Category: News

Original stories from the UrbanCincy team.

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Arts & Entertainment News

All female art show at the Southgate House displays local talent

They’re artists, they’re local, and they’re women. “Lady Parts”, on display in Newport, Kentucky in the gallery at the Southgate House, is an all female art exhibition focusing on bringing women together in celebration of their art. Sara Relojo, a graduate student from Hebron, Kentucky, organized the show, which opened June 3, with the hopes of giving exposure to fellow female artists.

“So I wanted to kinda of get everybody together to show the variety of work that women create in the area,” Relojo explained. “I just really want to celebrate the fact that there are women that show and women that create artwork.”

With over 14 artists exhibiting in the group show, including Andi Martin, Andrea Bellen, Arynn Blazer, Didem Mert, Elise Thompson, Emily Lind, Jacklyn Howard, Kate Dube, Lauren Mira, Michelle Eikenbary Calis, Molly Donnemeyer, Monica Brewer, Sara Relojo, Tilley Stone and more, there is a wide variety of artwork to keep the artistic palate satiated, including painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, and mixed media.

The theme behind Lady Parts: there is no defined theme. “The only theme that we wanted was women who are practicing in the area, Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, to show what they already do, so that we can actually put everything together, “ Tilley Stone, a participating artist said. “That way people aren’t kind of changing their style or their artistic voice to conform to something all together. They could just enter pieces that they already had and exist together in a space.”

“Lady Parts” is on display through June 24 at 24 E. 3rd Street in Newport, Kentucky. For more information about gallery hours contact the
Southgate House via phone at (859) 431-2201.

Lady Parts art photo by Shawn Buckenmeyer for UrbanCincy

Categories
News Transportation

Diverse transport network positioning Minneapolis as economic leader

Minneapolis is not a coastal city, nor does it boast a favorable climate, but the city does count a growing population of young people and 21st century jobs on its score sheet. What is also unique about this German Midwestern city is that it has become the envy of other cities due to its impressive bicycling culture, expanding transit system and diverse economy.

The Twin Cities boast two unique transport items. The first is the bicycle highway connecting bicycle commuters with downtown Minneapolis and other job centers. The second is a growing light rail system that taps into regional commuter rail. The Minneapolis light rail system is still young, but this has benefitted its operations.


Hiawatha Light Rail at Franklin Avenue Station (January 2011). Photograph by Randy A. Simes.

Unlike St. Louis and Denver, Minneapolis’ light rail system has low-floor vehicles that do not have awkward steps right when you enter the train. The more modern rolling stock used in Minneapolis is also more visually attractive and at least seemed to be quieter.

Presently the light rail system extends from the famous Mall of America, through the region’s international airport eastern suburbs, and into downtown Minneapolis eventually terminating at the recently completed Target Field (home of the Minnesota Twins).

The good thing about the line is that it is there and that it has been able to improve on earlier designs incorporated elsewhere throughout the United States. The problem is that the route runs through a very suburban-designed part of the region and offers very little in terms of walkability immediately surrounding the stations. Transit-oriented development will certainly help this situation, but significant time and money will be needed to right the ship.

Much like Atlanta, Minneapolis seemed to sacrifice urban connectivity so that their early system connected major nodes like their airport, stadiums and mega mall. As a result much of the large population nodes are left off the map, and thus out of reach of this young light rail system.


Articulated bus in the Warehouse District [LEFT], and Hiawatha Light Rail running through downtown Minneapolis. Photographs taken by Randy A. Simes in January 2011.

What will help this issue immensely will be the system’s growth. Fortunately, the region’s rail transit system is about to grow and expand into St. Paul. Under construction now is the $957 million, 11-mile Central Corridor light rail project. This will tap into the existing Hiawatha light rail line at its Metrodome Station in downtown Minneapolis.

The 16-station Central Corridor light rail line will connect downtown St. Paul and the University of Minnesota with the rest of the overachieving transit system. Current projections call for the first passengers to start riding in 2014.

While Minneapolis and St. Paul are not there yet when it comes to transit, they have been investing in a system for years that is beginning to become regional and comprehensive. These moves already seem to be paying nice dividends for the Twin Cities, and have placed it among one of the few good economic performers in the Midwest. Where would Cincinnati be today had it began investing in regional rail transit in 2002 when MetroMoves put regional light rail before voters?

Categories
News Opinion

Is East Walnut Hills the next big thing in Cincinnati neighborhoods?

Over the past several decades Cincinnati has seen its core neighborhoods change. Some of these changes have been negative while others have been very positive. The positives started with neighborhoods like Clifton and Mt. Adams, continued on to Northside and Oakley, and then onto Downtown and Over-the-Rhine (twice).

While progress continues to be made in Over-the-Rhine and Downtown, the question remains: Which inner-city neighborhood might be next on the revival block? Some business and property owners in East Walnut Hills believe their beloved neighborhood is indeed the next one in line. This could be true for several reasons. The first being, location, location, location.


