Last Saturday, I had the pleasure to participate in the Gateway Quarter blogger tour hosted by Michael & Holly Redmond, Jim Moll and several other developers that are responsible for the redevelopment of Over-the-Rhine’s Vine Street corridor known as the Gateway Quarter.  The tour included the Gateway Condos, Deveneck Flats, Duncanson Lofts, Centennial Row and several buildings that are part of phase II.  I had been on the previous Over-the-Rhine home tour so I was familiar with several of the buildings but the unique aspect of this tour made for a more informed walk through.  One thing I noticed during the meeting was the passion and dedication that the developers had for the project.  Many of them live in the neighborhood, many of them truly care about the existing residents as well as bringing Over-the-Rhine back to life.  I think we can sometimes forget how decayed that part of Vine Street used to be.  If you need to be refreshed, I suggest you visit the Gateway Quarter visitor center and see the photos on the wall of how the area used to look.  They are very powerful photos and I hope 3CDC makes them more prominent in the visitor center to remind people just how much they have accomplished in such a short time.  The momentum of this project is in full force and I look forward to watching it take shape.  With the Banks project, Queen City Square, Fountain Square, City West, the Cincinnati Streetcar Project and the Over-the-Rhine Gateway Quarter, Cincinnati is sure to look different in the next five years and from all signs, the city is on the up and up in not only quality of life, but pride.  Just look to the internet, people are coming around, blogs are popping up that are positive about the city and people are tired of the Enquirer dictating a negative mindset that is no longer acceptable.  If you haven’t been to Over-the-Rhine in a while, make sure you visit the Gateway Quarter’s visitor center and ask to be shown  several of the redeveloped lofts and while you are there, visit some of the great retail that has opened up along Vine Street.

Make sure you also visit the following bloggers who attended the Gateway Quarter Blogger Tour:  

Building-Cincinnati.com
Queen City Survey
Joe Wessels
Urban Cincy
CityKin
RRD Photo Blog
The ‘Nati Life
ekalb
Buy Cincy
Jackie Danicki
Northern Kentucky News

You can view my photos from the tour in this gallery or view all photos I took from the day here.  

Towne Properties purchased seven photos from me back in October and many of them are currently blown up to around eight feet by twelve feet along Seventh Street near the intersection of Elm.  I thought the photos looked quite well at that size and decided to take a photo of two of them for a little self promotion.  You can see it here.

I was happy to see the weather worked out in my favor this past Saturday.  I spent the better half of the day walking the streets of Cincinnati, enjoying the mild weather and friendly pedestrians.  A few were interested in what I was taking photos of and others were happy to walk around me while I was focusing on a certain angle and I even ran into fellow blogger Bob Schwartz of http://5chw4r7z.blogspot.com and http://parkerflats.blogspot.com.  During the first part of the day I was exploring Plum Street when a friendly Cincinnati Police Officer gave me a few suggestions about possible photo opportunites.  Shortly after our conversation, I saw him disappear inside the Wise Temple (Plum Street Temple).  I quickly got excited that the door was unlocked because in almost five years of living here, I have never had any success gaining entrance to the Temple.  Shortly after he disappeared inside the Temple, I made my way there and was greeted by the Officer and a friendly worker.  They didn’t mind me taking interior photos and the worker even was helpful in showing me the staircase to the balcony.  While many that frequent the Temple probably take it for granted, I thought it was one of the best interiors in Cincinnati and was grateful to have seen it after all these years.  I am surprised they don’t offer daily tours of a Temple.  St. Peter in Chains Cathedral is no slouch either with lined Corinthian columns down to a beautiful wall of mosaic tiles.  Over all I was able to capture several interior shots of some of Cincinnati’s great buildings but I was unsuccessful in my attempt to re-photograph the interior of Dixie Terminal.  There is always another day for that.  Alas, you can view all the photos in one complete set here or you can view each photo gallery separate by clicking on the linked name.  * Wise Temple, St. Peter in Chains, Cincinnati Skyline Night, Cincinnati Buildings , Downtown *