COVINGTON — A Northern Kentucky development group revealed its dream Monday of a significant economic development surrounding a new Kenton County jail in downtown Covington.

        Southbank Partners of Newport, and the Columbusarchitectural firm NBBJ presented a plan for a 546-bed jail on a nearly two-block site bounded by Pike, Washington, Eighth and Russell streets. It is the result of 10 months' work.

        There would also be room for a 90,000-square-foot county office building, a 500-space parking garage and possibly a proposed comprehensive community college campus.

        But that's not all. NBBJ principal partner Brian Connelly said housing could someday extend along Washington from Eighth Street south to Robbins Street. He said row houses would be the preferred choice, at least for now.

        “This is a good project,” Southbank director Wally Pagan said. “It's been long overdue.”

        Indeed, county and Covington officials have wrangled over a site for the jail for nearly three years. The Washington Street site is the 56th the Kenton County Fiscal Court has considered.

        Neither Mr. Pagan nor Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd had a cost estimate on the proj ect.

        Monday was also the first time anyone outside a few city and county leaders had seen the proposal. And while there were not 56 opinions, there were several.

        “I think the development of a jail is consistent with the development of the central business core of Covington,” City Commissioner Alex Edmondson said. “Development will mushroom off that.”

        Linda Young, director of the Welcome House homeless shelter at 205 Pike St., is not looking forward to having to move to make way for the development. She said her organization probably would not get enough money from the sale of the current shelter, and she definitely did not like Mr. Connelly referring to that part of town as the “hole in the fabric” of downtown Covington.

        “This impacts hundreds of families who don't have a voice,” Ms. Young said.

        Sue Helbling, who lives across town near the intersection of Third and Garrard streets, said the plan “seems to work.”

        It would improve that area of Covington,” Ms. Helbling said. “To renovate the existing jail (in the county building at 303 Court St.) is destroying the potential of prime real estate.”

        Kenton County Commissioner Adam Koenig, meanwhile, wanted to see a larger jail.

        “Twenty years from now, where's the next jail building going to go?” Mr. Koenig asked. “I'd want to see more than 546 beds.”

        But there are at least three obstacles to remove before the first inmate moves in.

        Covington is in eminent domain condemnation action against Corporex Companies president Bill Butler for the land on which the garage would be built. That case is being heard by Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe.

        Kenton County, meanwhile, is waiting for the Kentucky Supreme Court to rule on another decision by Judge Summe in a lawsuit by the city that effectively shot down the county's proposed increase in the payroll tax cap — money the county was depending on to build the jail.

        Which leads to the third — and possibly biggest — potential hurdle: What will Fiscal Court do if the Supreme Court upholds Judge Summe's decision?

        Mr. Murgatroyd and County Commissioner Dan Humpert said the county will have to go back to renovating the current jail, a plan the county approved but has not started because of the court action.

        “There's no money in the pot,” Mr. Murgatroyd said. “You're back to 303 Court Street, where we are now. People do have to understand we have a problem.”
       

        People who wish to comment on the proposed Kenton County jail should send their letters by Friday to Southbank Partners, 421 Monmouth St., Newport 41071 or fax them to (859) 655-9577.
       

11-year-old convicted of killing sister
Jury chosen for police officer
Smallpox response a concern
Web sites changing council campaigns
GOP council slate young, multiracial, outspoken
Election Notebook
City schools chief to get $45K raise
200 rally against police brutality
PULFER: Delta Queen symbol of our values
Good News: Program assists schools
Initiative offers stroke info
Levies up for roads, fire safety
Local Digest
Magnet schools invite visitors to look at programs
Student teachers competitive on Ohio licensing test
UC faculty to vote on strike permission
Crosses will mark graves at cemetery
Increase sought in county hotel tax
NATO commander returns to alma mater
School mourns girl's death
Bike path funding seems unlikely
Butler voters to consider two tax issues
Candidates questioned over growth
Congrats
Jail proposed for downtown Covington
Where to put jail? Site plays hopscotch
Newport OKs development deal
Program assists needy
Democrat to challenge Marcotte
General might run for governor
Group hopes to preserve one-room school
Hospital workers choose union
Kentucky Digest
Ky. using tobacco money to woo convention