City Council members are awaiting details on a possible $6.6 million deal to keep Saks Fifth Avenue downtown for another 15 years.

Saks Fifth Avenue at Fifth and Race. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        If council approves, would be the second time the city has paid to keep the upscale store anchored at Fifth and Race streets since the store opened in 1984.

        In 1996, City Council approved a $2.3 million incentive package that included money for renovating the downtown store. That deal was to last through 2004.

        This proposal has already met with opposition.

        City Councilman Phil Heimlich said Sunday he hesitates to approve any new deal until the city changes how it recruits development downtown.

        “The way we've been doing development is all wrong,” he said.

        Though keeping Saks downtown is important, Mr. Heimlich said, the city should have an appointed development authority made up of private sector people with economic development expertise.

        City Manager John Shirey Sunday declined to comment on negotiations.

        An effort to attract a Nordstrom store failed last November, despite city council approving a $48.7 million incentive package.

        Cincinnati agreed in 1995 to pay at least $27.8 million toward the three-level retail complex now anchored by a Lazarus store.

        Councilman Jim Tarbell said the city has been negotiating for months with the retail giant to possibly expand to another downtown location.

        But Mr. Tarbell said he had no knowledge of the dollar amount for a new Saks deal.

        “This is an offensive action ... a creative proposal to add to Saks,” he said.

        He said he would be very interested in proposals to keep the store downtown and especially to expand it.

        However, he said, downtown residential development should be a focus.

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