Category: Business

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Business News

18 entities join to form 8th Street Design District, kick off month-long concert series

It has long been a work in progress, but the 8th Street corridor through northeast downtown Cincinnati has evolved into a vibrant district. A district made up of trendy loft living inside former warehouses; diverse establishments like the Blue Wisp Jazz Club, Silverglades, and University Galleries; and an ever-growing collection of design-related businesses.

The progression has been steady and thorough over the past two decades when much of the district was vacant or rundown. But now, a large group of businesses in the district, the City of Cincinnati, and Downtown Cincinnati Inc. have officially formed the 8th Street Design District.

“We began looking around and realized that this area is rich with people and businesses who are passionate about their creative product, whether it’s package design, architecture, music or other related support services,” explained Ken Neiheisel, Chief Creative Officer of Marsh, Inc. and spokesperson for the 8th St. Design District.

Design firms include GBBN Architects, Marsh, KZF Design, Glaserworks, KGB Advertising, and Brandstetter Carroll along with 12 other entities that help make up the district. According to Neiheisel, the firms intend to come together with the goal of creating an inspiring, vibrant area that will aid in increasing the value of their work to the city while also attracting new talent. He also hopes that district branding will help attract other similar companies to the 8th Street Design District.

“There is strength in numbers and we felt that as a group, we could have an impact not only on each other, but on the creative class and economic development in Downtown Cincinnati.”

In order to celebrate the formation of the new 8th Street Design District, and bring the downtown community together, the group has organized a month-long music mini-series on Friday, September 10, 17, and 24. The concerts will take place from 12pm to 1:30pm at the corner of 8th and Broadway. The Faux Frenchmen are scheduled to perform first, with Mix Machine and Rattlesnakin’ Daddies to follow. Those who would like to help the newly formed group, or get more information about the September music mini-series, are instructed to contact Ken Neiheisel at (513) 386-6101.

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Business Development News

The Yoga Bar to serve up strong sense of community downtown

The Yoga Bar of Cincinnati
Yogis at the Yoga Bar

Rachel Roberts was tired of traveling, and as a well-known and beloved yoga teacher in the Cincinnati area, she was splitting her time between several different studios, none of which were near her home in downtown Cincinnati. As a result, Cincinnati’s newest yoga studio called The Yoga Bar was born.

“I am committed to a walkable lifestyle, and I wanted all my energy to be in one place,” said Roberts about her previously demanding travel schedule. “I want to give where I live.”

Furthering this commitment to place, Roberts says that Sangha, the Sanskrit word for community, illustrates the desire to connect those living in the downtown area. The idea, she says, is to create a welcoming, non-intimidating activity where people can learn more about each other and grow closer.

“Where else can you learn more about others’ lives than at a bar?,” she asked.

Yes, there is a bar inside to yoga studio located about the newly opened Rice Rocket Asian Grill at 825 Main Street. The space once home to a piano bar and discothèque called Club Crush, had been abandoned for some time. Now that the space has been re-imagined as a yoga studio, patrons are encouraged to come early, stay late, and congregate in the space as they get to know the people with whom they practice as they enjoy items like coconut water and kombucha at the bar.

In addition to the bar offerings and pristine white space for practice, The Yoga Bar will also boast a small retail selection. Roberts expects the space to be such a hit that she plans to offer the studio up on weekends for community members to rent for other activities.

The Yoga Bar (map) will officially open on Friday, October 2, and will be celebrating its grand opening with a Yogini-tini Martini Party as a way to introduce the community to the space. Roberts also says that there will be a ganesha puja brahmin to come and bless the new space before practice gets underway.

Once open, The Yoga Bar will offer daily classes Monday through Friday. Prices will range from $15 per class to $108 for a monthly membership. Those interested can stay connected to grand opening plans and more by following The Yoga Bar on Twitter @TheYogaBar, or by becoming a fan of the studio on Facebook.

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Business Development News

Mercantile turns to Switch to solve library’s historic lighting problems

One of the major challenges facing the 175-year-old Mercantile Library, as it progressed on renovating its space, was proper lighting of the space. The library space suffered from poor lighting for its users due to a number of issues. To solve such issues, the Mercantile Library tapped Over-the-Rhine-based Switch Lighting & Design.

