The Nati

Cincinnati will finally get something on its end of the Purple People Bridge. A long rumored development by the Gregorys at the foot of the bridge has receieved approval. The original goal was to move the banquet center across the street to a vacant on-ramp once used for the bridge. ODOT will not release that site, as they are holding out hope for an eventual light rail line and want that site for a transit center. Okay, I guess, if I ever thought Cincinnati would get light rail.

But the project will move forward by tearing down the banquet center. New location has not yet been identified, but Mont Inn is looking for a site downtown (Banks anyone?) The new project will consist of a high-rise condo tower and 2 restaurants under neath. I think it's great and all these condo projects seem to be making progress in NKY and Cincinnati, and they all seem to be selling well. However, I don't know a single person who has bought a condo downtown or on the NKY riverfront... does anyone else?

The contract to demolish the Public Housing in West Newport on the riverfront had it's first reading at the Newport Commissioners meeting last night. If approved in second reading later this month, demolition could begin as soon as early February. The city through sale of this property and Hope VI grant is following a trend in many urban areas to disperse low income housing. The thought (and the proven trend) is that by dipersing the low income housing you end up with lower crime in the overall community.

Through the program the Housing Authority is building many owner-occupied houses and townhomes for low income property owners. Home Ownership also goes a long way to fight crime/blight. I think it's truly a win for the community, development, and low income families.

At the left is an example of one of the townhomes that was built on Isabella.



No developer has been named for the property yet, but the goal is housing and retail to compliment Newport on the Levee, and continue the progress started there.

Kind of funny to read an article about your Grandpa in the newspaper. He certainly is a 'hero'. But it's one of those things where as you go about your everyday life you sometimes miss the heroics in the people around you. It's always just been Grandpa Shelton to me. I guess you taken for granted the wonderful things about him... his stories, his history lessons. But reading an article like this, whether it's your grandpa or not, should remind serve as a reminder for folks to learn from their grandparents. Take interest in their stories. You never know just what you might learn about life, your city, or yourself by doing it.

Congrats to Grandpa Charlie on being recognized as a Hometown Hero.

One unfortunate hit to Palmer's knee put an end to a great season. You can only hope to be back to the playoffs again next year, but in the NFL making the playoffs is anything but a certainty. Hated to see Palmer go down, but I certainly don't think it was a dirty hit. It's football, and unfortunately Palmer's knee got in the way of a 300 pound man rolling on the ground.

As the media probed and prodded Marvin Lewis after the game, trying to get him to say the play was dirty, his response was classic:

“Gee whiz, the guy got hurt. You can’t get it back,” Lewis said to the probing media. “To sit there and baby and cry like their quarterback, it’s ridiculous.”

This was in reference to cry-baby Ben after the last game in which Thurman hit Ben, and Ben complained after the game that the play was dirty. Who Dey is right, and we'll be ready with Carson back in 2006 against the Steelers.