By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - City officials are asking Hamilton residents for their ideas for development in the Great Miami River corridor.

The city and the Vision Commission, an advisory group, are examining what the most appropriate uses for the riverfront might be. Hamilton also has hired URS Corp, a consulting firm with headquarters in Minneapolis and an office in Cincinnati, to study the issue and make recommendations.

As part of the study, the city is holding four two-hour public hearings next week on riverfront development.

The hearings will be:

• 12:30 p.m. Monday at Neighborhood Housing Services, 100 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.• 5:30 p.m. Monday at Colligan Lodge, 20 New London Road.• 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at Madison Elementary School, 250 N, Ninth St.. • 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Washington Junior High School, 5000 Madison Ave.

The consultants will make a 25-minute presentation a half-hour after the start of each open-house hearing. Information will be available at various stations in the meeting rooms.

Teri Whitmore, Hamilton's planning director, said public feedback is crucial for developing solid plans for the riverfront.

"We want to determine what should be where and what would be the best use of property along the river," she said.

The city and the Vision Commission also are asking residents to fill out surveys rating possible uses along the riverfront. Those listed range from restaurants and parks to a baseball stadium and a zoo.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com