Wednesday, August 25, 1999
Middletown mall burden, experts say
Report offers ideas for redevelopment
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN — The City Centre Mall is dysfunctional as a retail center and a major barrier to investment downtown, according to a marketing report released Tuesday.
The mall has “compromised circulation within the downtown and contributed to the downtown's poor image,” according to the 40-page report from ZHA Inc., a marketing firm based in Annapolis, Md.
The document was given to city commissioners during a special meeting Tuesday. It concludes that “the removal of the roof and the reopening of Central Avenue will cause a fundamental, positive change in market dynamics downtown.”
City commissioners have long debated the fate of the nearly 25-year-old climate-controlled mall. They voted in March to spend about $15 million to remove the roof and restore traffic on Central Avenue.
ZHA was given a $46,500 contract in mid-May to do a downtown marketing analysis and strategy, focusing on the mall. A mall project manager and an architectural/engineering team have also been hired.
The mall is surrounded by a mix of commercial land in an urban setting, with heavy industrial uses nearby. There is a lack of thriving restaurants, entertainment or recreational facilities that establish the mall as a continuing, vibrant environment, according to the report.
Sarah Woodworth, ZHA vice president, and senior assistant Dick Paik, who presented the report, pointed out downtown assets and development constraints.
Assets include:
• More than 3,000 employees at various businesses.
• Event facilities such as Manchester Inn, Smith Park and City Centre Plaza.
• The central location between Dayton and Cincinnati, which should help attract growth.
• A location near the Great Miami River, called “a rare and desirable amenity.”
Development constraints range from a need for residential growth downtown to a lack of enough traffic downtown to attract typical retail tenants.
The next phase, according to ZHA, is “to proceed with downtown redevelopment,” Mr. Paik said.
Ideas include:
• Prepare an upscale streetscape to draw pedestrian traffic with such services as eating and drinking places, theaters and arts-related stores, specialty shops and personal-care businesses.
• Establish Central Avenue as the primary traffic conduit between Interstate 75 and areas west of downtown.
• Ensure adequate parking for prospective retailers.
• Aggressively market the vacant Armco and Swallen's buildings. Ms. Woodworth said 80 percent of the downtown problems could be solved by getting those buildings occupied.
• The city should also continue working to attract events to the Manchester Inn, “one of the city's greatest assets,” Ms. Woodworth said.
Earl Smith, commission chairman, said after the meeting, “We're finally getting this under way. We're beginning to see some progress.”
Tristate smoking, deaths top averages
Hate group targets Anderson
Hundreds of vets' graves overgrown
Kings Island closes second ride
Road work an obstacle to Riverfest
Votruba decries NKU's funding
Judge halts voucher program
Most Americans oppose full school vouchers
What's Your Opinion: Questions of fairness
Chief: Fire response was earlier
Ex-guard beats felony rap involving girl
GET TO IT
Jurisdiction argued in Justin hearing
Ross teens start school on sad note
Storms knock down trees, power lines
Birth control options
Contraceptive for males is still in works
Most common contraceptive methods
Buddhist monks perform for world peace
If you go: 'Mystical Music and Dance of Tibet'
McKechnie working on new show at Playhouse
'Blue's Clues' host very much alive
Agencies doing own pot testing
Bell fighting area-code change
Boone Co. citizens get a say in police study
Deputy city manager no longer 'interim'
Escapee from county jail to do more time
Forest Park paper ends run
Gravelrama ready to roll
Judge to say whether historic building may be torn down
Kenton proposal: Regulate sex-oriented businesses
Ky. GOP gains ground
Marchers protest Ohio death penalty
Mason to double size of park
Mental health clients find pals in program
Middletown mall burden, experts say
Mostly white jury chosen for Miami U. trial
Officer hurt in scrape with teen
Schools opt to build new rather than renovate old
Sewer fight shifts to site test
Six hurt in blast near Germantown
TRISTATE DIGEST
Union Twp. to pay for aerial map
Video seller pleads no contest
Video store is investigated
Warren to fight Deerfield over water, sewer plan
