Topic: Cincinnati: Oakley - Oakley Square Renovation

[DetroitExPat]

Wow the poles in the first link are terrible. I hope that is not too residential. Ugh.

[bigredmachine]

I think that the abundance of overhead power lines is a reason Cincinnati loses some people to the suburbs. It's not like people look at a street and say that they would consider living there if the utilities were buried, but it does detract from the overall aesthetic of any neighborhood.

[DetroitExPat]

I went to Columbus for the day yesterday...the area I was in...had alleys and all the utilities were along the alley. I liked that, I wish Cincinnati didn't have it like this. It also is a problem in my neighborhood because they cut the trees all funny around the lines. They are trying to plant more trees on the street, but then Duke comes and hacks them all apart when they are only a few years old. Then the trees look half gutted or end up growing funny looking as they mature.

[UncleRando]

Oakley Square project completed ... finally
Cincinnati Business Courier | December 5, 2011

After two years of construction the city's Oakley Square project is officially finished. City Manager Milton Dohoney and other city leaders joined with Oakley's Community Council for a ribbon cutting on FridThe new square, in the heart of Oakley's business district, cost $9 million. It's aim was to beautify the area and make it safer for pedestrians, Local 12 reported.

Full Story: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2011/12/oakley-square-project-completed.html

[OHSnap]

It's pretty nice through Madison now.  I like all the traffic-calming measures, and my bicycle (and my in-between parts!) is thankful for the nice pavement.

They put in electric "gaslights" that I have not yet seen on.  But they still have the old-style overhead sodium lights, too.  Not sure what's happening with all this lighting...

The 20th Century is doing the ball-drop on the Square again this New Year's.  Free admission.  Should be a great scene.

[jjakucyk]

The new lights don't look anything like reproduction gas lights.  They're functional around Oakley Square, but still haven't been turned on east of there yet.  Based on what I've seen elsewhere in the city, I'm 99% certain that they're going to leave the old cobra heads in place and connected.  It's sad enough that they couldn't relocate the overhead utilities, but not removing the old lighting just adds insult to injury.