century buildings and neighborhoods built in incredibly dense fashions.  As time went on and investment dried up in center cities across the nation, urban America saw their neighborhoods decimated by urban renewal programs and Interstates of the mid 20th Century.  Somehow, a large amount of Cincinnati urban neighborhoods, especially Over-the-Rhine, escaped the wrecking ball in a lot of instances (unfortunately the West End was decimated by I-75), maintaining an amazing built form in and around downtown.  This is what makes Cincinnati so unique, so interesting, so amazing – the existence of nearly intact, pedestrian oriented, dense 19th Century neighborhoods not found anywhere else in the country.

In past posts, I have briefly covered Over-the-Rhine, perhaps Cincinnati’s most famous neighborhood.  Below, you will find a collection of pictures from Prospect Hill, a sub-neighborhood of Mt. Auburn just north of Over-the-Rhine.  Prospect Hill is built on steep hillsides, offering great view of downtown and a great collection of 19th Century architecture.  The neighborhood has seen an incredible amount of investment, in large part by the gays, and is definitely one of the best places to live in the City.  Also, Milton’s is a well-known neighborhood bar that should be experienced by all Cincinnatians.  Enjoy Prospect Hill, and see why Cincinnati is so European, or at least looks that way sometimes.

Cincinnati Voters: NO ON ISSUE 9 Today!

I’ve said it on here many times now, but can’t reiterate enough how imperative a ‘No’ vote on Issue 9 is to the future of Cincinnati, to it’s competitive edge, and to achieving a more sustainable City and metro region.  Please, NO on 9! 

More Cincinnati Streetcar/Issue 9 Videos

Urbancincy.com‘s obsessive Cincinnati Streetcar/Issue 9 video postings got me in the mood to share all the Streetcar videos circulating the interwebs.  I have already posted some on here but below are even more great videos about the Cincinnati Streetcar and Issue 9.  These videos have a wealth of information and ought to be watched by all Cincinnatians before voting on November 3rd.     

And if you really have the time:

And of course…..

Guest Post On UrbanCincy.com

I wrote another guest editorial piece for urbancincy.com.  Check it out by clicking the link below.   

The Pedestrianization Acceleration of Cincinnati

Cincinnati Streetcar Facts

This is a great video.  Please Vote No On Issue 9 Cincinnati Voters!!!