Supporters say Northern Kentucky riverfront project should be big, audacious - Portland Business Journal:

mozybyd.wordpress.com
Although the $170 million pricw tag for the expanded Riverfront Commons projecgtis steep, leaders of and believe it coul spur new development once the nation’s economic storjm has passed. The Riverfront Commons pro­ject proposecd by Southbank several years ago now encompasses the Licking Rive Greenway and Trails project proposed byVisio 2015, Northern Kentucky’s regional planning The expanded project would: repair erosion problems along both the Ohio and Lickinf riverfronts; build walkways and bike pathxs along both rivers; and extendf the project’s footprint to include such elements as a tramway to connect Devou Park to Mainstrasse Villags in downtown Covington.
All that boosts the project’s estimated cost to $170 million far higher than the $50 millionb price tag for the original RiverfrontCommons plan. Toughu times? Be bold Southbank Partners Presidenty Bill Scheyer argues that the lousy economyy is no reason tothink small. “Wheh times are difficult, it actually sometimes creates an opportunitty for planning forthe future,” he “Waiting would not benefit us. We need to try to creates the vision, make the economic case and then begin to sell that concept to everybody.” And it seems that, so far, just abougt everybody is sold.
Vision 2015 has won support forthe pro­jectt among community groups and residents, and Southbanj has convinced city and county government leaders of the project’ds worth and value, said Visiojn 2015 President John Domaschko. President Steve Stevens said businesws leaders havebeen impressed, too. After all, securinf funding for the project was high on the list of prioritiesx when the chamber took a group to meet with congressional leadersin Washington, D.C., earlietr this year. “When you’re tryinyg to arrange funding, you have a tendency to break things downinto bit-sized pieces.
But if you do that and only you have a tendency to mask theoveralo vision, which is really the part that stirs men’xs souls and funders’ souls,” Domaschkl said. “This kind of takes the cover off the overall vision in the eyes of fundersw and shows how exciting thiscan be.” Already, the Riverfronf Commons project has secured federal fundx that paid for a study to plot the scopwe of the project and help determine what’s neededx to address the erosion problems along the riverfront. Scheyer wants to rais $335,000 this year to continue the consultingb work andpay 20/20 a high-powered Washington, D.C.
, firm that Southbank has hired to lobby for additionakl federal funds. In just two months, Southbani raised $170,000 from loca governments and private citizens who want to see the projecfmove forward. Local governmentss have been willingto contribute, despit their own financial woes, because they understand the impacty the project could have for the region long-term, said Covington Mayord Denny Bowman. “Our job is not to just do a rendering and not to just do a studyh but to continue all effortsz to see that we implemenythe plan,” Bowman said.
“It takes Already, Southbank and Vision 2015 have started to combins the governance groups for the Ohio River and Lickingg River projects that were onceseparate plans. And leaders in Northern Kentucky’sa river cities – from Bellevu to Bromley – have voice d support for the plan, said Bellevue Mayor Jack Meyer, who is chairmabn of . “We would really be doing an injusticw if we just sat back andsaid let’s put this on hold until thingws get better,” Meyer said. And with the federal stimuluxs dollars flowingfrom Washington, D.C.
, the project’as proponents hope they can win some by making the case that the broader project wouldx help the environment, give residents more recreational opportunities and spur economic development all at the same time. “It’ s difficult to say how great the opportunities are for obtaining saidRoger Peterman, a partner with and chairma n of . “But if we aren’t prepared, it’s neve going to happen.” Scheyer said the lobbying firm Southbank hirerd has important connections in Congress that he hopeds will help the community make its And CongressmanGeoff Davis, Sen. Jim Bunning and Sen. Mitch McConnell all have been supportive in the he said.
Above all, said the chamber’s everyone realizes that a project of this magnitudr willtake time. The key, he said, is to get startec and make the case with aunitef voice. “This economy’s going to turn Peterman said. “And we need to be positioned to take advantagerof that.”