About Cincinnati's Clifton

University of Cincinnati Named to "World's Most Beautiful Campuses" List

Architects and designers were recently asked to judge the World's Most Beautiful Campuses by Forbes Magazine. Powerful natural landscapes played a part in establishing the character of some schools. The University to Oxford was described as an architectural wonderland. For large Universities, a clear diagram of organization helped them achieve recognition.

The University of Cincinnati's distinction is due to a strategic plan implemented over the past 10 years that used "signature architects" to design new buildings. Architects of note included are Michael Graves, Frank Gehry, Peter Eisenman, Thom Mayne, Bernard Tschumi, Eric Sueberkrop, and others.

Other schools on the list were Kenyon College, Oxford University, Princeton University, Scripps College, Stanford University, Trinity College, Tsinghua University, University of Bologna, Yale University, Wellesley College, University of Virginia and University of California, Santa Cruz.

Here at DotLoop, we talk a lot about designing walkable, people-focused communities that offer amenities and connectedness with neighbors and businesses alike.

We think it's important that people feel connected to their communities and that, as home-owners, they have a sense of home that reaches beyond the end of their lawn.

That's why I'm so excited for today's announcement from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood of $293 million for new transit solutions for dozens of communities nationwide.

The investments include six new streetcar and rapid bus transit projects along with 47 additional projects to upgrade current bus services. This will be part of the Federal Transit Administration's Bus Livability Program. DotLoop is especially excited that our very own city of Cincinnati received investment to begin the Cincinnati Streetcar Project. A complete list of projects can be found here.

Says Secretary LaHood, "Our goals are to provide cleaner, safer, and more efficient ways to get around."

And no doubt do we need it.

As more and more urban cores revitalize, having safe, efficient, and people-friendly transportation options will be a component to creating livable, walkable, and connected neighborhoods.

Perhaps people will be able to get to know their neighborhoods a bit better once they look beyond their car's (La)Hood.

Whenever there is a down market the first knee jerk reaction for business owners is to cut spending but cutting marketing & advertising budgets may be the worst thing you can do. It has been shown in research time and time again that companies that maintain and/or increase their marketing efforts during a recession not only gain market share during the recession but significantly increase sales and profits for the years following.

Shannon Kavanaugh offers a great overview of some of the recession data as it relates to marketing.

So, where do you want to be in 2010 or 2011? Scrambling to get back in the game or a shining star on top? It is currently a reality that top agents and taking more of the market share and average agents are falling to the wayside....don't let yourself fall to the wayside.

As small business owners we need to not only think of our business with regards to today but remember to realize the impact of our decisions on tomorrow. Don't get caught up in the hype of the slow market by cutting back on expenses and on the actions that got you where you were in the first place. It is time to step up when others are stepping back and seize the marketing & business opportunities that are out there.

Cheers!

Julz Brown

Cincinnati Real Estate

http://www.SellingCincinnatiHomes.com/