AIA to lead Broadway Commons casino charrette

On Saturday, February 20 Cincinnatians will have an opportunity to weigh in on the Cincinnati casino development project.  The American Institute of Architects Cincinnati will be hosting a day-long charrette that will look at the development's potentially dramatic impact on the surrounding urban district.

To be located at Broadway Commons, the Cincinnati casino will be built over a large surface parking lot but will potentially impact surrounding historic neighborhoods like Pendleton, Over-the-Rhine, Mt. Adams, Downtown and more with thousands of new jobs and tens of thousands of new visitors to the area.

"We have an emerging entertainment district right next to the casino site," said Michael Redmond who is part owner of Neon's Unplugged that will be opening this Spring.  "We were pushing forward with Neon's anyways, but when the casino news came out it certainly got the ball rolling."

Event organizers state that the goal of the charrette is to "maximize the potential for a successful casino development that is well woven into the urban fabric of Cincinnati."

This goal will be accomplished by gathering the input of various stakeholders who show up to the public sessions and developing a set of urban design principles that can act as a guide for the Cincinnati casino development team led by developer Dan Gilbert.

The Cincinnati Casino District Charrette will take place at the Art Academy of Cincinnati in historic Over-the-Rhine (map) and will run from 8:30am to 6pm.  Admission is free to all sessions, but space is limited and reservations are requested.  Those who would like to enjoy lunch at the charrette can do so by reserving theirs for $10.

Writer: Randy A. Simes
Photography by David De Bol
Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy
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