Officials from Town Square Developers pitched four scenarios Tuesday night that would turn the vacant Nisbet Lumber Co. site or other areas of Broadway into a $10 million entertainment district.

The 90,000-square-foot development - which focuses on "new urbanism" principles of creating traditional downtown neighborhoods with pedestrian-friendly shopping districts and parks - also included a 450-space parking garage or outside lot, and possibly a public market and hotel.

The buildings would be designed so that housing could be added in a second or third story, and a town square could be covered and seat 1,000 people for performances or concerts, developers said.

Town Square partner Leo Lauterback cautioned that the plans represented nothing more than a concept.

"We're not saying this is what you ought to do and shove it down anybody's throat," he said. "This is just an idea, but we are certainly interested."

Mayor Brad Greenberg called it a starting point for discussions with district property and business owners to help determine the direction of economic development downtown.

No meeting date has been set, but city officials are planning one sometime in October.

"We need to get a lot of public comment before we proceed any further," Greenberg said. "It's important that we maintain our small-town charm. I don't want to move the focus off of (West) Loveland Avenue. To me, that's our strength - but we want to broaden the vibrancy of that district."

Lauterback said Town Square's proposal would cost about $10 million, including about $3 million in city-provided improvements, such as parking, streets and lighting. Such a project would require the city to acquire some properties along Broadway Street, he said.

Lauterback said he has talked to the owners of Nisbet Lumber as well as the Rolke's feed and supply store on Broadway but has not contracted to buy those properties.

Ron Rolke, who grew up in the 55-year-old family business, is leery. "I'm not anxious to sell," he said. "To me, this is my retirement. If they want the business, I hope it's not at my expense."

Lauterback said marketing studies predict that such a project would succeed. But Rolke questions that because the city, which has been working to revitalize downtown for at least 10 years, has seen its share of businesses come and go. Centered on the Little Miami Bike Path, the area is doing well for now, but much of the trade relies on visitors drawn in by cycling and river activities.

"If the people of Loveland do not support this side of town to start with, how are they going to support something new coming in?" Rolke said.

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