Thursday, October 28, 1999
Pact keeps riverfront plans on schedule
BY DAN KLEPAL and PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The city and county agreed Wednesday to a pact that will allow construction of Fort Washington Way, the Reds ballpark and the National Underground Freedom Center to continue on schedule.
In separate meetings Wednesday, Hamilton County commissioners and Cincinnati City Council each approved an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding they signed in 1995, which is designed to outline the actions the city and county would take to achieve riverfront redevelopment.
Although the agreement addresses the most pressing issues, there are many that will be negotiated in the coming months.
“This is just an interim agreement to make sure construction is not impeded,” said attorney Steven R. Hunt, who acted as the county's negotiator.
Major elements of the amendment include:
• The city and county splitting the estimated $5.6 million cost of Ramp LL off Fort Washington Way. The ramp will serve as a link for the new Second Street, the southeast area of downtown and Newport.
• Street/block grid engineering, which must happen before construction can start on either the Reds stadium or the Freedom Center.
• Utility relocation from Pete Rose Way. The county will pay 62 percent of this cost, with the city picking up the rest.
• A land transfer from the city to the county, which is necessary for the construction of the Reds ballpark.
The agreement was passed unanimously by county commissioners, but was the subject of heated discussions in City Council earlier this week. Council passed the measure 7-1, with Councilman Paul Booth voting against it. Councilman Tyrone Yates, another critic of the plan, was not present.
“There have been some bumps in the road, but when push came to shove, the city and the county have come together and the right thing was done,” Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus said.
The center of this week's debate in council was a provision offering the Reds a tax abatement after the 21st year on the proposed stadium.
James Tarbell, who questioned the need for such an abatement during council discussions Monday, said he was made comfortable after learning Cincinnati Public Schools will be getting money, in lieu of taxes, through previous agreements.
“I didn't see a reason to hold this up,” Mr. Tarbell said, after voting in favor of the ordinance.
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