CincyStreetcar Blog

A lighthearted video from Get Sick Productions:

Cincinnati native Jeremy Mosher wrote the feature article in this week’s Soapbox on the Portland Streetcar:

Even with re-imagined urban pockets such as Fountain Square and the Gateway Quarter bringing people out into public spaces to connect more than ever, there is still a part of our local identity that is reactionary and stubbornly parochial, at the expense of a more vibrant Cincinnati. With streetcar plans connecting our most pedestrian-friendly areas, development along the route will further our ability to call ourselves a city that, block-to-block, engages its visitors and residents.  And, given the vitality of the outdoor squares that anchor neighborhoods such as Hyde Park, Oakley and Mt. Lookout, and our pride in a pervasive sense of local community, I would think that Cincinnati would warm to a more expansive “shared public experience.”  A streetcar may not be the magic bullet, but after experiencing public transit in both New York and Portland, the Cincinnati streetcar certainly seems to be an opportunity for us to start redefining our city’s core as a place that provides a shared urban experience more friendly toward businesses, residents, tourists, and the environment.

Read the rest here.

Cincystreetcar.com is sponsoring a Streetcar Coloring Contest with the help of Findlay Market.  Local artist Nick Sweeney has created a fun design featuring “Cincy the Streetcar” rolling past some of Cincinnati’s most recognized landmarks.

Entry forms can be found at Park + Vine, World Food Bar, Madison’s Produce, Taste from Belgium Waffles, Aunty’s Homemade Food, Market Wines, and the Findlay Market Gift Shop.  The entry form can also be downloaded here. [Note: for best results download and print].  Entries can be mailed or hand delivered to Findlay Market and must be received by October 31st.

Prizes include gift certificates to Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore, Park + Vine, and Findlay Market. All ages are welcome to compete, but prizes will only be awarded to children 16 and under.  Additional Information can be found on the entry form.

Please download the Entry Form from the link below

Download the Entry Form here.

A new video promoting the Cincinnati Streetcar:

Produced by Get Sick Productions

Guest article by Price Hill Resident, Charles Schaser:

PRICE HILL’S PAST

According to the Price Hill Merchants’ website, “if you walk down the street in our neighborhood, the first thing you see is the front porch. Some subdivision developers mandated that each new home have a front porch and that the homes be built close together to prohibit off street parking, to limit cars in the area. Our early developers were seeking to retain pedestrian, relaxed lifestyle of the suburb.”

PRICE HILL’S PRESENT

In April 2009, the City of Cincinnati proclaimed Price Hill as the “Greenest Neighborhood in Cincinnati.” Partner the eco-friendly attitude with the tremendous amount of economic development happening on top the hill that includes panoramic  views of downtown and the Ohio river. With as much developable space and potential reuse of existing architecture as there is in Cincinnati, Price Hill has potential to participate in the economic growth that rail transportation could bring to our city.

PRICE HILL’S FUTURE

Price Hill has a fully staffed economic development organization, Price Hill Will. With economic development initiatives such as the Cedar Grove Business District and the development of St. Lawrence Corner, home to the new Kroger store (yes there are new grocery stores in Cincinnati), Price Hill Will is firmly staked to revitalize a core neighborhood of Cincinnati. But Price Hill Will has its most anticipated project in the Incline Business District which will boast medical office building, upscale residential living, and a beer garden.

UNION TERMINAL AND THE STREETCAR

As seen on the Cincystreetcar.com route map, in the first extension phase, the Cincinnati streetcar extends to Union Terminal, 2 miles from the foot of Price Hill . Union Terminal could once again serve as rail transportation hub to statewide travelers. Once these possibilities become reality, Price Hill stands 2 miles from rail transportation to take them throughout the city, the region, and the rest of Ohio.  A streetcar extension to St. Lawrence Corner and the restoration of the Price Hill Incline would make Price Hill one of the City’s most desirable neighborhoods—a beautiful green walkable neighborhood only a short streetcar ride from Downtown.  Combining the proximity to downtown and a re-activated Union Terminal with the efforts of Price Hill Will and the majestic views of Cincinnati, Price Hill stands uniquely positioned to flourish as “Cincinnati’s neighborhood of the future.”

Chris Powers, a Cincinnati native, has spent the summer in Dublin using their LUAS streetcar system.  Over on the CAAST blog, he explains how his experience in Ireland has convinced him a streetcar will be successful in Cincinnati:

One of the primary reasons that the street car has been pushed is its role in helping re-develop the rougher parts of cincy that it runs through including Over The Rhine. A similar idea was apart of the planning of the LUAS as it runs right through the north side of Dublin where many underdeveloped areas have historically been located. The LUAS since its installation has brought a significant amount of new development to the streets it runs through including a lot of tourist development.

Read the rest here.