Progressive Culture in Cincinnati? Cincinnati v. Portland? (Dayton, Washington: rent, top hotel)

[TomJones123]

And to drive my point home of being outdated:

Obama makes history with Hamilton County win

And we are here talking about McCain?

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by TomJones123

And to drive my point home of being outdated:

Obama makes history with Hamilton County win

And we are here talking about McCain?

But more importantly, the OP started off expressing a desire to move to Cincinnati with some clearly stated reasons, both family and career tied to family. Simply asked how their lifestyle would fit into Cincinnati. Tom you have given the clearest explanation of how they should fit quite well into Cincinnati. As they stated they are in an alternative medicine field, I personally got sidetracked commenting on the UK Medical Center and what an accomplished facility they have. But the fact is, the OP did not inquire about anything other than Cincinnati.

It has been some time since the OP has chimed in. I hope they have not gotten the idea people in CIncinnati are simply a bunch of self-centered idiots incapable of keeping our attention on helping an inquiring mind.

[CinciFan]

Originally Posted by Wahl_Wrighter

BTW, I would genuinely like to know the status of the streetcar project? When I was there I kept hearing talks of it possibly being up and running by Spring 2013; obviously that isn't going to happen. I've talked to a few people I know back in Cincy, and they virtually forgot about the project until I brought it up, so apparently it isn't receiving much media coverage.

The streetcar is under construction. Utility relocation started in February and is ongoing. They should begin the actual track installation this Spring.

[rhizohm]

Hey Everyone,

Glad to see this thread boom with lively discussion, but yes I will reaffirm that we are not looking into other cities in the region because of the specific family/business connections in Cincinnati. About Dayton, though, I will say that you are fortunate to have Gar Drolma Buddhist Center up there, which is the closest to any lineage we have a connection with in the area. Our own principle Buddhist lineage is Nyingma (a Tibetan sect) and our Daoist affiliations are various, including through the International College of Medical Qigong and other medical/Qigong connections. I do have a Buddhist Qigong teacher in New York, and even my teacher in Seattle has mentioned the possibility of starting a center in Cincinnati if we move there. Down the line, of course.

Also, would like to take a moment to promote a new arrival in Cincinnati-- the Healing Tao Center of Cincinnati! Healing Tao of Cincinnati This is in the lineage of Mantak Chia, who been teaching Daoist Qigong and writing books on it for several decades. I haven't personally trained with them, but they seem to have a rather robust Daoist curriculum, at least at their main center in Asheville, NC. This, combined with Gar Drolma to the north really brings us hope about making it work in the region.

Thank you to those who have been able to compare Portland and Cincinnati. We have no doubts about loving Portland. Cincinnati has its own progressive history to be proud of (including abolitionism) and it seems like there is some genuine urban revival occuring. One cool part about moving to Cincinnati would be participating in that movement from the ground up. In Portland it is more like joining a movement that is already in full-swing. Weather-wise I am definitely in agreement that Cincinnati has the upper hand, while topography-wise I am more of a flat & grid person so the east side of Portland wins there.

In regards to the Cincinnati vs Suburbs dynamic-- it does seem like this has hindered urban revival. However, the inner city just needs to gather enough momentum to re-dominate local politics, and that means more people need to move there. As that happens, the power dynamic will even out. This dynamic even occurs in PDX, between Portland (in Multnomah county) and the counties of Clackamas to the south and Clark county in WA to the north. Clark county WA residents are notorious for working and shopping in Portland without paying Oregon taxes or supporting regional transit, while Clackamas county residents are known for being far more socially conservative than their Portland neighbors. Up here we have the Seattle vs. Eastside burbs dynamic, which is actually a little different, but really interesting since Bellevue is actually BOTH more expensive/affluent AND less white than Seattle, owing to the influx of Indian and East Asian tech-sector development.

So I think that occurs everywhere, it is just a question of whether that dynamic remains balanced. In Cincinnati the blown out urban core really dismantled that balance, but if urban renewal really takes hold, that will even out. OTR has the potential capacity to host 50,000 residents and its doing less than 20% of that now. Might be cool, and potentially great for property ownership and business, to be a part of that change at the ground level.

And I'd also like to say that the one time I did visit Cincinnati I found it to be an astonishingly beautiful place filled with very kind people!

Next step is to seriously check it out. Even my fiance hasn't spent much time in Cincy in a while.

