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Business News

UrbanCincy makes key structural changes as it enters its fifth year

As time progresses change is inevitable; and UrbanCincy is no different. We have just celebrated our four-year anniversary, and are making some changes for continued success and growth in year five and beyond.

Jenny Kessler has now moved into the role of Operations Manager to oversee the website’s team of 12 writers and two photographers. We have recently added several additional writers to help keep production levels high and of the utmost quality. Travis Estell will continue to serve as Web Developer, and I will continue to operate as the website’s Owner & Managing Editor while I spend the next half-year overseas in Korea.


Cincinnati’s eastern skyline photograph by Aaron Davidson.

As I step aside into a lesser role, a team of talented and passionate Cincinnatians will be there to keep you connected with the city’s urban core. I will be decreasing my role in terms of content production, but I will continue to pen editorials on various local topics and produce stories on topics from other urban centers around the world and how they might relate to Cincinnati.

Moving forward UrbanCincy will continue to keep you connected with Cincinnati’s urban core, but we hope to become your source for not only news, but your source for living a vibrant urban lifestyle. To make that happen, we will be organizing more events like our popular Bikes+Brews ride and the OTR Urban Kickball League.

We will also be interested in hearing more from you, our readers. So please feel free to write us at UrbanCincy@gmail.com with any thoughts or ideas on activities you might want us to pursue. We would also love to hear about what you think is important, and would be more than happy to publish your thoughts in a guest editorial piece.

It is never easy pouring time and energy into something that is a labor of love, but we are striving to do our best to keep you plugged in to Cincinnati’s urban core. So please be sure to thank Jenny Kessler and the rest of the UrbanCincy team for their dedication and hard work.

Writers: Adam Sievering, Andrew Oehlerking, Dan Rozier, Dave Rolfes, Emily Schneider, Hanna Jones, Luca Acito, Mildred Fallen, Nathan Shryock, Nathaniel Hammitt, Shawn Buckenmeyer. (Departing: Bryon Martin, David Ben, David Heyburn, Kevin Wright)
Photographers: Jake Mecklenborg, Thadd Fiala
Web Developer: Travis Estell
Operations Manager: Jenny Kessler
Owner & Managing Editor: Randy Simes

Categories
News Transportation

Ohio River Trail Tour to explain bike commuter center basics this Sunday

To wrap up the end of Bike Week (and Bike Month), UrbanCincy and the City of Cincinnati have teamed up to lead the Ohio River Trail bike ride on Sunday, May 22 at 10 am. The ride travels along the completed portion of the Ohio River Trail, and will also share information about the new Bike & Mobility Center at the Central Riverfront Park. This event will share information with those in attendance about future phases of the bike trail, as well as learn how to commute to Cincinnati’s urban core by bike.

Once both the Ohio River Trail and Bike & Mobility Center are completed, bicycle commuters will be able to easily commute from Cincinnati’s eastern suburbs to the region’s urban core. The Bike & Mobility Center will include bicycle parking, lockers, showers and a repair facility.

The event is free and open to the public, and is part of the City of Cincinnati’s official 2011 Bike Month activities. The ride is approximately six miles (one way). The map (below) details the route.

“I want this to be something that folks can use to come back to the trail by themselves, that will show them where they can park their cars, and where they need to get on and off the street because the trail is ending or beginning,” said Melissa McVay, with the City’s transportation office.

Steve Schuckman with the Parks department, will be along for the ride and will give a short talk at the termination of the trail to discuss the new mobility center and how residents and cyclists can take advantage of the showers, rental facilities and other amenities to make biking to work part of their routine.

The ride will begin at the parking lot across from the Lunken Airport at 2622 Wilmer Avenue at 10am on Sunday morning. The ride is approximately 6 miles (one way) and covers relatively flat terrain with little elevation change. Check the Facebook event page for more details.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment News

Know Theatre hosts Little Kings kickoff tour

Beer, comedy, and a good cause make for a lively night at Know Theater , located on 1120 Jackson Street {map} in the arts district of Over-the-Rhine. Friday May 20th, Little King’s Cream Ale kicks off its Groovy World Tour with spokesperson Kevin Downey Jr., in the city where Little Kings originated. The tour will visit all 40 states that currently sell Little Kings Beer.

At The Know Theater, the evening’s festivities begins at 7:30 PM with special prices on Little Kings, and music provided by DJ Blakkoutt. The party moves to the stage at 9:30 pm with a comedy show hosted by Metromix’s Katie Clavey, with performances by local comedian Alex Stone and New York City comedian, Kevin Downey Jr.