“The Mercantile’s specific problems had to do with the very high ceilings, the wiring, and the furniture,” said Albert Pyle, Director, Mercantile Library. “Because it’s so difficult to install task lighting here like those cool green shaded table lamps in other libraries, it was necessary to do the whole general lighting job with overhead lights. Everything had to work with the library’s industrial age aesthetic and monumental volume. Tricky, to say the least.”

Library officials say that the new lighting needed to do a variety of things: be warm, bright, and 21st century efficient. The old “schoolhouse globes” were replaced by Wohlert Pendants that provide uniform general diffuse illumination according to Louis Poulson lighting.

“We recommended these lights because they were modern enough to indulge our commitment to modern lighting and traditional enough to maintain the classic feel of this historic library,” explained Switch Lighting & Design co-owner, Bertie Ray III.

The double-stack bookshelf area was particularly problematic. In the past, the double-stack bookshelves had relied on glass floors, to allow minimal light through from the windows below, and small bulbs. The antiquated approach to lighting the stacks was replaced by Zaneen Utah Suspended Lighting T5 that is described as both sleek and modern while also being respectful to historic surroundings.

“The new globes are a better size, cleaner, and make it possible to change the bulbs without dismantling the light,” Pyle stated. “The lighting in the stacks is sleek, self-effacing, and efficient; and allows us for the first time to leave the lights on throughout the day, making the stacks part of the room. Without having gotten the lighting right, nothing else would have worked correctly.”

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Business Development News

Community partners celebrate kickoff of Corryville Neighborhood Enhancement Program

City officials and neighborhood leaders gathered at the Corryville Recreation Center this morning to celebrate the kickoff of the Corryville Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP).

At the announcement Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory was joined by University of Cincinnati President Gregory Williams, City Manager Milton Dohoney, and the many organizations working together during the 90-day blitz.

The concentrated neighborhood improvement effort focuses on removing blight, thus reducing quality of life crimes, and improving the neighborhood. To date, the acclaimed program has been implemented in seven neighborhoods including Price Hill, Avondale, Westwood, Evanston, College Hill, Clifton Heights/University Heights/Fairview Heights (CUF), and Mt. Washington.

The impacts have been profound as the program has helped reduce blight by an average of 15 percent through thousands of building inspections. Officials attribute much of the program’s success to the group of program partners that work to identify and cool down crime hot spots; clean up streets, sidewalks, and vacant lots; beautify landscapes, streetscapes, and the public right-of-way; and engage residents in a way that keeps them motivated after the first 90 days.

The Corryville program was made possible in large part thanks to a $5,000 donation from U.S. Bank that leveraged an additional $8,000 in corporate and community investment. City officials state that the funds will be used for materials and supplies that will help to improve the cleanliness, beauty, safety, and quality of the Corryville neighborhood.

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Business Development News

Broadway Commons district study to examine area impacted by new Cincinnati casino

Cincinnati casino developers have selected Harrah’s Entertainment to operate the new casino to be built on Broadway Commons, and the city has approved the necessary funding to move forward on a new Broadway Commons district study that will include recommendations on design, policy, and programming for the newly developed area.

The $15,000 study is being funded jointly by the City of Cincinnati, UC Community Design Center, and Bridging Broadway. The Local Initiative Support Coalition of Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky (LISC) will help direct the six-month study with the rest of the group.

“We hope to integrate what the community wants to see there, and make sure their vision is realized,” said Stephen Samuels, President, Bridging Broadway. “We also hope to be strong allies with the development team as a big part of our mission has been to help see this development happen in a constructive manner amongst so many constituents.”

The casino plan includes a $400 million, 500,000 square-foot facility located on the 20-acre Broadway Commons site. Rock Gaming (formerly known as Rock Ventures) developers hope to start construction, on the casino, in late 2010 and entertain the first visitors by 2012. It is anticipated that the massive development will attract more than six million visitors annually, and create 2,800 jobs.

In the mean time, local leaders will embark on the Broadway Commons district study which will study the economics, transportation, urban design, and social issues faced within a half-mile radius of the project. The study will officially begin on Wednesday, September 1 and include a series of community dialogue meetings.

Samuels says that to achieve these goals, the non-profit group could use additional help from those in urban planning, architecture, consumer research, technology, construction, community outreach, and grant writing fields. Those interested in participating are encouraged to contact Stephen Samuels at stephen@bridgingbroadway.com.

“I am both confident and skeptical that we can achieve these goals with Rock Gaming,” Samuels explained. “I would not have spearheaded this effort had I not had any concerns, but so far the city and the developers have been great partners.”