[motorman]

Originally Posted by rhizohm

Hey Everyone,

Glad to see this thread boom with lively discussion, but yes I will reaffirm that we are not looking into other cities in the region because of the specific family/business connections in Cincinnati...

...Thank you to those who have been able to compare Portland and Cincinnati. We have no doubts about loving Portland. Cincinnati has its own progressive history to be proud of (including abolitionism) and it seems like there is some genuine urban revival occuring...

...And I'd also like to say that the one time I did visit Cincinnati I found it to be an astonishingly beautiful place filled with very kind people!

Next step is to seriously check it out. Even my fiance hasn't spent much time in Cincy in a while.

Thank you, rhizohm, for this most recent update to your planned move to Cincinnati. Hopefully, this installment will silence those critics who have so denigrated this city and attempted to steer you elsewhere.

It's to your credit that you've accepted, that while neither a Portland zendo nor a Seattle teacher can actually be teleported here with you, you'll nevertheless be bringing everyone two enriched PNW minds and hearts as, in turn, both you and your fiance open yourselves to new and enriching experiences in the Queen City. Such a move as this, taking you out of the box and away from your comfort zone into a distinctly different urban setting, would probably intimidate anyone. Obviously, Cincinnati possesses a rich and colorful history of its own that will permeate much of what you do, but so what? Almost any determined Far West couple can become a part of this beautiful Midwest city the moment they arrive.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by rhizohm

In regards to the Cincinnati vs Suburbs dynamic-- it does seem like this has hindered urban revival. However, the inner city just needs to gather enough momentum to re-dominate local politics, and that means more people need to move there.

This is already in full swing. Even Bill Cunningham sang praises to downtown's redevelopment not too long ago. Downtown, OTR, Pendleton (Casino) are being redeveloped in spite of critics. The streetcar is a shining example of this. The cool thing is, with the banks and Fountain Square being as vibrant as they are, there are no shortage of suburbanite patrons. So, really, we all benefit.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by neilworms2

NYC has gone too far, but where Cincy is at it would take decades to reach that point. Not even Chicago is to that point.

New York got started in the early 90s. I was there when they started closing up all the smut shops on the Deuce (42nd between 7th and 8th Aves.) For a short while it had an eerie, boarded up feeling, then the redevelopment kicked into high gear. Around that same time Williamsburg Brooklyn started picking up, and eventually Long Island City in Queens. Now all of those areas are too expensive for the average working class Joe. Yuppies and hipsters rule the day. Some hipsters have moved onward to Bed Stuy, Bushwick, even Harlem and Mott Haven in the Bronx. Or they room up with others to be able to afford it the trendy areas. The New York of my day is all but gone.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by neilworms2

I'll be honest, its impressive, I guess I'm impatient regarding national media coverage.

Here's more national media coverage for us.

Cincinnati wants to revitalize dead downtown mall - Businessweek

It's underway and I think will gain momentum. The media can't ignore whats happening here.

[neilworms2]

This is already in full swing. Even Bill Cunningham sang praises to downtown's redevelopment not too long ago. Downtown, OTR, Pendleton (Casino) are being redeveloped in spite of critics. The streetcar is a shining example of this. The cool thing is, with the banks and Fountain Square being as vibrant as they are, there are no shortage of suburbanite patrons. So, really, we all benefit.

Its still step one when Portland is on step 20. You aren't seeing uber hip new residential highrises hitting downtown just yet (though they may not be far off with the aborted Dunnhumby plans and rumors of Fountain Square West finally getting residential).

On that note I think OTR in the "Gateway Quarter" or Prospect Hill is really where the OP should go, its progressive by regional standards and they'll be at ground zero for urban revitalization. Though finding a good rental could be tricky if that's what they are looking for.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by neilworms2

Its still step one when Portland is on step 20.

Who cares what Portland is doing. They don't validate or nullify Cincinnati in the least. I will give you this much, you do seem to have a good dose of the native cynicism that surfaces in your posts from time to time. Cincinnati is making excellent strides, but you keep rebutting with "it's not good enough because somewhere else is better." Sometimes you have to be thankful for what is being done and appreciate the huge strides that have been made. I bet you a dollar to a dime that Portland never had to fight back from the very deep bottom that Cincinnati is working out of. Just some thoughts. But I really am not someone who has to compare Cincinnati to other places to appreciate it's worth. I've lived all over the country and have found Cincinnati to be far above and beyond anything I thought it was. And to think it's getting better by the day is very exciting.