Advocates are asking downtown Cincinnati property owners to help pay for a $2.6 million plan that emphasizes more housing, cleaner blocks and stepped-up marketing of downtown.

        Property owners will be asked to approve a $1.75 million special property tax assessment from 2002 through 2005.

        That would be a 30 percent increase over the special improvement district's 1998-2001 assessment of $1.35 million.

        The amount owners are charged depends on property values and the size of storefronts, said John Hurley, a board member of the Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District.

MORE FORUMS PLANNED

The Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District held its first forum for downtown property owners Wednesday and has scheduled three others:     • Today, 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Chemed Center, 255 E. Fifth St., 14th floor.     • Tuesday, noon to 1 p.m., Aronoff Center for the Arts, Seventh and Walnut streets.     • Wednesday, 8-9 a.m., Greater Cincinnati Foundation, 200 W. Fourth St.

        DCID's preliminary plan was developed based on suggestions from 70 downtown property owners. All other downtown property owners will be invited to a series of public meetings this week and next to critique the plan.

        “We want to craft the best plan that we can,” said Mr. Hurley, Federated Department Stores Inc.'s director of real estate.

        “This is no small undertaking.”

        The DCID includes 390 property owners, but not all have an equal say in crafting the plan. The plan must be approved by property owners who control a majority of business fronts in the area bordered by Central Avenue, Central Parkway, Eggleston Avenue and the Ohio River.

        Cincinnati City Council also must approve.

        Mr. Hurley said many property owners feel now is the time to build more housing downtown because demand is on the upswing. More housing benefits retailers and corporations trying to snag workers. Another major concern, he said, is making downtown clean. A large part is telling property owners they're responsible for cleaning sidewalks in front of their businesses. The city cleans and maintains only the streets.

        But the plan would set aside an additional $125,000 to hire contractors to polish high-traffic ar eas Court Street and Fountain Square.

        The third major initiative: fund the “Go to Town” marketing plan developed by Downtown Cincinnati Inc., the downtown advocacy group.

        The campaign attempts to sell downtown as a whole, not just concentrate on single events.

        The plan stresses retaining business, promoting retail and improving safety.

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