Cincinnati city administrators are recommending council give two national developers 90 days to devise a plan for transforming the riverfront.
Economic Development Director Andi Udris will ask council to approve an agreement to make the development team of Faison Associates and Renfro Development Co. the city's ''preferred developer.''
The development team would contact businesses to locate on the riverfront and bring deals back to the city.
The city wants the area between the Bengals' new Paul Brown Stadium and the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge to become a family entertainment destination, Mr. Udris said.
''It's going to become the rec room of the city,'' he said.
Faison, owners and developer of Tower Place Mall downtown, is based in Charlotte, N.C. Renfro is the Indianapolis firm of Herman Renfro, the redeveloper of Circle Center in Indianapolis and Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.
The administration will ask council Wednesday to approve the renewable 90-day agreement in September.
The agreement also would authorize spending $150,000 for the city's planning of physical improvements on the riverfront.
Other than parking, road and infrastructure improvements, however, the development will not be subsidized by public money or get tax breaks, Mr. Udris said.
The city envisions a riverfront with a first-run movie theater complex paired with a 3-D theater, restaurants and shops.
RIVERFRONT PLANS
MAP