Downey Jr’s comedy act is not your average stand up routine. “If you’re into wacky impressions, props and puppets, this is not your kind of show,” Downey Jr. said. “If you’re into something alternative and funny, and Little Kings Beer, the Know Theater is the place to be this Friday.”

As part of the Groovy World Tour, fans of Little Kings Beer can proclaim their love with a King’s Proclamation, a 140 character or less statement explaining why customers love Little Kings Beer. Once a proclamation is made, customers have a chance to win a free T-shirt.

“A proclamation is a one or two line bit about the beer or the magic that happens when you drink Little Kings, “Downey Jr. said. “For example, Little Kings Cream Ale is like jazz for your taste buds.”

You can purchase tickets for the Little Kings Cream Ale Comedy Tour at the Know Theater for $15 per person or online. All proceeds benefit the Know Theater. Included in the ticket price is entrance to the after party at Lunar night club, located on Elm Street and beginning at 11:30 pm., where guests can finish the night off in style.

Know Theatre picture courtesy 5chw4r7z.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment News

Go OTR 5k and Summer Celebration take place this Saturday

This Saturday the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual GO OTR 5k and Summer Celebration. This year marks the first year for the Cincinnati Triple Crown, which encourages cross promotion between three urban races, and includes the Hyde Park Blast, Downtown Dash 5k and GO OTR 5k.

Race registration can be done online for the GO OTR 5K, and is $20  in advance and $25 the day of the race. All participants receive an official race t-shirt, designed by Nati Evolvement, and top finishers will receive specially designed Rookwood Pottery awards. This year’s race will feature chip-timing to more quickly and accurately publish race results.


2010 GO OTR 5k race photograph by 5chw4r7z for UrbanCincy.

The race begins at 10am (with sign-in starting at 8:30am). Awards will be given to the top five male and female finishers, first-place runner with dog, first-place runner with stroller, first-place walker, and the first-place boy and girl finishers.

Following the race, the OTR Summer Celebration will be held at the corner of 12th and Vine streets in the Gateway Quarter of Over-the-Rhine. Organizers say that the all-day celebration will highlight the artistic character of the historic neighborhood.

Over 30 local artists and craftspeople will display and sell their one-of-a-kind work alongside the independent shop owners in the Gateway Quarter. Local bands including The Hiders, Cincy Brass, Faux Frenchmen, Comet Bluegrass Allstars, and The Cliftones will perform live music all day.

Over-the-Rhine restaurants Lavomatic, Senate, and the new A Tavola Trattoria, as well as a variety of mobile food vendors, will be open for lunch. This year there will be a kids activity tent where children can participate in simple craft projects. You can also follow Saturday’s events on Twitter and Facebook.

Categories
Business Development News

CDFC $2 million closer to investing in Northern Kentucky’s urban neighborhoods

Thanks to an equity investment from PNC Bank, the Catalytic Development Funding Corporation (CDFC) of Northern Kentucky is $2 million closer to its $10 million capitalization goal. With the recent investment, the Catalytic Fund is up to $6.5 million.

Once the $10 million goal is met, CDFC will begin making targeted investments in catalytic development and redevelopment projects in northern Kentucky’s urban neighborhoods in order to spur additional investment and revitalization in the area. The Catalytic Fund investments will provide patient capital for projects that could not occur due to private capital market constraints.

Patient capital does not always take the same form, but generally it is more flexible and willing to accept more risk than conventional funding. The purpose is to fill in gaps in a financing package to make a project more attractive to primary lenders. Patient capital tends to be the first money into a project and typically is repaid after the primary loan payment is made each payment period. This is a similar model that 3CDC uses when deploying Cincinnati Equity Fund capital.

In addition to providing patient capital for development projects that meet the Catalytic Fund’s investment criteria, CDFC will also facilitate development by acquiring land for future projects, providing technical assistance to developers, and recruiting developers to participate in northern Kentucky’s urban renaissance.

The CDFC and the Catalytic Fund will be in very capable hands. Jeanne Schroer, the executive director of CDFC, has over 25 years of experience as a real estate professional specializing in project financing.

The CDFC and the Catalytic Fund were created in 2008 based on a recommendation by the Urban Renaissance Action Team of northern Kentucky’s Vision 2015 planning initiative. Since the fund’s inception, Jeanne Schroer has been working tirelessly to raise $10 million during tough economic times. This is a list of all the contributors to the fund so far:

Photo courtesy of Jeanne Schroer