Saturday, July 01, 2000
Covington OKs $45K study
Two firms to create downtown plan
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer Contributor
COVINGTON — A Covington architecture firm and Cincinnati planning company are joining in a study of the northern part of Covington's downtown.
Friday, the city commission approved spending about $45,000 to let Architectural Group International of Covington and Kinzelman Kline Gossman LLC look at downtown from Greenup Street west to Madison Avenue and Fifth Street north to the Ohio River.
“We need to build upon our successes in the River Center area,” Mayor Jim Eggemeier said.
Craig Gossman of Kinzelman Kline Gossman said a final plan should be ready by mid-October.
“The intent is to have a plan that is realistic and implementable,” Mr. Gossman said.
Whatever the two firms create, look for the three-story Odd Fellows Hall at the corner of Fifth and Madison to be the study's centerpiece.
The 144-year-old structure is now home to three adult entertainment businesses, a pawnshop and a liquor store on the first floor. The second and third floors have been vacant for decades.
Quin Wichmann of AGI said possible new uses include retail space or restaurants on the first floor and office or residential space on the top two.
J.T. Spence was the lone dissenter in the commission's 4-1 vote to approve the study. He called the study too small, saying it should have covered the en tire downtown. He added that other firms should have been allowed to bid on the work.
“Unfortunately, this lends credence to the rumors around the city that there's a lot of back-door politics,” Mr. Spence said.
Commissioner Jerry Bamberger said the city has been talking about the study for a long time.
“This is something we've not only talked about this year,” Mr. Bamberger said. “I looked at the time line, I have no problem with that time line. I think it's a great project.”
In other action, commissioners:
• Approved the city's $60 million budget for the fiscal year that starts today. Finance Director Bob Due said the budget is about $700,000 more than last year.
The new budget includes $9.7 million for the police department, $9.1 million for the fire department, $8.5 million for housing development, $6.2 million for general services and $6.1 million for administration.
• Held first reading of a $3.4 million bond issue aiding an expansion at the Atkins & Pearce plant across the 3L Highway from Pioneer Park.
Atkins & Pearce makes industrial-fabric braids used in wiring. The expansion, completed last year, allows the plant to make a type of braid used in the aerospace industry.
City Solicitor Joe Condit said the bond allows the company to pay off a construction loan and does not leave the city financially liable.
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