Thursday, February 25, 1999
HAVE AN IDEA?
Desire for pride underscores forum
BY LUCY MAY Bruce Olson wants a place along Cincinnati's waterfront where he can drop his kayak into the Ohio River. Jeanne Fischer wants a development that's upscale and beautiful. And taxi driver Pat Watkins just wants a good answer to this question she hears from passengers: “What exciting things are there to do in Cincinnati?” “All people know about when they come to Cincinnati is WKRP in Cincinnati,” she said, referring to the old television show. “They know a little bit about the Reds and a little bit about the Bengals, but they want something a little more exciting.” Above all, the 150 people who attended a public forum on riverfront development Wednesday night made one thing clear: They want a riverfront that makes them proud. “These people really care,” said Jack Rouse, chairman of the Cincinnati Riverfront Advisory Commission, charged with recommending what kind of commercial development should be created. along the riverfront.“There is a passion. And that's neat.” Officials estimate between An estimated 10 million to 12 million visitors a year will go to the attractions along the riverfront, said consultant Don Carter of Urban Design Associates. The Pittsburgh firm has been working with Cincinnati and Hamilton County officials to plan the riverfront, and Mr. Carter gave the audience a briefing on all the riverfront “givens”: › The $404 million Paul Brown Stadium complex is under construction. That's not going anywhere. › The planned $297 million new ballpark for the Reds is being designed and will be built next to Firstar Center (formerly the Crown). › A park, more than 30 acres, will stretch from the river to the edge of the development. › A series of parking garages, with spaces for about 7,000 cars, will stretch between the two new stadiums to meet parking obligations to the Reds, the Bengals and the coliseum.Firstar Center. Mr. Rouse opened the forum by telling the group that he and the other members of his commission wanted to hear everybody's ideas. , and there There were plenty of them. Some wanted Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe restaurants. Others wanted anything but a national chain restaurant. One man suggested trying to retrieve the USS Cincinnati submarine and creating e a visitors center around it. Joan Strader, a descendant of the Strader family that helped settle Cincinnati, asked that the riverfront reflect the city's history. To do that, Cincinnati Councilman Jim Tarbell suggested building a replica of Fort Washington. Mike Uhlenhake, who lives in Over-the-Rhine, wants a riverfront filled with bike trails and other features developed with downtown resi dents in mind. “I do ride my bike down there a lot,” he said. “But it could be so much more.” Kathye Lewis, vice chair of the Greater Cincinnati African-American Chamber of Commerce, asked that the riverfront development be viewed as a way to promote small businesses in town and that some of the attractions reflect the cultural diversity of the community. Civic activist Louise Spiegel asked the commission to make it fun. Mr. Rouse said he was impressed with the time and thought people had put into the riverfront. Mostly, though, he was glad that people were asking for more chances to get involved. He promised there would be additional forums like the one held Wednesday.
The Cincinnati Enquirer Bruce Olson wants a place along Cincinnati's waterfront where he can drop his kayak into the Ohio River. Jeanne Fischer wants a development that's upscale and beautiful. And taxi driver Pat Watkins just wants a good answer to this question she hears from passengers: “What exciting things are there to do in Cincinnati?” “All people know about when they come to Cincinnati is WKRP in Cincinnati,” she said, referring to the old television show. “They know a little bit about the Reds and a little bit about the Bengals, but they want something a little more exciting.” Above all, the 150 people who attended a public forum on riverfront development Wednesday night made one thing clear: They want a riverfront that makes them proud. “These people really care,” said Jack Rouse, chairman of the Cincinnati Riverfront Advisory Commission, charged with recommending what kind of commercial development should be created. along the riverfront.“There is a passion. And that's neat.” Officials estimate between An estimated 10 million to 12 million visitors a year will go to the attractions along the riverfront, said consultant Don Carter of Urban Design Associates. The Pittsburgh firm has been working with Cincinnati and Hamilton County officials to plan the riverfront, and Mr. Carter gave the audience a briefing on all the riverfront “givens”: › The $404 million Paul Brown Stadium complex is under construction. That's not going anywhere. › The planned $297 million new ballpark for the Reds is being designed and will be built next to Firstar Center (formerly the Crown). › A park, more than 30 acres, will stretch from the river to the edge of the development. › A series of parking garages, with spaces for about 7,000 cars, will stretch between the two new stadiums to meet parking obligations to the Reds, the Bengals and the coliseum.Firstar Center. Mr. Rouse opened the forum by telling the group that he and the other members of his commission wanted to hear everybody's ideas. , and there There were plenty of them. Some wanted Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe restaurants. Others wanted anything but a national chain restaurant. One man suggested trying to retrieve the USS Cincinnati submarine and creating e a visitors center around it. Joan Strader, a descendant of the Strader family that helped settle Cincinnati, asked that the riverfront reflect the city's history. To do that, Cincinnati Councilman Jim Tarbell suggested building a replica of Fort Washington. Mike Uhlenhake, who lives in Over-the-Rhine, wants a riverfront filled with bike trails and other features developed with downtown resi dents in mind. “I do ride my bike down there a lot,” he said. “But it could be so much more.” Kathye Lewis, vice chair of the Greater Cincinnati African-American Chamber of Commerce, asked that the riverfront development be viewed as a way to promote small businesses in town and that some of the attractions reflect the cultural diversity of the community. Civic activist Louise Spiegel asked the commission to make it fun. Mr. Rouse said he was impressed with the time and thought people had put into the riverfront. Mostly, though, he was glad that people were asking for more chances to get involved. He promised there would be additional forums like the one held Wednesday.
People can send suggestions to the Cincinnati Riverfront Advisory Commission through its new Web site — www.riverfrontplanning.org — or call 381-0055 and ask for the riverfront planning voice mail box.
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