08.04.06
Urban Romance [Redefined]
by Ran Mullins, iRhine Founder
iRhineViews/QCFMag.com
The nineteenth-century Italianate facades of Main Street's Victorian Corridor line the heart of historic Over-the-Rhine, a 350-acre slice of downtown Cincinnati just north of Central Parkway, was built on the lifestyles that savor opera houses, beer gardens and saloons. The lively, meandering streets of this neighborhood paint the picture of urban prosperity as we hear the din of the Final Friday celebrations echo in the distance.
I was recently reminded by a friend of mine of a quote I made a few years ago that convinced him of staying in Cincinnati when he was positioned to leave. I had told him that I could not leave Cincinnati until I was proud of where I came from. Until, wherever I would end up, I could say with loving admiration that I was from Cincinnati.
I could not leave without doing something to contribute to making this community a place to be proud of and a place that I could gladly return home to without dread, without apology and without resentment.
It's the kind of place that puts a smile on your face when you think about it. A place with people, who aren't perfect, but try hard just the same. A city that rivals other cities in its arts, culture, history and stories. (We already do...) I decided to focus my contribution on Over-the-Rhine. If the City of Cincinnati doesn't begin to treat Over-the-Rhine differently than nothing will change Cincinnati.
If aesthetics and high-end content are what move you, then you need to set up shop in the city. Not where the stuffed shirts and skyscrapers abound, but the funky neighborhoods, like our own Over-the-Rhine.
That's right, our once-declining Over-the-Rhine is now home to artists, writers, and hipsters extraordinaire. The name Over-the-Rhine symbolizes the creativity and innovation of the road less traverel. It's groovy and gritty - It's the home of Midpoint Music Festival. This once-neglected neighborhood is now being revitalized by artists, musicians and young urbanites willing to bet their future on the coolness that exudes.
The evidence of the Bohemian arrival is everywhere as the neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine confront the hope and perils that are present with any urban revitalization. In fact, the area has emerged as a magnet for advertising agencies and other creative shops - you know the kind - the short that are often staffed by hipster designers, dynamic marketers and brooding writers. It's this kind of eclectic vibe that makes the place such a draw. This is definitely why I moved Metaphor Studio here. The choice of location says a lot about your company. People in Cincinnati expect more of an edge or artistic feel from a business in Over-the-Rhine. And as a boutique creative consultancy that's more brand awareness than we can achieve on our own.
I moved my company here after I outgrew my home office, a 3,000 sq.ft loft. Metaphor now operates out of one floor in a four-story loft conversion that once served as the warehouse for a dash and carriage goods company. Many of our staff live in this or other urban neighborhoods, which offer an ideal urban mix: galleries, restaurants, nightclubs and great architecture.
In fact, for design companies with a creative focus, Over-the-Rhine offers some distinct advantages. Compared to downtown, commercial rents are cheap. The area abound in graphics firms and freelancers for subcontracting jobs, and the location itself serves as a kind of geographical shorthand that conveys non-comformity and innovation. It's no Creative Capital - yet - but in the full realm of what's possible, it's just getting started.
"A lot of designers live around here," says Jameson Bennett, North Main Street resident, designer and web programmer. "They're attracted to a place where they can live, work, and play. There's also a strong independent arts community, definitely one of the largest in the country. Being here gives me an opportunity to be close to a nice sized community of artists and designers. I like motivated people who are serious about their work. It's inspiring to be among so many kindred spirits who understand what this community really means."
People like Jameson provide the hope we crave.
For those who need reminding:
The history of Over-the-Rhine was never a rags-to-riches tale even when it was first built in the 1800's and serving as home to thousands of German immigrants. The neighborhood has preserved its turn-of-the-century atmosphere thanks to a historic district designation. The incredible craftsmanship that went into building the largest collection of urban Italianate architecture in the United States is what we are so in love with today. As our natural mid-town Arts District, Over-the-Rhine represents the heart of the city and Cincinnati's most dramatic difference.
Russell W Davenport said it best when he said, "Progress in every age results only from the fact that there are some men and women who refuse to believe that what they know to be right cannot be done."
iRhine is the self-proclaimed image and marketing campaign for the neighborhood's revitalization and we are proud to be repainting the picture of Over-the-Rhine. We are providing constant reminders of this wonderful community of individuals and working to make it safe, clean, and profitable for everyone to shop, to eat, and to work, to live, to learn, and to play. Our weekly email newsletter, iRhine Views, has seen continued growth since its inception.
The "i" in iRhine stands for "individual" as we all play a part in making our city grow and prosper. If you'd like to play a role in supporting Over-the-Rhine's destiny contact: support@irhine.com
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Ran Mullins is the founder and CEO of Metaphor Studio, a Creative Consultancy in Over-the-Rhine. He is a consultant and advisor on branding and web site strategy integration to corporation and community organizations. In addition to being an artist and entrepreneur, he is a resident, business owner, and community advocate in Cincinnati's historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Contact: ran@irhine.com
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About iRhine
iRhine is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that develops the focus of communication for the many diversified offerings in the historic Cincinnati neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine (OTR). Through the Web site, e-mails, educational meetings, events, and volunteering, iRhine has supported and encouraged socio-economic development for OTR and the Greater Cincinnati Region since 2000. |
