By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Miller-Valentine lawyer Richard Tranter, left, and Norwood legal counsel Tim Burke sit in front of Betty Howard, left, and Susan Knox, both of South Norwood, during the Norwood City Council vote (Leigh Patton photo) | ZOOM |

NORWOOD - Property owners who haven't yet agreed to sell to developers of the proposed Rookwood Exchange now have 30 days to do so, or the city could force the issue in court.

Norwood City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to accept an urban renewal plan that found the proposed development site - bordered by Edwards Road, Edmondson Road and Interstate 71 - is deteriorating as a residential neighborhood. Council also voted 9-0 for a redevelopment agreement with developers who want to raze the area to expand the Rookwood complex's upscale shopping and offices.

The pair of ordinances enables City Council to take properties in the project's way through eminent domain if necessary.

"Owning property in America has just taken a big step backwards," opponent Joe Horney said after the vote.

Horney's two-family property is one of about 79 buildings in the 11-acre area that developers want. The owners of all but seven properties have signed contracts to sell, and most are eager for the project to be finalized so they can collect their money.

The Rookwood Exchange development would replace the neighborhood's homes with 250,000 square feet of shops and eateries, 400,000 square feet of office space and 200 condos, said Brian Copfer of Miller-Valentine Group.

As drawn by developers, the concept envisions Crate & Barrel - a home goods chain with no stores in Greater Cincinnati yet - as an anchor. However, Jeffrey Anderson, president of Anderson Real Estate, said Tuesday that no tenants have been signed yet. Council's votes Tuesday clear the way for that to start happening, he said.

"We're getting great interest here from both the office and retail sides," Copfer said.

The project could be finished in 20 to 22 months once the developer has acquired all of the property, he said.

Miller-Valentine and Anderson already are working on design, construction and traffic plans.

"You name it, we've been working on it for the past year and a half," Copfer said.

However, at least two hurdles to Rookwood Exchange remain:

• City Council would have to vote to use eminent domain if the city can't help property owners and the developers reach agreement within 30 days. Several council members hinted Tuesday night that they might not support actually forcing owners to sell.

"The people who don't want to sell, they have the same rights as the people who want to sell," Councilman Joseph Sanker said.

• If the city has to sue for eminent domain, developers will have to wait for the value of the contested properties to be decided through trials in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. That could take up to a year.

There's also a possibility that other lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of eminent domain could arise, as they have in the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood. Those, too, could delay construction.

After 18 months of debate about the project, Tuesday's meeting had an aura of the inevitable, with only two citizens speaking against it and none speaking for it.

Council members said most residents inside and outside the affected neighborhood support the project, and the city needs the $3.5 million a year it could get in earnings tax money as a result of new jobs created by Rookwood Exchange.

"This development will happen because it deserves to happen," Councilman Will DeLuca said. "I feel very confident this evening that we're making the best decision for this city."

E-mail candrews@enquirer.com