The Banks, Cincinnati
Cincinnati Riverfront development | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: "The Banks" | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Elevation | 482 ft (147 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| Area code | 513 |
| Website | http://www.cincinnatiport.org/pa_pg5A.html |
The Banks is the name given to current mixed use project and development for the land between the Paul Brown Stadium and the Great American Ballpark along the Ohio River in Cincinnati Ohio.[1] According to Bob Castellini, head of The Banks Working Group, The Banks will be "Ohio's most complicated economic development project ever".[2]
The Banks Working Group said the morning of June 15th, 2007 it has an "agreement in principle" under which Carter Real Estate and Harold A. Dawson Company will serve as master developers for the Banks, a $1 billion riverfront project.[3] The non-binding agreement calls for 300 apartments in the first phase, followed by 100 condominiums and 70,000 square feet (7,000 m2) of retail. It will also include an unspecified amount of office space. The agreement also sets a policy on economic inclusion and workforce development that will allow for the inclusion of minority and female owned businesses.
As of late October 2007, Cincinnati and Hamilton County officials are scheduled to vote on the Banks plan, leaders of both governments say they have the votes needed to pass it - a claim backed up by an informal Cincinnati Enquirer survey.
Approval by both governments would allow construction to start in early 2008, with the first people living and working at The Banks by early 2010. The first phase of the project would include about 300 apartments and 70,000 square feet of retail. It encompasses 18 acres on the riverfront between Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park.
Riverfront Master Plan
The Cincinnati Central Riverfront Master Plan is the result of a public participation planning process begun in October 1996. Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati engaged Urban Design Associates to prepare a plan to give direction in two public policy areas:
- To site the two new stadiums for the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals
- To develop an overall urban design framework for the development of the central riverfront which would capitalize on the major public investment in the stadiums and structured parking.
A Riverfront Steering Committee made up of City and County elected officials and staff was formed as a joint policy board for the Central Riverfront Plan. Focus groups, interviews, and public meetings were held throughout the planning process.
A Concept Plan was published in April 1997 which identified three possible scenarios for the siting of the stadiums and the development of the riverfront. The preparation of a final Master Plan was delayed due to a November 1998 public referendum on the siting of the Reds Stadium.
Once the decision on the Reds Stadium was made by the voters in favor of a riverfront site, Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati appointed sixteen prominent citizens to the Riverfront Advisors Commission who were charged to "recommend mixed usage for the Riverfront that guarantees public investment will create sustainable development on the site most valued by our community". The result of that effort was The Banks, a September 1999 report from the Advisors which contained recommendations on land use, parking, finance, phasing, and developer selection for the Central Riverfront. The final Master Plan includes The Banks recommendations from the advisors.[1]
Cincinnati Riverfront Park
Cincinnati Riverfront Park is planned to span over 40 acres of land along the Ohio River between Broadway and Central Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Design-The park will connect Bicentennial Commons and Sawyer Point to form an almost 3-mile (5 km) corridor of public park along the river. The Park will include:
- playgrounds
- boat docks
- a Great Lawn
- spaces for festivals and community events
- a carousel,
- gardens,
- bike trail,
- walkways,
- tree groves,
- a river edge promenade with over-sized "porch" swings,
- water features (jets, cascades, pools and waterfalls)
- grand stairs,
Funding-
- Congress has appropriated $3 million for the design and planning. Congress will contribute up to $50 million for the construction
- 3.5 million has been given by Cincinnati and Ohio for planning and design
- Cincinnati has applied for $8 million federal funds and $2 million in state funds for the first phases of park construction
- The initial $1 million has been provided by private funds
- Total cost for the park will be $66 million
- Annual costs for operation will be $1.2 million offset by parks restaurants, retail, events, consessions, modest tax and private support.
Transportation
Cincinnati and Hamilton County support the regional development of streetcars that would link downtown and neighborhoods adjacent to the city and rail transit to connect the whole tristate of Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana.
Completed Projects
- Paul Brown Stadium
- Great American Ballpark
- National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
- Redesigned Fort Washington Way and the Intermodal Transportation Center
External Links
- The Cincinnati Central Riverfront Master Plan
- Banks Theme Page @ Cincinnati Enquirer
- Cincinnati Riverfront Park