I'm a Bad, Bad Ninja

Ok, so I didn't go to the Ground-Breaking- who ever heard of a ground-breaking being held in-doors anyhow?

So, there was more news in the CityBeat Headlines today about the new City Link coming to Cincinnati. They are considering doing a land-swap to move it from the original location on Bank street in the residential zone, into the industrial zone. I personally think that would be nice..

Not much in the writing mood, and as far as fashion in Cincinnati is concerned,
please, do me a favor and shoot me in the head now because the fashion trends have gone entirely stagnant.
When I leave the house and I'm the only person drawing confused stares, I know it's stagnant. Sad really...

Ninja Update.
I am the Pink Ninja and now there is a Purple and a Blue Ninja also, while talks of the Black and Red Ninjas are in the works.
Dig it.

RECON-CINCINNATI-04/08/08

Friday, April 11th-
200 Block of McMicken Avenue,
Cincinnati OH, 45214

Support the local brewery district by attending the open house tours for the new condominiums scheduled to be built this summer on McMicken Avenue.
Free local beer by Cincinnati brewers and food food from the grill-

[I think it starts at noon.]

Question:
The Brighton District, West End community and the Brewery District residents all claim to support the historical preservation of these communities' architecture,
Do you think throwing a ground-breaking party for the new condos is in support of this claim?
Why and why nots, etc...

[I will answer this question myself in two days... then again after I go to the ground-breaking.]

In the News

Citylink, Cincinnati

Battle over; Citylink will be built
BY SHARON COOLIDGE | SCOOLIDGE@ENQUIRER.COM


A two-year battle between the city of Cincinnati and several social services agencies over the development of a social services mall in the West End is over.

The Ohio Supreme Court declined today to hear the city’s arguments against Citylink.

That paves the way for renovation to begin on the vacant Bank Street slaughterhouse.

Citylink officials said improvements – an infusion of between $10 million and $15 million into the property – could begin by the end of the year. Renovations are expected to take two years.

“We’re excited to make a difference in the poverty problem that exists in Cincinnati,” Citylink Board Chairman Tim Senff said.

Citylink, which is being developed by group of churches and social service agencies, will create a central location for poor people and families to get services like job training, drug treatment, health care and other services.

It’s unique in that several services will be offered in one place, a help to the poor who often don’t have transportation, Senff said. The project is modeled on successful integrated service centers in cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles and San Antonio.

Jim Strayhorn, pastor of Bright Star Baptist Church in the West End, said in Citylink’s press release that he is pleased Citylink had chosen to invest in the West End.

“(I am) very proud that healing for thousands of Cincinnatians will begin here with the support of my church and many other churches in our neighborhood,” he said.
Not everyone is pleased.

West End Community Council President Shirley Colbert was disappointed with the court’s decision. “I was hoping Citylink would go away,” she said.

Colbert said West End residents don’t want the social services mall, believing the neighborhood already has enough charities and that Citylink never talked with the neighborhood about its plans.

“We’re not a dumping ground and never want to be one,” Colbert said.

Councilman Jeff Berding said he’s setting up a mediation session between neighborhood residents and Citylink officials. "I want to move past the point of, ‘We don’t want you in our neighborhood,’ ” he said.

Mayor Mark Mallory said he has never had a problem with Citylink.

Senff called it a new day. “We are going to work together with community leaders from the West End and city leaders to make Citylink a blessing to everyone.”

Senff said Citylink is needed now more than ever, pointing out that Cincinnati nearly topped the list of the country’s poorest cities with 28 percent of Cincinnatians living below the poverty line, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

The controversial project dates back to 2006, when Citylink bought the vacant building for $1.7 million.

The Cincinnati Zoning Board approved the idea, but when the city appealed, the Cincinnati Zoning Board of Appeals overturned that decision, determining the new project was a “community service facility.”

Community service facilities are not a permitted use for the Bank Street property, which is designated a general manufacturing district.

That decision prompted Citylink to take its case to Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, where it argued each of agencies that will be located in the social services mall would be permitted to locate on Bank Street if they were acting alone.

Citylink has prevailed twice, with Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ralph “Ted” Winkler overturning the Zoning Board of Appeals decision and the 1st District Court of Appeals upholding Winkler’s decision.

The Ohio Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case puts an end to the court fight. No further appeals can be made.

Enquirer reporter Jane Prendergast contributed to this report.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/NEWS01/303260035/1056/COL02

To Do in Cincinnati?

Fashion Shows
Rock the Runway

Hair and makeup fashion show. Drink specials.

Where:
cue
1142 Main St.
Cincinnati, OH 45210
513-923-6397

Who:
BAM Productions

How much:
$5

When:
Friday, April 04, 2008

And a New Place to SHOP!!!

FRCH Design Worldwide
311 Elm St., Ste. 600
Cincinnati, OH 45202
United States of America
800-434-3724
513-241-5015 fax
www.frch.com

and as soon as I visit it, I will let you know what I thought of it...
And here's some Brighton District News...

It's the end of the month, which means it's Final Friday on Main Street, at the Pendleton and in the Brighton district. Be among the first to catch a look at artist ALICE PIXLEY YOUNG's newest exhibition at SEMANTICS GALLERY (1107 Harrison Ave. Brighton), where she opens Inside Out, an exhibition of large-scale paper constructions. Inspired by a variety of sources, including fairytales, language, women's experiences and her personal history, Young creates constructions of hand-dyed paper and vintage fabrics interwoven with rock salt and lit with LED lights. In particular, she creates her work from interesting words and phrases that stick with her, which she then interweaves repeatedly into her constructions for a striking final product.

And a Final Thought....

Mark Twain allegedly quipped, ’When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati because it’s always 20 years behind the times.”

I think we managed to close the gap down to only being 10 years behind the times since then. Thank Goodness Huh?

Another Ninja Out