Can Hamilton County taxpayers afford to pay for a new bridge across the Ohio River and a professional soccer stadium in the coming years?
The Hamilton County Commission confronted more than a dozen multi-million dollar projects – from crumbling bridges and aging county buildings to a renovated convention center – that they will either be asked or forced to help fund in coming years.
The cost is staggering: County leaders are grappling with more than $4.5 billion worth of infrastructure, development, transportation and county building needs in the coming years, according to a presentation given Monday.
And with some projects, such as a new professional soccer stadium for Futbol Club Cincinnati, facing tight deadlines – the team must hammer out a deal by the end of this year – commissioners say now is the time to decide what county taxpayers can or can’t afford pay for.
“Is there a way for us to be able to assist in connection with the issues that seem to be commanding all the public attention right now?” Hamilton County Commission President Todd Portune said Monday.
No solutions or determinations were made during Monday’s meeting.
Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus said she wants to hold a public forum on the issues in August. The county will also take a look at what cash resources, such as sales tax or federal grants, are available for these projects.
The forum, she said, will be a chance to hear “useful dialogue to have people actually in front of us to talk about what they see as the potential for Hamilton county.”
Commissioners gave a chilly reception to entirely financing any stadium or sports-related facilities.
“I think that’s two too many,” Hamilton County Commissioner Chris Monzel said of the two sports stadiums the county already owns. “I don’t feel it’s a county core function that we should be involved with.”
Here’s a look at the projects the county leaders says they might be asked to help pay for in the coming years:
Brent Spence Bridge
A rehabilitation and replacement of the bridge is expected to require a mix of a federal, state and local dollars as well as the possibility of tolls.
Cost: $2.7 billion
Duke Energy Convention Center
Estimated cost: $200 to $230 million
U.S. Bank Arena
A demolition and renovation to replace the current arena would generate as much as $667 million in economic impact, a report released by the commissioners Monday found.
Cost: $342 million
Nippert Stadium
FC Cincinnati
A professional soccer stadium that would help FC Cincinnati land a spot in the MLS franchise. Team owners have already promised to kick in $100 million for the project.
Estimated cost: $200 million
Sharonville Convention Center
A renovation would help the center land more conventions
Estimated cost: $8 to $10 million
The Banks
More money to fund public infrastructure – such as parking – to complete the riverfront project
Estimated cost: $66 million (anticipated public investment)
Decks over Fort Washington Way
The project would put decks over the roadway, connecting Cincinnati’s downtown to The Banks
Estimated cost: $80 to $100 million
Cincinnati Cold War and Veterans Memorial
The project would create a memorial using the donated USS Cincinnati
Cost: To Be Determined
Reds and Bengals stadiums
No, they haven’t asked for new stadiums – yet – but commissioners say they will continue to pay off debt and for maintenance of the stadiums for years to come. A 2016 WCPO report found the county spends $7.5 million on maintenance for Paul Brown Stadium and an administrative office that oversees both Paul Brown and Great American Ballpark.
Cost: TBD
Western Hills Viaduct
The Western Hills Viaduct.
Rehabilitation of the bridge that connects commuters to Downtown and the city’s West Side.
Cost: $310 million
County Crime Lab
The design and construction of a new coroner’s office and crime lab
Cost: $50 to $60 million
County buildings
Deferred maintenance on county owned facilities, including the courthouse and justice center.
Cost: $100 to $300 million
Site readiness
Hamilton County has at least five sites, including the Cincinnati Gardens, a Rhinegeist beer distribution site in Camp Washington, and a new gateway to the city of Montgomery, that could use redevelopment help.
Cost: $350 million +
