Wednesday, February 17, 1999
Middletown board agrees to decide on mall plan
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN — After months of debate over the fate of the City Centre Mall, city commissioners agreed Tuesday it's time to stop talking and start acting.
They plan to come to the March 2 commissioners' work session 30 minutes early, prepared for final discussion and a vote on whether to raze the mall roof. Other details about redeveloping the mall or demol ishing some buildings will be worked out later.
“We've been talking about this for nearly seven years, it's time to bite the bullet,” said Commissioner Jim Armbruster.
“I'm ready now,” said commissioner Paul Nenni.
Their decision followed nearly four hours Tuesday of hearing new proposals and rehashing old ones. Nearly 16 options have been presented since the 90-day input period began, said City Manager Ron Olson.
Before ending the 90-day input period Tuesday, commissioners heard Dolores Palma, a partner with HyettPalma Inc., of Alexandria, Va., a national consulting firm that deals with downtown revitalization. Ms. Palma urged commissioners to chose Option D.
That option, one of several from Cleveland architect Jonathan Sandvick, calls for razing most of the roof, restoring the building facades, reopening Central Avenue and adding a Farmer's Market.
Ms. Palma encouraged saving as much of the downtown character as possible and advised avoiding trying to suburbanize downtown. She said removing the roof and reopening streets are not enough to bring people downtown. Creative marketing and “an orchestrated plan” are also required.
The mall has been “a symbol of failure,” and the city must restore investors' confidence, she said.
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