Tag: Cincinnati

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Development News Transportation

300′ geothermal wells being drilled at new Cincinnati Riverfront Park

Several components of the first phase of the 45-acre Cincinnati Riverfront Park are nearing completion, or are reaching significant milestones.  The foundation for the Moerlein Lager House and Jacob G. Schmidlapp Stage & Event Lawn are complete, the foundations to the Roebling Suspension Bridge are being reset to accommodate a realigned Mehring Way, and the first section of the Hamilton County-controlled parking garage is now open.

Also underway is the drilling of 300-foot geothermal wells that will provide the air conditioning for the Bike, Mobility & Visitors’ Center.  The geothermal wells will provide a natural cooling mechanism that leverages the 56-degree temperatures found in the ground year-round.

The first phase of the Cincinnati Riverfront Park will also include the Black Brigade Monument, a labyrinth, tree groves, Main Street Garden, first section of an expanded riverfront bike trail, the Women’s Garden, and more.  According to project officials, the first phase of construction is currently within budget and on-schedule for a spring 2011 completion.  Later phases of construction will proceed as funding is available for the total $120 million project.

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Arts & Entertainment News

Downtown Cincinnati eatery to celebrate reopening after complete redesign

On the evening of Friday, August 20, Cincinnatians will have an opportunity to be re-introduced to a local restaurant now known as The Bistro.  The restaurant owners plan to host a party to show off the recent changes that took place following the well-publicized split of Jean-Robert de Cavel from the Relish Group.

With native chef Chris Burns at the helm, owners at The Bistro say that the restaurant will focus on bringing local fare to the dinner table by using ingredients that are locally sourced.  This new focus is complimented by the interior décor which has also been updated with a fresh look.

The owners say that this Friday’s event is not really about the food as much as it is about the space. With The Bistro Bar Bash starting at 5pm and going until close, it is an opportunity for folks to see what the changes are about, enjoy some drink specials, and try out some of the food for free.

The Bistro has always featured a small but tremendous selection of microbrews, and that has not changed with the renovations.  This Friday night, twelve craft beers will be available all night long for $3 each.  There will also be $5 “You Call It” cocktails, as well as food from the bar menu offered up for free the entire evening.  Finally, The Bistro will be hosting DJ Gerald to spin some music and liven up the atmosphere for the evening.

Add in the weekly PNC MidPoint Indie Music Series on Fountain Square for a complete night of affordable entertainment in downtown Cincinnati. As with each and every other Friday night during the summer there will be four bands that take the stage starting at 7pm. This week’s headliner is local favorite Bad Veins who will be spending the fall on a national tour opening for Frightened Rabbit and Two Door Cinema Club.

Located only a half-block from Fountain Square at 413 Vine Street, The Bistro is easily accessible for many in the city. If arriving by car, there is easy parking either in the Fountain Square Garage or directly across the street at the Westin Garage.  Free bicycle parking is readily available nearby, and you can easily access both events with Metro bus service (plan your trip).

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News Transportation

Metro bus service restored to Lower Price Hill neighborhood

Metro is restoring service to the #31 route that had been previously eliminated as part of an effort in December 2009 to balance the transit authority’s budget that resulted in a 12 percent service reduction to Metro’s bus operations. The adjustments, to the route, will provide service along W. 8th Street to the Western Hills Viaduct along State Avenue.

Metro officials say that the addition of 14 trips each direction daily on weekdays, and eight trips each direction on weekends was made to provide greater access to the Kroger manufacturing plant and Lower Price Hill neighborhood. It is estimated that the restored service along this segment will provide 5,000 rides annually, with most of those trips related to employment at the Kroger plant.

“Thanks to the difficult decisions we made last year and effective management of our resources, Metro’s budget now appears to have stabilized,” said Marilyn Shazor, Metro’s CEO. “We are cautiously optimistic and will begin to restore some service as we can afford to do so. We plan to seek the community’s input to help us decide which service to add and in what order.”

The restored service to the #31 route took effect on Sunday, August 15 along with several other service changes to routes #3X, #3, #24, #71X, and #72. New bus schedules are available on Metro’s website, and across the street from the Government Square transit hub inside the Mercantile Building (map) on weekdays from 7:30am to 5pm. More information can be retrieved by calling (513) 621-4455 between 6:30am and 6pm Monday through Friday.

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Development News

Ground broken on $1.2M sustainable learning facility in Avondale

Construction work has begun on the Civic Garden Center’s $1.2 million Green Learning Station at 2175 Reading Road in Avondale. The facility is the first of its kind in the Cincinnati region, and is described as an interactive, state-of-the-art learning laboratory for applying sustainable practices into gardens and the systems that support them.

“The Green Learning Station will be a field trip destination for people of all ages, open to the public for tours, workshops and classes related to green living in the city,” said Ryan Mooney-Bullock, Program Manager.

“Classes who visit the Green Learning Station will be challenged to conduct experiments and solve problems as they learn about urban environmental problems. Back in their schools, students will assess some aspect of their school’s environmental impact and develop a plan to make it more sustainable, whether by starting a compost system, a vegetable garden or capturing rainwater.”

Situated on a former SOHIO gas station, the project will include a variety of green features like pervious paving, rainwater harvesting units, bioswales, green roof systems, energy efficient utilities, and showcase sustainable gardens.

“The Board of the Civic Garden Center identified the need for the Green Learning Station more than two years ago,” explained Betsy Townsend, a volunteer and chair of the Green Learning Station committee for the Civic Garden Center. “Since then we have been diligently working to bring the project to fruition. The start of construction has been made possible by countless volunteer hours and generous gifts from local foundations, individuals and corporations.”

The Green Learning Station was designed by SFA Architects and Martin Koepke Design, and is expected to achieve LEED-Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Cincinnati-based HGC Construction is expected to complete work on the Green Learning Station in spring 2011.

Once complete, home builders, developers, and public officials will be able to use the Green Learning Station as a demonstration site on how to incorporate green technology into residences, businesses, and public spaces.

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Arts & Entertainment News

7/79 video takes viewers on unique visual tour of Cincinnati’s center city

Cincinnati’s majestic hillsides, mighty river, and dramatic city skyline provide powerful vistas and scenery that make the Queen City unique. Many Cincinnatians and visitors from out-of-town know of the dramatic view from the Cut-in-the-Hill in Northern Kentucky, the many hilltop parks, or the streetscapes throughout the center city, but most have not seen the city from the air and water.

Seven/Seventy-Nine produced a two-and-a-half minute video for Soapbox Cincinnati that explores both of these. The video Seeing Cincinnati takes viewers into a helicopter tour offered by Stratus Helicopters and a boat ride from Ride the Ducks, both of which operate out of Newport on the Levee.