[im]possible:OTR
Funny when the Enquirer or other news outlets in the city gets it right they get a million links on twitter and facebook like they are geniuses.
When the Enquirer gets it wrong like they so often do, the urbanists are storming 312 Elm St with torches and pitchforks.
I started writing about this after a positive story ran Saturday in the paper, and I couldn't have had better timing because wouldn't you know, three days later a story ran with a mention, totally out of context, of prostitutes around Findlay Market.
I learned to never get excited or disappointed over what the message the media is delivering, they don't define the CBD/OTR, the people there, me or my friends.
What ever, all you have to do is drive through OTR around 7:30pm Thursday through Saturday or any Saturday/Sunday afternoon and you'll be floored by the amount of people on the street.
5 years ago people were complaining about drug dealers on the corner, now its large groups of visitors touring the incredible Italianate Architecture in the neighborhood.
to the huge brewery or whatever otr tour "could yall please get off my sidewalk to i can get to me apartment?' not appreciated
— Z Breedlove (@zbreedlove) April 14, 2012
first world problems right?
17 comments
I know this is a sign of progress, but I hate feeling like an exotic animal at the zoo when I'm running some petty errand in OTR and throngs of white people all turn to look at me. "Wow, it's a... resident!"
ReplyDeleteLook mommy a hipster, can I give her a PBR? pleeese?
ReplyDeleteHipster or not, I don't touch that liquid bread you call "beer."
ReplyDeleteAnd you live around the corner from The Lackman. Its all wasted on you.
ReplyDeleteI love the looks people give me when they find out I live downtown - by choice, with my child... That we chose to raise a child downtown is something most suburban people have no way to understand. Then we list the benefits of having her here... walking distance or (gasp again) a short bus trip to all the best things about Cincinnati. It's been more of a "small town" childhood than most of those suburban kids: shop owners know her by name (and ask about her if she's not with me), she walks into the library like she owns it, she sees shows and museums without any fuss. When we did live one year out in the 'burbs, it was a major production to try to visit the zoo or a museum, much less to plan a show.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in Cincinnati for almost 3 years now, from which the first (long) 4 months were in Kenwood. Wowza. I'm so glad it didn't take longer to be able to find a place in OTR, I'd gone crazy there. Love that there's people visiting more and more and QCT does a great job, but I totally share ZB's and VisualLingual's feeling of being some sort of exotic animal. Last year, a couple of people in one of the tours going through our basement actually took a picture of us as we were walking by them! That was really rude. We also have our bikes in an area there and people touch them, take pictures, etc...without permission. It was amusing the first few times, but it got really annoying, specially when you're right there, either working on a bike or just chillin' with the dog and someone completely ignores the fact you're a PERSON and not another object in the tour...anyway. I still don't understand how people native to this area have never been in parts of their own city...IMPORTANT parts at that. And the misconceptions floating rampant. And the horrible, terrible ideas and feelings some people have against this area. Hateful, hateful things they say. It baffles me, haven't seen this in other cities I have lived in. Not to this degree anyway. What's up with that?
ReplyDeleteWhat you are talking about in regards to attitudes towards the city was a factor that kind of chased me out of Cincinnati. I couldn't believe that such a historic and beautiful city had so many people ganging up on it and that so few people understood the benefits of urban living particularly when larger and coastal cities have been reaping them for the last 15-20 years. However, I've seen amazing progress in the last 5 or so years, stuff is happening that I never thought I'd see and perceptions for a city that is not known for changing are changing at a relatively rapid clip.
DeleteI just moved from the burbs to downtown (and not the hipster OTR) I'm on Dayton Street in the brewery district. And yes, I see drug deals and hookers. daily. But in my opinion, no neighborhood is immune to this activity. I feel completely safe, which astonishes my co-workers in Hyde Park and former neighbors. I love living down here! And, I love the $2 Boot PBR at Bakersfield! :)
ReplyDeleteI just moved from the burbs to downtown (and not the hipster OTR) I'm on Dayton Street in the brewery district. And yes, I see drug deals and hookers. daily. But in my opinion, no neighborhood is immune to this activity. I feel completely safe, which astonishes my co-workers in Hyde Park and former neighbors. I love living down here! And, I love the $2 Boot PBR at Bakersfield! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd now, here's to hoping that people don't feel there's too much stigma attached to the "West End" name, opting for the more marketable Brewery District name instead. I'm not quite sure the Brewery District even includes Dayton Street.
DeleteSome of these comments make it seem like residents don't want "outsiders" coming down to OTR (which really surprises me). Also, everyone here reads a blog that has a focus on pictures (I would guess not all of the people pictured gave their permission). And who cares what people think about your choices to live in an urban setting? I guess I would embrace all of these negative events as opportunities to educate people...
ReplyDeleteI was trying to make more of a statement about the highs and lows of the media and pinning too much expectation on them.
ReplyDeleteI recently moved downtown from the burbs. And not the hipster OTR, but Dayton Street in the brewery district. I see drug deals and hookers. daily. But, in my opinion, no neighborhood is immune from this activity. I feel completely safe, to the astonishment of my Hyde Park co-workers and former neighbors. And I love the $2 Boot PBR at Bakersfield! :) So much activity downtown - I love it!
ReplyDeleteAt least the local area hookers say "please" and "thank you" when they are requesting a sample of gelato.
ReplyDeleteIt's kinda like those goofy lists Forbes & others put out. When you rank well - everybody's happy, when you rank low - everybody gets upset & becomes experts on polling & statistics & what all.
ReplyDeleteI said this in the comments on the Enquirer article, and I'll say it again. Horstman's article about the OTR streetcar maintenance site was NOT a stab at the streetcar or at Findlay Market. It was simply a mention that a prostitute was all that could be found at Henry Street, a block that has been devoid of commerce for many years.
ReplyDeleteIt's really a waste of time to bitch about every perceived stab at a transportation project that's being built after all. In this case, I don't believe there was any intended malevolence.
Exactly my point Christian. About the getting too excited about story that is, I don't agree with you on intent of that out of context line.
ReplyDelete