Next hurdle: Stadium land
County working on buying property
BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati EnquirerWith the lease signed and the structure named, the only thing left is to build Paul Brown Stadium.
Former Cincinnati Mayor Eugene Ruehlmann, who presided over the construction of the stadium now known as Cinergy Field, warned Hamilton County and Cincinnati Bengals representatives during their big announcement that construction would be no simple task. But county officials say they're well on their way.
The county is negotiating with land owners, and ultimately will own all the land in the central riverfront, said Jim Harper, chief assistant county prosecutor.
"It's our goal to have all the property acquired in the next several months," Mr. Harper said.
There are 10 major property owners in that central riverfront area, Mr. Harper said. The Castellini family owns the largest chunk of land at about 17 acres, he said.
County Commission President Bob Bedinghaus predicted most of the land owners will settle out of court, although he said some land values will most certainly be decided by a jury.
Mr. Harper said county officials know they might have to pay a premium for the land in some cases, simply because the stadium project has made the flood-prone property more valuable.
"It's a fact of life," he said.
John Binder, who owns Flanagan's Landing on Pete Rose Way, said county appraisers walked through his property six weeks ago, but he hasn't heard from any county officials since.
"I've known for a couple of months that we're going to be bought out," he said. "I'm certainly not going to chase after them for them to run me out."
Mr. Binder said he told Mr. Bedinghaus at Thursday's lease announcement that he had not been contacted by county officials, and Mr. Bedinghaus seemed surprised. Mr. Binder expects a call soon.
The new football stadium will sit roughly between Central Avenue and Elm Street, bordered to the south by Mehring Way and to the north by a curved Pete Rose Way.
But the county commissioners want to own all the land between the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge and the edge of the Bengals practice fields so the county can control other development in the area.
The county's lease with the team, in fact, includes specific provisions regarding central riverfront development. The lease dictates, for example, that no buildings taller than two stories will be built between Race Street and Paul Brown Stadium south of Third Street.
Those provisions were important to the county and the team to make sure that no other developments obstructed the view of the Ohio River and downtown Cincinnati from inside the stadium, said Troy Blackburn, Bengals director of stadium development.
The county must begin clearing the stadium site this summer or fall to make its Aug. 1, 2000, deadline for opening the stadium. To some degree, purchasing the necessary land is contingent upon the deal that Cincinnati economic development officials can offer the produce companies that must now relocate, Mr. Harper said.
City economic development Director Andi Udris said the city has made offers to representatives of the Castellini family and the other produce companies involved.
The city's plan involves selling 15.5 acres on what is known as the Conrail site on River Roadin Sedamsville and Riverside to the produce companies. The city needs six to eight months to build the appropriate infrastructure and facilities to relocate the firms, Mr. Udris said.
City officials still are working to put together an incentive package for the produce companies, but Mr. Udris said he doesn't think it will take long to complete.
"All these deals could be consummated within the next month or so," he said. "Until the deal is signed, we risk losing these businesses. We're busting our behinds."
BENGALS WON'T SELL NAMING RIGHTS
Lease signed
WELCOME TO PAUL BROWN STADIUM May 30, 1997NEXT GENERATION OF BROWNS MAKE THE DEAL May 30, 1997
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It's goal to go for stadium May 29, 1997