Elements of Urbanism: Cincinnati 2009

[Joe]

If I were to take only one thing away from Cincinnati it would be the success of 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation). Is anyone familiar with them?

3CDC is a huge non-profit partially funded by Cincinnati's big corporations. Basically, they get historic renovation tax credits and sell them to the corporations. They use the profits to buy more dilapidated buildings and renovate them.

They are partially responsible for the Fountain Square you all photographed. They are also responsible for virtually all of the renovated buildings in your Over-the-rhine shots. They've been an amazing catalyst for revitalization.

Jacksonville desperately needs a similar corporation.

[hanjin1]

Has Jacksonville ever looked better than any of the cities shown on metrojax? I think we are batting 0 for 100 so far.

[Joe]

^Well, the photos are intentionally showing the "best practices" of the featured cities. It's showing things from all these cities that Jax can learn. It's not really showing the bad stuff (and there IS bad stuff)

Although Cincinnati has some assets that are more impressive than Jacksonville, it's also part of a CMSA of over 3 million people when you include Dayton.

On the whole, Jacksonville is actually in a much better position than Cincinnnati. Growth, taxes, location, weather, etc. If anything, Cincy is somewhat stagnant. But that doesn't mean that we can't learn from the things that they have done well.

[stjr]

Once again, lots of much wider and pedestrian friendly sidewalks present throughout their downtown.  And, a 40 acre RIVERFRONT park.  Is anyone in Jax paying attention?

Components include the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Riverfront Transit Center, multi-family housing, 70,000 square feet of retail and a 40 acre riverfront park.

[coredumped]

Has Jacksonville ever looked better than any of the cities shown on metrojax? I think we are batting 0 for 100 so far.

I don't know, has MJ done a photo tour of Detroit?

[thelakelander]

coredumped, here you go.


http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-sep-elements-of-urbanism-detroit-international-riverfront


http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2006-nov-rust-belt-special-ii-learning-from-downtown-detroit



http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-feb-the-detroit-people-mover-the-skyways-sister-system

[Ocklawaha]

http://www.pro-transit.com/Maps/

http://www.pro-transit.com/Default.asp

Tip the plan clockwise 90% and think... "Water - Newnan - Beaver - Randolph - Duval - Lee - Water."

The Cincinnati Plan has a much larger future scheme built into it. Laying out a core (if they get the $) with all double track, medians, up-graded stations etc... Won't defeat the benefit of Modern Streetcar, rather it will move them up in the Federal Pecking order toward a balanced regional rail system. This is now doable because of the constantly blurring lines between Streetcar, LRT, EMU and DMU technology's. I'm betting they'll do the "David Copperfield," and suddenly spring on the scene with a fully integrated mixed and fixed mass transit system.

Do I see a feature story spinning off of this? Sure!

OCKLAWAHA

[parabellum]

I lived in Cincinnati from early 1999-mid 2000.
I don't miss it, not one bit.

[cincydweller]

I've lived in downtown Cincinnati for two years now, having moved in from the suburbs. Cincinnati is one of the few (especially older) American cities to have a positive population growth rate (city, not region), bucking 20 years of decline. This is chiefly due to the massive revitalization projects spawned by 3CDC. It is also the 20th fastest-growing economic regioins in a nation with over 250 metro areas. In my two years downtown, I have witnessed countless rehab projects (especially Over-The-Rhine), a new tallest-building, a redesign of Fountan Square, dozens of new small businesses, and a general "can-do" attitude that sums up the attitude of this amazing city. It is blessed with an amazing natural setting (tons of rolling hills, a major river, etc.), second-to-none architecture, and a unique culture. I've now lived in Cincinnati Metro for five years, and it instantly felt like home. I can't imagine being anywhere else--although lower taxes would make it perfect!

[brainstormer]

^ I love the last line and there in lies the debate.  You only get to live in a wonderful city because you pay for it through taxes.  If we had higher taxes in Jacksonville, with smart management we'd have a revitalizing city as well.  Here in Jax, people want everything, but want to pay nothing.  It doesn't work that way.  Personally, I'm with you cincydweller, but I don't mind paying higher taxes for a better quality of life.

[CS Foltz]

^ I love the last line and there in lies the debate.  You only get to live in a wonderful city because you pay for it through taxes.  If we had higher taxes in Jacksonville, with smart management we'd have a revitalizing city as well.  Here in Jax, people want everything, but want to pay nothing.  It doesn't work that way.  Personally, I'm with you cincydweller, but I don't mind paying higher taxes for a better quality of life.

brainstormer I agree.......except for the part "smart management"! Higher taxes would just mean more money being wasted quicker! I don't have a problem with higher taxes but the City would have to do some major stepping up inorder for me to agree to higher taxes with the current administration wasting left and right! City does their part to curb waste and spending not needed then I would atleast consider a tax increase but not before!

[cincydweller]

High taxes have pushed many middle-income people, who would love to live in Cincinnati, across the river to much cheaper Northern Kentucky or out into the northern and eastern exurbs (Warren, Butler and Clermont Counties). As Floridians, who do not have a state income tax, you have benefited from your low tax structure, which has attracted business from heavily taxes states (like Ohio), thereby raising government tax revenue. I'm sure lowering the tax burden would GREATLY attract more fiscally-minded young professionals and retirees back to the city, and would further build on the great things happening in Cincy. Most of the change in the city has been spurred by private investment and business partnerships. The city government itself is usually bogged down in its own bureaucracy (i.e. the Banks project) to the point of paralysis. 3CDC, Proctor and Gamble, Great American Insurance, Western and Southern Life, and our amazing citizenry have been at the forefront of Cincinnati's renaissance.

[cincydweller]

Also not mentioned was that Cincy has three new downtown hotel projects- A recently completed Spring Hill Suites, a Residence Inn, and a uber-high-end boutique hotel (c21 Museum Hotel, ranked #1 hotel in America). Also, a major casino is going in on downtown's eastern edge (Broadway Commons). Obviously, people are rediscovering America's first boomtown. So, if you're an investor... :-)

[rainfrog]

I know this article is kind of old, but it says Northern Kentucky was going to be featured in a future article. Is that still a possibility? Were photos gathered?

[thelakelander]

Yes, pictures were taken and an article has been created.  It's been bumped in favor of other articles over the last couple of months.  Nevertheless, it will be eventually featured.