The corner of Central Parkway and Elder Street is the planned location for a new county-owned parking garage. Hamilton County commissioners voted Thursday to purchase two surface parking lots for $2.2 million. It's part of a deal with FC Cincinnati for the county to provide parking near its new stadium.
Commissioner Denise Driehaus says the site helps accomplish all the county's goals: "Accommodate the needs of FCC on game days, have a community benefit, and not lose money (but) make money."
The county promised at least a thousand spaces near the stadium. Commissioners decided to split that between two garages in order to put more parking near Findlay Market.
"It's really two-fold," said County Administrator Jeff Aluotto. "It's to support operations of the stadium, but it's also to support the broader economic growth of that area, and that was specifically by design."
A county garage next to the stadium will have about 830 spaces. The new one in Over-the-Rhine will have at least 350 spaces, but it could be larger. Driehaus says the next step will be deciding how big to build.
"I know that we'll have community input related to that to make sure we hit that sweet spot where it's big enough where we can turn a profit and accommodate the community needs, but not so big that it stands out in a negative way," Driehaus said.
The purchase agreement specifies retail space be included in portions of the garage facing Elder Street, and the sellers (The Model Group) must approve this aspect of the design.
Commissioners also voted to appropriate $4.2 million for costs related to the garage project, such as surveying, site preparation, and design.
