Saturday, December 04, 1999
City's retail plan needs Bengals' help
McAlpin's would be parking garage
BY ROBERT ANGLEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A deal to turn the vacant downtown McAlpin's department store into a new commercial development could hinge on the Cincinnati Bengals.
City officials said Friday the only way the project can succeed is if the team agrees to move about 600 parking spaces from the proposed Banks riverfront proposal and into the Fourth and Race street building.
“The project isn't financially feasible unless it has parking — subsidized parking,” said City Manager John Shirey. “In order for this to happen, the county must be a partner. The Bengals have to agree to have parking relocated.”
As part of its contract to build a stadium for the Bengals, Hamilton County commissioners agreed to provide 5,000 parking spaces near the stadium. Now city officials say they want to move some of the above-ground spaces to McAlpin's.
“To construct a garage, it costs the same no matter where you build it,” said Andis Udris, city economic development director. “From the county's standpoint, there are higher rates and more demand for parking downtown, so their investment is more secure. The downside is the Bengals.”
Jeff Berding, Bengals director of community affairs, said the team has yet to hear from city officials. ""To the extent the city is claiming we could (obstruct) this, we're surprised nobody from the city has called the club,” he said.
Bengals lawyer Stuart Dornette said the team has talked with developers of the former McAlpin's property nothing has been decided.
That's news to Hamilton County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus, who said Friday he was unaware of the city's plan to move parking to the McAlpin's site. “But I'm not quite sure if it is a significant problem,” he said.
The county has targeted two areas north of Third Street and west of Vine Street where parking could be moved from the Banks to help spur private development, he said.
The city is negotiating with Madison Marquette Realty Services to develop the McAlpin's site and several adjacent parcels into a retail, business and residential center that could include movie theaters, shops, restaurants and office space.
Mr. Udris said the project is expected to cost taxpayers about $8.5 million for demolition, purchasing property and public improvements.
Carole Roper, a spokeswoman for Madison Marquette, said Friday there was no way to know whether the project would die if the county didn't renegotiate its lease with the Bengals.
In its September proposal for the Banks, the city-appointed Riverfront Advisory Commission recommended moving about 1,700 above-ground parking spaces off the riverfront and into garages north of Third Street. That would still leave thousands of spaces below ground.
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