BY LAURA GOLDBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Vision for riverfront CLICK HERE for map of city's plan for developing the riverfront. GIF (52K)

As politicians argue over who controls downtown's central riverfront, the first look at what the rebuilt Ohio River shoreline might become has been made public.

Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls released a detailed map Thursday that plots the city's riverfront vision into the next century, stretching from the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge to the Roebling Suspension Bridge.

"This represents what is the possible future of the riverfront if we really use this opportunity (as) . . . a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Ms. Qualls said of the map Friday.

While sports-related development takes a key role, the scenario includes the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and more.

The area, anchored by the $270 million Paul Brown Stadium, is dotted with sports-themed stores and restaurants. City leaders also envision parks, a marina, a transit center and Elm, Vine and Race streets stretching to the river.

A large public park at the end of the Suspension Bridge acts as a gateway to the city.

Also shown is a project that city officials, facing competition from Northern Kentucky, are racing to build: a high-tech 3D theater complex that would include 20 or more regular movie screens.

City Manager John Shirey said the plan is "the closest we've come to really nailing down what we want and where we think it should go."

Ms. Qualls said the map is based on work done by Urban Design Associates (UDA) of Pittsburgh, a consultant hired by the city and county. It conducted public sessions to garner Tristate residents' opinions about the riverfront's future.

The plan accompanied a letter that Ms. Qualls delivered Thursday to county Commission President Bob Bedinghaus. It accused county officials of giving away the riverfront to the Bengals through its lease with the team.

In the letter, Ms. Qualls said the entire community - with UDA's help - helped with the vision.

"That vision includes a sports facility as part of an exciting, regionally significant entertainment district," she wrote. "We cannot abandon that vision to accommodate the interests of a single party."

County and Bengals officials have disavowed many of the charges in Ms. Qualls' letter, including that the county gave the Bengals veto power over the riverfront's future.

"The whole reason the county stepped into the leadership void that was present two years ago was to create the environment that would allow for this type of development to occur," Mr. Bedinghaus said Saturday.

"We absolutely support appropriate development in the entire riverfront area. This isn't just about sports stadiums."