Friday, March 10, 2000
Stadium parking scares Luken
BY BY ROBERT ANGLEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken said he is “scared to death” that county officials will turn the space between the two riverfront stadiums into a giant parking lot.
That would destroy plans for The Banks and a riverfront revitalization of businesses, parks and apartments that “would put us on the map again,” Mr. Luken said in a speech marking his first 100 days in office.
“The county people are running out of money,” he told a luncheon gathering of the Greater Cincinnati Hotel/Motel and Restaurant associations. “I didn't used to think they could run out of money. But they are dangerously close.”
County Administrator David Krings acknowledged he is “always worried about money” and that county commissioners are rethinking plans for stadium parking. But he said no decisions have been made.
“Perhaps the mayor hasn't had the benefit of talking to the county commission. We can arrange a meeting,” he said, adding that no solid plans for The Banks or stadium parking exist.
Even before overruns on Paul Brown Stadium pushed costs up about $45 million, Hamilton County officials were concerned that a countywide, half-cent sales tax increase — approved in 1996 — would not pay the nearly $1 billion price tag for two new stadiums, parking and infrastructure.
The county's financial advisers, Public Financial Management of Cleveland, told commissioners in February the sales tax would cover $280 million for the new Reds stadium and $330 million for the Bengals' Paul Brown Stadium.
But advisers said the county might have trouble paying the estimated $180 million for parking and infrastructure. Wednesday, they are scheduled to present options for design changes and construction delays.
Mr. Luken said The Banks project depends on creating a parklike setting along the river and moving parking into above- and below-ground garages.
“We have all embraced The Banks vision,” said County Commissioner Tom Neyer. “We have no passion for sur face parking. We have great passion for The Banks.”
Stadium parking, however, might have to be done in stages, and Mr. Neyer could not say whether that would mean leaving the area between the stadiums as a surface lot for any length of time.
“I appreciate the mayor's concern,” he said. “But time will prove that The Banks vision is right.”
With the nearly restored Tyler Davidson Fountain in the background of the Westin Hotel conference room, Mr. Luken said lack of money is the city's biggest obstacle to “reasserting ourselves as the pre-eminent city in this part of the country.”
Concentrating his speech on downtown, Mr. Luken said the city will unveil plans for three new parking garages in the next few weeks.
Mr. Luken also said he is committed to expanding the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center but isn't sure how big or in which direction the expansion needs to be.
“We can't do it in such a way that we will not accomplish our goals,” he said, adding that he is ready to appoint a commission to look at alternatives to the current $400 million plan.
“We will continue to push for exciting new projects,” he said. “We have many things going on right now, and they all have a price tag.”
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