The Banks Blog

According to an article on the WLWT web site, Carter/Dawson, the developer, has asked the city and county officials to envision Disney World style entertainment for the Banks project. Company names mentioned in the article include negotiations with Kroger, ESPNZone and Margaritaville.

As a former resident of Florida, I have to comment on the fact that Cincinnati is not Orlando - a year-round destination city for visitors worldwide. I would suggest we look north to Columbus to their Arena district to see how the “Disney” concept is working there. Having made several trips to Columbus recently, I was made acutely aware that the Arena district is only used during major sporting events and on a beautiful summer holiday weekend with no events occurring, no one was patronizing the stores and restaurants. Sadly, even one of the lighted letters on the district signage was out proclaiming the “A ENA” district.

I would hate to see the Banks district become a one-dimensional event area. My guess is the planners are trying to energize the banks project with a bit of “wow” factor and are also continuing to look to wonderfully reinvigorated downtown’s like San Diego’s gaslight district for other inspiration as well. The Banks, to be sustainable, needs to be a true mixed-use neighborhood. Neighborhood being the key word.

High-gas prices and a slowing economy may also effect a project like the Banks, keeping people from traveling as much and from spending money on entertainment. The good thing is that Cincinnati’s central core was built during a century when cars were not used, meaning that many of the wonderful things in downtown are within walking distance of each other. We should use this to our advantage over much more spread-out cities.  As citizens, we also need to support the idea of mass-transit improvements in the region to not only help ourselves survive high-gas prices, but keep Greater Cincinnati viable as a modern 21st century city.

We’ll see what comes as the city and the banks project progress over the next few years. In the meantime, enjoy the wonderful events on the renovated Fountain Square. Busy night and day this summer, you’ll find it’s hopping with events and entertainment for the whole family.

Read more:

WLWT Article - As Banks Plans Take Shape, Think Disney World

My Fountain Square.com