Saturday, January 23, 1999

Leader chosen to dress up riverfront

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BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        His firm has designed attractions as playful as “A Day in the Park with Barney” in Orlando, Fla., and as contemplative as a temporary interpretive center for the Washington Monument in the nation's capital.

        And now, Jack Rouse is going to lead the group that shapes the future of Cincinnati's central riverfront as chairman of the Riverfront Advisory Commission.

        Mr. Rouse, chief executive officer of Jack Rouse Associates, has worked with clients around the world to design theme parks, attractions, museums and interpretive exhibits.

RIVERFRONT ADVISORS

Those invited to sit on board: • Jack Rouse, CEO of Jack Rouse Associates, chairman • Otto M. Budig Jr., Budeo Group • Cliff Bailey, TechSoft Systems Inc. • Dave Anderson, Delta Air Lines • Jean Schroer, Corporex Cos. Inc. • Nick Vehr, Cincinnati 2012 • J. Joseph Hale Jr., Cinergy Foundation, vice chairman • Thomas Humes, Great Traditions Land and Development Co. • Eric Kearney, Cohen, Todd, Kite and Stanford • Ron Kull, University of Cincinnati • Laura Long, Cincinnati Business Committee • Steve Love, Blue Chip Broadcasting • Norm Miller, University of Cincinnati • Paul Muller, Muller Associates Architects • Frank Wood, Secret Communications • Charlotte Otto, Procter & Gamble Co.

        The advisory commission will ultimately recommend what should be built on the riverfront between the Bengals' new Paul Brown Stadium and the Reds' new ballpark.

        Cincinnati's political and business leaders are banking on the riverfront development to create a new “postcard” for the region and connect the riverfront to downtown.

        “It's just such an important opportunity for the city,” said Paul Muller, a local architect invited to sit on the commission. “Sorting through all the options will be the difficult part.”

        Mayor Roxanne Qualls, City Councilman Phil Heimlich and Hamilton County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus will hold a news conference Monday afternoon to announce the formation of the commission and officially name Mr. Rouse as chairman. Council and the commissioners will have final approval over all the members.

        Letters obtained by The Cincinnati Enquirer named Mr. Rouse as chairman and identified Joe Hale of the Cinergy Foundation as vice chairman.

        The city and county agreed in early December to form the commission to come up with development guidelines, solicit proposals and make a recommendation to the city and coun ty.

        The city will be leading the development effort, but the county is building the stadiums and riverfront parking garages.

        Whatever shops, restaurants or housing developments are proposed for the riverfront would be built on those garages.

        The commission was supposed to make its recommendations in June, but it was unclear Friday whether that schedule was still reasonable because the group was supposed to have started work early this month.

        Mr. Rouse did not return a call Friday seeking comment. He said in a 1992 interview that his company succeeds “because we give a damn.”

        That could be just the reason he was tapped to be the chief caretaker for the riverfront's future.

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