DeSales Corner in East Walnut Hills

East Walnut Hill’s DeSales Corner was historically Cincinnati’s second most prominent business district outside of the Central Business District downtown. The neighborhood’s central and nearby location to downtown made that true historically. In addition to these still relevant truths, the addition of I-71, one of the city’s most prominent east/west bike routes, and the prospect of a modern streetcar line running through its heart make the neighborhood’s location even better today as people and business return to cities.

One such business owner is Chef Josh Campbell who knows World Food Bar in Over-the-Rhine, Mayberry and Mayberry Foodstuffs in Downtown, and the recently opened Skinny Pig restaurant in East Walnut Hills.

“In this area you have Blue Cross Blue Shield, St. Ursula Academy with students who can go off campus for lunch, and several doctor’s offices filled with people looking for healthy, flavorful food options,” Campbell explained to UrbanCincy in April 2011.

In addition to businesses and students, East Walnut Hills also is situated between investment expanding east from Uptown and west from Hyde Park and Oakley.

Campbell’s not the only one thinking East Walnut Hills is the next big thing when it comes to Cincinnati neighborhoods though. In April 2011 Cincy Coworks tripled its size and relocated to 2400 Gilbert Avenue nearby in Walnut Hills based on its location and affordability.

There are also hundreds of new residents living at The Residences at DeSales Plaza and the recently completed DeSales Flats development. Within the past year the City of Cincinnati has also invested in new streetscaping to clean up the business district and hopefully spur additional investment in the area.

While East Walnut Hills appears to be sitting pretty, it certainly is not the only neighborhood poised and ready for a renaissance. Other contenders include Mt. Auburn, Clifton Heights, North Avondale, East End, Pendleton, Corryville and West Price Hill. Which of Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods do you think will become the next big thing?

Categories
Arts & Entertainment News

Betts House features OTR exhibit

A while back we told you about the historic Betts House in Cincinnati’s West End neighborhood and how this historic site had been converted to a rotating art gallery that has mainly featured work of Cincnnati by Cincinnatians. Their latest exhibit is no different, and is available for viewing through the end of the month, as it features artwork from Art Academy graduate and OTR resident Alan Grizell.

The Art of Alan Grizzel: Over the Rhine is a series of oil paintings that highlight some neighborhood gems from historic Over the Rhine, and also feature some buildings that unfortunatley are no longer standing in the transitional neighborhood. In having a chance to view the display a few weeks back, I’d have to say that most of the paintings show off the neighborhood in a way I have not seen before. While dark and mysterious, the use of light and color give off a sense of hope and renewal much like what is actually happening in the neighborhood today.

The Betts House does keep some funky hours as it is run almost entirely by a volunteer staff. It is open for viewing Tuesday to Thursday each week from 11a-2p, and it is open every other Saturday from 1230p-5p. The exhibit concludes officially on June 30, and remains on display for only two more Saturdays including this coming one as well as June 25 with admission a mere $2 donation to help The Betts House.

 

Categories
News Transportation

SORTA holding public forum to discuss service changes Friday

SORTA, the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (also known as Metro), has proposed three service changes as part of a “rebalancing” effort that will see existing resources shifted to different routes that promise higher ridership. This week the organization is holding a public forum for citizens to comment on the changes.

A new express service from Western Hills to Uptown will be funded by cutting non-rush hour service on the #1 Museum Center – Mt. Adams – Zoo. Although the Zoo can also be reached by the #78, the #1 bus provides Metro’s only access to Union Terminal and Mt. Adams. [see route]

SORTA has also proposed the elimination of the #62 Job Connection and #62X, which link Government Square with industrial parks in Butler County. These routes will be replaced by an extension of the #23X Tri-County Express north to Fairfield. [see route]

The route reorganization was recommended by the Butler County Regional Transit Authority, which funds the lightly patronized routes. BCRTA funding will be shifted to the proposed extension of the #23X Tri-County Express, which currently operates entirely within Hamilton County.

This situation highlights why Cincinnati Metro is unable to expand suburban express service: those routes which serve exurban Butler, Warren and Clermont Counties must be funded by their respective transit agencies.

Cincinnati Metro is itself funded primarily by a .3% income tax paid by those who work within Cincinnati city limits. This tax was approved by Cincinnati voters in 1973, and was intended to temporarily fund the bus system until funding for a countywide system was secured. Hamilton County property or sales taxes that would have funded a countywide bus system and rail transit networks failed at the polls in 1971, 1979, 1980, and 2002.

These three proposals have not been finalized, and Metro has invited the public to discuss service changes with officials between 11am and 4pm on Friday, June 10 at Metro’s offices on the 12th floor of the Gwynne Building, 602 Main St. All comments received by 4 p.m. on June 10, 2011 will become part of the official public meeting record and will be considered by SORTA. Comments may be submitted in the following ways:

* Online comment form
* E-mail to routecomments@go-metro.com
* Comment forms on buses, at the Government Square information booth, and at the sales office in the Mercantile Building arcade
* Mail to SORTA, Public Meeting Comments, 602 Main Street, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, OH 45202. You can print and send this comment form (PDF).
* Fax to 513-632-9202

The proposed changes will be reflected in Metro’s Google Transit program which is now an up and running feature, connecting riders with an easy way to access trip information.

Union Terminal bus picture by Jake Mecklenborg for UrbanCincy.