Author: Randy A. Simes

Randy is an award-winning urban planner who founded UrbanCincy in May 2007. He grew up on Cincinnati’s west side in Covedale, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s nationally acclaimed School of Planning in June 2009. In addition to maintaining ownership and serving as the managing editor for UrbanCincy, Randy has worked professionally as a planning consultant throughout the United States, Korea and the Middle East. After brief stints in Atlanta and Chicago, he currently lives in the Daechi neighborhood of Seoul’s Gangnam district.

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This Week In Soapbox 10/13

This Week in Soapbox (TWIS) you can read about World Food Bar’s new Downtown eatery opening this November, the first public K-12 school in the state of Ohio to achieve LEED certification, Mt. Washington’s efforts to slow down traffic along Beechmont Avenue, new lending opportunities for green building strategies created by LISC, and the latest redevelopment plans for Covington’s Jacob Price housing project site.

If you’re interested in staying in touch with some of the latest development news in Cincinnati please check out this week’s stories and sign up for the weekly E-Zine sent out by Soapbox Cincinnati. Also be sure to become a fan of Soapbox on Facebook!

Also be sure to check out the fantastic feature article by Jeremy Mosher on what Cincinnati can learn from Portland’s transit network, and the piece by David Lyman on Cincinnati’s Twitter scene. Below watch this week’s feature video that takes you on a ride of Portland’s modern streetcar.

TWIS 10/13:

  • World Food Bar Restaurant Group opening Mayberry Downtown this November – full article
  • Pleasant Ridge Montessori achieves LEED Silver certification – full article
  • Mt. Washington moving forward with potential traffic calming measures along Beechmont Avenue – full article
  • LISC creating new lending opportunity for green building – full article
  • Redevelopment plans continue to evolve for Jacob Price site in Covington – full article

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An important question for Cincinnati voters to ask

COAST has debuted their new yard signs that prominently feature a decorated bus (much like the Holly Jolly Trolley seen Downtown every holiday season and the special event trolleys that take people on tours of the city). The signs also simply state “Stop the Streetcar” instead of “We Demand a Vote” or “Stop All Passenger Rail” or “Any Means Any” or “No Taxation Without Representation” or “Lets Go Teabagging” or anything that would be closer to the truth.

When it comes down to the very core of COAST, and their stance on Issue 9, it’s not about Democracy, voting, or even empowering the public to keep their government in check. What Issue 9 is all about for COAST (a special interest political group that has fought everything from gay rights to red light cameras to funding for our public libraries and childrens museum) is permanently changing our city’s charter to more closely fit their political ideologies.

They’re paid to fight for this while the rest of us are not. Our city’s future is far to important to fall for the tricks of a special interest group looking out for no one else but themselves and their futures. A wise man once said, “follow the money trail.”

Additional Reading:
COAST’s yard signs: more nonesense – The Phony Coney
Jason Gloyd is a Liar or an Idiot…whichever title you prefer – CAAST
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Moerlein beer tasting at the Verona – 10/15

In true Cincinnati politico fashion, a Christian Moerlein beer tasting will be held for Councilmember Greg Harris’ reelection campaign. The beer tasting will take place at the historic Verona at Eden Park (map) on Thursday, October 15 from 5pm to 7pm.

If the great beer isn’t enough to get you there then maybe the chance to rub elbows with Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory or President and CEO of Christian Moerlein, Greg Hardman, will do the trick. And since this is a political fundraiser there are suggested donations (listed below) for those interested in attending.

Event organizers say that free valet parking will be provided, but the Verona is also served by Metro’s #1, 4, 11, 31 and 69 bus routes. To plan that trip that works best for your schedule use Metro’s Trip Planner. Please RSVP by emailing wight.phil@gmail.com, or by calling (513) 515-8464.

Suggested Donations
Brewmaster – $250
Homer Brewer – $100
Beer Drinker – $50
Lightweight – $25
Designated Driver – $10

Christian Moerlein photograph by Flickr user pnkermiz.

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Cincinnatians for Progress fundraiser at Mecklenburg Gardens – 10/13

Cincinnatians for Progress (CFP) will be holding their final fundraiser of this campaign season on Tuesday, October 13 from 5:30pm to 8pm at Mecklenburg Gardens in Corryville. In addition to the food and drink, CFP will also unveil their television commercial and watch the Mayoral debate.

Mecklenburg Gardens is one of Cincinnati’s oldest restaurants and boasts that German charm Cincinnati is so well known for. There will be plenty of Mecklenburg’s famous German food, plus some of the best beer in town. General admission is only $30 and will help keep Cincinnati moving forward with rail transportation choices for its residents, visitors and workers alike. For those looking to contribute a little more, CFP has identified three additional levels of contributors: Danke Schon ($250), Lederhosen ($500), and Burgermeister ($1,000).

Mecklenburg Gardens (map) is just a hop, skip and a jump away from the proposed Uptown streetcar route and presently boasts nearby on-street parking for automobiles, bicycle racks, and is served by Metro’s #39, 46, 51, 75x and 78 bus routes that will all get you within a few blocks of the restaurant. To find out which route is most convenient for you, and to plan your trip now, use Metro’s Trip Planner.

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Cincinnati Streetcar Facts (video)